Best Webcam for Streaming [Includes Quick Guide To Webcams]

Before you can start streaming, buying the right pieces of equipment will be necessary.

First, you need to have a good-quality webcam to look your best on one of the many streaming services available.

You might not understand what to look for if you’ve never purchased a webcam.

What makes a webcam good for streaming? Will you be able to get a good deal on a high-quality webcam?

In short, what is the best webcam for streaming that fits your need and budget?

Continue reading to learn about webcams, what you must look out for a while shopping, and the best streaming options for streamers.

What Is a Webcam?

A webcam is a type of camera that you can connect to your computer. Some computers, such as laptops, usually come with webcams included.

If you plan to stream, you want a webcam to record high-quality videos. Typically, webcams can connect to your computer through a USB port. 

You can then record videos of yourself or take pictures using the device. Setting up webcams will always be pretty simple.

For the most part, modern webcams can be plugged in, and they will work right out of the box.

It isn’t complicated to get started, and that’s good for people who dream of being streamers but aren’t necessarily tech-savvy. 

Webcams aren’t a new invention by any means. If you grew up with a computer in your home, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with webcams.

Even if you’re not, it’ll be easy to use one. Of course, you don’t want to buy just any webcam because you want the video to look good for your streams. 

What to Look for When Buying a Webcam

There are a ton of things that you need to consider when buying a webcam.

Resolution

First and foremost, you want to ensure that the webcam offers a good resolution.

You want to buy a webcam to record footage at 1080p or higher (such as 4K).

I’d recommend you factor in your internet connection speed in this. Don’t automatically shoot for a 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) if you don’t have the bandwidth.

4K is a lot of data to transfer – especially if you plan to stream at 60fps (see below), so you’ll likely end up with lag in your live stream if you have a slow internet connection.

There are worse webcams that record 720p footage that is still being sold today. Avoid those!

Frame Rate

The frame rate is another important aspect to keep in mind. You don’t want the footage that you’re recording to look choppy.

I’d recommend you look for a webcam that can stream 1080p or 4K at a minimum of 25 frames-per-second (fps).

Field-Of-View

The field of view (FOV) matters just as much. This ensures you can get everything in the frame you want to show during the stream. 

Other features can make your life more convenient, too. One excellent feature for a webcam to have is a good autofocus mode.

This ensures that you won’t have to stop to try to get the webcam in focus continually.

Low-light correction

Low-light correction is also incredibly helpful for streamers if you haven’t invested in a good ring light or 3-point lighting setup.

Built-in microphone

It’d be nice for a webcam to have a built-in microphone if possible, but this likely isn’t a big deal.

You’ll almost surely want to buy a better microphone for streaming, even if the webcam does come with one.

But when you’re first starting, having a webcam with a microphone is great. You can always add a more professional microphone for streaming to your arsenal later.

Software support

Software support is something to keep in mind. Buying a webcam with good software support (regular updates and fixes) will benefit you in the long run.

I recommend you stick to tried-and-trusted brands like Logitech or Razer because they usually regularly update software and firmware.

If you go with a no-name brand, you risk that you can’t use your webcam the next time your operating system of choice gets a major update. Plus, the quality of these is usually really low.

Why Do You Need a Webcam?

It’s likely pretty easy to understand why you need a webcam as a streamer. If you don’t have a webcam that you can use, then you won’t be able to record yourself playing video games.

This means that people can only see the game you’re playing without seeing your face. It will be hard to attract fans with such a primitive setup. 

You want to have a good webcam capable of recording high-quality footage. This will ensure that you’re streaming the best video that will look good for all of your followers and subscribers.

Anyone who is taking streaming seriously will need a good webcam. There are lots of options to consider when looking for one, too. 

The Best Webcam for Streaming

So, which webcam is considered the cream of the crop for streamers?

There are lots of good ones that you could wind up buying. Which option will be best for you will likely depend on various factors?

For example, you might have a budget to make it, so you can only spend so much cash on a webcam. 

Below, you’re going to see many of the top webcam options for streaming that are available today. All of these webcams are popular with streamers to use.

Each of them will be worth checking out, but some offer better experiences. Take the time to learn about the pros and cons of each webcam before you make a purchasing decision. 

1. Logitech StreamCam Plus

The Logitech StreamCam Plus is a great webcam that allows you to record clear 1080p footage at 60FPS.

It’s also an excellent choice for those who try to record without much light in the room. And as we all know, most gamers love to game in a dimly lit room.

It also has great face tracking, so your beautiful face will always stay in focus, even when you move around a lot.

It ensures that your audience can see your reactions no matter what happens in the game.

Another nice feature is that the camera makes switching from landscape to portrait easy. All you need to do is rotate the camera, and you’re good to go.

The only annoying thing about this product is that the USB-C cable is short. 

