Best Webcams for Linux in 2023

Webcams have become an essential part of life (thanks to the pandemic!). Most Laptops and PCs already have an inbuilt webcam, but if your system doesn’t have it, then you always have an option to go for an external USB webcam.

Now, you can easily find an external webcam to use with Windows and Mac. Sadly, the same cannot be said for Linux distros. Most manufactures don’t support Linux officially.

So, even if the webcam itself works on Linux, the native software may not work with Linux distros. The software is essential for using additional features and settings (zooming, adjusting brightness, contrast etc.) of these webcams.

Thanks to the open-source projects like OBS studio, Cheese, Guvcview, Kamoso etc. You can use the additional settings of these webcams without installing their native software.

Here’s the summary of the best webcams for Linux:

Before you proceed:

Here are few things, I want you to consider before proceeding with the post:

1. There are many Linux distros out there, the webcams mentioned in this post work on most Linux distros, but there is no guarantee that it will work with every Linux distro.

2. The native software offered by these webcams may or may not work with Linux. So, use OBS studio, Cheese, Guvcview, Kamoso etc. to make the webcam work properly on your distro.

3. Some features can only be accessed using native software. Since most manufacturers don’t make the software compatible with Linux, do not expect all the features of the webcam to work with Linux.

4. Don’t go for costly, high-end webcams unless you are sure it works properly with your particular version of Linux.

Best Linux compatible webcams

1. Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam

The first webcam for Linux on this list is Logitech C930e. Logitech devices are supported by the Linux community and most of their devices work without any problems (like driver issues) on mainstream Linux distros.

Logitech C930e is a business-class webcam that delivers high-resolution 1080p videos at 30 FPS. The webcam is equipped with a 3 MegaPixel camera with autofocus and has a 90° field of view.

C930e also has Rightlight™ 2 technology for capturing clarity videos in various lighting environments including low-light conditions.

As for sound, it has dual integrated omnidirectional mics that can capture clear audio from up to one meter distance.

C930e uses H.264 compression and also has a privacy shutter to protect the lens and assure privacy and peace of mind when the webcam is not in use.

Although this webcam is a bit expensive, but if you’re looking for a quality business-class webcam for video conferencing, then Logitech C930e is a great choice.

Features of Logitech C930e Webcam:

• Full 1080p HD video at 30 fps.
• 3 MegaPixel Camera with autofocus.
• 90° extended view.
• Pan, tilt and 4x digital zoom support.
• Built-in mic with up to 1-meter range.
• Compatible with all UVC apps and has an attachable privacy shutter.

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2. Logitech C270 HD Webcam

Logitech C270 is the most basic webcam on this list that you can use with your Linux system. This webcam is great, if you want to do video calling with friends/family or if you’re a student who wants an affordable webcam to take interactive online classes.

Unlike the previously mentioned C930e model, C270 can only record video in 720p at 30 fps. It doesn’t have an autofocus feature or privacy shutter either.

However, it has a 55° field of view, auto-light correction and one omnidirectional noise cancellation mic with a range of up to 3ft (1-meter).

Moreover, the Logitech C270 webcam works with most Linux distros out-of-the-box. If you want an affordable webcam with a simple and sleek design to use with your Linux system, then give Logitech C270 a try.

Features of Logitech C270 Webcam:

• 720P video at 30 fps.
• 0.9 Mega Pixel camera with fixed focus.
• Built-in Mic with range up to 3ft (1-meter).
• Auto-light correction with RightLight 2.
• 55° Diagonal field of view.
• Simple and sleek design.

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3. LarmTek 1080p Full Hd Webcam

LarmTek 1080P is another great option when it comes to webcams for Linux. It is an affordable webcam that can record videos in 1080P at 30 fps.

This webcam has a 75° viewing angle for wide vision and a built-in mic with noise cancellation to get a clear and natural sound within a range of 3 meters. This makes it an ideal webcam for video conferencing and group calls.

It also has an easy to use privacy shutter to protect the lens and ensure privacy when the webcam is not in use.

Although LarmTek doesn’t officially support Linux, this webcam works on most Linux distros without the need of installing any 3^rd party drivers.

This is also the cheapest webcam on this list. If you don’t like the pricey Logitech webcams, then have a look at LarmTek 1080P webcam.

Features of LarmTek 1080P Webcam:

• Full 1080p HD video at 30 fps.
• 75° Viewing angle for wide vision.
• Built-in mic with noise cancellation.
• Clear and natural sound recording within 3 meters.
• Easy to use Webcam Privacy Shutter.

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4. Angetube PC 1080P Webcam

Angetube 1080P webcam records videos in Full HD (1080P) at 30 fps. It has a 100° wide viewing angle that makes it a great choice for boardroom meetings or multi-person chats.

This webcam doesn’t have autofocus, instead, it has manual focus and automatic low light correction. As for sound, it has dual noise-cancellation microphones to provide crystal clear audio.

The good news is that Angetube officially supports native Linux OS 2.6.24 or later and Ubuntu versions 10.04 or later. Apart from the official support, it also works out-of-the-box on many Linux distros including Arch and Manjaro Linux.

The only downside is that; it doesn’t have any privacy shutter. But overall, in terms of features and Linux compatibility, Angetube 1080P is a great choice when it comes to webcams for Linux.

Features of Angetube PC 1080P Webcam:

• Full 1080p HD video at 30 fps.
• Officially supports Native Linux OS 2.6.24 or later and Ubuntu v10.04 and later.
• Has low light correction and manual focus.
• 100° wide-angle view with 360° rotation support.
• Built-in dual noise cancellation microphones.

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5. DEPSTECH 4k Webcam

The last on this list is the DEPSTECH 4k webcam. This is a high-definition 4k webcam that can record 4k videos up to a 3840×2160 resolution at 30 fps.

It has an 80° wide viewing angle with autofocus and dual-mic with noise cancellation feature for crystal clear audio.

Moreover, DEPSTECH 4k webcam officially supports Ubuntu and works with most Linux distros without the need for any 3^rd party drivers.

The webcam has a privacy shutter to keep the lens clean and ensure privacy when not in use. Also, compared to other famous brands, this webcam offers 4k at a very affordable price.

If you want an affordable 4k webcam for business meetings and group calling, then give the DEPSTECH 4k webcam a try.

Features of DEPSTECH 4k Webcam:

• High-definition 4K 8-megapixel webcam with autofocus.
• 4k video recording at 30 fps.
• 80° wide-angle view with 360° rotation support.
• Dual mics with Noise-Cancellation.
• Officially compatible with Ubuntu.
• Webcam with Privacy Cover.

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Conclusion

That concludes the best webcams for Linux list. However, these are not the only webcams that work with Linux distros, but I hope this list will help you choose a good webcam to use with your Linux machine.