7 best webcams for video calls and streaming

Best: For sound quality

Rating: 8/10

• Key Specs: Resolution, 3840 x2160 ; Driver Needed, No; Microphone, Yes; Autofocus, Yes

New from Trust, the teza 4K UHD webcam is one of the most affordable webcams we’ve tested, and its resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 30fps makes it a vibrant and enticing offering. With full autofocus we found the visuals to be super crisp and of high-quality, but the sound is where we thought the camera shone, with two integrated microphones that worked well picking up our voice from a variety of different angles. If you don’t have a headset with a built in microphone, for example, this would be a great option and we thought it was good value seeing as its a genuine UHD camera, too.

Best: Webcam on a budget

Rating: 7/10

• Key Specs: Resolution, 1280 x 720; Driver Needed, No; Microphone, Yes; Autofocus, yes

If you’re not looking to spend a lot, and you want to just install a camera that has a better quality than built-in phone or tablet webcams, we’d suggest the Microsoft LifeCam range. Its HD3000 is not the newest or most swish camera on the market, but it is available at a very competitive price and we found it the best option when twinned with Microsoft’s Teams platform. It’s only 720p, but it does feature a noise-cancelling microphone, and if you are in an area which is well-lit, the image quality is more than good enough for everyday and casual use.

Best: For full-time streamers

Rating: 9/10

• Key Specs: Resolution, 1920x1080p at 60fps; Driver Needed,Yes; Microphone, No; Autofocus, Yes

One of the best webcams on the market at the moment, the Razer pro is expensive but is targeted predominantly at content creators and those streaming or people who demand ultimate quality from their webcam. The jewel in its crown is its adaptive light sensor, meaning it’s one of the best on the market for its ability to retain image quality and colour rendition in a range of different lighting conditions. It also features uncompressed 1080p 60fps visuals and is HDR-enabled. We personally really enjoyed the adaptive field of view, which means you can set how much of the background you include, from relatively narrow to a wide 103-degrees.

Best: For all round use

Rating: 9/10

• Key Specs: Resolution, 1920x1080p at 60fps; Driver Needed: No; Microphone, Yes; Autofocus, Yes

This is the best webcam we’ve used that will fit into most people’s everyday lives. It doesn’t compromise on quality and produces excellent results in low light conditions, but also won’t break the bank when it comes to using it for streaming or activities that usually demand a higher specification or more expensive webcam.

Visual and sound quality is excellent, but like most webcams we found it to be at its best in daylight and sunny conditions as saturation, contrast and colour reproduction under artificial light can make it feel a little washed out at times. Having said that, for most people, this is as good a balance of price vs quality that you’re likely to find.

Best: For business calls

Rating: 8/10

• Key Specs: Resolution, 4K; Driver Needed, No; Microphone, Yes; Autofocus, Yes

With an adjustable field-of-view and 4K UHD at 30fps, this is one of the best webcams we’ve tested that’s designed primarily for business and professional use. It is relatively expensive, but it offers clever RightLight technology that keeps the colour, saturation and contrast well-balanced in work environments. Security is high up on the agenda too, as it works well with facial recognition technology and Windows Hello. If we were setting up our perfect boardroom, this would be the webcam we’d choose.

Best: For beginner streamers

Rating: 8/10

• Key Specs: Resolution, 1920x1080p 30fps; Driver Needed, No; Microphone, No; Autofocus, Yes

If the Razer kiyo pro (£119, Amazon.co.uk) is a little out of your price range, then the kiyo X is an alternative mid-range product is worth a look. We think it’ll suit entry-level streamers and content creators alike, and still provides many of the excellent features of Razer’s more high-level products.

It’s still a little more expensive than some of the others on this list, but for the extra money you get 1080p 30fps streaming capability, fully customisable visual settings using Razer synapse, and flexible mounting options alongside either manual or autofocus options. Unlike the kiyo pro, it doesn’t include a ring light, but it has more than enough features included for the everyday webcam user or streamer.

Best: For vertical social media sharing

Rating: 9/10

• Key Specs: Resolution, 1920x1080p HD 60fps; Driver Needed, No; Microphone, Yes; Autofocus, AI-enabled face tracking

Looking to create short videos at your desk for Twitch or Instagram stories? In our opinion, look no further than the Logitech StreamCam. Although it works perfectly well as a regular webcam for conference and work calls, it comes into its own when used for social media, as it has an easy-to-use vertical recording mode that natively records in HD in the right ratio to upload straight to stories. There’s a monitor mount and a tripod adaptor too, so you can set it up separately from your monitor or desk.