The best cheap webcam in 2024: top picks for budget-minded users
These are the best cheap webcams you can buy today
With many more of us working remotely these days, a decent webcam is essential for staying connected with colleagues, but often the best cheap webcam is more than enough to get the job done.
By providing you with the means to broadcast in high definition with crystal clear audio, a good webcam is a sound investment in yourself; enabling you to create and maintain an image of consummate professionalism.
High-end webcams may have a price tag to match, but you may be pleasantly surprised at how good some of the more cost-effective alternatives are. Ideal for remote workers or fledgling content creators, there are plenty of cheap webcams that have the chops to make you look and sound the business.
Proving that a high-quality webcam needn’t cost the Earth, the Logitech C920s Pro is one of the best cheap webcams going, available with only a modest investment. This is a dual-mic, 1080p webcam with smooth visuals and impeccable audio.
If you’re after a budget webcam that emphasizes the budget aspect a bit more, you could do a lot worse than the JLab JBuds USB webcam. For the price point, you’ll be impressed with its solid 1080p performance (at 30Hz), and wide field of view.
Whatever you’re looking for in a cheap webcam, we’ve got you covered. Our list below covers everything you could be looking for, in terms of price, features, and functionality, so you can shop with confidence.
The best cheap webcam in 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar
Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best cheap webcam picks on our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best cheap webcam overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Logitech C920s Pro may not be the cheapest option on this list, but it's still inexpensive, especially for a webcam that has the "pro" label on its name. Unlike other "cheap" webcams that are more stripped down, it comes loaded with useful features like a privacy shutter and Logitech’s RightLight 2 technology that allows you to adjust lighting conditions, brightness and contrast.
This is a 1080p camera, and while it is limited to 30fps, we found its visuals to be sharp and smooth, so you know you'll look good when you're on a business video call with clients and colleagues. You'll come out loud and clear as well, thanks to its dual-mic setup for stereo audio.
Overall, the Logitech C920s Pro is the best webcam that manages to balance great performance, nice features, and a fairly inexpensive price. If you're happy to spend a little more, you should get it.
Read our full Logitech C920s Pro review
The best cheap webcam for tight budgets
2. JLab JBuds USB webcam
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The JLab JBuds USB webcam is a nice upgrade from just about any stock webcam that came with your laptop. It provides a solid 1080p image at 30 Hz – most laptops’ webcams max out at 720p still – and a nice wide 93 degree field of view, wider than some pricier models out there.
While we’re in the middle of testing it, we do notice a few corners that have been cut. There’s no privacy shutter. The audio quality is not very impressive. And, the autofocus is a bit on the slow side. That said, the autofocus works well if you’re not moving around too much.
Beyond those limitations, there’s plenty to like such as its universal, adjustable clip that’s threaded on the bottom for a tripod mount and the 360 degree turning radius of the camera. It also comes with two different colored faceplates for a small amount of personalization. We also appreciate the long, braided cable. And, it’s compatible with PC, Mac, and ChromeOS.
The best cheap webcam for professionals
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The LifeCam Studio is a budget webcam made for business conferencing and presentations. As such, it isn’t the most attractive option out there. In fact, we found it to be a little intimidating, looking like a CCTV camera from a dystopian nightmare. But, it’s not designed to be attractive; it’s designed for business and work calls.
It boasts 1080p recording, 720p live video calling, and a wideband mic to deliver crystal clear sound. That’s not too shabby for a cheap webcam.
This is a serious peripheral – one that requires a powerful PC for max settings – but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking bells and whistles. For instance, it comes with 360-degree rotating capabilities and Microsoft’s TrueColor system. The latter feature will shift the exposure and colour dynamically. This helps improve the overall quality of your footage and keeps you well-lit, whatever environment you’re in. Finally, video effects and augmented reality objects may be added to your live feed if you want to keep your meetings fun and lighthearted.
Read our full Microsoft LifeCam Studio review
The best cheap 720p webcam
4. Logitech HD Webcam C310
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Logitech makes brilliant webcams, and the Logitech HD Webcam C310 is a fantastic budget offering. It may be stripped down and its resolution is limited to just 720p at 30fps, but most people need all the fancy frills anyway. In fact, most users just need a reliable, good quality webcam to see through their daily video calling needs. And, for those folks, this is the best cheap webcam.
