Buying a cheap webcam was not easy in 2020, due to the incredible increase in its demand, derived from the need to have online meetings, teach classes, telework, etc. Now that the demand has relaxed a bit, we can enjoy a lot of options in the market. Having so much variety makes it difficult to buy, and that is why we have tracked the market to bring you the  5 best cheap webcams that currently exist. Let’s see them!

What do we mean by cheap webcam and what do we look for in one

In order to talk about a cheap webcam, we should first define what we mean by “cheap”. For that, we are going to take into account the cost of a “normal” high-end webcam, and see what prices the cheapest models are at.

Well, when buying a webcam we can start at 10-20 euros, and if we want to buy a high-end model for streaming, we find prices above 150 euros. For example, the Logitech Brio costs no less than € 160 on sale, and € 260 for normal RRP.

So, we think it is best if we show cameras from 20 to 60 euros. Simply because that way we can also give some models suitable for streaming, since an excessively cheap camera does not have the sharpness that is expected from a stream on platforms like Twitch.

And what specific characteristics do we look for in a cheap webcam? We are going to look at things like:

List of the 5 best cheap webcams

Once we have explained what is most important to us in a cheap webcam, we are going to propose the 5 best options on the market in our opinion. For this we have very carefully reviewed the Amazon catalog, which is the leading store in both available options and guarantees and returns possibilities, the latter is important because it is always likely that the chosen camera does not fit our needs.

Ausdom AF640 – the most interesting and highest quality option

Let’s start with the best webcam on this list, also bearing in mind that it will be one of the least cheap options. This is the Ausdom AF640, a camera that is capable of getting ahead of the best-selling model on the market in this segment, the Logitech C920.

Compared to this Logitech camera, it offers significantly better image quality, where what stands out the most is undoubtedly an interesting ‘beauty filter’.

We are not talking about something extreme and artificial like what we see in the camera apps of many mobiles. What we mean is something that corrects the effects that we see on webcams when we have the screen in front of us, which make our face look abnormally blue. Come on, the Ausdom leaves us with a skin tone that is more faithful to reality and that, in short, it makes us look better in front of the camera. It is undoubtedly one of its key points.

For this reason, its 1080p resolution, its decent sharpness and its autofocus, we consider it one of the most off-road webcams, and that for its price (and on a tight budget) it is acceptable for any use. That is, with it we can have really good conferences, but we can also record videos or stream, not with the best quality in the world, but enough.

It also has a microphone, although the sound quality is not dazzling. Acceptable for conferences, yes.

Logitech C920s: an old acquaintance

Didn’t we agree that the Ausdom AF640 was ahead of the C920? Yes, but in reality there are also things where the Logitech C920 / C920s gets ahead. Not only that, but also:

• With all the price fluctuations out there, it is possible that one of the two is above 60 euros. In that case, we recommend the cheapest.
• There are also things that are neither better nor worse, just different.

Let’s start by seeing what is better in the C920s compared to the Ausdom. It has a “warmer” sound and also includes a very comfortable privacy cover . The image quality is considered comparable, although it is quite noticeable to lose the beauty filter. Fortunately, they share many important features such as 1080p resolution or autofocus.

Regarding what “is not better or worse, but different,” stands out a shorter field of view (and with less fisheye effect). This is ideal for those who are looking to put the camera in a somewhat remote position, or who want to  hide their surroundings more (the room, for example). With the Ausdom AF640, you will have to have the camera relatively close (in the monitor position is fine) and there will be wide angles.

So, we have just presented you with two very good cameras, suitable even for streaming, and at a reasonable price. Depending on the characteristics that we comment on, we recommend the one that best suits your needs (usually the Ausdom).

Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p V2

We continue with a very solvent camera with 1080p resolution. In this case, we are facing something more interesting for videoconferences, because it seems that it lacks autofocus, or at least there is no reference to it.

However, it offers excellent audio performance combined with the crystal-clear video quality. As we say, this provides you with great solvency when using a call or conference, with the advantage of the lower price compared to the two options above, which are obviously much better.

Finally, like most cameras on this list, it offers us the possibility of 360º rotation offered by its support, perfect in case we need it to talk to several people, for example. Of course, its inclination cannot be regulated.

