Best Webcam for YouTube in 2023 (User Tested Reviews)

This is a guide to the best webcams for YouTube for new and advanced content creators.

Using a webcam for YouTube is an easy way to get started with video sharing.

There’s no need to worry about camera settings, composition or any of the myriad other elements to filming high-quality videos.

Whether you’re live streaming or simply recording your latest vlog, a webcam makes everything much easier.

Let’s take a look at the top web camera models for your next YouTube video.

What is the Best Webcam for YouTube in 2023?

1. Lumina | Overall Best Webcam for YouTube

Professional YouTube content creators focused on live streaming high-quality videos in a range of circumstances have widely adopted the Lumina 4K webcam.

Its pocket-sized, sleek design makes it ideal for content creators who need to record YouTube videos on the go without compromising on the overall picture and sound quality.

Delivering 4K high image quality, it can be set to record in 1080p and 720p, with plenty of settings to alter image tone, saturation, and white balance.

Additional options available via the app include artificial blur and bokeh, with a digital zoom that allows users to hone in for a close-up on the subject.

The sound quality offered by the built-in mic is also exemplary, considering its small size, further enhancing its appeal for YouTubers creating content in the wilderness.

The Lumina 4K’s combination of high-quality sound and pictures, together with a raft of options, makes it the most versatile webcam available for YouTube vlogging.

• Review of Lumina AI webcam

2. Insta360 Link | Best Face Tracking Webcam for YouTube

Like the Lumina 4K webcam, the Insta360 Link delivers premium-level performance capable of satisfying the expectations of the most hardened YouTuber.

This fully motorised webcam delivers fast and responsive face and body tracking thanks to its AI-powered control and 360-degree swivel mechanism.

This makes it a leader in the webcam market for those who prefer to move around the frame when creating content rather than sitting head-on in front of their camera.

In addition to excellent facial recognition and tracking, it can also be used to track hand gestures, which can be used to control the camera zoom and other functions.

If you’re running a YouTube channel that posts tutorials, there’s also an overhead mode that swivels the webcam downwards to display the contents of your desk.

All of these unique features are matched by the exemplary image quality delivered by the 1/2-inch sensor, which allows you to record video in 4K resolution for professional results.

• Insta360 Link webcam review

3. Logitech C270 | Best Budget Webcam for YouTube

If you’re new to the YouTube content creation game and don’t have a large budget to play with, the Logitech C270 is an excellent cost-effective webcam to get started.

This no-frills webcam offers surprisingly good camera quality for the price, with 720p resolution at 30fps complemented by impressive automatic light correction.

It’s lightweight and robust, fitting snugly on the top of a laptop for on-the-go content creators, and comes with a built-in microphone that produces clear mono audio.

While the resolution limitations may be insufficient for tasks such as Twitch streaming, it’s crisp and clear enough for video calling and practice streams on YouTube.

Pro YouTubers may want to look elsewhere, but the Logitech C270’s unbeatable price makes it an ideal backup webcam or a solid entry-level option for newcomers to the scene.

It’s a cheap webcam, but YouTubers working on a tight budget can get started streaming games online before taking the plunge with a more expensive model.

• Best Webcams for Conference Rooms

4. Logitech BRIO | Best Webcam for YouTube with Light

Studio-bound YouTubers often enhance the visual appeal of their sets by using sparse lighting around the background, which can lead to poorly-illuminated subjects.

The Logitech BRIO webcam, featuring outstanding lighting adjustment options for high dynamic range video, is a great choice for video streaming in such low-light conditions.

The quality of the 4K video delivered by the Logitech BRIO is top-tier and comes with a 90-degree capture angle to ensure everything fits nicely within the frame.

Logitech’s RightLight 3 feature further enhances its potential with the ability to alter brightness, contrast, and colour settings to bring out additional detail and vibrancy.

Since YouTube is currently the only major streaming platform that supports 4K, the Logitech BRIO is a no-brainer for serious content creators who demand video footage at this resolution.

This combination of exceptional 4K and HDR images with stereo audio and a sharp 5X digital zoom cements the reputation of the Logitech BRIO as a serious webcam.

