Webcam software facilitates recording, streaming, still image capture, and editing tools.
The software often runs in the background to enable webcam access across various apps and websites.
Higher-end software provides more controls for professional use cases like vlogging, conferences, and presentations.
With Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android having default webcam software built-in, you may wonder why you need third-party software.
The default options are just barebones compared to feature-packed third-party software. You get much more control over resolution, effects, recording options, and post-processing capabilities with robust software.
But with dozens of webcam software options out there, it can get overwhelming to find the right one suitable for your needs.
This guide will explore the 10 best webcam software picks across platforms considering features, quality, ease of use, and price. Let’s get started!
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10 Best Webcam Software You Can Use
Here are the best software for webcam you can use:
1. CyberLink YouCam
CyberLink YouCam is a versatile webcam software for Windows that provides robust features for both webcam enhancement and video recording/streaming.
It supports standard webcam features like video effects, filters, touch-up tools, virtual backgrounds, and stickers.
YouCam also enables webcam tweaks like field of view adjustment, auto-focus, noise reduction, and smart contrast.
The unique Beautify Face features utilize AI to retouch portraits in real-time. You can even add animated effects like face recognition-based avatars.
For recording, YouCam supports standard webcam recording, screencasting, and video merge into a picture-in-picture layout.
The produced recordings can be directly uploaded to YouTube. YouCam also enables live streaming with animated overlay effects on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch.
The software works well with both integrated and external webcams. YouCam is free for personal use while the Pro version unlocks more customization features for $49.99.
If you want highly versatile software for both webcam enhancements and recording/streaming, CyberLink YouCam is a great choice.
2. Logitech Capture
Logitech Capture is a handy webcam utility targeted especially at content creators and streamers.
As you would expect, it works seamlessly with Logitech webcams to control settings and access features. But it also supports third-party USB webcams.
With Logitech Capture, you get fine control over resolution, field of view, exposure, color settings, zoom, and more.
The software facilitates nifty features like Look Lock to hold focus on your face, background replacement, auto-framing, and text/image overlays. You can also enable two webcams at once for versatility.
Content creators can take advantage of cool features like recording into standard formats, live streaming to popular platforms, chroma key green screen effects, and AI-powered facial tracking.
Logitech Capture works with both Windows and Mac. It’s completely free to use and provides quite robust utility for power users and streamers.
The only drawback is the lack of mobile support as it is desktop-only software.
3. Nvidia Broadcast
Nvidia Broadcast is a nifty webcam software that leverages AI to enable powerful background removal, noise cancellation, and auto-framing effects.
It works by analyzing your video feed using Nvidia’s neural networks to generate effects in real time.
Some of the impressive capabilities include:
- Virtual Background without green screen
- Blurring/replacing background
- Noise removal from keyboard sounds
- Audio noise cancellation
- Auto zoom-in framing on faces
Broadcast also enables standard features like webcam color adjustments, resolution settings, post-processing filters, and audio input controls.
Nvidia Broadcast is available for Windows and is completely free to use if you have a compatible Nvidia RTX graphics card.
Auto effects do require significant GPU power. If you have access to an RTX card, Nvidia Broadcast provides some of the most advanced AI-enhanced webcam features.
4. ManyCam
ManyCam is an extremely versatile webcam software for Windows and Mac. It’s compatible with all standard USB webcams as well as connected DSLR cameras.
ManyCam allows the use of multiple video and audio sources thanks to its built-in video mixer.
The software enables changing webcam settings like resolution, aspect ratio, field of view, and color space. Real-time video effects include backgrounds, filters, face accessories, and masks.
You can add text banners, time, and location overlay widgets. ManyCam also supports creating custom watermarks and overlays.
For live streaming, ManyCam has integration with Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and more. It supports combining webcam feed with screen recording for a picture-in-picture effect.
You can also connect Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other video call apps through virtual webcam mode.
ManyCam has a free version with basic features. Premium plans start from $4.99 per month for advanced video production capabilities.
ManyCam is an excellent pick if you want deep integration across various apps and platforms.
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5. Cyberlink PhotoDirector
While mainly an image editing software, Cyberlink PhotoDirector (available for Windows and Mac) also includes webcam recording and enhancement capabilities.
It provides full control over connected webcams including resolution tweaks, manual focus, color adjustments, and field of view changes.
You can record standard webcam video and apply effects like stickers and filters in real time.
Green screen or virtual background effects are also possible without the need for an actual green screen setup.
Still, photos captured through the webcam can be enhanced with all the powerful editing tools in PhotoDirector.
