With the best Mac webcam, you'll look sharper and more professional on Zoom, as well as streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch. So if the dingy, low-quality picture from your in-built webcam is holding you back, it's time to invest in an external Mac webcam.
1. Best overall
2. Second best
3. Best for streaming
4. Best 4K Mac webcam
5. Best compact webcam
6. Best budget webcam
7. Best webcam with lighting
8. Best value
9. Lowest price
10. Best for videoconferencing
11. Best for home teaching
12. Best for 360-degree video
13. Best for 180-degree video
14. Best wide-angle webcam
The best Mac webcams often come with a built-in mic and even noise-canceling tech, improving audio too. Unlike the static webcam in your computer, they can be moved around to capture you from a better angle. Some even feature digital or optical zoom. And you don't need to spend a lot: even a cheap webcam can improve your image beyond what your inbuilt MacBook or iMac webcam can offer.
Below, you'll find the best Mac webcams on the market today. They cover a range of different prices and include options for single users, streamers, and conferences. These are all webcams that play well with Macs, although most of them work with PCs too. That said, if you're a non-Apple user, you should also read our guide to the best webcams overall.
Also read: Best monitors for MacBook Pro
Best overall
Fantastic image quality means with this webcam, you'll always look your best.
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Best for streaming
Aimed squarely at professional streamers, this webcam focusses squarely on image quality and ditches any features that could distract your viewers.
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Best 4K webcam
This webcam is a little pricier than some, but with pin-sharp 4K image quality, it's clear where your money is going.
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The best Mac webcam in 2023
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Best overall
We'll start with the best of the best. The Razer Kiyo Pro is the best Mac webcam for most people, for a number of reasons. First, it offers Full HD at 60 frames per second, which is fantastic video quality for a webcam. No, it's not 4K, but to be honest most of us don't need that. So we feel this hits the perfect sweet spot between picture quality and bandwidth.
Beyond that, the field-of-view ranges from 80 to 103 degrees, and you get autofocus too. If you turn down the frame rate to 30fps, you can get HDR too (in truth, 60fps is really just useful for gamers). In short, if you want to look your very best in meetings, conferences, and interviews online, this is the best Mac webcam in town.
This webcam is compatible with OS X 10.5 and above.
Read our full Razer Kiyo Pro review for more details
Second best
The Logitech Streamcam is pitched at streamers, but you don't have to be a YouTuber or Twitch presenter to enjoy it. In fact, we believe it's one of the best Mac webcams on the market today for most people.
Compatible with macOS 10.14 and above, it offers excellent 1080p 60fps resolution and a 78-degree field of view. There's also decent stereo audio from the dual mics.
There's a range of mounting options, good autofocus, and automatic framing to keep you centered on a Zoom call if you move around. Plus the free software lets you adjust the camera’s settings, create a colored border, and add text and lower-thirds to your videos, before outputting them. Overall, this is a great webcam for everyday use, at a very reasonable price. Our only niggle is that the included USB-C cable is not detachable.
Read our full Logitech Streamcam review for more details
Best for streaming
Like the first model on our list, the Elgato Facecam shoots at 1080p with a 60p frame rate. Unlike that model, though, this is squarely aimed at professional streamers. So much so, it's jettisoned features that normal users might find useful. Most strikingly, there's no autofocus and no mic.
If you just want a Mac webcam for Zoom calls and the like, then that might be irksome. If you just want a Mac webcam for professional streaming, though, it might be perfect, because you don't want any distracting movement of the camera while you're concentrating on your show, and you're going to use an external mic anyway. And you'll be very happy with the excellent picture quality you get from this camera overall.
Read our full Elgato FaceCam review for more details
Best 4K Mac webcam
Looking for 4K resolution from your webcam? You can get it for a surprisingly affordable price with the Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro. Plus if you want super-fluid frame rates, you can get 60fps by dropping down to 1080p and an impressive 90fps at 720p.
