The best webcams today can have a dramatic impact on how you look online—whether you’re in a remote meeting with colleagues on Zoom, live streaming on Twitch or catching up with family. A new webcam is an easy upgrade, either as a complement to your roomy monitor or a replacement for your laptop’s built-in camera, which typically has a lower resolution or more limited low-light handling than a dedicated webcam. Thanks to its quality performance and affordable price tag, we named the Logitech C920s Pro HD the best webcam overall, but there are plenty more options to choose from depending on your needs.
A dedicated webcam such as this Poly Studio P15 can boost your video conferencing.
Dedicated webcams come in various shapes, sizes and resolutions. Most can mount on top of your laptop or monitor, and many have a standard 0.25-inch screw thread so you can mount the camera on a tripod or stand. More expensive models add higher resolutions (including 2K and 4K), and artificial intelligence for face tracking. Generally, they can do better in lower light since the webcam’s sensor is larger than what you’ll find built into your laptop.
To help find the best webcams available today, we combined our extensive first-hand experience with robust research. Whether you need something affordable for the odd meeting or want a top-notch 4K picture with an integrated ring light, here are our picks for the best webcams you can buy in 2022.
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Field of view: 78 degrees | Frames per second: 30 | Autofocus: Yes
The Logitech C920s Pro is one of the best webcams you can buy in 2022, combining quality 1080p video at 30 frames per second with a broad 78-degree field of view. You can't adjust the field of view, but you can zoom in by up to 1.2x using Logitech’s software.
This webcam comes with a built-in privacy shutter so you can block off the video feed with a flick of your finger. It has dual microphones for improved audio capture for up to 3 feet away. The camera captures clear 1080p video and has accurate autofocus with automatic lighting enhancements (adjustable in the Logi Tune software). Add in an affordable price, and this capable webcam is a winner.
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Field of view: 82 degrees | Frames per second: 30 (at 1080p), 60 (at 720p) | Autofocus: Yes
The innovative Razer Kiyo combines strong optics with a built-in ring light. This uncommon all-in-one combination gives you everything you need out-of-the-box to get started looking great on Zoom calls, or really any video call or stream where it makes sense for the light to be centered with your face. This camera has a great quality 1080p sensor for capturing video at 30 frames per second; or, capturing faster 60 frames per second at 720p resolution. The built-in microphone is omnidirectional so it will pick up sound around it, which may mean you’d prefer to add a more targeted microphone later. (That said, the mic is certainly good enough to get you started.)
The Kiyo clips onto the top of a monitor or laptop screen or it can be mounted on a tripod. The all-in-one design of the Kiyo is one of its big advantages. Compact and foldable, the Kiyo is highly portable and requires no extra gear or space for additional lighting or other equipment to set up. This makes it a great choice if you want to travel with your laptop or use it on a couch or bed, which may not be conducive for setting up a separate light.
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Field of view: 78 degrees | Frames per second: 30 | Autofocus: Yes
The Microsoft Modern Webcam can work well with any video service, but its Microsoft Teams certification and features target professional users of Microsoft’s own video conferencing services, including Teams and Skype for Business. The certification means this webcam has no extra configuration requirements to work with those services, and it also has call controls for both services. For Teams users, it also has an LED usage indicator.
This model supports 1080p video at up to 30 frames per second, has a 78-degree field of view and a built-in sliding privacy cover.
Microsoft uses high dynamic range (HDR) imaging and True Tone styling to automatically manage light and color. This boost is a welcome addition for low-light environments, since the webcam prioritizes your face and tries to preserve proper skin tones. In oversaturated environments, the camera knows to maintain your face at a legible light level without letting everything else get blown out. The only drawback: The mount is hard to adjust. Otherwise, this is an excellent webcam for work and play at an affordable price.