TECKNET Full HD webcam with built-in light

As we said, we were also going to propose options that had a light ring to use in low light conditions. In this case, TECKNET offers a considerably cheap camera despite being 1080p, and obviously this implies losing the autofocus. The point is that, unlike the others, the fact of having a ring of light allows it to be used in a room without any lighting, and even then it will be possible to perfectly distinguish the person who is being recorded.

In addition, it also offers 360º rotation, which is even combined with a 50 degree tilt. Come on, despite being of a somewhat lower range, it is much more versatile.

Be very careful, because you can always opt for one of the previous cameras and add a separate ring of light to it. It may be somewhat less comfortable, but this way you have a more versatile solution. For only 10 euros we find a good USB ring with adjustable intensity and color temperature, which we can place on a tripod or not, and with which we can ultimately obtain the best quality we can.

Krom Kam, the cheapest with Full HD

The Krom Kam is an incredibly cheap webcam, since its price is around 20 euros, and for this amount we get a 1080p resolution. It is, then, one of the cheapest Full HD cameras that can be found on the market.

However, it is noted that the price is inevitably low. This is something that would be expected, but it is important to note that the camera requires an environment with adequate lighting, and possibly not backlit. In addition, its field of view is high but if we are not focused on the image there is a fisheye effect.

In any case, it is a camera with many good things: it has a decent microphone (enough for meetings), a cover for privacy, a tripod with legs to leave the camera where we want, and it is plug and play. In short, a very good option to use in video calls, but not for streaming.

A quick alternative: the cheapest webcam, the free one

There is an alternative to the 5 webcams that we have raised above, and it is the cheapest possible webcam: the one that is free. We are not referring to taking advantage of the one that already integrates a laptop, that is evident, and we know that this article is aimed at using the camera on desktop computers, or on laptops whose integrated webcam is very bad.

What do we mean then? Well, to options like DroidCam, which what they do is turn our mobile into a webcam, taking advantage of the WiFi connection to broadcast everything to our computer, and being able to use it as any web camera.

This option is the most advantageous for those who need to use a camera in this way very occasionally, since the configuration of the app and the connection with the computer is a somewhat tedious process at times, and it is not guaranteed that it will always work perfectly. The positive point is that the quality can be superior to that of any cheap webcam, taking advantage of the possibilities of the mobile camera.

So, if you want to use your mobile as a webcam, do not hesitate to consult our article about it. The truth is that it is worth the test.

Or, if you have a camera with HDMI, you can have “the best possible webcam” for very little.

Finally, we are going to propose another really powerful alternative: if you have a reflex camera, or really any type of camera with the condition that it has clean output and HDMI, you can get the best possible webcam for very little.

Basically, there are HDMI capturers that you can buy that will relay the signal from the camera to the computer, something that you can then use as a camera through a connection to your PC. Thus, you get a quality that far exceeds any camera you can imagine on the market.

For example, this entry-level HDMI to USB grabber can handle 1080p 60fps video:

Obviously, these grabbers are not like the “gaming grabbers” used for games, but in this case, they are perfectly fine to use with a camera. We will be able to surprise a lot in conferences, make professional streams, etc.

It is also clear that it is not a comfortable solution for many reasons, and everything will depend on each one, and what you consider to be best for you.

Remember that you will need a suitable cable for your camera. Most use mini HDMI or micro HDMI. So, we leave you these cables, which have one end for the camera and another for the capturer:

Last updated on 2021-09-19

Final words and conclusion: what is the best cheap webcam?

Webcams have become essential! Since we suddenly began to telecommute en masse, and have all kinds of online meetings, it has become essential to have a good camera on our computer. Whether it’s because your laptop webcam isn’t convincing, or you don’t have one on your desktop PC,  buying one can be a good idea.

The point is that webcams are quite expensive, and to get one with good image quality you have to pay a lot. In this article we have taken into account all kinds of criteria (image quality, resolution, sound, accessories, automatic focus, etc.) to find the best cheap webcam, and we have chosen 5 quite interesting models.

Personally, if I had to choose, I would stick with one of two options:

• The Ausdom AF640, being the most balanced of all, offering high image quality at a balanced price, with excellent regulation of the color of our face, something that really sets it apart from other cameras.
• Use a reflex camera or similar with a capture device, as we explained in the last point. This option is really surprising, because its image quality will be immense. But of course, it will not seem comfortable to everyone and it requires having an expensive camera beforehand.