• Best Webcams for Zoom Meetings

5. Logitech StreamCam | Best Webcam for Live Streaming

Another outstanding webcam from Logitech is the StreamCam, which, as its name suggests, was designed specifically for content creators and streamers.

As such, it features a wealth of mounting options for all situations, including angling the camera up or down or mounting it on a tripod for bespoke setups.

Face tracking is aided by effective image stabilisation, as well as smart autofocus and exposure, to guarantee a consistent aesthetic throughout a live stream.

Shooting sharp and vibrant images in 1080p at 60fps, the Logitech StreamCam works perfectly in conjunction with streaming software such as XSplit or OBS.

This high quality carries across to the Logitech StreamCam’s built-in mic, which delivers clear audio thanks to the omnidirectional design and noise reduction filter.

It’s another great premium webcam for YouTube content creation that can be used in most streaming settings and offers an impressive selection of customisation options.

• How to use your phone as a webcam

6. Logitech C920 S HD Pro Webcam | Best for Traveling YouTubers

An effective light and good quality webcam for YouTube content creators on the move is the Logitech C920 S HD Pro Webcam, which fits easily to any laptop.

Cheaper than Logitech’s high-end webcams, such as the BRIO, it’s nevertheless a strong performer with lots of useful features for streaming.

Featuring a durable glass lens with a privacy shutter, the Logitech C920 S HD Pro Webcam offers 1080p/30fps video with great image quality thanks to its glass optics.

Colours are vibrant, with vivid details and effective autofocus, along with the option to turn off auto white balance and make additional adjustments via the options.

Just as the built-in light detection further improves the image quality, so too does the noise reduction ensure crisp dialogue reproduction in most shooting conditions.

The Logitech C920 S HD Pro Webcam represents the ideal mid-budget webcam for YouTubers and streamers looking for a highly portable option for their content creation.

• Best webcams for streaming video

7. Razer Kiyo Pro | Best for 60fps Streaming

For content creators producing YouTube videos or Twitch streaming who demand the best possible quality, there’s the Razer Kiyo Pro webcam.

This high-end product comes with a suitably high price tag, but for the money, you get an outstanding full 1080p at 60fps to deliver dynamic live streams.

While the Razer Kiyo Pro lacks the integrated ring light of its predecessor, its superior video quality more than compensates for this omission with optional HDR and clear low-light images.

If you’re recording in low light, the Razer Kiyo Pro will easily compensate to enhance exposure and reproduce sharp skin tones with fine details and a balanced image.

The viewing angle of up to 103 degrees further enhances its appeal for serious gamers who want strong performance assisted by accurate facial recognition.

Razer’s Synapse software offers additional ways to tweak settings to deliver the best results for your streaming setup, with plenty of presets to try out in addition to manual alterations.

If you’re looking for a new webcam dedicated to professional YouTube streaming, the Razer Kiyo Pro delivers exceptionally high-quality video with plenty of bells and whistles to boot.

What Makes a Good Quality Webcam for YouTube?

Here are the features to look for when buying a webcam for your Mac:

1. High resolution: At least 1080p Full HD, but preferably 4K for crystal-clear video quality on YouTube.
2. High frame rate: A frame rate of at least 30 fps (frames per second), but preferably 60 fps for smoother video when recording video game footage.
3. Good low-light performance: A high-quality sensor that can perform well in low-light conditions, depending on where you intend to film or stream your YouTube videos. You may already have a dedicated space for recording YouTube with adequate lighting.
4. Autofocus: While most of the best webcams for streaming have autofocus, some may have better autofocus performance than others. Fast and accurate autofocus can help keep the stream in focus even if you move around, and tracking has the ability to keep your face in the frame or zoom using AI-powered auto-framing. Popular YouTubers like Casey Neistat often gesticulate with their hands and move around a lot.
5. Wide field of view: A wider field of view allows you to capture more of your surroundings which may or may not be appropriate for the type of YouTubing you want to do.
6. Good microphone: A built-in microphone that can capture clear audio without picking up too much background noise. All the best YouTube videos have great audio, so consider using an external microphone, independent of your webcam.
7. Mounting options: Consider whether the webcam has the ability to be mounted on a tripod or other mount. This can be helpful if you want to change the camera angle or position during the stream, instead of having it fixed to your computer monitor.
8. Lighting: some of the best webcams for YouTube feature built-in ring lights, which can greatly enhance how you look on camera while live streaming.

