Although most laptops come with a built-in camera, the quality of a dedicated webcam is much higher. As we searched for the best webcam for online teachers, we looked for a variety of criteria. The webcams had to be affordable, and come with a full HD, preferably with 1080p, the camera and the wire had to go in one piece, and the clip needed to be adjustable.
Best Webcams for Teaching Online at a Glance
- Our Choice – NexiGo Autofocus Webcam
- Top Budget Webcam – Hrayzan Webcam With Microphone
- Easy to Install – Logitech C270 HD Webcam
- Only Compatible with Windows – Microsoft Q2F LifeCam
- Best for Music Teachers – NexiGo N60 1080P Web Camera
- Best for Recording Video Lessons – Logitech Brio Ultra HD Webcam
What to Consider Before Buying a Webcam
There are several specs to keep in mind when looking for the best webcams for online teaching and video calling. These specs are specific to online teaching, and finding a good quality camera within these specs will ensure a camera that will get the streaming job done and exceed it. The specs to consider when purchasing a web camera are resolution, frame rate, and low light sensitivity.
Resolution
Resolution is often measured in pixels or megapixels. A megapixel is one million pixels—the more megapixels built-in webcams have, the higher the video quality. High-definition webcams can also be measured in measurements such as 640×480 and 1600×1200.
An average webcam has a resolution of 640×480 and is the recommended lowest resolution. Most of the high-definition webcams on this list are full HD 1080p recording, which puts their resolution slightly above average. Most laptop built-in webcams are 720p. Adding a 1080p webcam to your online teaching would be a great improvement. Some online teachers like to decorate the background of their online class setup. With a high-resolution webcam, you can capture your background decoration easily and make the online classroom inviting for your students.
Frame Rate
The next spec is the frame rate. The frame rate is the number of frames a webcam captures and displays in a given time. The lower the frames per second, the choppier the video will be, and when the video calling becomes choppy, the audio quality becomes out of sync. Good quality external webcams usually come with full HD 1080P at a fast frame rate. It is recommended for online teaching to have a webcam that has 30 fps. The Logitech Brio operates at 60 fps.
Light Sensitivity
Generally, external webcams for online teaching require a lot of lighting, especially cheap webcams. When searching for a webcam, it is essential to find one that can handle low light. A webcam with low light is ideal as it can automatically adjust to low lights and brighten up the video quality.
Best Webcams for Online Teaching Review
1. Nexigo Autofocus Webcam
Let us start with one of the best webcams for online teaching, the Nexigo 1080P Webcam with Microphone. Compatible with both Mac OS and PC, this webcam has a 110° wide-angle, six-layer lens. It has a 1080P resolution with 5 million pixels and 30 frames per second. You will find the camera, a user manual, a tripod, and a 1.5m long cable in the box.
Our Review
The 1080P recording webcam has a lot to offer. Some online students and online teachers prefer an excellent headset to cut off the background noise. But due to the built-in dual microphone, you can also work and study headset free. The built-in microphone does an excellent job of canceling out echo and extra noise. During online classes, you will find that the autofocus works nicely, so you aren’t having to adjust the focus while teaching online.
Having a webcam with autofocus during video calls is almost a must-have for online teachers who move around when they use a whiteboard to teach.
The built-in adjustable stand works with any computer or laptop, making setup easy, and if you don’t want to attach it to a monitor or laptop, there is a tripod included. Having this tripod saves you from having to get one.
We love that it is compatible with both MAC and PC. The USB plug-and-play makes it easy to set up and use. A driver must be installed on the computer before use, but it is easy to walk through. The color is excellent on the computer screen and with 30fps, so there is no choppy video quality. Besides, you can get this camera at a very affordable price.
2. Hrayzan Webcam With Microphone
The Hrayzan 1080P HD Webcam offers a USB feature with no drivers needed. It has a 110° wide-angle, 1080P full HD resolution, and 30fps. Other specs offered with this camera include a privacy cover and a tripod. Again, this webcam also works with Windows. It is compatible with Windows 10, MAC, PC, and Chrome systems. A built-in auto noise reduction mic picks up voices at 5m. This webcam offers low-light correction.
Our Review
The very first aspect we love about this camera is the privacy cover. It gives a sense of security, so hackers can not hack your camera. Much like the FONREST webcam, this webcam has the same wide-angle, plug-and-play connectivity and 30 fps.
We did notice that although the camera claims to have a resolution of 1080P recording, it streams at 720, which makes it an adequate live-streaming webcam.
A couple of downfalls of this product is that the four corners are often distorted because of the wide-angle. The image quality is clear, but the corners are out of focus. Users sometimes look washed out; this can be changed by changing camera settings and changing the light. There is no warranty offered with this webcam and very little customer service support.
