If you don't already have a laptop with a built-in webcam — or if your laptop's isn't very good — you may need a standalone webcam. Maybe it's so you can show your face at work or school. Or for chatting with your friends, or for secondary projects, such as live streaming or recording.

If you do not want to buy a webcam, several solutions are available to you. You can get ingenious with your phone (and spend next to nothing) by using an app that tricks your computer into thinking it's a webcam. You can also go in the opposite direction and connect an expensive DSLR or mirrorless camera to your computer to use as a webcam — a pretty good one by the way.

But assuming you just want to buy a webcam, our goal is to make it easy for you to find the one that suits your needs and budget. Here I seek to decipher which USB webcams are worth your money.

We've tested popular models from brands like Logitech, Microsoft, Dell, Razer, Elgato and more. After the dust settled, we came across a semi-affordable webcam which we think is the best option for most people. It's the Logitech C920S Pro HD, which usually costs around $60. It supports 1080p resolution capture at 30 frames per second, and visual quality is decent in most lighting conditions.

If you have a little extra cash and want better video quality and more features, check out Logitech's StreamCam. It also supports 1080p resolution, but with a faster capture of 60 frames per second. This model comes with plenty of nifty features, like an optional mode that automatically tracks your face in the frame. It also comes with versatile stands, one for your monitor and one for a tripod.

Each camera's video quality was assessed using it with Zoom (where footage is subject to compression, as is the case with other online video calling apps), as well as OBS Studio or VLC to see how it compares to a locally stored recording.

Logitech C920S Pro HD

The best webcam for most people

Works with: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook

Usually priced around $60, Logitech's C920S Pro HD offers better video and mic quality than other cameras I've tested in this price range. This model can record in 1080p resolution at up to 30 frames per second, and while you won't have trouble finding other similarly priced webcams with these specs, color balance, exposure and autofocus relatively speed of the C920S Pro set it apart from the others I tested.

Image quality is sufficiently detailed, and even in my relatively dark apartment, the C920S Pro had no trouble bringing my facial features into sharp focus. But the presentation wasn't perfect overall, as you would expect for the price. In less than ideal lighting scenarios, the C920S Pro left my skin looking oversaturated, with red patches where the webcam couldn't compensate for the lack of lighting. However, in a work or leisure environment with plenty of natural light, the problem was significantly less.

Image quality aside, the C920S Pro has several welcome features, like a generous 78-degree field of view, status lights that activate when the webcam is in use by an app, and a confidentiality included which can give you the assurance that you do not broadcast images unless you want to. Other great features at this price point include its sturdy articulating stand, which can sit on your screen or just as easily screwed onto a tripod. It is simply excellent value for money.

Logitech C920S Pro HD

The C920S Pro HD can record in 1080p at 30 frames per second. It has a 78 degree field of view and two microphones for stereo recording. It also comes with a lens cover for more discretion.

Other webcam options under $100 you might be interested in

Modern webcam from Microsoft

Works with: Windows 10, and more limited macOS

Like the Logitech C920S Pro, the Modern Webcam promises 1080p resolution recording with up to 30 frames per second. Compared directly to the Logitech, Microsoft's webcam didn't produce such a sharp image. It was, however, able to produce a more true-to-life image for my lighting scenario thanks to its HDR setting.

HDR has advantages, but also disadvantages depending on your lighting. While the Modern Webcam did an admirable job of taming the fairly intense backlighting I have behind me during the day, it didn't seem to have many tricks to highlight me in any other way (from less without modifying the image with the Microsoft Accessory Center application). Through the lens of the modern webcam, I felt like I was working in a dimly lit basement apartment – ​​which I am, but I'd rather not be reminded of that. As with the C920S Pro, this should be less of an issue for people who don't lack natural light in their room.

