The best webcams in 2023

The best webcams can give you a huge boost in image quality compared to the built-in offerings found on your laptop. Cams from brands like Elgato, Razer, and Logitech will offer high resolution and frame rates, but budget options from lesser-known manufacturers may serve you better if you don’t need 4K resolution.

Pro streamers often use a mirrorless camera for the best image quality and low-light performance. But for most users and gamers, a webcam with 1080p video capture at 60 frames per second will be enough – not to mention significantly cheaper. Some webcams even support HDR, but the only streaming service that currently supports high-dynamic range is YouTube Gaming.

The best webcams in 2023:

1. Elgato Facecam Pro – best overall
2. Razer Kiyo Pro – best overall
3. Streamplify Cam – best video quality under $100
4. Logitech Brio – best 4K/30fps or 1080p/60fps
5. Elgato Cam Link 4K – turn your camera into a webcam
6. OBSBOT Tiny 4K – best for conferences

1. Elgato Facecam Pro

The best streaming webcam.

Elgato Facecam Pro specs:

Pros

• High quality, 4K/60fps capture
• DSLR-like tuning experience
• Great optional software

Cons

• Lacks integrated microphone
• No privacy filter
• Pricey

The Elgato Facecam Pro is the company’s premium dedicated streaming webcam. It’s a good choice if you’re looking to stream on Twitch or YouTube, or you just want incredibly sharp video calls. You get 4K 60fps to offer smooth footage, and although there’s no built-in mic, if you’re getting a camera at this price point you’re probably serious enough to get a separate microphone anyway.

It’s a big piece of hardware with a relatively chunky build. But if you want something to stay in place for a static gaming setup, it’s a quality choice worth the higher price tag. You can fine-tune the focus, exposure, and white balance to get the best picture of your setup, but the automatic settings work well straight out of the box.

The Facecam Pro is backed by the versatile Camera Hub software, for customizing basic settings on the fly like FOV and contrast but gives you the means to tinker with white balance, shutter speed, and ISO. While it’s not quite as good as the Razer Kiyo Pro in certain lighting conditions, when paired with an Elgato Key Light it quickly ascends to best-in-class territory.

Read our Elgato Facecam Pro review.

2. Razer Kiyo Pro

The best webcam overall.

Razer Kiyo Pro specs:

Pros

• Great HD video at 60fps
• HDR looks wonderful
• Fantastic low-light performance

Cons

• Expensive

The Razer Kiyo Pro is the best webcam because it’s a fantastic all-rounder, with uncompressed 1080p video capture at a buttery-smooth 60 frames per second. It supports HDR too, provided you don’t mind the frame rate shifting down to 30fps. In place of the built-in ring light found on the base version, the Kiyo Pro boasts an upgraded sensor that can handle harsh and dim lighting conditions with ease.

Sure, it may be a little more expensive than some of the others, but it’s nothing when you consider everything it can do. Even in low-light settings, it manages to capture some great footage.

The field of view is set to a wide 103° by default, but you can turn this down as low as 80° via Razer’s Synapse software. If you’ve forgotten to pack your favorite gaming headset, the Razer Kiyo Pro can double up as a microphone too with omnidirectional chops. For those concerned about privacy can also rest easy, as it comes with a detachable cap for when you’re done showing off your face to your fans, friends, or colleagues.

3. Streamplify Cam

The best webcam under $100.

Streamplify Cam specs:

Pros

• Affordable
• Privacy cover
• 1080p/60fps under $100

Cons

• No software customization
• Mediocre quality with low-light

The Streamplify Cam is a fantastic budget webcam that doesn’t compromise on spec, and it’s designed with Twitch streamers in mind. Not only does it hit that 1080p 60fps sweet spot, but its form factor makes it an affordable alternative to its more expensive kin.

Streamplify’s electric eye comes with a few neat extras you won’t see on many other webcams in this price range. It’s got two built-in microphones and a 90-degree field of view, meaning you won’t need to cram your streaming backdrop into a tiny frame.

There’s also something to be said about the Streamplify Cam’s built-in lens shutter, as it both blocks its gaze and cuts audio capture with a physical off switch for security. Y’know, just in case you’d rather keep any cyber creepers from watching you eat a sandwich or something.

