Joe Hindy / Android Authority
It’s actually not hard to turn your phone into a webcam. There are many good apps that do this, and it’s easier and cheaper than buying a physical webcam. This is also somewhat different than when people use old phones with baby monitor apps or security camera apps. Most of the webcam apps on this list work the same way. There is a client that you install on your computer and then you install the app on your phone. The two merge and your camera becomes your webcam. It’s usable for a wide range of applications from business to video game streaming, but overall it’s a niche thing. Here are the best we could find.
Best webcam apps for Android
Camo is the latest webcam app on the list and it does what you would expect a webcam app to do. You can use any camera on your phone, including the front camera and any of the primary cameras on your phone. In addition, the desktop client works with more than 40 popular applications such as Zoom, Meet, Teams, OBS, Streamlabs, Skype, Twitch and many others.
Some other features include multiple video resolutions (from 360p to 1080p), no cloud-based services (Camo can’t see what you’re doing), and you can even use multiple Android devices at the same time. The app is free for consumers, and enterprise solutions are also available. The only downside is that it’s in beta at the time of writing, so there are probably some bugs that still need to be ironed out.
DroidCam
Price: Free / $5.99
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
DroidCam is one of the oldest webcam apps on the list and still works well to this day. It works by connecting your phone to a computer like most of the other apps on the list. It includes both 720p and 1080p video, support for direct connections (via USB) and phone call mute.
There is also an option to view your DroidCam from a web browser making it an IP camera as well. The application is free for unlimited use with no usage restrictions. There’s a pro version for $5.99 with some extra features, but honestly, it’s not entirely necessary unless you want to support the developer.
Iriun
Price: Free / $4.99
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Iriun is one of the few webcam apps with 4K video support, although it depends on your phone’s display. It works the same as the others. You install the app on your phone and computer, then connect them.
The app also includes USB support in addition to the usual Wi-Fi connection. In practice, it worked well for our test devices (Android 11 and Windows 11) and there is nothing more to talk about. All we would ask for is better documentation to address common issues.
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
iVCam is an above-average webcam app with several unique and useful features. The app does all the usual stuff so you don’t have to worry about it. However, it also adds the ability to record what your phone sees on your computer, support for up to 4K video, adjustable frame rates, audio support, and USB connectivity.
You can even use the desktop app to take photos with your phone’s camera. The app has a lower rating than we would like for an app listing, but most of the issues involve getting the app up and running. Fortunately, it’s free so you’re not wasting money if it doesn’t work for you.
XSplit Connect
Price: Free
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
XSplit Connect is one of the bigger names in streaming, so it’s encouraging to see that they also have a webcam app. It seems to work well right out of the box and includes a bunch of nice features. It does all the usual stuff and then adds little things like a blur slider that adds a fake bokeh effect.
The app also has support for popular streaming apps like XSplit Broadcaster, OBS, and Streamlabs if you choose to use your phone for that purpose. The XSplit Connect portion appears to be free, but it is part of the larger XSplit Broadcaster software package that starts at $5 per month.
Bonus: Microsoft’s Your Phone Companion
Price: Free
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Microsoft’s Phone Companion app is an unusual but serviceable app for this list. It does not give your computer access to your phone’s camera to use the webcam. However, it allows you to use phone apps on your computer screen. So you can, for example, use the Phone Companion app to open Zoom, do the entire meeting with your phone’s camera, and it all happens on your computer screen while your phone does all the work on the side.
It won’t work for content creation like streaming, but it can be very handy for business or school use. It is also completely free with no usage restrictions.
If there are any other great webcam apps we’ve forgotten about, please let us know about them in the comments. You can also click here to check out our latest lists of Android apps and games.