Windows 11’s newer Phone Link update turned “my old phone is a better camera than the laptop lid” from a nerd hack into a first-party feature. Any recent phone has a rear camera that outclasses the average built-in webcam on autofocus, low light, and dynamic range. Pair it wirelessly and the laptop becomes a video-call device that behaves like a mirrorless rig.
We tested seven apps that turn an Android or iPhone into a wireless (or USB) webcam on Windows, macOS, or Linux. Every pick handles the two things that matter for a real workflow: it survives a full meeting without dropping, and the phone image shows up as a normal camera device in every app that expects one (Zoom, Teams, Meet, OBS, Chrome, and desktop browsers alike).
What to look for in a phone-as-webcam app
Five things separate the ones that work in a meeting from the ones that work for two minutes.
The first is a proper virtual camera driver. If the app registers a real camera device on the OS, every meeting tool sees it without setup. If not, you spend the meeting explaining why your camera does not appear.
The second is a wired option for reliability. Wi-Fi works for casual calls but the enterprise-grade picks (Camo, EpocCam) also support USB, which stops the frame drops when the office network gets busy.
The third is 1080p at 30 fps as the baseline. Anything less is worse than a modern laptop camera. Some apps do 4K, though that mostly matters for streaming, not meetings.
The fourth is mic routing. Some picks route the phone microphone as a virtual mic. Others expect you to use the laptop mic. Sanity-check this before your first call.
The fifth is background and effects. Blur, replacement backgrounds, and portrait cropping used to be premium features. Two of the apps below bundle them free.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Link Camera | Windows-native, no install | Windows 11 + Android | Yes | Free | 4.4 on the Phone Link store |
| DroidCam | Longest track record on Android | Windows, macOS, Linux + Android | Yes | Around $5 one-time HD unlock | 4.4 on the Play Store |
| Iriun Webcam | Simplest install, all OS | Windows, macOS, Linux + Android and iOS | Yes | Around $9 one-time HD unlock | 4.5 on the Play Store |
| Camo | Best video quality | Windows, macOS + Android and iOS | Yes | Around $5 per month Pro | 4.7 on the App Store |
| EpocCam | Best for iPhone users | Windows, macOS + iOS | Yes | Around $8 one-time HD unlock | 4.4 on the App Store |
| NDI HX Camera | Studio streaming workflows | Windows, macOS + iOS | Yes | Free | 4.2 on the App Store |
| Camera for OBS Studio | Native OBS integration | Windows, macOS, Linux + Android, iOS | Yes | Under $10 one-time | 4.5 on the Play Store |
The apps
1. Phone Link Camera — Best for Windows 11 + Android
Phone Link Camera is Microsoft’s own take on the phone-as-webcam workflow. Windows 11 users with a Samsung Galaxy or supported Android phone can enable the phone camera as a system webcam without installing anything extra. The camera appears in every app that reads Windows camera devices, mic included.
The setup is Windows 11 Phone Link → Devices → Manage → Use as connected camera. Pair once, pick the rear or front lens per session.
Where it falls short: Windows 11 only, and the phone list is limited (broader Samsung support, uneven for other brands). The link runs over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth; USB is not the primary path.
Pricing:
- Free.
Platforms: Windows 11 host, Android phone.
Download: Phone Link (Microsoft)
Bottom line: Best pick if you are on Windows 11 with a compatible phone and want zero third-party installs.
2. DroidCam — Best on Android, longest track record
DroidCam predates the phone-as-webcam boom by a decade. The Windows, macOS, and Linux clients register a virtual camera and virtual mic that every meeting app sees. Wi-Fi and USB both work; USB is more reliable and unlocks higher resolutions on the free tier.
The paid HD unlock removes the watermark and enables higher resolutions, but the free tier is enough for most calls.
Where it falls short: Interface is dated. Free tier caps resolution.
Pricing:
- Free with watermark and 480p cap.
- Paid: Around $5 one-time HD unlock.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux host with Android phone.
Download: DroidCam client (Dev47Apps) — Phone app: Google Play
Bottom line: Best pick if you are on Linux or on Android with any host OS and want a proven, cheap setup.
3. Iriun Webcam — Simplest install, works everywhere
Iriun Webcam is the fastest to get working. Install the host client on Windows, macOS, or Linux; install the phone app on Android or iOS; both find each other on the same Wi-Fi. Resolution goes up to 4K on paid tiers, and USB fallback is built in.
For Linux users especially, Iriun’s V4L2 driver is the cleanest of the group.
Where it falls short: Fewer camera-effect controls than Camo. Some users report choppy performance over 5 GHz Wi-Fi in dense networks.
Pricing:
- Free with 720p cap.
- Paid: Around $9 one-time HD unlock.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux host; Android and iOS phone.
Download: Iriun (site) — Phone app: Google Play or App Store
Bottom line: Best pick when you need one tool that runs on any host and any phone.
