What it the best webcam? Whether you’re regularly streaming or mostly need a webcam for dialing into work calls, a good webcam is now an essential PC upgrade for most PC gamers. A dedicated webcam can also give you a huge boost in image quality compared to the built-in offerings found on your laptop.
Our current best overall pick is the Logitech C920 as it simply offers such a solid combination of decent 1080p image quality and solid sound quality from its inbuilt mics and is generally great value. If you’re looking for a step up to 4K image quality, though, the Elgato Facecam Pro is the way to go. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for advice on which webcam to pick, check out the how to choose a webcam section at the bottom of this page. There you’ll also find the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) for webcam buyers.
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Best webcams in 2025:
Logitech C920 HD Pro specifications:| Resolution | 1080p/720p |
| Frame rate | 30fps |
| Sensor | 3MP |
| Field of view | 78° |
| Focus type | Auto |
| Microphone | Stereo |
Reasons to buy- Affordable
- Decent HD video quality
- Reliable autofocus
Reasons to avoid- Tinny microphone
- Low frame rate
The Logitech C920 HD Pro has been around for years, but it’s still a fantastic budget webcam and the place to start if you’re just seeking your first webcam upgrade. For its sub $60 price (generally), it’s the best value webcam around.
The C920’s design is subtle and compact and incorporates a really easy-to-use monitor mount. It also has LED lights to indicate when the camera and microphone are on, though come with a lens cover, but it’s easy enough to just turn the camera around or tilt it upwards.
Image quality is limited by the 1080p resolution (rather than 4K) and 30fps frame rate (rather than 60fps) but it’s still absolutely fine for video chats and basic streaming. The inbuilt microphones also work well and Logitech’s software makes it easy to tweak the focus, brightness, and contrast of your picture.
Read our Logitech C920 HD Pro review.
Best streaming webcam overall
Elgato Facecam Pro specifications:| Resolution | 1080p |
| Frame rate | 60fps |
| Sensor | Starvis CMOS |
| Field of view | 24-83° |
| Focus type | Auto |
| Microphone | None |
Reasons to buy- High quality, 4K/60fps capture
- Mirrorless-like tuning experience
- Great optional software
Reasons to avoid- Lacks integrated microphone
- No privacy filter
The Elgato Facecam Pro is the company’s premium dedicated streaming webcam. It’s a great 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 crisp and smooth footage with excellent overall image quality.
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.
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. You can also 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 big downside here is there’s no built-in mic at all, so you’ll need to invest in a gaming microphone to record your voice as well as your face.
Read our Elgato Facecam Pro review.
Best 1080p streaming webcam
Elgato Facecam MK.2 specifications:| Quality | 1080p/60fps, 1080p/30fps, 720p/60fps, 720p/30fps, 540p/60fps, 540p/30fps |
| Sensor | Sony Starvis CMOS |
| Field of view | 84° |
| Focus range | 30-120cm |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Connection | USB 3.0, USB 2.0, Type-C |
| Weight | 90g (without mount) |
Reasons to buy- 1080p 60fps native quality is crystal clear
- Overall design is a big improvement over MK.1
- Camera Hub is great for customizing image quality
Reasons to avoid- Feels like a Facecam Pro ‘lite’ rather than a new innovation
- Max 1080p resolution
- Quality comes at a high cost
If you’re serious about streaming, but aren’t yet ready to invest fully into 4K, the Elgato Facecam MK.2 is a great option, while anyone upgrading from older 720p or 30fps webcams will also see a substantial improvement. It’s enough of an upgrade from the first Elgato Facecam, but not quite a competitor for the Facecam Pro.
An improved design with a built-in privacy shutter allows peace of mind when the camera isn’t being used. The Elgato Camera Hub also gets an upgrade to ensure it keeps up with the Facecam MK.2, and you can spend hours tweaking your image quality, adjusting the high dynamic range, and even creating videos at 120fps. Built-in automatic settings are present for those who want a great image without adjusting sliders, but be wary that there is no lighting on the Facecam MK.2 if your PC finds itself in poor lighting conditions.
It’s not the cheapest 1080p webcam and like its Pro sibling, it lacks a microphone at all, but its solid image quality is the reason you’ll want to consider this cam.