Suitable for Mac OS X 10.7 or higher, this webcam lets you choose between a 65, 78, or 90-degree field of view, and offers autofocus and 5x digital zoom too. Plus integrated RightLight 3 with HDR technology helps resolve issues caused by light that’s either too dim or too bright. In short, while this is a little pricier than the models we’ve mentioned so far, you can see where your money is going.
Read our full Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro review for more details
Best compact webcam
Content creators will struggle to find a better device for streaming, especially at this price. The settings afford the ability to work with different kinds of lighting, including pretty gloomy rooms. Our test was created using the ‘Record’ function of OBS – a popular streaming platform – and the fact Obsbot’s control software cause no issues is not to be sniffed at.
In our review, we found the microphone was a little quiet, but most apps allow this to be adjusters or streamers may well be using another anyway. Our only real issue was the slight sluggishness of some settings adjustments, but these are rarely an issue in day-to-day use.
It’s also a shame it doesn’t include a nice case like its sibling, but it is a good bit cheaper. That said with no exposed moving parts it can travel safely, and we’d definitely want it in our kit bag.
Read our full Obsbot Meet 4K review for more details
Best budget webcam
Want to stream in decent quality, but don’t have the budget for something like the Canon PowerShot? Then we recommend the Logitech C922 Pro. Despite its relatively low price, it's still one of the best webcams for streaming around.
You can stream at 1080p Full HD at 30 fps, or up the frame speed to 60fps by dropping down to 720p. Autofocus and instant light correction dose help in boosting picture quality, plus you also get a mounting clip, built-in flash, dual mics built in for stereo sound, and an 18.5cm tall tripod for your cash.
The C922 Pro is compatible with macOS X 10.9 or higher, and the free Logitech Capture App lets you customize recordings, adjust camera settings, and stream to YouTube within an easy-to-use interface.
Read our Logitech C922 Pro review for more details
Best webcam with lighting
While it’s been on the market for half a decade now, the original Razer Kiyo webcam still offers excellent value. Supporting OSX 10.5 and above, it comes with a ring light, made up of 12 LEDs set in a circle, and offers adjustable lighting levels and built-in autofocus.
So rather than the dark and dingy image most people portray when video calling from home, you’ll offer a bright and flattering picture that will help you come across as more attractive and professional.
The camera captures 1080p Full HD resolution at 30 frames per second, or you can opt for 60fps at 720p for super-smooth streaming. It comes with a foldable and adjustable stand, so you can either position it on your desk or clip it to your Mac. Plus it’s delightfully compact and portable, so we’d also consider this the best Mac webcam for travel too.
Read our full Razer Kiyo review for more details
Best value
On a tight budget? The eMeet c960 was less than half the price of the Razer Kiyo at the time of writing but still delivers impressive performance and features, making it suitable for online studying and teaching, home working, business meetings, and Zoom calls.
Supporting Mac OS 10.4 and above, you get the same 90-degree field of view, and the same high-definition 1080p video at 30fps. It’s a little bit bigger and heavier, but not massively so.
You don't get a ring light, but if you normally use your Mac webcam in a bright and light environment, that may be a compromise you’re willing to make. Especially as the eMeet c960 comes with automatic low-light correction technology to alleviate the problems of dim light. It also comes with two omnidirectional noise-reduction microphones.
Read our full eMeet c960 Review for more details
Lowest price
If you’re really short of cash, then you’ll be pleased to know you can still get a decent Mac webcam for just a few bucks. Supporting macOS 10.10 or higher, the Logitech C270 HD webcam is very much ‘no frills, but given how little it costs, you can't really complain about that.
The resolution is 720p at 30fps; the lowest on our list. It also has the most limited field of view, at 60 degrees. So it won’t be capturing your image in the most professional light possible, but it’s still fine for basic needs such as Zoom calls with friends and virtual classrooms.
On the plus side, it also comes with a mono mic that has noise reduction built-in, and it also comes with a universal mounting clip for fixing your Mac screen.
Read our full Logitech C270 HD Webcam review for more details - See also Best Logitech webcams
Best for videoconferencing
If you’re serious about your business videoconferencing, you’ll want to check out the Logitech ConferenceCam Connect. This portable, all-in-one videoconference solution offers HD 1080p video, professional audio, and multi-device connectivity that’s ideal for groups of one to six people.