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Field of view: 80, 90, 103 degrees | Frames per second: 24, 30, 60 (all at 1080p) | Autofocus: Yes
The Razer Kiyo Pro ditches the built-in ring light of the baseline Kiyo, assuming regular streamers will have a more robust light source available. The Kiyo Pro has three preset field of view settings to provide a choice between a wider or tighter view. The webcam captures compressed and uncompressed video at 1080p and adds supports for up to 60 frames per second at 1080p, so you can get smoother webcam footage if you prefer; there are also options for 30 and 24 frames per second if you want a more cinematic feel. Those frame rate options are available at both 720P and 1080p, too, so your creativity won’t be restricted by either frame rate or resolution. If you engage the high dynamic range (HDR) mode for better-lit images, the camera is restricted to 30 frames per second.
The Kiyo Pro is well suited to static filming environments. It’s large, with a big lens and a secure mounting mechanism to affix the webcam atop your monitor or laptop. Razer's excellent Synapse software makes the various options and settings easy to adjust. While its mix of features makes it an excellent webcam overall, it is the best webcam out there for streaming.
Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Field of view: 65, 78, 90 degrees | Frames per second: 24 (at 1080p), 30 (at 4k), 60 (1080p) | Autofocus: Yes
The Dell Ultrasharp Webcam favors a stylish, circular design and delivers 4K video at 30 frames per second with well-balanced colors. It also has Windows Hello support so you can use the webcam to log into your laptop or desktop. The stand is easy to attach to most laptop and desktop monitors and it has a built-in cable guide to help keep your desk tidy.
The field of view can be adjusted among 65, 78 and 90 degrees, depending on what you're trying to show. Manage settings, including video noise reduction and HDR, using the Windows-only Dell Peripheral Manager Software. The camera uses artificial intelligence to track your face and automatically frame it in the image. One design flaw: The included shutter privacy cover is a separate piece that snaps on and could easily be misplaced.
Resolution: 1280 x 720 | Field of view: 55 degrees | Frames per second: 30 | Autofocus: No
The Logitech C270 is an older model that still gets attention for its budget price. If you need something basic to make video calls from a fixed position and aren't too worried about how you'll look, this 720p camera can fit the bill. It’s a good choice to add to older laptop setups that might lack a webcam or need a replacement. It has limited automatic exposure and color adjustment and a fixed 55-degree field of view with a fixed focus, meaning it’s best if you can stay in one place during calls.
The C270 mounts on to any laptop or desktop monitor. While the color and resolution fall below more powerful models, this is perfectly functional for basic video calls. If you want an affordable and functional webcam to get you through your work commitments, the Logitech C270 can do the job.
Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Field of view: 90 | Frames per second: 30 | Autofocus: Yes
Appropriate for a tricked out remote office or a conference room for video calls, the Poly Studio P15 provides a great all-in-one solution. Its bar-style design packs a high-resolution 4K webcam with a loud, 80 decibel speaker and a three-element, beamforming microphone array with echo cancellation and background noise suppression. This model is certified for both Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
The camera defaults to 4K, but you can also record at 1080p or 720p if you prefer. The 90-degree field of view ensures that everyone will always be in shot. It also comes with a capable autofocus and automatic face framing so the camera will keep your face sharp, even if you move about. A built-in privacy shutter provides on-demand control over what the camera sees. The one downside to this camera is just how big it is. At 17 inches across and weighing almost 2 pounds, it's hefty and better suited for monitor tops than laptop screens. However, this model is a great all-in-one video conferencing package.
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Field of view: 82 degrees | Frames per second: 30, 60| Autofocus: No
The Elgato Facecam has a unique blend of functionality that makes it more like a DSLR than a webcam. The Facecam lets you finely tune the camera’s exposure, shutter speed, ISO, white balance and a range of other visual settings that you don’t get with other webcams. You can apply noise reduction post-processing effects, adjust the field of view and tweak saturation, contrast and sharpness. While video looks good out-of-the-box, these settings give you greater creative control to adjust the look and feel of your video stream or to compensate for rough lighting environments.
Another creative boon: The webcam uses a Sony CMOS sensor and a wide-open f/2.4 24mm full-frame equivalent prime lens to allow wider focus depth to account for movement; this approach gets around its lack of autofocus and avoids the focus lag issues seen with some webcams’ slow autofocus mechanisms. The webcam can capture uncompressed video, too. Yes, this is an expensive 1080p webcam, but no other webcam provides such deep creative control.