4. Camo — Best video quality
Camo is the polished pick. Reincubate’s studio app has the best per-frame quality control on the list: portrait crop with follow-tracking, exposure lock, HDR toggle, real-time filters, and an intuitive framing overlay. Free tier is generous enough for meeting use; Pro unlocks 4K, background replacement, and multi-app routing.
For anyone who does client-facing calls, streams, or records to camera, Camo’s output is a step up from every alternative here.
Where it falls short: Pro tier is subscription, not one-time. Advanced features push a lot of the phone’s battery and thermal budget.
Pricing:
- Free with watermark and 720p cap.
- Paid: Around $5 per month or $40 per year.
Platforms: Windows, macOS host; Android and iOS phone.
Download: Camo (Reincubate) — Phone app: App Store or Google Play
Bottom line: Best pick when video quality matters and you will pay a monthly fee for it.
5. EpocCam — Best for iPhone users
EpocCam is Elgato’s iPhone-first webcam app. On a recent iPhone, the rear camera comfortably outperforms every laptop webcam short of Studio Display, and EpocCam serializes that feed to macOS and Windows with low latency. USB and Wi-Fi both supported.
The Elgato desktop client integrates with the rest of Elgato’s studio ecosystem, which is a plus if you own a Stream Deck or a Wave mic.
Where it falls short: iOS only for the phone side, no Android app. Free tier watermarks the feed.
Pricing:
- Free with watermark and 640p cap.
- Paid: Around $8 one-time for the HD version.
Platforms: Windows, macOS host; iOS phone.
Download: Elgato EpocCam — Phone app: App Store
Bottom line: Best pick for iPhone users, especially inside an Elgato studio kit.
6. NDI HX Camera — Studio streaming workflows
NDI HX Camera turns an iPhone into an NDI source that any NDI-aware app can pull in over the network. For studio streamers, live producers, or anyone running vMix or OBS with NDI plugins, this is the cleanest way to add a phone camera to a production without a capture card.
Multiple NDI sources on the same LAN work in parallel, so a two-phone setup is possible with no additional hardware.
Where it falls short: Not a Windows virtual camera on its own. You add NDI Tools on the receiving end to expose it as a camera device.
Pricing:
- Free.
Platforms: Windows, macOS host via NDI Tools; iOS phone.
Download: NDI Tools (Vizrt) — Phone app: App Store
Bottom line: Best pick for streamers already running an NDI setup.
7. Camera for OBS Studio — Native OBS integration
Camera for OBS Studio (from the DroidCam OBS team) integrates as an OBS Studio source with no virtual camera driver in the middle. Phone connects direct to OBS over Wi-Fi or USB, and OBS’s virtual camera output is what other apps see.
For anyone whose day already ends with OBS open, this is the shortest path from phone-lens to browser-tab.
Where it falls short: Requires OBS Studio for anything outside the OBS ecosystem.
Pricing:
- Free with 720p cap.
- Paid: Under $10 one-time unlock.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux host with OBS Studio; Android and iOS phone.
Download: OBS Studio (site) — Phone app: Google Play or App Store
Bottom line: Best pick if OBS Studio is already in your daily setup.
How to pick the right one
If you are on Windows 11 with a supported Android phone, Phone Link Camera is the shortest path.
If you are on Linux or want the longest-supported tool on Android, DroidCam is the safe pick.
If you want a single tool that runs on every host and phone combination, Iriun Webcam covers it.
If video quality is a priority and you will pay for it, Camo delivers.
If you are on iPhone, EpocCam is the native fit. NDI HX Camera if you are also running an NDI studio setup.
If you already live in OBS Studio, Camera for OBS Studio skips the virtual-camera middle layer.
FAQ
Do I need a USB cable or does Wi-Fi work? Wi-Fi works for casual calls. USB is more reliable for hour-long meetings and unlocks higher resolutions on the free tiers of DroidCam, Iriun, and Camo. Phone Link Camera is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth by design.
Which app has the best video quality? Camo with a recent iPhone or flagship Android is the top of the group. Iriun 4K and DroidCam HD come close on comparable hardware. Free tiers cap at 720p or 480p on most of these; the paid unlocks are what get you the sensor’s real output.
Can I use my phone’s microphone too? DroidCam, Iriun, Camo, and Camera for OBS Studio all register a virtual mic on the host OS. Phone Link Camera routes audio as part of the connected-camera feature. NDI HX Camera routes audio as an NDI source.
Does this work on Linux? DroidCam and Iriun have Linux clients with V4L2 support that appear as native camera devices to all Linux apps. Camo and EpocCam are Windows and macOS only.
Does this drain the phone battery fast? Yes, especially over Wi-Fi. Camera plus radio for an hour will typically pull 30 to 50 percent of a phone battery. Plug the phone in during calls, or use USB with pass-through charging.
