The Best Webcams for Team Meetings

It was virtually impossible to buy a webcam just a few years ago (in 2020) when the avalanche of video calls made many of us realize just how bad our computers’ built-in webcams actually were.

Fortunately, the price spikes and shortages are now (mostly) over, and right now you can quite easily get a great external webcam for a reasonable price. And you’re going to want to do so because video conferences and remote work don’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Why You Should Buy an External Webcam

For anybody with a laptop or desktop that’s more than two years old (from 2020 or before), chances are that its built-in webcam isn’t very good. That’s because up until the pandemic, when people started working remotely and taking more video calls, it just wasn’t a high priority for manufacturers. A lot of older computers have a webcam that’s capable of capturing a 720p image (or worse), which frankly isn’t very good.

Now that we live in a hybrid working world and video conference calls are a common practice, a good webcam has become rather important. Instead of replacing your entire computer to get one with a solid webcam, you can just an external webcam. It’s the cheaper option. Plus, many of today’s external webcams are higher quality and have unique features than the built-in webcams of new computers.

What to Look for

4K, 2K or 1080p resolution: Most older desktops and laptops have built-in webcams with not-so-great resolution — think 720p or less. So when you upgrade to an external webcam, you typically have the choice of resolution. The higher-resolution webcams are, as you’d expect, more expensive.

Make sure it’s compatible with your computer: Not every webcam works with every computer, which is why when researching which to buy you want to make sure it’s compatible with your Mac or Windows PC. Some webcams have companion apps that allow you to customize various settings, such as frame rate, resolution, brightness and more. And if these companion apps aren’t available on your computer, then you’re not going to get the most out of your webcam.

Field of view (FOV): This is simply how much of you — and your background — the webcam captures and keeps in frame. Typically, a webcam’s FOV can range from 60 degrees to over 100 degrees. The wider the FOV, the more that the webcam is able to capture. Some webcams allow you to switch between several FOVs, too, which is usually done via companion software.

Built-in microphone and speakers: There are quite a few webcams that are designed as all-in-one solutions, meaning they also come with built-in microphones and speakers. This tends to jack up the price of the webcam and can be unnecessary (and inconvenient) if you already have external speakers or an external microphone that you already use.

The more features, the higher the price: Each webcam is a little different. They have different design features, such as privacy shutters, built-in mic, speakers and lighting. Additionally, there are some webcams that have special features for zoom, pan and tracking. And some have companion software that allows you to adjust things like lighting, ISO, shutter speed and more.

How We Tested

Tucker Bowe

There have been a lot of new webcams released in the last few years (in large part due to the fact that there are more remote workers who need them) and we do our best to test the best and most popular ones. When testing a webcam, we judge a number of things including its ease of use, picture quality, software and features, whether it has an integrated speaker or mic (which can sometimes be a good or not-so-good thing), and its compatibility with various video conferencing apps. Below, you’ll find our favorites or 2023. This list will continue to change and be updated as new webcams hit the market.

Dell UltraSharp Webcam

courtesy

Best 4K Webcam

Dell UltraSharp Webcam

amazon.com

$199.99

$178.45 (11% off)

SHOP NOW

Excellent 4K picture
Unique barrel-shaped design
Work with most video conferencing apps

Quite pricey
No built-in mic or speakers

Resolution: up to 4K (at 24 or 30fps)
FOV: 65, 78 or 90 degrees
Connectivity: USB-A (comes with USB-A to USB-C adapter)
Optimized apps: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype for Business
Compatibility: Mac or Windows

Dell’s UltraSharp Webcam is a true 4K webcam (a rarity) that connects to your computer via USB-C. You can adjust the resolution and the frame rates of the captured video — it can capture 4K at 30fps or 24 fps, and 1080p video at up to 60fps — and it also has some neat AI tricks to keep you in frame and in focus. It’s certified to work with most video conferencing apps, including Zoom and Microsoft Teams. The only real downside is that, considering its fairly steep price, it still lacks a built-in mic.

The Dell UltraSharp Webcam.