I like that the Modern Webcam's stand lets you hang it above a monitor or screw it onto a tripod. And she gets bonus points for having a physical privacy slider. This webcam also has a built-in microphone, but it's strangely not enabled by default. If you're using Windows 10, you'll need to download and enable this setting in the aforementioned Accessory Center app. If you're using a macOS computer, you'll have to make do with a webcam that doesn't have a microphone. Considering that this webcam costs 69.99 euros, I think it is better to opt for the C920S Pro from Logitech.

Modern webcam from Microsoft

The Modern Webcam can record in 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. Its field of view is 78 degrees, and a built-in privacy slider helps cover the lens. It is equipped with a microphone, but it is not activated by default.

Logitech C270 HD

Works with: Windows 10, macOS, Android, Chrome OS

If you're really strapped for cash and your main webcam requirements are just that it's reliable, very affordable, and has a microphone, you can look to the Logitech C270 HD. It's not a video quality model at all – it's only capable of 720p resolution at 30 frames per second – and you'll get quite a blurry image no matter your lighting situation. You'll get the best picture if you connect it in a well-lit environment.

The bulkier design of the C270 HD is likely to encroach on your monitor's screen, unlike the options above. It's a minor consolation that its monitor stand doubles as a stand of some kind, so it can stand on your desk or on a table. Just because it's an affordable webcam doesn't mean it shouldn't have a good design, so let's hope Logitech improves that particular aspect for the next iteration.

Not the highest recommendation, but I understand spending more isn't something some people may want to do. Most people would spend $60 on our top pick, but if you just want something that gets the job done without making a big investment, the C270 HD will do just that.

Logitech C270 HD

The C270 HD shoots in 720p resolution at 30 frames per second. It has a 55 degree field of view and a mono microphone.

Logitech Streamcam

The best webcam for those who need better image quality

Works with: Windows 10 and macOS

If you're comfortable spending somewhere in the $150 to $200 price range, your webcam selection will open up to devices that have sharper image quality and other features that can make your webcam more comfortable. are worth the extra cost. Logitech's Streamcam isn't the newest webcam, but it stands out for its excellent value for money.

On the one hand, it is compact, and its image fidelity can reach a resolution of 1080p at 60 frames per second. In my eyes, the Streamcam only marginally improved clarity, exposure, and color reproduction over the cheaper C920S Pro mentioned above. But it easily takes the win with its much smoother 60fps capture. The Streamcam also has a built-in dual omnidirectional microphone and a fast autofocus function. For people who prefer to have a fixed-focus webcam that doesn't constantly scan for moving objects, Logitech's Capture software allows autofocus to be disabled, in addition to several other image optimization settings. .

All of these are great features (and that's what you should expect from a webcam over $100), but it's the extra features that put this webcam at the top. The Streamcam can record in either landscape or portrait mode, which can save you time when editing clips for viewing on a mobile phone. It comes with two stands, one that can be attached to a tripod and the other, more flexible, that can be placed on your screen. The latter supports a large amount of vertical tilt, as well as left-to-right panning. Finally, the Capture software lets you activate an artificial intelligence feature that can track your face as it moves through the frame.

If you have an older laptop, one aspect of the Streamcam that could be problematic is that it plugs in via USB-C. Therefore, if your computer does not have a USB-C port, you will need to purchase a USB-C to USB-A adapter. Alternatively, there are other high-end webcams that offer wider fields of view than the Streamcam's 78 degrees. So you might want to look elsewhere if you want to capture an image that more encompasses your room or office.

Logitech Streamcam

The Streamcam supports 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second. It has a 78 degree field of view, as well as two omnidirectional microphones. Unlike the other options in this guide, the Streamcam connects via USB-C.

Other options you might like in the range of 100 to 200 euros

Elgato Facecam

Works with: Windows 10 and macOS

The Streamcam is a tough webcam to beat, but the Elgato Facecam comes close. It strikes a great balance between performance and features — offering slightly better video quality than Logitech's webcam — but its lack of a microphone, combined with its higher $199 price tag, makes it hard to recommend to most people. .

