The Best Webcams for Streaming in 2024

Streaming is a bit more complicated than just sitting and talking while you play some games. A lot goes into it, but your set-up is nearly as important as actually making entertaining content. A good set-up needs a few things, like a good gaming PC, a mic for streaming, graphics card, and, preferably, the best webcam for streaming.

Most viewers demand a certain level of visual integrity from streamers. If the games look great, they don’t want a low-res stuttering video on top of it. A PC’s built-in camera isn’t great for streaming.

That doesn’t mean your equipment has to break the bank though. The best budget webcam for streaming is still going to look pretty good. You can get great quality on a budget if you know what you’re looking for.

If you want to stand out on Twitch you need decent equipment. There is a lot to consider when looking for a webcam for streaming.

We’ve broken down the top choices currently on the market, to find the best candidates out there. These are some of the best streaming webcams, their pros and cons, and what specific streamers they are right for.

logitech c920s
  • Records in 1080P and Widescreen
  • HD Autofocus and Light Correction
  • Stereo Dual Microphones

Streaming can be a bit of a public thing. You’re putting yourself out there and letting strangers watch you… but not all the time. You need some privacy. This Logitech webcam for streaming is designed to give you just that.

This webcam features a privacy shutter. This might seem like overkill, but webcam hijacking is a surprisingly common problem. This webcam gives you the privacy that you need. This is really helpful if you’re after the best webcam for live streaming, and to have a life outside of streaming.

Outside of the privacy, this webcam has everything else where it counts. It records in 1080P, so be prepared for your audience to see every minor flaw!

This is definitely a great webcam with its great picture and wide compatibility. However, the extra privacy features also give you peace of mind.

Pros:
  • Cable Length of 5 ft. Fits Streaming Set-Ups
  • Records in HD
  • Privacy Features
Cons:
  • Included Mics of Lower Quality Than Standalones

Logitech BRIO

The Best Webcam for Streaming in 4K

logitech brio
  • 4K Video
  • AutoFocus
  • Light Adjustment
  • Connects Via USB C

This Logitech BRIO webcam definitely looks the part. It is made of high-quality materials and designed to suit a modern-looking set-up. You won’t just have a set-up resembling a pro streamer with this one though, it can give you a crystal clear image too.

This is a 4K camera. This kind of future-proofs it. Very few streaming platforms can offer 4K video yet, and even fewer consumers have a demand for 4K content from them yet! However, we’ve seen the creep of quality happen quite fast in the past and it is foreseeable that 4K streaming will be in demand soon.

Essentially, you’re getting a camera built to last here. This camera features some other nice elements though. It produces an HDR image with autofocus, and technology to automatically adjust and compensate for light. There is even a 5x zoom. This is one of the best streaming webcams for Twitch since it does a lot of the production work adjusting the image for you.

Good streaming webcams have to be ready to go without much fuss. Most streamers don’t have time to readjust their image every time the lighting moves, a real hassle on long streamers. This is one of the best webcams for streaming video games with all of these features.

Pros:
  • Great Video Quality
  • Automatic Adjustments
  • HDR
Cons:
  • Face Recognition Software Has Privacy Concerns

insta360 Link

The Ultimate 4K Webcam

insta360 link
  • 4K resolution
  • ½’’ Sensor
  • AI Tracking

If you are looking for the ultimate 4K webcam experience the insta360 webcam deserves your consideration. This uses a 1/2″ sensor to capture as much light as possible for the best dynamic range and picture quality.

This webcam also comes with some advanced tricks like AI tracking and a gimbal design allowing the camera to follow your movement naturally. This feature is enhanced by the fact that you also benefit from automatic zooming and framing allowing you to keep the main subject in focus at all times.

The insta360 also features gesture control for managing your calls which might be useful for certain users that do not like having to click multiple buttons for certain features. The device also comes with dedicated software in case you want to manually adjust settings like brightness or exposure which is perfect for advanced users.

