The best budget webcam may not cost much but it will be a vast improvement on your laptop's internal webcam. And so you'll both look and sound better on your Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other videoconferencing platforms.
Alternatively, you could spend hundreds on the best 4K webcams, but do you really need to? After all, most of the webcams on this list cost less than $50 / £50 at the time of writing, yet still offer great-quality video and audio.
Below you'll find the best cheap webcams available today, for Windows computers and Macs, covering a range of prices, and with resolutions ranging from 780p to 1080p Full HD. However, if there's something specific you need that isn't catered for here, see our general guide to the best webcams.
Our top picks
Best overall
With Full HD 1080p video at 30fps, and a 90-degree field of view, the picture quality is very good. You can angle the camera up and downwards, and if you're in a dimly lit room, you'll appreciate the in-built auto low-light correction tech.
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Best for business use
A stylish webcam that offers a great range of features, such as a three different zoom settings, and the choice either 4K 30fps or Full HD at 60fps. There's a privacy shield built-in too.
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Best 4K
Despite being such a low price, Depstech webcam not only comes with 4K but noise cancelling dual mics, that will pick up your voice and filter out background noise automatically. With an an 8MP Sony CMOS sensor, it's great for streaming.
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Best for portability
This is a really small add-on webcam, so a good accessory for those who commute or travel. It has a slightly less wide-angle field of view, and slightly lower resolution to the very similar Logitech C270.
Best cheap
This is the cheapest webcam in Logitech's huge range - and has a slightly lower resolution than the C310 (0.9 megapixels vs 1.2 megapixels.
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Also consider
A low-cost offer from the mighty Microsoft that offers a basic 720P video performance, and lacks options such as autofocus. This webcam is now 14 years old, and the fact that it is still going is proof it is brilliant at the basics.
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Best budget webcams
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Best budget webcam overall
The eMeet c960 is our pick as the best budget webcam overall. It's easy and straightforward to set up and is compatible with both Windows and Mac. With Full HD 1080p video at 30fps, and a 90-degree field of view, the picture quality is very good. You can angle the camera up and downwards, and if you're in a dimly lit room, you'll appreciate the in-built auto low-light correction tech. Plus you get a privacy cover and good audio from two omnidirectional noise reduction mics.
As you'd expect from the price, this is fairly basic. For example, there's no digital zoom and no autofocus. But it'll still make your video calls look and sound much better than your computer's in-built webcam, for a low price indeed.
For more details, see our eMeet C960 webcam review
Best budget webcam for business
If you're looking for a webcam for business use, but are short on funds, then here's a great option. The 4K top resolution immediately impresses, but for us it is the excellent design and features that made us grow to love this webcam – and particularly at the price.
It is not the smallest dashcam but it gives you valuable options such a switchable field of view to ensure you can frame up the shot to show exactly the amount of background you want to show. We loved having a built-in privacy shield too. Autofocus is not perfect - but we've come to expect this on all but the most expensive webcams.
See our full Ankerwork C310 review
Best budget 4K webcam
Most, if not all, 4K webcams cost much more than this - but if you want the best in image quality than this is a great opion. The Depstech 4K webcam, comes with noise cancelling dual mics, that claims it can pick up your voice and filter out background noise automatically.
Its picture quality is pretty good, too, thanks to an 8MP Sony CMOS sensor and intelligent autofocus, making this webcam a great choice for streaming. However, in our tests we were not particularly impressed by the autofocus or the sound performance from this budget option.
Do be warned that many online services do not support 4K, so you won't always see the benefit from the increased resolution.
See our full Depstech DW49 Pro review
Best budget webcam for portability
The C310 HD, like the rest of the cheap webcams on our list, does not offer Full HD resolution. However, 720p at 30fps will be good enough for most purposes. And on the plus side, this device is very easy to set up. It's also very small (71 x 31 x 26mm) and super-light (75g).