The Facecam has similar features to the Streamcam. It can record at 1080p with up to 60fps, and you can customize your look in its companion software. After adjusting the many settings in Elgato's Camera Hub app, I preferred how the Facecam looked with my lighting setup (although its default settings weren't great).

There are a few issues, however, minor as they may seem to some people. As I mentioned before, the Facecam costs a bit more, and for that price its lack of a microphone surprised me, although that might not be a problem for people who already use a mic. autonomous or a helmet. Also, the square design of the Facecam won't exactly fit into all setups.

Despite its flaws, there's a lot to like here. The Facecam offers an 82-degree field of view, which is a bit wider than the Streamcam, and the fixed focus means the lens won't be constantly in focus as you move around. The Facecam also produces significantly less grainy footage than all the other webcams I tested for this guide. I also like that this model has a privacy cap and the webcam itself has a tripod thread on its bottom so it can easily be attached to a tripod .

If you're willing to forgive the Facecam for its lack of a mic, or if that wasn't an issue for you initially, I'd recommend waiting until its price drops a bit.

Elgato Facecam

The Facecam records in 1080p at 60 frames per second. It has a fixed focus lens with an 82 degree field of view. This model does not have a built-in microphone.

Dell UltraSharp webcam

Works with: Windows 10 and macOS

Dell's new cylindrical-shaped Ultrasharp webcam is another high-priced, microphone-free option. But judging by looks alone, Dell's seems to be worth the $199. The Ultrasharp webcam is well built and includes two stands (a monitor stand, a tripod stand) that can magnetically snap into its bottom, making installation very easy. It also comes with a privacy shield that snaps on magnetically. It looks and feels like a $200 webcam.

Surprisingly, the Ultrasharp had the worst performance of any webcam I tried. Adjustments made using the Dell Peripheral companion app improved image quality beyond what I expected, given its high price. This model is capable of capturing 4K resolution at up to 30 frames per second, and if you want more frames per second, it gives you the option to switch to 1080p resolution to get 60 frames per second. Despite specs similar to some of the cameras above, the Ultrasharp produces somewhat blurry and grainy footage, and dropping the resolution to 1080p doesn't seem to deliver the advertised 60fps.

That said, it does have a few features you might be looking for. Like the Streamcam, there's an AI-based feature that can keep you in frame as you move. It also supports Windows Hello facial recognition to log in to your machine securely. If you want a wide field of view, the Ultrasharp supports up to 90 degrees.

Overall, while the Ultrasharp may appeal to people who want a luxury webcam with great features, the overall performance doesn't match the finish.

Dell UltraSharp webcam

Dell's Ultrasharp is a cylindrical-shaped webcam capable of capturing 4K footage at up to 30fps, or 1080p at 60fps. It supports a field of view of up to 90 degrees, but it does not have a built-in microphone.

Razer Kiyo Pro

Works with: Windows 10

What sets the $199 lens-shaped Kiyo Pro apart from other high-end webcams is its super-wide 103-degree field of view. It lets you see more of your work or play space, as well as more of yourself. It can also be set to 80 degrees or 90 degrees, if you want to fine tune the look.

Otherwise, its specs will look familiar if you've made it this far in this guide. It supports 1080p capture at 60fps, and there's an HDR mode that drops the frame rate to 30fps in exchange for a more balanced image. In my tests earlier in 2021, I found it did a better job than the webcam I used the most during the pandemic: the one built into my 2019 MacBook Pro.

That's a bit of a stretch, though. It's basically on par with the Logitech Streamcam in its ability to produce a satisfying image with good exposure, although the image was blurrier than I would have liked for the price. Image quality aside, the build quality is excellent, and its stand lets you easily mount it on your screen or attach it to a tripod. But, this option could be more attractive if it comes at a discount.

Razer Kiyo Pro

The Kiyo Pro is a lens-shaped webcam that supports a maximum resolution of 1080p at 60 frames per second. It offers an ultra-wide field of view of 103 degrees, although it is possible to reduce it to 80 degrees. The Kiyo Pro has a built-in microphone.

Photography by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge