Quizience is supported by you the audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If you own—or plan to buy—a top-of-the-line laptop, you probably don’t need a separate webcam. The cameras built into new machines such as recent MacBook Pro models are more than good enough for everyday Zoom calls.
But if you’re making do with an older laptop, working from a desktop computer, or simply looking for more advanced features than your built-in webcam provides, the Logitech Brio 505 is your best option.
Its image quality is excellent right out of the box—no adjustments necessary—and it has features that are usually found only in more expensive models, including subject tracking.
Logitech Brio 505 – The best webcam for most people
The Logitech Brio 505 captures sharp 1080p video with accurate automatic white balance and speedy autofocus. It’s easy to set up and use, and it includes several sophisticated features, such as subject tracking and a Show Mode (for presenting items to the camera), that are usually reserved for webcams twice the price.
Anker PowerConf C200 2K – The best cheap HD webcam
If you need a less-expensive option, we recommend the Anker PowerConf C200 2K. Its image quality doesn’t match that of the Brio 505—its auto exposure and white balance aren’t as accurate, and it doesn’t autofocus quite as quickly—but it is just as easy to set up and even provides 2K resolution, which produces slightly sharper results than the Brio 505’s 1080p resolution. Overall, it offered the best image quality of any webcam we tested under $70.
Insta360 Link 2 – The most feature-packed webcam
The Insta360 Link 2 represents a clear step up from our top pick, since it offers rock-solid automatic white balance and exposure control are right out of the box. Its subject-tracking feature, which is helpful for keeping you in frame even if you’re moving around, is smooth and easy to turn on and off thanks to hand-gesture commands that work even when Insta360’s desktop software isn’t open. That means the camera can still recognize hand gestures in Zoom and other video-conferencing apps.
In our testing, the Link 2 beat the competition in overall picture quality and auto exposure. But at a typical price of $200, it’s probably overkill if you don’t need the highest picture quality.