The best budget webcam in 2023

eMeet c960, one of the best budget webcams, placed on a desk
(Image credit: Amy Davies/Digital Camera World)

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.

Best budget webcams: our top picks

Best budget webcams in 2023

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(Image credit: Amy Davies/Digital Camera World)
Best budget option

Specifications

Resolution: 1080p
Sensor: 2.1MP
Frame rate: 30fps
Field of view: 90 degrees
System requirements: Windows Vista or later, Mac 10.4+, Android Smart TV
Privacy shutter: Yes
Size: 135 x 80 x 65mm
Weight: 240g

Reasons to buy

+
Full HD 
+
90-degree field of view
+
Low light tech

Reasons to avoid

-
No digital zoom

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 a fairly basic webcam. 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.

Product shot of Microsoft LifeCam Studio, one of the best cheap webcams

(Image credit: Microsoft)

2. Microsoft LifeCam Studio

best for business use

Specifications

Resolution: 1080p
Sensor: 5MP
Frame rate: 30fps
Field of view: 75 degrees
System requirements: Windows 7 or later, Mac 10.7+
Privacy shutter: No
Size: ‎45 x 60 x 114mm
Weight: 128g

Reasons to buy

+
HD video recording
+
5MP still 
+
Crystal-clear audio

Reasons to avoid

-
No privacy shutter

If you're looking for a webcam for business use, but are short on funds, then here's a great option. The LifeCam Studio from Microsoft is currently discounted on Amazon on both sides of the Atlantic, bringing it into the realm of cheap webcams, but still has some pretty high-end features.

These include a Full HD 1080p resolution for video recordings, and up to 720p on video calls. The CMOS sensor lets you take 5MP stills, and the 75° diagonal field of view and 360° rotation capability make it easy to capture everything that's going on. Audio is high quality, too, thanks to the inclusion a wideband microphone, and it boasts Microsoft’s TrueColor system for more accurate colors. Finally, although you might not expect it of a Microsoft product, it works with Macs as well as Windows computers.

(Image credit: Ausdom)

3. Ausdom AW615 Webcam With Built-in Microphone

best for audio

Specifications

Resolution: 1080p
Sensor: 2MP
Frame rate: 30fps
Field of view: 90 degrees
System requirements: Windows, Mac
Privacy shutter: Yes
Size: ‎118 x 117 x 52mm
Weight: 210g

Reasons to buy

+
Noise-cancelling 
+
Full 1080p HD
+
Digital zoom

Reasons to avoid

-
Not so great in low light

Do you make a lot of video calls from noisy offices? Then you may prefer the Ausdom AW615, because we found the noise-cancelling technology with its built-in mic worked the best out of all the cheap webcams on this list. 

This is also a great budget webcam in general. It's compatible with both Windows and Mac, and the picture quality is fantastic for the price, thanks to Full HD 1080p resolution, 30fps and a 65 degree viewing angle. Digital zoom is also included. On the downside, there's no privacy cover and the picture in low light isn't as good as the eMeet 960, number one on our list.

(Image credit: Jessica Weatherbed/Digital Camera World )
The best budget webcam for portability

Specifications

Resolution: 720p
Sensor: 1.2MP
Frame rate: 30fps
Field of view: 60 degrees
System requirements: Windows 7 or later / Mac 10.10 or later / Chrome OS
Privacy shutter: No
Size: 71 x 31 x 26mm
Weight: 71g

Reasons to buy

+
Small
+
Light 
+
Easy to setup

Reasons to avoid

-
Not Full HD
-
Lacks features

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 overall, 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 for a very low price. 

For more details, see our Logitech C310 webcam review.

(Image credit: Depstech)

5. Depstech 4K webcam

The best budget 4K webcam

Specifications

Resolution: 4K
Sensor: 1/3” Sony CMOS
Frame rate: 30fps
Privacy shutter: Yes
Field of view: 80 degrees
Compatible with: Windows XP (SP2,SP3)/Vista /7/8/10 /Mac OS
Size: 16 x 9.1 x 8.1 cm
Weight: 175g

Reasons to buy

+
4K picture quality
+
Dual mics
+
Noise cancelling tech

Reasons to avoid

-
4K is overkill for most users

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 will pick up your voice and filter out background noise automatically. Its picture quality is pretty darned good, too, thanks to an 8MP Sony CMOS sensor and intelligent autofocus, making this webcam a great choice for streaming. It comes with a tripod and a flexible clip supporting 360 degrees horizontal adjustment. Do be warned that many online services do not support 4K - so you won't always see the benefit from the increased resolution.

(Image credit: Logitech)

6. Logitech C505e

The best budget webcam for mounting versatility

Specifications

Resolution: 720p
Sensor: 1.2MP
Frame rate: 30fps
Field of view: 60 degrees
System requirements: Windows 7 or later / Mac 10.10 or later / Chrome OS
Size: 73 x 32 x 67mm
Weight: 75g
Privacy shutter: No

Reasons to buy

+
Long range microphone
+
Longer cable than most
+
Low price

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the cheapest

Logitech has a number of sub-$50 webcams available right now, and they're all pretty good. The C505e is very similar to the c310 (number 4 on our list); the main differences are the long-range microphone and extra-long cable.

The former is a single, omnidirectional mic with noise-reduction technology, which is engineered to support clear conversation up to 3m away, even in busy environments. The latter is a seven-foot long USB-A cable, along with a universal clip, giving you huge flexibility in terms of where to position your webcam.

See also Best Logitech webcams

(Image credit: Alistair Charlton/Digital Camera World)
A good choice for penny-pinchers

Specifications

Resolution: 720p
Sensor: 1.2MP
Frame rate: 30fps
Field of view: 55 degrees
System requirements: Windows 7 or later / Mac 10.10 or later / Chrome
Size: 73 x 32 x 67mm
Weight: 75g
Privacy shutter: No

Reasons to buy

+
Low price
+
Decent quality

Reasons to avoid

-
C310 has better picture
-
C310 is smaller and lighter

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.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

8. Microsoft LifeCam Cinema

The best budget webcam for features

Specifications

Resolution: 720p
Sensor: 1MP
Frame rate: 30fps
Field of view: 73 degrees
System requirements: Windows
Privacy shutter: No
Size: 51 x 128 x 129mm
Weight: 95g

Reasons to buy

+
Quality sensor 
+
Autofocus
+
5x digital zoom

Reasons to avoid

-
Windows only

Microsoft is a reliable and trusted tech brand, and a recent drop in price means its LifeCam Cinema webcam is now within the realms of "cheap". Note, though, that it's only compatible with Windows, so if you're using a Mac or Chromebook, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Otherwise, this well-made webcam has a lot to offer. With a quality, precision-cut, 5MP CMOS sensor, you'll enjoy a great picture with 720p resolution. And you'll benefit from a range of features, including TrueColor Technology, digital pan, tilt, and 5x digital zoom, auto focus (ranging from 6 inches to infinity), and automatic image adjustment with manual override. 

(Image credit: Alistair Charlton/Digital Camera World)
The cheapest webcam we can recommend today

Specifications

Resolution: 720p
Frame rate: 30fps
Field of view: 68.5 degrees
System requirements: Windows
Privacy shutter: No
Size: ‎44 x 39 x 109mm
Weight: 91g

Reasons to buy

+
Low price
+
Good features

Reasons to avoid

-
Windows only
-
No autofocus

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.

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Tom May

Tom May is a freelance writer and editor specializing in art, photography, design and travel. He has been editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine. He has also worked for a wide range of mainstream titles including The Sun, Radio Times, NME, T3, Heat, Company and Bella.