Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Android
  4. Apple
  5. Computing
  6. Mobile
  7. Evergreens

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The best webcam apps for Android and iOS

By and
Add as a preferred source on Google
 

The great work-from-home experiment of 2020 left millions of us in dire need of a webcam. Instead of splurging on one of the best webcams, we’ll show you how to use your smartphone or one you already have lying around your house. Your smartphone can function as a webcam quite easily, and there are a few apps that will help you get this done. We’ve put together a quick guide on our favorites. Here are the best webcam apps for Android and iOS.

Recommended Videos

EpocCam Webcam for Mac and PC (iOS)

EpocCam was first published in the app store almost a decade ago, but has really gotten its shine in the last year. This app from Elgato (now owned by Corsair), helps you use your iPhone as an HD webcam and microphone on both Mac and Windows. Once you’ve installed the corresponding drivers, EpocCam will allow your phone to be recognized as an optional webcam within apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and more. You can connect your phone to your computer via either Wi-Fi or USB and EpocCam will make sure your computer recognizes it.

iOS

DroidCam — Webcam for PC (Android)

Similar to our first entry, DroidCam lets your PC recognize your Android phone as a webcam for use in video-conferencing apps. The free ad-supported version of DroidCam supports standard definition webcam streaming and connects over USB or Wi-Fi. DroidCam also offers a paid version called DroidCamX brings a greater depth of functionality than just creating a connection between your phone’s cameras and microphones and your desktop. DroidCamX brings some tech commonly found in full-service webcams to your device. DroidCam adds video smoothing, noise cancellation, IP webcam access, and a USB-only mode for extra privacy and security. The paid version is $5.

Google Play

iCam (iOS)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

iCam for iOS goes beyond the traditional webcam use case and lets you remotely enable and monitor the cameras of your varied iOS devices. Whether you’re creating a makeshift security system or setting up a pet cam, iCam will allow you to view and record from your iOS device’s camera. The app and corresponding desktop software for Mac and Windows let you store motion events in the cloud to protect against loss or theft of your devices. iCam sells a number of cloud storage monthly packages starting at 5GB for $5. For an extra level of access you can log in to any of your iCam enabled cameras for any Java-enabled browser, ensuring you can check on your setup from anywhere in the world. iCam also offers a pro version with improved bandwidth, video quality, and numerous additional features.

iOS

Whatever your need or smartphone platform may be, from a work from home webcam setup to a full-fledged home security system, or just a way to keep an eye on your loved pets when you’re abroad, these apps will help you get the job done. Before you hit your local electronics store or Amazon for a pricy new webcam, take a look first at the high-definition camera sitting in your pocket.

Nick Mokey
Nick Mokey
Former Editor in Chief
As Digital Trends’ Editor in Chief, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team covering every gadget under the sun, along with…
Topics
Cracking your Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra screen could cost $639, so handle it carefully
Samsung's new numbers put an exact, and fairly painful, figure on just how much pricier.
Computer, Electronics, Tablet Computer

Cracking your foldable's screen has always been an expensive mistake, but Samsung just put an actual price on it this year, and believe me, it’s more expensive than I initially thought it would be. 

The company confirmed official repair pricing for the entire Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup, and fixing the inner display alone can cost more than some budget phones do new. Given that more people are buying into the category, making these revised repair costs all the more important to know before you take the plunge.

Read more
I’ve waited far too long for Pixels to get this stupidly simple gesture
Just ship the double-tap-to-lock gesture already Google.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

Every time I switch from any Android phone to a Pixel, there's one small gesture missing that always annoys me. From a modern Galaxy phone or even a device from Xiaomi, I can double-tap an empty part of the home screen and immediately turn the display off. Samsung has offered a double-tap to turn off the screen since Android 11. On a Pixel, I still have to reach for the power button.

To be fair, Google isn't the only offender, and Motorola's stock Android phones, like the Razr Fold, also skip such a basic feature. But this might be changing soon. Android Authority has discovered updated code strings inside Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 pointing to Google’s long-in-development double-tap-to-sleep feature. Better still, Google appears to have expanded it beyond the lock screen and onto the home screen, which is exactly where I want it.

Read more
Samsung could double down on foldables in 2027 with five new reported models
The wide-format Galaxy Z Fold 8 sold well enough to convince Samsung the shape deserves two phones of its own next year.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 foldable smartphone

Five different foldable phones in one launch cycle sounds like a lot, at least to me, but that’s reportedly what Samsung has planned for 2027. A new leak lays out a lineup nearly double the size of this year's three-phone spread. 

The Korean giant apparently wants to double down on the wide-format design buyers apparently can't get enough of. Two of them could share the wide-format, passport-shaped design that broke sales records this year. 

Read more