Tucker Bowe

Logitech Brio 500

courtesy

Best HD Webcam

Logitech Brio 500

amazon.com

$126.99

SHOP NOW

Unique design with manual privacy cover
Work with most video conferencing apps
Solid built-in microphone

Maxes out at 1080p resolution

Resolution: up to 1080p (at 30fps)
FOV: 65, 78 or 90 degrees
Connectivity: USB-C
Optimized apps: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Hangouts
Compatibility: Mac or Windows

Released at the tail-end of 2022, the Logitech Brio 500 is one of the company’s newest webcams and it’s effectively an updated version of the company’s , which was previously one of our favorites. The Brio delivers similar picture quality — 1080p at 30 fps or 720p at 60 fps — but has some nice upgrades. Specifically, it has a new ultra-wide lens and some more advanced autofocusing capabilities to help keep you in frame. But the neatest thing about the Brio 500 is its new cylindrical design, which integrates a rotating privacy shutter that you can manually open and shut as you see fit. It also does come with a built-in microphone, in case you were looking to kill two birds with one stone. All in all, the Brio 500 is a great all-around option for those who don’t quite want to dish out the extra cash for a true 4K option.

The Logitech Brio 500.

Tucker Bowe

Insta360 Link

Insta360

Most Feature-Packed Webcam

Insta360 Link

amazon.com

$299.99

SHOP NOW

Delivers up to 4K video
Super feature-packed with
Really cool design with automatic privacy mode

One of the most expensive webcams you can buy
You have to learn gestures and features to get the most out of this webcam

Resolution: up to 4K (at 24, 25 or 30fps)
FOV: 67 or 79.5 degrees (fixed)
Connectivity: USB-C
Optimized apps: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype
Compatibility: Mac or Windows

The Insta360 Link is a seriously awesome webcam. It’s a 4K camera that rests on a three-axis gimbal, which allows it to pan left and right, up and down, and track your movement so that you stay in focus and in frame. It also has several other AI-based abilities that make it even more versatile. There’s a “whiteboard” mode for presentations, a “portrait” mode that gives you a 9:16 crop for better mobile viewing, and there’s even an “overhead” mode where the webcam tilts downward and gives a top-down view of your desk.

The Insta360 Link.

Tucker Bowe

Logitech Brio 300

courtesy

Best Budget-Friendly Webcam

Logitech Brio 300

amazon.com

$77.99

$69.99 (10% off)

SHOP NOW

Relatively affordable
Neat manual privacy shutter
Works with most video conferencing apps

Maxes out at 1080p
Built-in microphone isn’t the best

Resolution: 1080p (at 30fps)
FOV: 70 degrees
Connectivity: USB-C
Optimized apps: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet
Compatibility: Mac or Windows

The Logitech Brio 300 is one of our new favorite budget-friendly webcams. It’s basically half the price of the Logitech Brio 500 (above), but delivers basically the same exact 1080p picture. The difference between the two is that the Brio 300 lacks the same quality built-in microphone and fancy auto-tracking capabilities. Plus it obviously has a different and more compact design, although it still has a really neat privacy shutter that you can manually rotate open and shut.

The Logitech Brio 300.

Tucker Bowe

Logitech 4K Pro

courtesy

Logitech 4K Pro

bhphotovideo.com

$199.99

SHOP NOW

Delivers crisp 4K video
Works with most video conferencing apps
Works with most video conferencing apps

Very expensive
Privacy shutter is a clip-on

Resolution: 4K (at 30fps)
FOV: 65, 78 or 90 degrees
Connectivity: USB-A
Optimized apps: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Skype
Compatibility: Mac or Windows

You can think of this as the upgraded version of the (now antiquated) , as it has a similar horizontal design, an L-shaped mounting clip and an attachable privacy cover. The big difference is that it’s one of the few webcams that is capable of capturing 4K video. It supports premium features like autofocus, auto light adjustment and motion tracking with high dynamic range. And you can choose between three different-field of-views (65, 78 and 90 degrees) via the companion app. It also has a surprisingly good integrated microphone. The only real downside (but not really considering you can spend a lot more on a webcam) is that it’s far from cheap.