Pros:
  • The sensor is big enough to make a difference in dynamic range and picture quality
  • The fact that the webcam is built like a gimbal allows AI tracking to actually make a difference
  • Having dedicated software for a webcam is a must these days for tuning your image
Cons:
  • All of these special features come at an extra cost – 300$

Logitech StreamCam

The Best Webcam for Streaming in High FPS

logitech streamcam
  • 1080p@60fps Recording Quality
  • Features Smart Autofocus And Facial Tracing System
  • Uses USB-C For Connection

The StreamCam from Logitech is a perfect webcam for up and coming streamers. It does cost a pretty penny but it features 1080p at 60fps streaming quality along with USB-C connectivity, multiple mounting options, and a lot of versatility. The build quality is fantastic. The camera looks very solid and it’s covered in high-quality materials.

The camera itself is quite small and perfect for any streaming setup. It can be mounted on top of a monitor but it also comes with a tripod mount. The camera is made for streamers and video conferencing and its smart auto-focus and facial tracking systems will make sure your face is always in focus. This can be handy for more energetic streamers.

The webcam should work with zero issues in all popular video and streaming apps and is especially easy to use with OBS. Do note that the webcam comes with Logitech Capture and Logitech Camera Settings apps. Download these for the best experience, especially if you want to improve image quality. Overall, this is a very capable camera for streamers and at-home workers.

Pros:
  • USB-C
  • Crisp 1080p Video Quality In 60fps
  • Attractive Design
  • Multiple Mounting Options
  • Smart Autofocus Works Great
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • Some Users Will Need USB-C To USB-A Adapter

Anker PowerConf C300

Wide Angle Streaming Webcam

anker powerconf c300
  • Native 1080P@60FPS
  • 115-degree FOV
  • AI Exposure/AI Color Adjustment/AI Framing

As we have mentioned before, having a webcam with a wide-angle is extremely useful because you can fit a lot more in your video feed. You do not need to use different webcams anymore to get everything in frame with the Anker PowerConf C300 because this webcam comes with a 115-degree FOV!

Besides the great FOV, the Anker PowerConf C300 is a solid 1080P@60FPS webcam that delivers good video quality. This webcam does not have fancy sensors but it does try to compensate with software that helps you auto-focus and correct low-light situations.

The PowerConf C300 is also a plug-and-play device therefore it requires no drivers or prior setup to be able to use the webcam comfortably. Everything considered this is definitely more of an office webcam but at the same time, nobody said it cannot work just as well for streaming since it does a great job at both tasks!

Pros:
  • Very wide FOV that allows you to capture everything in one frame
  • Native 1080P@60FPS guarantees you a good quality image on stream
  • A lot of AI functionality
  • USB-C device
Cons:
  • Lower-end sensor
  • The webcam tries to compensate for what it lacks in raw power with AI tech, but it does not always do as well as webcams with better sensors
  • Needs software to access and tune all of the AI features

Razer Kiyo Pro

Pro Level Webcam From Razer

razer kiyo pro
  • Native 1080P@60FPS
  • 103-degree FOV
  • Uncompressed video

If you want a very good 1080P@60FPS webcam for your stream but are not ready to fork out 200$ yet, then you should look at the Razer Kiyo Pro facecam. This is another wide-angle 1080P webcam that is promising you the highest-fidelity video quality.

The sensor inside of the Kiyo Pro is a Type 1,2.8 ultra-sensitive CMOS sensor with STARVIS technology that allows you to stream in any type of light. The Kiyo Pro also promises uncompressed video quality that will allow you to look more natural and vibrant.

The biggest selling point of the Kiyo Pro over other similar webcams in our opinion is the 103-degree FOV which allows you to encompass a lot more in your video feed.

This might not sound like a big thing but in reality, as a streamer, you are often faced with situations where you would like to show more of your setup or more of your room but you cannot do that since your webcam has limited FOV.

If you are somebody that has struggled with this type of issue before, the Razer Kiyo Pro will be a nice solution to your problems.

Pros:
  • High-Performance adaptive light sensor
  • HDR-enabled
  • The wider FOV allows you to do more with a single cam setup
  • Uncompressed video is best for high-quality streams
Cons:
  • HDR limits your webcam to 30FPS
  • The sensor is not as high-end as on other webcams (Elgato for example)

Elgato Facecam

Professional Grade Streaming Facecam

elgato facecam
  • Native 1080P@60FPS
  • 82-degree FOV
  • Uncompressed YUV video

If you want to make sure that your stream looks as professional as possible then you need to ensure that your webcam video quality is top-notch as well. To achieve this top-notch quality you will need a very good webcam, something like the new Elgato Facecam.