Pros 

• Amazing video quality
• Works great in low-light settings
• Good autofocus
• Records at 1080p and 60FPS

Cons 

• A bit pricey
• USB-C cable is very short

Check the current price on Amazon.

2. Elgato Facecam

One of the most amazing streaming webcams you can purchase is the Elgato Facecam. This webcam offers everything that streamers need to have a good experience.

It records 1080p footage at 60FPS. So if you have the bandwidth and processing power for it, being able to stream in 60fps is great – especially for fast-paced shooters.

The FOV is 83.2 degrees, and that’s perfect for streamers. The picture quality is superb overall. It has a fixed focus for your convenience, and it has easy manual control.

The software is easy to use and lets you adjust contrast, exposure, and FOV. This can be done even when you’re currently using the camera, which is great because it makes it easy to adjust things on the fly while streaming.

The only downside to buying this camera is that the price might be a bit much if you’re light on cash. 

Pros

• Amazing image quality
• Records at 1080p and 60FPS
• Easy to use
• Software can be used to adjust things while the camera is in use

Cons 

• Perhaps a bit pricey

Check the current price on Amazon.

3. Logitech C922X Pro

So what if you want to save as much cash as you can? Perhaps you want a webcam that can record 1080p footage and are not as concerned about the frame rate.

Then I suggest you look at the Logitech C922X Pro, which is a very good camera that is great for general use. 

It isn’t as good for streamers as the Elgato Facecam or the Logitech StreamCam Plus. However, it’s less expensive than those two cameras. And the image quality is still great.

I still use its older brother, the Logitech C920 HD Pro (link to Amazon), for most of my work-related Zoom calls. It still works flawlessly, and I bought it in 2016!

This records 1080p footage at just 30FPS. It’ll give you good video quality that will look pretty solid on your streams.

The footage won’t be as impressive as the stuff you can get from the more professional webcams above.

It has good low-light performance, and it’s a very affordable camera for those on a strict budget. 

Pros 

• Good low-light performance
• Affordable price
• Captures 1080p footage

Cons 

• Only records footage at 30FPS

Check the current price on Amazon.

4. Razer Kiyo Pro

The Razer Kiyo Pro isn’t quite as popular as the Elgato Facecam or the Logitech StreamCam Plus. Despite this, it’s something that many streamers have decided to buy because it offers a lot of bang for the buck.

This is another option that allows you to stream 1080p video at 60FPS. It also has three different FOV options at 103, 90, and 80 degrees. 

It’s also one of the best webcam options for streaming in a low-light setting. It has an adaptive light sensor capable of adapting to whatever lighting condition you’re trying to record. 

Overall, it’s a convenient camera if your lighting setup isn’t amazing. It’ll inherently boost saturation and make your footage look good.

Sometimes the color saturation isn’t perfect, though.

Pros

• Good video quality
• Excellent camera for low-light conditions
• Three FOV options

Cons 

• Lacks dedicated driver software
• Color saturation might be an issue, if you don’t like oversaturated colors

Check the current price on Amazon.

5. Dell Ultrasharp WB7022

If you’re ready to step up to recording and streaming in 4K, this might be the camera for you.

The Dell Ultrasharp WB7022 is a great camera that can record high-quality 4K video. You’ll be able to stream in 4K at 30FPS. The footage will look very sharp if you decide to do this. 

It’s also possible to use this webcam to record 1080p footage at 60FPS. So, you get the best of both worlds with this webcam.

There are also three FOV settings at 90, 78, and 65 degrees. This webcam supports HDR recording, and it even has software that is simple to use.

There are some negatives to consider, though. The webcam tends to get hot when you’ve used it for a while, probably because it takes a lot of processing power to process 4K video.

Also, the monitor stand that it comes with is not very good at all, and it doesn’t have an included mic. If you can overlook those deficiencies, this is a solid webcam for streaming. 

Pros 

• Allows you to stream and record 4K footage
• You can also record 1080p footage at 60FPS
• HDR support
• Software is easy to use

Cons 

• Doesn’t come with a built-in microphone 
• The webcam gets hot
• The monitor stand is bad

Check the current price on Amazon.

Summary: Which Webcam Is Best?

The best webcam will come down to what features you want. The Elgato Facecam or the Logitech StreamCam Plus will be the best choices for most.

However, the other webcams on the list are also good for streaming for different reasons. Going with the Logitech C922X Pro will be a sensible choice if you want a very affordable webcam. 

Those who want to be able to stream and record 4K footage will want to buy the Dell UltraSharp WB7022. The Razer Kiyo Pro might be the best to buy when streaming in low-light settings.

All of the webcams have different reasons for being good choices. Consider what matters to you and then decide what to buy. 

You’ll have a good experience starting as a streamer if you buy one of these webcams. It might also be wise to purchase a high-quality microphone to enjoy the best audio on your streams. Otherwise, you should be good to go.