The best webcam will make you look much more organised and professional on video calls. Whether you're using Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Skype, you'll present a higher quality picture to others, and sound clearer, too.
For the highest image quality, you'll need one of the best 4K webcams. But if you can't afford one, any of the webcams on our list will almost certainly have better resolution than the one built into your laptop. They'll also make it easier to position your camera, to show you and your home office in the best light.
Maybe your laptop doesn't have a webcam at all, or you're using your phone or tablet for work calls. In which case, even one of the best budget webcams could help raise your game. If you're focused on meeting room use, meanwhile, take a look at our guide to the best conference room webcams. And if you're a Mac user, see our roundup of the best Mac webcams.
Best webcam overall
The Razer Kiyo Pro is our pick as the best webcam for home working overall. This is a premium camera that will help home workers look their best in meetings, conferences, interviews and more. Read more
Best budget webcam
The Razer Kiyo Pro is our pick as the best webcam for home working overall. This is a premium camera that will help home workers look their best in meetings, conferences, interviews and more. Read more
Best for low light
If your home office is on the gloomy side, this premium 2K webcam will help because, it's built around a light that large enough and soft enough to make video calls practical even in the dark. Read more
Best 4K webcam
A 4K webcam provides the ultimate in picture quality, and here's our top pick. Bear in mind, though, that you'll need fast and stable internet to make the most of the 4K resolution on video calls. Read more
4K webcam with advanced features
As well as 4K resolution, this 4K boasts clever AI tech that allows it to track a subject without the camera needing to move. In our tests, it coped well with imperfect lighting too. Read more
4K picture and high quality audio The Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro can record in Ultra HD 4K resolution, and stream in 1080p at 60 fps. Our tester was won over by the Brio's excellent HDR, smooth frame rate, ease-of-use and good audio quality. Read more
Best cheap webcam This webcam is even cheaper than our number 2 budget pick, and it's easy to set up, too. Yes, you're sacrificing Full HD, but its 720p resolution still looks nicer than most in-built webcams. Read more
Best cheap Windows The cheapest webcam we can recommend today, as long as you have a Windows computer to use it with. With 720p resolution, it's simple to set up, and the mic is good, too. Read more
Quality HD webcam Konftel makes some of the best conference room webcams, but the Cam10 is designed for personal use, and provides Full HD at 30fps. The best feature is the 4x digital zoom for when you want to go in close. Read more
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The best webcam overall
(Image credit: Alistair Charlton/Digital Camera World)
The Razer Kiyo Pro is our pick as the best webcam for home working overall. It offers Full HD at 60 frames per second, which means the video quality this webcam will provide is much better than an internal laptop cam. If you're willing to turn down the frame rate to a still-high 30fps, you can also get HDR. The field-of-view ranges from 80 to 103 degrees, and autofocus is on the menu too.
Our reviewer found the image quality from the Kiyo Pro was excellent, once tweaked to his preferred look. Using this webcam, rather than the inbuilt one in his laptop, meant Zoom and Teams meetings felt like they'd been treated to a major upgrade.
All in all, this is a premium camera that will help home workers look their best in meetings, conferences, interviews and more. However, it's pretty expensive, and so if you're low on funds, you may prefer one of the more affordable webcams on our list below. Alternatively, if you need 4K then our top pick is at number 4 on our list. For more details, read our full Razer Kiyo Pro review.
Short of money? The Logitech Brio 100 isn't as highly specced as the first webcam on our list. But it is a lot cheaper, and will still improve markedly on your laptop's internal webcam.
Our reviewer was immediately impressed with the Brio 100’s image quality. He found it handled tricky exposure really well, while sitting at a desk with a window behind him, and there was very little graininess in moderate lighting conditions.
Its Full HD video footage is sharp and accurate, with good color balance, and the universal monitor mount is nicely versatile. Audio quality is also acceptable, and while we would have like to see a detachable USB cable, for this price you'll be getting everything most people need out of a webcam. For more details, see our full Logitech Brio 100 review.
If your home office is on the dark and gloomy side, the AnkerWork B600 is a premium 2K webcam that's very much worth a look. Because rather than maxing-out pixel resolution, it's built around a light that large enough and soft enough to make video practical even in the dark. Our reviewer tested it in comparison to the 1080P FaceTime camera of a 2020 iMac, and the image felt clearer, richer and a lot closer to real-life in terms of color and tonal range.
The AI noise cancellation is also excellent and the software advanced overall. AI subject tracking and switching between three fields of view are handily accessible. For more details, see our full AnkerWork B600 review.
If you want the ultimate in picture quality, you'll want a 4K webcam, and here's the one we recommend right now for home working. Boasting a large, 1/2.8-inch Sony Starvis CMOS sensor with an 8.2-megapixel resolution, F2.7 aperture and HDR, this webcam offers superb video quality.
Thanks to the large sensor and high resolution, our reviewer found the video quality to be absolutely superb. In fact, when viewed from the other end of a video call, is wasnn’t too far behind that of a DSLR hooked up to a PC. Bear in mind, though, that you'll need a fast and stable internet connection to make the most of the 4K resolution on video calls. For more details, see our full Dell UltraSharp Webcam review.
If you want 4K resolution, here's another great webcam for home working. Aside from the super-high picture quality, it also comes with clever AI that allows it to track a subject without the camera needing to move.