Supporting Mac OS X 10.7 or higher, it comes with a generous 90-degree field of view with a digital pan, mechanical tilt, and a ZEISS glass lens with autofocus. In other words, you’ll always be able to capture yourself and your surroundings how you want, wherever you’re videoconferencing from.
Audio is superior too: the mobile speakerphone features Bluetooth, NFC, and 360-degree sound, and users can be heard within a 12-foot diameter range. it can be plugged in or powered by a built-in rechargeable battery.
There’s also a dockable remote control, providing pan, tilt, and zoom features. You can connect to your Mac through a wired or wireless connection, and noise- and echo-cancellation is built in. Overall, then, this is the best conference webcam for Mac; a premium option with a premium price to match.
Read our full Logitech ConferenceCam Connect review for more details
Best for home teaching
If you want a webcam for home teaching, you’ll be looking for the best document camera, which can capture details of your teaching materials in high resolution. For those purposes, we recommend the Aver U50, which is suitable for use on Intel-based Macs running Mac OS X 10.5.8 or above.
This classroom document camera comes with built-in LEDs to illuminate your material, plus the 5MP CMOS sensor and 8x digital zoom enable you to magnify and highlight specific details for your students.
The Aver U50 design makes it very flexible, with a gooseneck camera for those awkward filming angles, and a foldable design for storing away in tight spaces. You can capture Full HD at 30fps, and it’s nice and easy to set up too, via a single mini-USB cable.
Best for 360 degree video
The Meeting Owl is the most expensive webcam on this list by far, but you do get features to match. Most notably, it captures 360-degree video, making it perfect for large meetings around a physical table. (Of course, there aren’t many of those going on right now, but in the months to come, who knows?)
This webcam captures video in 1080p HD and 360-degree audio up to 18 feet (5.5m). It automatically focuses on whoever is speaking to foster active participation in meetings. And you have the option to pair up with other Meeting Owl Pros to support even larger conference rooms and classrooms.
Best for 180 degree video
For a more affordable way to capture immersive video and audio with your webcam, check out the Jabra Panacast.
It offers 180-degree video at 4K resolution, using three 13-megapixel cameras and real-time video stitching. HDR tech adjusts the video intelligence to ambient lighting conditions, and the camera zoom adjusts automatically to include everyone in the conversation.
Compatible with macOS X 10.9 or later, the Jabra PanaCast can be mounted on walls, or for a more flexible installation, a table stand is available for an additional cost. Note that the cable delivered with the camera is USB-A, so you'll need one of the best USB-C hubs to work with a USB-C-only device.
Best wide angle webcam
Need a wide field of view, but don't want to spend much money? Then we recommend the Hrayzan 1080P HD Webcam.
Offering a 110-degree view, you'll be able to take in more of your surroundings, which is particularly useful if you're on a video call with one or more colleagues. It's also easy to set up using a magnetic mount, comes with a privacy cover, includes 28.6 x zoom, and is very affordable. Admittedly the audio's not the highest quality, but for what you're paying, this offers very good value overall.
FAQs
How we choose webcams for a Mac
Mac compatibility is, of course, top of the list. Many of us at digitalcameraworld.com are also Mac users, so have day-to-day experience with the convenience of the built-in cameras against their quality limitations. As such, we test the webcams we suggest in real meetings. That also means realistic home and office lighting conditions. When we're looking at a product with a special feature, like face tracking (which offers an alternative to Apple's Center Stage without you needing a new machine), we'll be sure to test that by moving around, too.
What is Apple Center Stage?
This is a feature on some of Apple's newer computers with built-in webcams which automatically keeps the person talking in frame. It is not a concept unique to Apple (the Obsbot Meet 4K does something similar, for example). The advantage of having it built into the system is that the software is updated quietly and efficiently by Apple so there are no worries at all. The disadvantage is that it needs to crop the pixels from the main camera.
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