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 overall 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. Read more below
Best for business use A stylish webcam that offers a great range of features, such as a three different zoom settings, and the choice either 4K 30fps or Full HD at 60fps. There's a privacy shield built-in too. Read more below
Best 4K Despite being such a low price, Depstech webcam not only comes with 4K but noise cancelling dual mics, that will pick up your voice and filter out background noise automatically. With an an 8MP Sony CMOS sensor, it's great for streaming. Read more below
Best for portability This is a really small add-on webcam, so a good accessory for those who commute or travel. It has a slightly less wide-angle field of view, and slightly lower resolution to the very similar Logitech C270.
Best cheap This is the cheapest webcam in Logitech's huge range - and has a slightly lower resolution than the C310 (0.9 megapixels vs 1.2 megapixels. Read more below
Also consider A low-cost offer from the mighty Microsoft that offers a basic 720P video performance, and lacks options such as autofocus. This webcam is now 14 years old, and the fact that it is still going is proof it is brilliant at the basics. Read more below
Best budget webcams in 2024
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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 fairly basic. 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.
Frame rate: Up to 4K at 30 fps, or 1080p at 60 fps
Field of view: 65, 78 or 95 degrees
System requirements: Windows 7 or later, Mac 10.11+
Privacy shutter: Yes
Reasons to buy
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Excellent 4K video quality
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Great design with good software
Reasons to avoid
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Autofocus is not perfect
If you're looking for a webcam for business use, but are short on funds, then here's a great option. The 4K top resolution immediately impresses, but for us it is the excellent design and features that made us grow to love this webcam – and particularly at the price.
It is not the smallest dashcam but it gives you valuable options such a switchable field of view to ensure you can frame up the shot to show exactly the amount of background you want to show. We loved having a built-in privacy shield too. Autofocus is not perfect - but we've come to expect this on all but the most expensive webcams.
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 claims it can pick up your voice and filter out background noise automatically.
Its picture quality is pretty good, too, thanks to an 8MP Sony CMOS sensor and intelligent autofocus, making this webcam a great choice for streaming. However, in our tests we were not particularly impressed by the autofocus or the sound performance from this budget option.
Do be warned that many online services do not support 4K, so you won't always see the benefit from the increased resolution.
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
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Small
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Light
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Easy to setup
Reasons to avoid
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Not Full HD
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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 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 very cheap.
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
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C310 has better picture
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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.
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.
What resolution should I look for in a budget webcam?
For a budget webcam, a resolution of 720p should generally be considered sufficient for most video conferencing and online communication needs. This level of resolution provides a good balance between image quality and bandwidth requirements. If your budget allows for it, though, you'd ideally opt for a webcam with 1080p resolution or higher for even better image clarity.
Is a 30fps frame rate enough?
A frame rate of 30 frames per second (fps) is generally considered sufficient for video conferencing, online streaming, and casual content creation. Keep in mind, though, that other factors such as resolution, low-light performance, and autofocus capabilities also contribute to overall video quality. If you're streaming professionally though, you may want to consider a webcam with a higher frame rate. (And indeed, you shouldn't really be looking for a budget webcam if this is going to be your job!).
Do budget webcams come with microphones?
Yes, many budget webcams come equipped with built-in microphones. However, it's essential to note that the audio quality can vary between cheap webcams. If high-quality audio is crucial for your needs, you may want to consider investing in a separate microphone.
Finding the best budget webcam for you involves considering which features are most important to you. First, how essential is high picture quality? When it comes to resolution, 720p is often sufficient for basic video calls, opting for a 1080p webcam can provide clearer and more detailed images. But you should also consider each webcam's low-light performance, autofocus capabilities, and field of view.
Frame rate is another crucial aspect. A standard frame rate of 30fps is generally sufficient for most applications, but if you engage in activities like gaming or high-speed movements, a webcam with a higher frame rate might be preferable for smoother video playback.
Built-in microphones are common in webcams, but their quality can vary. Ensure the microphone meets your audio needs or be prepared to invest in a separate microphone for improved sound quality.
We test all webcams in the same way, whether they're priced high or low. We thoroughly examine each model by subjecting it to everyday tasks, including video calls, conference sessions, streaming and recording sessions.
Our testing process places a strong emphasis on image quality, going beyond the specifications listed on paper, such as resolution and frame rate. Our evaluation extends to assessing color and clarity under diverse lighting conditions, encompassing both natural and artificial light, bright and dark environments. Additionally, we scrutinize the sound quality of each webcam.
Rather than solely relying on technical specifications, we focus on real-world scenarios to provide a comprehensive understanding of each webcam's capabilities. This meticulous testing approach ensures that our recommendations are based on practical performance.
Best 4K Despite being such a low price, Depstech webcam not only comes with 4K but noise cancelling dual mics, that will pick up your voice and filter out background noise automatically. With an an 8MP Sony CMOS sensor, it's great for streaming. Read more below
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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.