Read our Elgato Facecam MK.2 review.
Best webcam for conferencing
OBSBOT Tiny 2 specifications:| Resolution | 4K |
| Frame rate | 30fps |
| Sensor | 24.3 MP CMOS |
| Field of view | N/A |
| Focus type | Auto |
| Microphone | Mono |
Reasons to buy- Auto face and body tracking
- Gesture controls and remote control
- Fantastic image quality
Reasons to avoid- 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 2 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.
All this and image quality from this camera is superb and it’s incredibly compact. You do pay a high price for all that tech but it delivers the goods if you need it.
Read our full OBSBOT Tiny 2 review.
Razer Kiyo Pro
Best for low light
Razer Kiyo Pro specifications:| Resolution | 1080p |
| Frame rate | 60fps |
| Sensor | Starvis CMOS |
| Field of view | 80-130° |
| Focus type | Auto |
| Microphone | Omnidirectional |
Reasons to buy- Great HD video at 60fps
- Fantastic low-light performance
- HDR looks wonderful
Reasons to avoid- Expensive
- Middling mic quality
- Only 1080p
Thanks to its large 1/1.2-inch Sony Starvis CMOS sensor and wide f1.7 aperture, the Razer Kiyo Pro is among the best webcams for producing a great image even in low light. So, if you don’t want to have to resort to shining lights in your face for a clear image while streaming, it’s a great option.
It does only hit up to 1080p resolution, so isn’t the sharpest image compared to 4K models but it can run at up to 60fps for a smooth frame rate.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.
The camera also offers 3D noise reduction via the Razer Synapse app, though the built-in microphones are the best overall so it’s best paired with a dedicated gaming microphone.
For those concerned about privacy 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.
How to choose the best webcam
If you want a new webcam, think about what you’ll use it for and how much you want to spend. If you just need a camera for boring work video calls – and you don’t need to do slick presentations on camera – then an entry level option will get all you need, and these can be had for well under $50. Likewise, if you’re just casually sharing your video stream with friends while gaming, rather than a pro streamer. A basic 1080p resolution and 30fps frame rate is all you’ll need.
If you work calls regularly require you to do presentations or you’re looking to up your game streaming… game, a mid-range webcam costing around $100-$150 should do the job. Look for a higher 4k resolution at 30fps or a 1080p model that can hit 60fps. The former will get you a clearer picture while the latter will keep up with more motion on screen. Many cameras offer both modes so you can switch between them.
If you’re really looking for a premium webcam for regular professional streaming and presentations, you have three main options. There are movement-tracking PTZ cameras that have a motorized mount that will move the camera to zoom in on you, such as the OBSBOT Tiny 2. Then there are large-sensor, high-quality standard webcams, which are great for low-light setups, such as the Razer Kiyo Pro and Elgato Facecam Pro.
The final option you have is to use a whole separate camera and connect it to your computer using a device such as the Elgato Cam Link 4K. This means you get the even better image quality of a camera, with perhaps an optical zoom or even swappable lenses, for a truly high-end look.
Webcam FAQ
What is a webcam?
A webcam is a camera that has an in-built computer-compatible connection, such as USB. That means you can connect them to your gaming PC without the need for any extra devices to convert the signal.
You can also connect normal cameras to your PC but you’ll need a converter device to changed the video output of your camera to a USB connection. Devices such as the Elgato Cam Link can do this.
Do all webcams have microphones?
No, not all webcams have microphones. Some ultra budget options don’t and some premium options don’t either, such as the Elgato Facecam. The latter are aimed at buyers looking to match a webcam with a dedicated high-end microphone, such as you’ll find on our best gaming microphone guide.
Is a 1080p webcam good enough?
For most users, yes, 1080p is a high enough resolution webcam. It’s enough to see your face clearly, allowing for easy interpretation of your facial expressions and mouth movements to aid understanding and is enough to show some detail when trying to show off something to camera – your new gaming mouse, perhaps.
However, not all 1080p cameras are made equal. We’d recommend no lower than 30fps at this resolution for a reasonably smooth image and better quality webcams will produce a sharper image with better colors, especially in lower light conditions.
If you already have one of the best gaming microphones, 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.