Some unique tools include AI-powered Sky Replacement and Face Beautifier. There’s also multi-cam capture and a webcam-sharing mode to pipe your cam through the network.
PhotoDirector starts at $99.99 USD for all its photo/video editing tools. If you already own it, the built-in webcam software provides professional-level control.
6. Wondershare Filmora
Filmora by Wondershare is another popular and capable video editing platform that packs in webcam software features as well.
It works on Windows and Mac computers. You can connect DSLR cameras through USB to use as a high-end webcam with Filmora.
The webcam utility provides touch-up tools like lighting adjustment, skin smoothening, blemish removal, and more for great-looking videos.
Cool webcam effects are available like animated backgrounds, overlays, filters, and emojis.
With Filmora, you can use your camera feed directly in the video editor with a chroma key, green-screen effects, and footage overlays.
The video editor part allows you to create professional edits by combining webcam clips, screen recordings, and imported media.
Filmora is free to try with a watermark. Paid licenses start from $39.99 for unlimited exports. Thanks to the built-in video enhancements and editor integration, Filmora makes for capable webcam recording software.
7. SplitCam
SplitCam is a popular webcam software for Windows that’s packed with features while being easy to use.
It supports endless effects and customizations like filters, stickers, face accessories, color adjustments, and more. Unique effects like eye enlargement, head swap, and face mix are also possible.
SplitCam enables tweaking webcam settings like resolution and aspect ratio. You can add text banners, timecode overlays, and custom user images.
Built-in green screen effects allow you to remove and change your background easily.
Gamers can take advantage of SplitCam’s integration with streaming software like OBS, XSplit, and more to enhance their video stream.
It can also convert your webcam into a virtual device for video call apps. SplitCam costs $39 for lifetime use with unlimited webcams and effects.
8. Snap Camera (Free)
Snap Camera is a fun, freemium webcam software for Windows and Mac created by Snapchat. It provides access to Snapchat’s huge library of quirky lenses and effects that you can apply in real time to your webcam feed.
From cute animal faces to flashy cosmetic lenses to augmented reality effects – Snap Camera provides them all.
You can use these enhanced webcam feeds with Twitch, Zoom, Skype, and other apps. Streamers, in particular, love Snap Camera for creating an engaging on-screen presence.
Being from Snapchat, the software also enables using your webcam to create Snapchat stories and video messages with effects applied.
Snap Camera is free to use with new lenses added regularly. Just take note it requires signing in with a Snapchat account.
9. Apowersoft Webcam Recorder
Apowersoft Webcam Recorder is a straightforward webcam recording utility for Windows and Mac.
As the name suggests, the focus here is on recording high-quality videos through your USB webcam. It supports recording resolutions up to 4K if your webcam allows it.
Videos are recorded in standard MP4 or AVI formats and can utilize codecs like H.264 and HEVC for efficient files.
Useful recording features like scheduled recordings, timestamp overlays, mirroring, and rotation make it handy for tutorials and demos.
The image and color settings can be tweaked prior to recording for best results.
Apowersoft Webcam Recorder is free to try but adds a watermark. License plans that remove the watermark start at $29.95 USD for a year.
If you want a no-frills application purely for recording professional webcam videos, it’s a very capable choice.
10. Dell Peripheral Manager
If you use a Dell laptop or computer, its preinstalled Dell Peripheral Manager software allows tweaking settings for Dell webcams, headphones, and other devices.
It provides granular control over resolution, field of view, color space, contrast, exposure, and other parameters for compatible Dell webcams.
The software also enables video effects like background blur or replacement without a green screen required.
Face tracking and auto-focus capabilities further improve usability. Dell Peripheral Manager is lean, focused, and straightforward to use.
Being pre-installed software, it integrates seamlessly across Windows and Dell laptops. But note that it only works with Dell peripherals.
Still, Dell webcam users will find the advanced configuration options helpful for fine-tuning cam quality and effects. The software is completely free for Dell device owners.
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To Sum Up
And that concludes our lineup of the top 10 webcam softwares available across platforms. To recap, some key aspects to consider when choosing webcam software are ease of use, compatibility, special features, and pricing model.
Prioritize software that provides easy controls, platform support, and capabilities tailored to your needs like video effects, recording tools, or streaming integration.
With that said, any of the versatile softwares we covered can prove to be an excellent option. They enable you to get the most out of default or external webcams.
Adjusting even basic settings like resolution and field of view along with handy tweaks like auto-focus and exposure go a long way in significantly uplifting your video quality.
So try out some webcam software today to enhance your next group video call, meeting, or virtual hangout.
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