Make sure to use a website such as Webcamtests to check your webcam online before uploading to YouTube.

Webcam vs Camera for YouTube – What’s better?

Choosing the right equipment for creating YouTube content can significantly impact the quality of your videos.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the main camera types you might consider:

1. Webcam: Webcams are typically built into computers or purchased as an external attachment. They’re convenient and affordable, but their video quality often doesn’t match that of even the cheapest video cameras.
   • Pros:
     • Convenient and ready-to-use
     • Typically less expensive
     • No additional equipment required
     • Suitable for live streams and video calls
   • Cons:
     • Limited video quality and resolution
     • No interchangeable lenses reduce creative options
2. Camcorder: Camcorders are designed specifically for video recording. They often include handy features like image stabilization, autofocus, and optical zoom.
   • Pros:
     • Dedicated video recording device
     • Good balance between quality and affordability
     • Typically lightweight and compact
     • Good battery life
   • Cons:
     • Lower image quality compared to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras
     • Limited manual settings
     • Somewhat dated format
     • No interchangeable lenses reduce creative options
3. DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras: DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are known for their excellent image quality and versatility. They offer interchangeable lenses and full control over the settings, making them a popular choice for professional YouTubers. See how to use a DSLR as a webcam.
   • Pros:
     • Superior image quality
     • Interchangeable lenses for flexibility
     • Full manual controls
     • Excellent low-light performance
   • Cons:
     • Expensive, especially with additional lenses
     • Requires knowledge of camera settings
     • Bigger and heavier than webcams and camcorders
     • Requires tripod

In summary, here’s a table to help your decision:

Camera Type	Convenience	Cost	Video Quality	Features	Versatility
Webcam	High	Low	Low-Medium	Low	Low
Camcorder	Medium	Medium	Medium-High	Medium	Medium
DSLR/Mirrorless	Low	High	High	High	High

Personally, I like to use my Insta360 webcam for YouTube video content since it’s always there ready for me on the top of my iMac monitor.

If I took YouTubing more seriously, perhaps I’d have a proper studio setup with a dedicated camera on a tripod ready to film, but for now, a webcam is perfect for occasional YouTube videos.

What are the Best Settings to Use on a Webcam?

Here are some general recommendations which can be applied when setting the best webcams for YouTube listed above:

1. Resolution: Use the highest resolution available on your webcam for the best video quality. The best webcams for YouTube offer resolutions of 1080p or 4K.
2. Frame rate: A higher frame rate (FPS) can result in smoother video, but it also requires more processing power. 30 FPS is the standard for most webcams.
3. Bitrate: A higher bitrate results in better image quality, but also larger file sizes.
4. Lighting: Although not something you can control on your webcam (unless it has its own light), lighting is essential for high-quality webcam video conferencing. Make sure you have adequate lighting in your recording environment – the light given off from your computer monitor isn’t sufficient, and will be too ‘cold’ – see next tip. My preference is a ring light, which is also perfect for Zoom calls too.
5. White balance: Adjusting the white balance can help ensure that colors in your video look accurate and natural. The light from your computer screen will be cold and blueish, so you may need to adjust your WB to a lower kelvin number.
6. Exposure: Adjusting the exposure can help prevent the video from looking too dark or too bright. All the best webcams for YouTube allow you to control this manually.
7. Focus: Make sure your webcam is properly focused on the subject to ensure a sharp and clear video. The best webcam for YouTube has AI-powered focus, which can help recognise your face and keep it in focus as you move around.
8. Audio: Even if your webcam has good-quality audio, the use of an external Lavalier mic or wireless mic will greatly improve how you sound on YouTube.