Resolution: 4096 x 2160 | Field of view: 65, 78, 90 degrees | Frames per second: 30 (at 4k), 60 (at 1080p), 90 (at 720p) | Autofocus: Yes
The Logitech Brio speeds ahead of the pack, literally, by providing smooth 720p video capture at a fast 90 frames per second. In addition to standing out for its high frame rate captures, the Brio has just about everything else you could want, including 4K resolution, an adjustable field of view and a massive 5X digital zoom. The Brio has automatic lighting adjustments using high-dynamic range imaging to compensate for low light or backlit environments.
The only real downside to this webcam is its privacy shutter. The cover clips onto the top and doesn't sit particularly flush with the lens once it's in place. The rest of the design oozes quality, though, with a sturdy build, a solid mounting clip and an attractive overall design. It works with Windows Hello for quickly and securely logging into your PC and is certified for Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and a slew of other video streaming services. If it wasn't more features—and more expensive—than most people need, the Logitech Brio would easily be the best webcam overall, but nothing else compares with what the 4KBrio provides.
When it comes to buying a webcam, several key features and specifications are worth considering so you can buy a device that best matches your usage needs.
The resolution of your webcam doesn't need to be as impressive as your monitor or TV. But the higher the resolution, the better you’ll look on-screen. Most webcams are least 720p—including the ones built into laptops (only more recent models may have improved webcam resolution). Expect a noticeably better picture out of a 1080p webcam, and better still if you get a 4K webcam. However, 4K webcams are more expensive, and 4K video requires more bandwidth during a call, making it worth considering only if you want a future-proof webcam or know you want crystal clear video in 4k today.
Field of view is important when it comes to getting everyone into the group call or meeting easily, as the wider it goes, the more room you have. Keep in mind a wide field of view means more of your background will be visible, which could also present a challenge in some streaming environments. Having an adjustable field of view gives you more control over what shows on video. The most common field of view is 78 degrees.
As a baseline, all webcams capture video at 30 frames per second. If you want smoother motion, especially if you are doing any kind of fast motion, like dancing or exercising on your webcam, then a higher frame rate will ensure that none of the motion is missed through blurring, and you will generally look more lifelike for it.
A webcam with 60 frames per second support will deliver a much smoother picture, and 90 frames per second is smoother still. However, not all cameras can support higher frame rates at all resolutions, so check the specs carefully if you’re looking for a specific combination. Some models support 24 frames per second, a film standard that gives video a more cinematic quality.
Most webcams attach to the top of your monitor or laptop screen and can be removed as needed. A sturdy, easy-to-operate mounting mechanism makes it simpler to move about and easier to make sure the camera sits securely. Many webcams have a standard 0.25-inch thread to mount the webcam on a stand or tripod. Your best bet is to decide where and how you plan to use the webcam and buy a webcam with the appropriate mount.
Privacy shutters are typically a piece of metal or plastic that either extends over the camera lens or you put on the camera lens manually. This way you’ve blocked the camera, keeping out prying eyes and clever hackers. This can also be handy if you just want to turn the camera off for a moment mid-call.
Some webcams have their own ring light, which can make you look more radiant on camera and saves the hassle and expense of setting up external lights. More serious streamers and video callers may prefer the versatility of a standalone light, but the ones built into webcams are a great starting point and a major convenience if you plan to sit centered to the screen.
While many users will opt for a dedicated microphone or headset, some webcam manufacturers boost audio in calls by having a multiple microphone array or adding noise reduction abilities.
While the best webcam for you depends on your needs, we named the Logitech C920s the best overall webcam to buy. It's not the highest resolution and it doesn't have the widest feature set, but it strikes a terrific balance of performance and price.
If you want the absolute best webcam, price be damned, then the Razer Kiyo Pro is a much more impressive beast. If you absolutely have to have a 4K webcam, though, the Logitech Brio is the king of the hill, with a high resolution and the highest frame rate captures around.