3. Logitech C270 HD Webcam
Offering 30 frames per second, the Logitech C270 HD Webcam has a built-in noise-reduction microphone. This webcam comes with autofocus and automatic light correction. It has a universal clip for monitors and laptops and is compatible with Chrome, MAC, and PC. It offers 3MP and 1280X720 video capture resolution. To connect to a device, this webcam uses a 2.0 USB.
Our Review
We love how easy this device is to install and use. It is a camera with a 5-foot cable. As soon as you plug it in, it works. This is nice for teaching because it is reliable to know it will be easy to set up before online classes. The image quality is crisp, clear, smooth, and often better than the built-in camera with a laptop.
This camera’s downfall is that it does not offer a tripod or tripod, unlike the FONREST and the Hrayzan webcams.
Logitech webcams are in high demand and great for online teaching because of their outstanding picture quality and microphone capabilities. The warranty offered with this webcam is a 2-year limited hardware warranty. Logitech also provides online support for this product through its website.
4. Microsoft Q2F LifeCam
For online teaching, the Microsoft Q2F Lifecam offers 1080p video recordings and 720p full HD resolution for video calling. A hd glass lens uses autofocus to see the picture. Microsoft uses its ClearFrame technology to create HD video alongside its TrueColor tech.
This camera can rotate halfway in both directions, making it easy for teachers to change the camera angle for an all-around video.
Our Review
We will start by saying this is a Microsoft item, so it is not compatible with MAC or Chrome devices. However, if you have a PC, this is a great camera. The high-fidelity built-in microphone produces a high-quality sound that is sharp and clear. Designed for business, it is the top model of all the Lifecam cameras.
Don’t let the fact that it was designed for business to deter you; the Lifecam Cinema brings high-quality video calling and streaming. Their ClearFrame technology gives such a smooth, detailed video. TrueColor Tech offers such a bright and colorful video.
This web camera is great in any lighting, which makes it very versatile for online teaching. Want to take your teaching outside one day for a science experiment? This quality webcam will deliver. Since this webcam comes with a lens cap, it can be used as a privacy cover, much like the privacy cover that comes with the Hrayzan Webcam.
Microsoft offers a three-year limited warranty on this camera. Just like the Logitech webcam, this camera does not come with a tripod or tripod mount.
5. NexiGo N60 1080P Web Camera
NexiGo offers another “new to the market” webcam. The NexiGo Computer Camera has a built-in noise-canceling microphone. The specs for this camera include Full HD 1080p recording. The lens captures an ultra-wide angle of up to 110°, which is great for online group classes and presentations. This webcam works perfectly with Skype and Zoom.
Our Review
The built-in dual stereo microphone gives such a natural audio quality with enhanced sound quality. If built-in microphones are not enough, you may be interested in a separate microphone for online teaching. If you are a music teacher looking for a webcam, this is it, as the sound is so clear. The streaming of the image is sharp and clear, much like the rest of the webcams on this list. It has a convenient foldable design for easy transportation or is packed away when it is not being used.
It is great for dim lighting, so if you teach in a poorly lit corner of your house or office, this camera is the perfect one for you. We love the fact you can mount this camera on a tripod.
6. Logitech Brio Ultra HD Webcam
The only UltraHD, 4K Webcam on the list, the Logitech Brio, is high-end. It has a premium quality glass lens, 4K image sensor, autofocus, and full HD video 5X zoom. Powered by both optical and infrared sensors, this camera operates at 60 fps. The Logitech Brio has a digital zoom and pan and three fields of view to choose from. It has two Omni-directional built-in mics, which give a crisp, good sound quality. This camera is compatible with PC, MAC, and Chrome. It is also compatible with Windows 10, and Windows Hello certified.
Our Review
This camera is great for teachers who are broadcasting YouTube videos and want to record high-quality videos. Like the Microsoft Lifecam, the Logitech Brio was designed for business and is one of the best webcams for online teachers. This webcam is the most hi-tech on the list as it has facial recognition, and the price tag shows it. Rich in features and offering top-end resolution, the quality video calling is so true to life. It is as if you are sitting in the same room as the person you are talking with.
We appreciate the autofocus when streaming and that it automatically adjusts to any lighting. This means it compensates for glare and backlighting. This camera comes with three different USB attachments, which are convenient for connection options.
It does not come with a tripod mount, which is inconvenient. Like the OKIOCAM T USB Camera, it is not a plug-and-play camera, as software must be downloaded for it to be used.
Choosing a webcam can be overwhelming; however, you will have a great experience teaching online if you choose one of the best webcams from this list. Students will focus on what the online teacher does if the video quality is clear, crisp, and colorful. Happy teaching!
