Want to turn your Android into a webcam for free? Let’s see the best webcam apps to turn your phone into a webcam.
Currently, it is usual to use your mobile phone’s camera to record videos or to speak with someone through voice and video. It is also possible on a laptop, since almost all current models have a webcam by default. But a desktop computer usually does not include a webcam, although some current, infrequent monitors can have one. Most likely, you have to buy an external webcam. They are not expensive, and they fulfill their purpose. But you can also turn your Android into a webcam and use it on your PC.
We have seen in the past that there are many ways to synchronize your computer with your Android and iOS smartphone, with and without cables. Taking advantage of this connectivity and with the help of a mobile application, we can use a mobile phone with a camera as an external webcam to make high-quality video conferencing.
The best free webcam apps for Android to turn your old phone into a webcam
Do you want to keep an eye on your children while you’re not at home? Or better, do you want to simply use your cell phone as a camera while streaming or making a Skype call? Whether it is one option or the other, Android gives many possibilities to turn your Android phone into a webcam. You can also turn your old Android into a home security system. However, we bring you the four best applications to carry out this task. Ready to meet them? Let’s start then.
DroidCam
The first recommendation is the DroidCam app. For Windows, Linux and Android users, DroidCam is a good option to consider, since after installing the Android app and the drivers on your PC, you can send live video with any video conferencing program (Skype, Hangouts, etc.)
You can use the webcam on your smartphone or tablet both via USB cable and WiFi, and it is useful for videoconferences as well as for using an old phone as a surveillance camera.
The application allows video streaming in high resolution as well as a good frame rate. In addition, it has no advertising or watermarks, so making connections with programs such as Skype or YouTube comes in handy.
Camo: webcam for Mac and PC
Camo is a cool app that lets you use your Android phone as a webcam for your computer. It works with lots of popular apps, like Zoom and OBS. You can use any camera on your phone and choose video quality from 360p to 1080p. Camo doesn’t mess with your privacy by using cloud services. You can even use multiple phones at once! It’s still in testing (beta), so there might be some bugs, but it’s got some awesome features. Camo is an easy and private way to upgrade your webcam game.
Iriun Webcam
Iriun is a webcam app that stands out for its 4K video support, but this might vary based on your phone’s screen. Like other apps, you install it on your phone and computer, then connect them.
What’s different about Iriun is that it offers USB support in addition to Wi-Fi. Our testers found it worked well on Android 11 and Windows 11 devices. However, there’s not much more to say about it.
The only thing we’d suggest is better documentation to help with common issues. Overall, Iriun is a straightforward option for turning your phone into a webcam, especially if you want higher video quality.
IP Webcam
Another exclusive option for Android is the IP Webcam, which has a greater focus on video surveillance since it broadcasts video on an internal WiFi network visible from your web browser or VLC through the internal IP of the smartphone or tablet.
Among its many functions, it highlights video recording in various formats (WebM, MOV, MKV, or MP4) and automatic upload to Dropbox or FTP.
It also records sound in several formats (WAV, AAC), and through the IP Camera Adapter for Windows, you can make video calls on Skype and similar.
iVCam
iVCam is a webcam app that goes beyond the basics with some cool features. It handles all the regular stuff you’d expect, so there’s no need to stress about that. But here’s where it stands out: you can record what your phone sees on your PC, it supports up to 4K video, and you can tweak the frame rate. Plus, it’s got audio support and USB connectivity.
Another neat trick? You can use the desktop app to snap photos with your phone’s camera. Now, it’s worth mentioning that iVCam’s rating isn’t as high as we’d like, mainly because some users have trouble setting it up. But here’s the silver lining. It’s totally free. So even if it doesn’t work perfectly for you, at least it won’t cost you anything.
PocketCam
Another interesting proposal is PocketCam, which is indicated for Windows and Mac users with Android devices. Following the instructions on its website, you can take advantage of your Android’s camera via WiFi and thus make video calls from your PC or record videos.
This program is simple and straightforward, with compatibility for both Windows and Mac. The streaming streams are about a second behind, so you will not have problems when talking with your friends through Skype or other programs of chat.
EpocCam
And we closed the compilation on how to turn your Android phone into a webcam with EpocCam, although its full name is EpocCam Wireless Virtual Computer Webcam. It allows high-definition transmissions with a good bitrate and frame rate.
It allows a WiFi connection between a PC / Mac and a smartphone/tablet to take advantage of the camera in your Skype conversations, Hangouts, and Facebook. In addition, you can make live videos on YouTube.
EpocCam takes advantage of a camera and microphone, so you will not need to acquire an external microphone either. The only requirement for it to work is to install the corresponding drivers on your computer. It is available for both iOS and Android. You will find more information on its official website.
That’s all for now, friends. These are currently the best webcam apps for Android. As is logical, each person will have some preferences when choosing one or the other. But all the presented options offer good performance and fulfill the functions that one expects from webcam apps. Please share this article with your friends and family. Thank you.