4. Logitech Brio

The best 4K webcam.

Logitech Brio specs:

Pros

• Up to 4K at 60fps or HD at 30fps
• Lightweight design
• HDR

Cons

• Autofocus is inconsistent
• Pricey
• You can lose the additional privacy cover

Webcams rarely stand up to the quality of a fully-fledged DSLR camera, but the Logitech Brio’s high resolution, HDR-powered, 13-megapixel sensor bridges the gap nicely. It’s quite versatile depending on your needs, with 4K resolution at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps, or even 720p at a whopping 90fps.

You know you’re getting a quality product from Logitech, so its versatility is no surprise (neither, we suppose, is the price tag). It’s a lightweight bit of hardware too, which can easily be transported around, which will appeal to gamers on the go.

There’s a wide 90° field of view, although a digital 5x zoom can reduce that if needed. It also comes with a flip-down privacy shutter that attaches above the lens, a carrying bag, and Windows Hello facial recognition support for super-fast authentication when logging in.

5. Sony Alpha a7 II

Top mirrorless camera for premium streams.

Sony Alpha a7 II specs:

Pros

• Value for money
• Full frame sensor

Cons

• Needs an adapter to use on the PC
• Priciest option here

While Logitech’s Brio 4K camera gives the best image quality out of the small sensors found on a conventional webcam, there’s nothing quite like a full mirrorless or DSLR camera for broadcast-quality video.

In case it’s not obvious, this is not a webcam. It’s a digital camera that can double as a webcam if you need it to. This might be useful if you want to use it for filming or photographing other things, rather than just you at your desk, so the bigger price tag is quite justifiable when you think of all the applications.

By downloading Sony’s Imaging Edge Webcam software and connecting the camera via USB, you’ve got the camera turned into a fully functioning webcam, with unrivaled image quality. You can even take things up a notch by adding with Sony’s 18-135mm zoom lens too.

6. Elgato Cam Link 4K

The best camera capture card.

Elgato HD60 S+ specs:

Pros

• Bridges the gap between DLSR and gaming PC
• Easy to use
• HD version available to save money

Cons

• More expensive than some webcams

If you already have a camera lying around and want to turn it into a webcam, the Elgato Cam Link 4K is just what you need. If your camera has an HDMI output, it’ll plug right into this dongle which Windows recognizes as a dedicated camera.

In terms of specs, it’ll support 4K video output at 30 frames per second or 1080p at 60 fps. That’s not bad at all and will give you some smooth, high-quality footage – ideal for making your streams stand out.

This requires a little more technical expertise than a simple plug-and-play webcam, but for those who want a slightly fancier setup, this is probably the way to go.

7. OBSBOT Tiny 4K

The best webcam for conferencing.

OBSBOT Tiny 4K specs:

Pros

• Auto face and body tracking
• Gesture controls
• HD option to save money

Cons

• Not Windows Hello compatible
• Expensive

There are plenty of webcams out there that include face and body tracking as a core part of their features, but most rely on software gimmicks that make panning a little sluggish.

The OBSBOT Tiny 4K has a built-in gimbal and AI to physically turn its head, meaning you never miss a beat as you wander around the room or shuffle in your gaming chair. The software is intuitive with three customisable presets so you can always return it to its original position. It has a timer when it’s not in use that makes it automatically look downwards to preserve your privacy.

You don’t necessarily want to open up the software mid-presentation or mid-stream to make a point, and that’s where gestures come in handy. There’s a learning curve that might make you feel a little silly waving your hand next to your face as you figure out what gesture does what, but zooming in and out to emphasize a point is so much easier. At the sacrifice of Windows Hello, which would have been a nice addition, we’ve never been able to position our lens so perfectly without sticking a webcam on a tripod.

How to choose the best webcam

If you want a new webcam, start by thinking about what you’ll use it for and how much you want to spend. The cheapest options are likely to be an improvement on your machine’s built-in camera, but won’t offer 4K resolution or any tracking features. 60fps is the standard frame rate for most models, but if you want the movement to be more fluid, look at 90fps and above.

If you already have one of the best gaming mics, you won’t need a webcam that has an integrated one. On the flip side, a webcam with a mic means you won’t have to buy one separately.

For more on how we decide which products to include in these lists, check out our how we test page.