This webcam is perfect for streaming because it can do 1080P@60FPS natively with the new and optimized Sony STARVIS sensor that is made to be used indoors. The Elgato Facecam also has top studio quality with the f/2.4 24 mm all-glass Elgato Prime Lens.

One of the biggest advantages of the Elgato Facecam is the fact that it uses a USB-C connector and it outputs raw uncompressed YUV video that results in no artifacts and overall better quality.

This is an overall high-end streaming webcam and all of the cool features and capabilities come with a price – 200$ in this case.

Pros:
  • Newest webcam sensor from Sony
  • Special lens to enhance video quality
  • USB-C connectivity
  • Raw footage
Cons:
  • 200$ is a lot of money for most streamers. This is definitely a device designated towards the top of the streaming world

How to Choose a Webcam for Streaming

Webcamera on laptop staring at you

Those are some great options for finding the best webcam for streaming, no matter what your specific needs are. However, it can be difficult to figure out just which webcam is right for you. If you’re looking to get into streaming, you’ll want one of the best webcams in terms of features but also a webcam that is built to last. This guide covers what you need to know to make a decision, how to figure out which of the webcams are for you.

What You Need to Know

If all you know is that you need a camera to record you, a lot of the details of webcams for streaming might be a bit much. This isn’t helped by the superfluous way cameras and their features get described. This is what you need to know to figure out what your needs are:

  • What Format Recording Do You Need? – A lot of these webcams can record in different formats and video qualities. What quality and FPS you need to record at will depend on your stream. Twitch allows you to stream in either 25-30 FPS or 50-60 FPS. Video quality of HD is preferred, but most users won’t notice a drop in quality at 720P either. While you can stream in lower quality, these should be what you aim for. Other platforms will have their own requirements that you should double-check.
  • Lighting – Filming is difficult unless you’re taking a lot of care with lighting. You don’t really have time to adjust these things on the fly while you’re streaming. This means you either need to have a camera that automatically adjusts to changes or be able to control the lighting through your own lights. Ring lighted cameras can help with this.
  • Software – There are plenty of different bits of software that can be used for streaming. However, the most common are Open Broadcast Software, XSplit, and Wirecast. The vast majority of webcams simply capture an image that can be processed by these programs.
  • Microphones – Most webcams come with built-in mics, but they’re not fantastic quality. Most streamers eventually add a standalone microphone. However, some of these webcams have decent microphones for beginners.

What to Consider Before Making a Purchase

While there are lots of great webcams for streaming available, you have to consider what your exact needs are. It is worthwhile to take some time to consider these things so that you can make an informed choice that suits your own needs.

  • Cost – Some of the best budget webcams for streaming aren’t that far away in quality from the high-end webcams. Most can stream in HD. Keep this in mind when deciding which is right for you.
  • What are You Streaming? – Your needs for a webcam are going to be different depending on what you’re streaming. If you’ll be picture in picture mainly, then keeping the image stable with that of your game is more important than a 4K image, since it will be displayed quite small.
  • Where are You Streaming? – Double-check that your webcam is capable of the exact video quality that your streaming platform requires.
  • Cables and Connectors – A lot of these webcams come with integrated cables to connect them simply via USB. While this is a lot simpler, those that have a replaceable cable like a USB C connecting between the webcam and the PC can be more easily replaced when a loose wire causes problems.

Compatibility

Some of these webcams trumpet their wide accessibility in their marketing, claiming to be compatible with more devices than other webcams! However, compatibility is often more of a marketing tactic than anything you actually have to be concerned about. Even if your device isn’t listed on the box of a webcam, you can likely still use it. This is what you need to know:

  • A webcam is basically just a camera. If you use software to interpret this image, it can be picked up on by PC or Mac.
  • Not all webcams can be identified by the native software on a PC or Mac. Some Windows devices may require drivers to be installed, and you might need to work at getting a Mac to recognize your device by using external software like OBS.
  • The vast majority of webcams can work with any PC or Mac.
  • Other devices get more complicated since they’re not as easy to put widely accessible software on. If you’re trying to use your webcam with a TV, games console, or even a mobile device you should check that this is supported.
  • At their core a webcam is just a camera, so all you need to do is ensure software to connect and stream that camera’s image runs on your device.

About The Author

XbitLabs Team

We are a team of enthusiasts thriving to provide you with helpful advice on buying tech.

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