Looking like a tiny GoPro, it boasts USB-C connectivity and is compatible with both Windows and Mac, with a companion app allowing to operate its more advanced features, such as a Video Preview window from which you can record to-camera pieces. In our tests, the 1/2.8-inch Sony sensor and f/2.2 aperture camera coped well with imperfect lighting, and at least away from the edges of the frame the image was very sharp. For more details, read our Obsbot Meet 4K webcam review.
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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Ultra HD video
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HDR
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Up to 90 frames per second
Reasons to avoid
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Overkill for some users
The Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro can record in Ultra HD 4K resolution, and stream in 1080p Full HD at 60 frames per second. The lens has different angles of view (65, 78 and 90 degrees), ensuring everything stays in frame and can be tweaked to suit your office layout. And with 5x digital zoom, you can crop a 4K image to 1080p with minimal image quality degradation.
There's also a 90fps option at 720p resolution if you want the ultimate super-smooth video, and the camera can record HDR (High Dynamic Range) video for improved contrast. Two omni-directional microphones and a PC monitor clip complete this brilliant webcam package. All that might be overkill for many users, but if you're looking for high quality picture and audio quality, this is what you need.
Overall, our tester was won over by the Brio's excellent HDR, smooth frame rate, ease-of-use and good audio quality. For more info, read our full Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro review.
The Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro can record in Ultra HD 4K resolution, and stream in 1080p Full HD at 60 frames per second. The lens has different angles of view (65, 78 and 90 degrees), ensuring everything stays in frame and can be tweaked to suit your office layout. And with 5x digital zoom, you can crop a 4K image to 1080p with minimal image quality degradation.
There's also a 90fps option at 720p resolution if you want the ultimate super-smooth video, and the camera can record HDR (High Dynamic Range) video for improved contrast. Two omni-directional microphones and a PC monitor clip complete this brilliant webcam package. All that might be overkill for many users, but if you're looking for high quality picture and audio quality, this is what you need.
Overall, our tester was won over by the Brio's excellent HDR, smooth frame rate, ease-of-use and good audio quality. For more info, read our full Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro review.
The Logitech HD C310 is even cheaper than our number 2 budget pick. What you're sacrificing here is Full HD, but it's 720p resolution still looks nicer than most in-built webcams.
It's a beautifully simple webcam to set up, even if you've never used an external webcam before. The microphone is good , too, with built-in proprietary noise-reducing technology for cleaner audio and an overall better experience for anyone fortunate enough to be on the other end of your broadcast.
Seamlessly integrating with any mainstream video-conferencing software, this is a cost-effective choice for anyone looking for the best webcam at a low price. For more details, read our full Logitech C310 webcam review.
If you're watching the pennies, then the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 offers a significantly cheaper alternative to the Logitech C310, 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.
Konftel makes some of the best conference room webcams, but the Cam10 is designed for more personal use; offering a well-built, if high price webcam for the home worker. You'll get a 1080p (Full HD) picture at 30fps, as well as a built-in privacy cover, and a connector to allow you to mount this on a tripod. But probably the best feature is the 4x digital zoom. That way, you can go in close when you want people to see the whites of your eyes (or not to see what is going on behind you). For more info, read our full Konftel Cam10 review.
This answer to this question depends on your job, and the culture of your company. But in general, if you have regular video meetings or need to collaborate with colleagues visually, a webcam is essential. Even if you don't use it every day, it's good to have one on hand for occasional calls or presentations. And while your laptop may already have an inbuilt webcam, any of the external webcams on our list will instantly lift the quality of your audio and picture.
What resolution webcam should I get?
A 720p webcam offers decent video quality that's usually good enough for Zoom calls with friends or video conferencing with colleagues. However, to make professional-looking videos or create streaming content for a public audience, a webcam with 1080p or higher resolution is a better option.
Is a built-in microphone important in a webcam?
Yes, a built-in microphone will allow you to produce clear audio during virtual meetings or conferences. For the best sound quality, look for webcam models that include noise-canceling features.
Here are some key factors to think about when choosing the best webcam.
• Resolution. While a resolution of 720p is basic high definition, if your laptop is a cheaper or older model you may well be surprised at the jump in quality. In any case, 720p is Standard HD, while 1080p is Full HD, and beyond that you're getting into 4K territory (see Best 4K webcams). While it might seem like a no-brainer that more resolution is better, in practice, you may find that your internet connection struggles to broadcast a 4K or even Full HD image without stuttering. Ideally, a webcam with multiple resolution options is the best buy.
• Audio is probably even more important than video when it comes to conferencing. If you find you are tinny and difficult to understand when talking into your laptop, it's worth knowing that most webcams have a better microphone to help improve sound recording. Some will even offer stereo, allowing your voice to come through nice and clearly, with background noise filtered out.
• Do check compatibility with your laptop - as not all have the same connection sockets. And if you are an Apple user, do check our guide to the best Mac webcams.
• Controlling your background, as well as how your head is framed, is key to setting a good impression at home. This means that being able to angle/position the camera is really useful, as is the option to zoom in and out.
We test the best webcams by putting each model through its paces, carrying out tasks such as video calls, conference sessions, streaming video and making recordings of ourselves. Image quality is a cornerstone of our testing process, and so we pay attention to what the picture looks like in practice, and don't just rely on the specs on paper, such as resolution and frame-rate. We look at color and clarity under varying lighting conditions, including natural and artificial light, bright and dark, as well as scrutinising sound quality.
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.