The The Logitech 4K Pro.

Tucker Bowe

Logitech StreamCam

amazon.com

$169.99

$128.37 (24% off)

SHOP NOW

Compact, unique design
Easy software and packed with streaming features
Decent built-in microphone

Maxes out at 1080p
Still fairly expensive

Resolution: 1080p (at 60fps)
FOV: 78 degrees
Connectivity: USB-C
Optimized apps: N/A
Compatibility: Mac or Windows

The Logitech StreamCam was released in 2021 making it one of the company’s older webcams now. But it’s still a great all-around option, especially because it’s frequently discounted. The webcam shoots 1080p video (at up to 60fps) and connects to your computer via USB-C. It was designed with streamers in mind as it works with companion software that gives you a lot of customization options; you can adjust the usual features like picture resolution, frame rate, exposure and autofocus, but you can also easily add effects like filers or text overlays. It even comes with two mounts — one that works for your computer or monitor and another that works as a standalone tripod — so you can use it in several different ways.

The Logitech StreamCam.

Tucker Bowe

Dell Pro Webcam

courtesy

Dell Pro Webcam

dell.com

$134.99

$119.99 (11% off)

SHOP NOW

Delivers a 2K solid picture
Unique barrel-shaped design
Built-in microphone

Not as high-end as the Dell UltraSharp Wecam
Still a touch expensive

Resolution: 2K (at 24 or 30 fps)
FOV: 65 or 79 degrees
Connectivity: USB-A
Optimized apps: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype for Business
Compatibility: Mac or PC

The Dell Pro Webcam is a newer and more budget-friendly version of the company’s UltraSharp Webcam (above). It has pretty much the same exact cylindrical design, but it maxes out at 2K (which is still slightly better than 1080p) instead of 4K. The other slight trade-off is that the Pro Webcam rests slightly lower on your monitor and the mounting system isn’t quite as adjustable. The good news is that the Pro Cam actually has a built-in microphone — which the UltraSharp Webcam lacks — and it’s nowhere near as expensive.

The Dell Pro Webcam.

Tucker Bowe

Elgato Facecam

Courtesy

Elgato Facecam

amazon.com

$149.99

SHOP NOW

Impressive 1080 picture quality
Intuitive and highly customizable software
Works with most video conferencing apps

Still a bit pricey
Detachable privacy shutter is a bit awkward

Resolution: 1080p (at 60fps)
FOV: 82 degrees
Connectivity: USB-A
Optimized apps: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype
Compatibility: Mac or Windows

The Elgato Facecam is a fan-favorite webcam among streamers because it lacks autofocus (so there’s no need to worry about strange autofocus issues) and there’s no integrated mic, which is helpful because most streamers use their own external microphone anyway. That said, the Facecam captures an impressive 1080p picture (thanks to its high-quality Sony sensor) and its companion software gives you some DSLR-like controls, like the ability to adjust ISO, exposure and shutter speed.

The Elgato Facecam.

Tucker Bowe

AnkerWork B600 Video Bar

courtesy

Anker B600 Video Bar

amazon.com

$199.99

SHOP NOW

Excellent 2K picture quality
All-in-one solution with integrated speakers, microphone and glow light
Works with most video conferencing apps

Requires a separate power source
It’s huge
Quite expensive

Resolution: 2K (at 30fps)
FOV: 65, 78 or 95 degrees
Connectivity: USB-C
Optimized apps: Zoom, Skype, Google Hangout, Microsoft Teams
Compatibility: Mac or Windows

The AnkerWork B600 Video Bar is unique because it’s an all-in-one solution. It’s a 2K webcam that packs its own speakers, microphones, glow light and shutter. If you’re somebody who already has a good external microphone and speaker system, then you probably need to spend this much on a non-4K webcam. But if you want a device that can solve all your work-from-home needs, this is the package.

The Anker B600 Video Bar.

Tucker Bowe