It offers very good image quality for the price, which is the most important thing. In fact, if you have an internet connection that struggles with high definition videos, then this is actually an advantage. While it may be light on features, it comes with its share of them including the automatic light correction or RightLight 2, which we found to be effective at delivering cleaner, better-looking visuals.
Those who prefer tighter frames will appreciate its 60° diagonal field of view. Meanwhile, those who live in loud, busy households will love that the mic comes with noise-reduction capabilities.
The best cheap 1080p webcam
5. Logitech C922
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Logitech G922 Pro Stream features the same classy design as its predecessor, the C920. It also inherits the same excellent 1080p video quality, great for hosting video calls, and Logitech’s RightLight 2 automatic low-light correction that proves to be a major advantage whether you’re streaming on YouTube or doing business calls, especially in low light. Of course, that 1080p resolution should also keep things futureproof.
But wait, there’s more. This inexpensive webcam also supports background removal, making it ideal for budding YouTubers and game streamers. Its 720p at 60fps comes in handy as well, especially when streaming fast-paced games. And, it includes a free 3-month premium XSplit license.
In other words, we found this to be a versatile webcam that’s ideal for different users, from professionals doing daily business calls to gamers who love streaming their games. It’s the most expensive one on this list, but considering its capabilities and the fact that you can use it for different purposes, you’re getting a lot of value.
The best cheap 4K webcam
6. Depstech DW49
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Depstech DW49 might not come from a well-known peripheral brand, but it's certainly one of those alternatives that have surfaced during the pandemic that are completely worth your while. That's especially if you're looking for a 4K webcam but don't have the budget for a brand-name option and are not super picky about its dynamic range.
Being much cheaper than other 4K webcam options, there are compromises here. The visuals you're getting aren't going to be the cleanest or the most vibrant. In fact, its low light performance isn't anything to write home about, so it's best to use this in better lighting situations.
However, it remains to be a great option for most people, including business professionals hoping to impress clients new and old. The autofocus is snappy, as is its auto-exposure. It also comes with a few extras, including a privacy cover, a metal tripod, and a clip mount with 360-degree rotation.
The best cheap webcam in 2024: FAQs
Which budget webcam is the best?
There’s no hard and fast answer here, as everybody’s idea of what constitutes a ‘budget’ webcam is likely to be different. However, our recommendation would be to look for a 1080p webcam with 30fps, such as the Logitech C920s Pro which topped our list here.
With a 1080p webcam, you’ll be future-proofing your setup to some extent, and it will yield better results than a more lowly 720p alternative.
What is the best cheap camera for live streaming?
If you’re new to live streaming or simply working with a restricted budget, you’re going to be looking for the best you can get for the least amount of money.
If you’re looking for the best possible resolution, you can find several ‘cheap’ 4K webcams on offer, such as the Depstech DW49, featured in our list above, which also features dual noise-canceling mics.
How to choose the best cheap webcam for you
You have to consider more than just price when choosing a cheap webcam. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending more replacing that lemon of a webcam you got off Amazon.
In fact, it’s important to dig deeper as plenty of cheap webcams are promoted as having features that imply a quality resolution or frame rate. But, instead of being misled and end up with a webcam with bad software or low quality sensors, let us help you separate the good from the bad.
When shopping around for a cheap webcam, don't just pay attention to the price. Same rules apply as when choosing a non-budget webcam: you must pay attention to the true resolution, frame rate, field of view, and the built-in microphone.
These days, 720p webcams are still good, but if you want to future-proof your rig, get a 1080p one with 30fps at the very least. Depending on what you'll be using it for, you should also decide whether you want a wide field of you or a narrower one, which is better if it's just you that's going to be in front of the camera.
You likely won't know this until you've tested it, but see what is being said about how well it handles different lighting conditions, especially dark ones. Being cheap, these webcams are probably not going to handle low light as well, but some are better at it than others.
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Rob (He/Him) is a UK based tech writer with a BA Hons Degree in English Studies with Media Communications and a Diploma in Proofreading and Copy Editing.
Since becoming a freelance writer in 2022, Rob has built up a considerable portfolio of work, covering everything including buyer’s guides, hardware reviews, features, and game reviews.
In addition to his contributions at TechRadar, Rob’s work has also been featured at MakeUseOf.com, How-To Geek, and IGN.
Currently playing: Dredge, Lords of the Fallen.
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