Logitech is the manufacturer of our top pick, the Logitech HD Pro C920. We consider it the best overall due to its decent resolution, reasonable price, and features such as its 20-step auto-focus, automatic noise cancellation, and automatic low-light correction. If the Logitech HD Pro C920 isn’t the right fit for your needs or budget, be sure to scroll further down to check out our other webcam picks.
Logitech C920 Pro Stream Webcam
The best overall
Why should you buy this? It’s a solid 1080p webcam at a decent price point.
Who’s it for? It’s perfect for work-from-home employees.
To kick off our roundup, Logitech provides a solid camera for a decent price point. It provides a 1,080 x 720 resolution at 30 FPS, and a 1,280 x 720 resolution at 30/60 FPS. These resolutions are facilitated by the excellent lens, which includes 20-step auto-focus, automatic low-light correction, two integrated microphones with automatic noise cancellation, and a 78-degree field of view. The camera connects to the parent PC via a 72-inch cable with a USB-A 2.0-compatible connector, and there is the option to purchase a tabletop tripod if you don’t want to mount the camera on your screen.
The cam does tilt up and down, giving you plenty of room to manoeuvre your image and background, and the light correction and autofocus will help you to improve your quality, no matter what you need this for, although there is no 360-degree rotation available at this point. There’s also no privacy shade either, so make sure your meeting ends before picking at your face. The cam is rated to work on a variety of platforms, including macOS, Chrome OS, Android, Xbox One, and more.
Microsoft LifeCam 2 HD-3000
The best for any budget
Why should you buy this? It’s an affordable, reliable webcam.
Who’s it for? Anyone who needs a basic, easy-to-use camera.
If a cheap camera is what you seek, Microsoft has the solution for you. The LifeCam 2 HD-3000 is a small, mountable device supporting video chat with a 1,280 x 720 resolution at 30 FPS. Naturally, it’s certified for Windows and Skype, making it an affordable solution for Windows-based PCs in the home or office.
According to Microsoft, its budget-oriented camera relies on TrueColour technology to produce “bright and colourful” video in most conditions by supporting a 24-bit colour depth. The camera is backed by two omnidirectional microphones, a 4x digital zoom, and a 1MP still image resolution. But unlike the other cameras on our list, Microsoft’s solution has a fixed focus ranging from 11.8 to 59 inches in length.
Given this is a no-frills solution, the feature list basically stops there. There’s no tripod support, meaning the device focuses on adding video chat support to desktop monitors and laptop displays. Microsoft lists two sets of requirements: one for standard use, and one for streaming video in the 720p resolution. Both need a single USB-A 2.0 port or newer on the parent PC.
Razer Kiyo
The best webcam for streaming
Why should you buy this? It’s a webcam with built-in lighting.
Who’s it for? Anyone doing streaming that needs better lighting.
Why we picked the Razer Kiyo:
As a mere webcam, the Razer Kiyo impresses. It offers up to 1080p resolution at 30 fps and an autofocus component that comes in handy when moving closer to the cam or adjusting its position. The Kiyo is also compatible with Streamlabs tools, OBS, XSplit, and other popular platforms for customizing your streaming setup just the way you like.
But the real draw here is the light ring circling the webcam to provide extra illumination. The 5600K light is easily adjustable via the bezel — simply twist it like adjusting a camera lens to control the brightness levels. It’s designed to work well in low-light settings when necessary.
The Razer Kiyo is an ideal choice for cosmetics streaming, given you need top-quality illumination around your face to stream high-quality content. It also works well for any detailed streaming where you plan to show product details close to the webcam for unboxings, technical instructions, etc.
Logitech C930E
The best for business
Why should you buy this? It locks in well with professional conferencing ecosystems.
Who’s it for? Business professionals.
The Skype-optimized Logitech C930E is “certified” for business, serving as an official compatible product for Skype for Business and Cisco Jabber. According to Logitech, the camera also provides “enhanced integrations” with other business-class communication software such as Zoom, BlueJeans, Lifesize, and several other solutions.
On a hardware level, the camera supports video calling at 1,920 x 1,080 and 1,280 x 720 resolutions, a field of view of 90 degrees, and a 4x digital zoom in 1080p mode. It relies on the H.264 codec for video compression, and RightLight 2 technology to produce the best visuals in low light, high contrast, and direct sunlight conditions. It’s backed by two integrated omnidirectional microphones, although the product page doesn’t mention noise reduction.
Other notable features provided with Logitech’s business-focused camera include an external privacy shutter to prevent the weird boss from watching your every nose pick, and a universal clip for mounting the camera on a desktop monitor, laptop screen, or tripod. It’s even compatible with software that supports UVC 1.5 video encoding for businesses that don’t allow third-party drivers installed on their Windows PCs. The camera requires a USB-A 2.0 connection or better.
