With the price of cheap webcams skyrocketing over the last year due to shortages, it's really no wonder that finding a budget webcam is becoming difficult. Having the ability to record yourself during calls has become essential as our lives move to online spaces, be that talking to family members, for work, or for education. We've put together a list of our favorite webcams that can still be purchased without being a drain on your wallet, so you don't need to stress about hunting through sites to find a good deal.
If you're working from home thanks to a video conferencing solution, you probably don't want to spend a huge amount on a webcam anyway. For the best cheap webcams, you've come to the right place. Our top picks might not come with some of the advanced features more expensive webcams boast such as multi-mic arrays, 4K resolutions and auto pan and tilt. However, they also don’t compromise on image quality, which is more important.
Though if you are after more powerful and feature-rich devices, we’ve also got our best webcams guide, which covers webcams of all different prices. Otherwise, read on to see which peripherals made our list of the best cheap webcams 2021 has to offer.
The Microsoft LifeCam Studio our pick for the best cheap webcam. Aimed at pro users with large displays, it features a familiar configuration of 1080p recording and 720p live video calling. It rotates 360 degrees, and can be mounted on a tripod with autofocus. The wideband mic delivers crystal clear audio, and Microsoft’s TrueColor system will shift the exposure dynamically to keep you well lit, making it a great choice for business conferencing and presentations.
It isn’t the most attractive webcam, but the LifeCam Studio isn’t really designed to be attractive. Instead, it’s made for business conferencing and presentations, with its 1080p recording, 720p live video calling and wideband mic to deliver crystal clear sound. 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, which will shift the exposure dynamically to keep you well lit.
Read the full review: Microsoft LifeCam Studio
Logitech makes brilliant webcams, and the Logitech HD Webcam C310 is a fantastic budget offering, that offers very good image quality for the price. Resolution is just 720p, but for most people that won't be an issue. In fact, if you have an internet connection that struggles with high definition videos, then this is actually a bonus.
The Logitech G922 Pro Stream features the same classy design as its predecessor, the C920, but it’s especially interesting for gamers this time around. The C922 still boasts excellent 1080p video quality, great for hosting video calls, and its automatic low-light correction makes it a fantastic cam for streaming with the lights off. It also supports background removal, making it ideal for budding YouTubers.
- You can't stream without the best wireless router
- Find out how to use your camera as a webcam