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.
The best Mac webcams provide much better image quality to the one that comes built into your computer. Unlike the static webcam in your computer, they can be moved around to capture you from a better angle. And some also come with a built-in mic, noise-canceling tech or digital or optical zoom.
We've drawn on our experience using, testing and reviewing Mac webcams to round up the best on the market today below. They cover a range of different prices and include options for single users, streamers, and conferences.
Note that 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.
Best overall
If you want to look your very best online, this is the best Mac webcam in town. The Razer Kiyo Pro offers Full HD at 60fps, which hits the perfect sweet spot between picture quality and bandwidth. Read more below
Best for streaming Aimed squarely at professional streamers, this webcam focusses squarely on image quality and ditches any features that could distract your viewers. Note that you'll need an external mic, though. Read more below
Best for streaming with mic This webcam is both great for streaming and comes with a dual mic setup. There's also a range of mounting options, good autofocus, and automatic framing to keep you centered. Read more below
Best 4K webcam This webcam is both great for streaming and comes with a dual mic setup. There's also a range of mounting options, good autofocus, and automatic framing to keep you centered. Read more below
Best compact webcam The Osbot Meet 4K is beautifully compact, making it a good choice for travel. A great choice for streaming, we found it was able to work with different kinds of lighting, including dim rooms. Read more below
Best for budget streaming? Want to stream in decent quality, but tight on budget? Then we recommend the Logitech C922 Pro. Despite its relatively low price, it's still one of the best webcams for streaming around. Read more below
The best Mac webcam in 2024
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Best overall
(Image credit: Alistair Charlton/Digital Camera World)
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. In practice, in our own tests we found that once tweaked, the image quality from the Kiyo Pro was excellent. He felt his appearance in Zoom and Teams meetings had been treated to a major upgrade.
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.
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, 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.
This webcam is compatible with macOS 11.0 or newer. Read our full Elgato FaceCam review for more details.
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.
In our own tests we found the image quality it delivered was beautifully crisp, so anyone upgrading from their integrated laptop webcam will see a major improvement. Sound quality was also good thanks to the dual-mic stereo setup.
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.
This webcam is compatible with macOS 10.14 or newer. Read our full Logitech Streamcam review for more details.
Frame rate: Up to 30fps at 4K, 60fps at 1080p, 90fps at 720p
Field of view: 90 degrees
Size: 63 x 36 x 19mm
Weight: 44g
Reasons to buy
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4K
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Adjusts for light
+
5x digital zoom
Reasons to avoid
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Not the cheapest
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.
Beta ‘Virtual Background’ struggles with untidy hair
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Occasionally slow to react to settings changes
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 own tests, 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.
This webcam is compatible with macOS 10.13 or newer. Read our full Obsbot Meet 4K review for more details.
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. In our own tests we found the video quality it delivered to be excellent, with the exposure and white balance adjusting quickly to the environment, and the autofocus also performed well.
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.
This webcam is compatible with macOS 10.10 or newer. Read our Logitech C922 Pro review for more details.
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.
This webcam is compatible with macOS 10.14 or newer. Read our full eMeet c960 review for more details.
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.
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.
All Macs come with an in-built webcam, but an external webcam will usually give you better image quality thanks higher resolution sensors and better lenses. Some external webcams also offer features that built-in webcams don't, such as autofocus, low-light correction, and zoom. They also provide extraflexibility: you can position an external webcam wherever you want, which can be helpful for video conferencing or streaming.
How do I know if a webcam is compatible with my Mac?
You need to check two things. Firstly, ensure the webcam's connection type (USB-A or USB-C) matches your Mac's ports. Secondly, check the webcam's software requirements to ensure it's compatible with your Mac's operating system (macOS version). The most reliable way to check compatibility is to visit the webcam manufacturer's website and look for a compatibility list or search page. They often list specific Mac models or operating systems the webcam is compatible with.
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.
To choose the best webcam for you, consider what you will be using the webcam for. For instance, is it video conferencing, streaming, making calls or making video recordings? Different uses demand different features. For basic videos calls, a 1080p resolution webcam with a built-in microphone will suffice. For serious streamers and creators, look for higher resolutions (2K or 4K), fast frame rates (60fps for smooth action), and features like autofocus and low-light correction.
Many of us at Digital Camera World 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.
With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones.
Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones.