This cheap webcam boasts auto light correction tech and noise reduction, but in practice, we didn't find either of these strikingly effective. So we'd mainly recommend this one if smallness and lightness are your priority; if you have a Chromebook (it's compatible with Chrome OS); or if you find one very cheap.
For more details, see our Logitech C310 webcam review
Best cheap webcam
At the time of writing, the C270 is the cheapest Logitech webcam on our list, despite being very similar to the C310 (number 4 on our list). That said, you do get a less powerful sensor (3MP to the C310's 5MP) and the field of view is slightly narrower (55 degrees, to the C310's 60 degrees).
Also, note that the C310 is a bit bulkier. On the whole, though, both webcams offer 780p resolution at 30fps, both are around the same weight, and both are compatible with Windows, Mac, and ChromeOS. So if every penny counts to you, the C270 is definitely worth considering.
For more details, see our Logitech C270 HD review.
Also consider
If you're watching the pennies, then the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 offers a significantly cheaper alternative to the LifeCam Cinema, featured above. In fact, at the time of writing, it's the cheapest webcam we can recommend today (as long as you have a Windows computer to use it with).
Like the former, you still get 720p resolution, a noise-reducing microphone, and TrueColor technology. The main things you're compromising on are the lack of autofocus, a narrower viewing angle, a less powerful (4MP) sensor, and a more limited digital zoom (4x). But given the current price differential, you may well find that acceptable.
For more details, see our Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 review
FAQs
What resolution should I look for in a budget webcam?
For a budget webcam, a resolution of 720p should generally be considered sufficient for most video conferencing and online communication needs. This level of resolution provides a good balance between image quality and bandwidth requirements. If your budget allows for it, though, you'd ideally opt for a webcam with 1080p resolution or higher for even better image clarity.
Is a 30fps frame rate enough?
A frame rate of 30 frames per second (fps) is generally considered sufficient for video conferencing, online streaming, and casual content creation. Keep in mind, though, that other factors such as resolution, low-light performance, and autofocus capabilities also contribute to overall video quality. If you're streaming professionally though, you may want to consider a webcam with a higher frame rate. (And indeed, you shouldn't really be looking for a budget webcam if this is going to be your job!).
Do budget webcams come with microphones?
Yes, many budget webcams come equipped with built-in microphones. However, it's essential to note that the audio quality can vary between cheap webcams. If high-quality audio is crucial for your needs, you may want to consider investing in a separate microphone.
How to choose the best budget webcam
Finding the best budget webcam for you involves considering which features are most important to you. First, how essential is high picture quality? When it comes to resolution, 720p is often sufficient for basic video calls, opting for a 1080p webcam can provide clearer and more detailed images. But you should also consider each webcam's low-light performance, autofocus capabilities, and field of view.
Frame rate is another crucial aspect. A standard frame rate of 30fps is generally sufficient for most applications, but if you engage in activities like gaming or high-speed movements, a webcam with a higher frame rate might be preferable for smoother video playback.
Built-in microphones are common in webcams, but their quality can vary. Ensure the microphone meets your audio needs or be prepared to invest in a separate microphone for improved sound quality.
How we test the best budget webcams
We test all webcams in the same way, whether they're priced high or low. We thoroughly examine each model by subjecting it to everyday tasks, including video calls, conference sessions, streaming and recording sessions.
Our testing process places a strong emphasis on image quality, going beyond the specifications listed on paper, such as resolution and frame rate. Our evaluation extends to assessing color and clarity under diverse lighting conditions, encompassing both natural and artificial light, bright and dark environments. Additionally, we scrutinize the sound quality of each webcam.
Rather than solely relying on technical specifications, we focus on real-world scenarios to provide a comprehensive understanding of each webcam's capabilities. This meticulous testing approach ensures that our recommendations are based on practical performance.
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Best 4K
Despite being such a low price, Depstech webcam not only comes with 4K but noise cancelling dual mics, that will pick up your voice and filter out background noise automatically. With an an 8MP Sony CMOS sensor, it's great for streaming.
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