The 5 Best Virtual Webcam Software in 2024

Modern professionals rely on video calls to organize teams, pitch prospective customers, and communicate with contractors. To engage your audience, you need a flexible virtual webcam software that integrates with popular video conferencing and streaming platforms. 

With virtual webcam software, you can access multiple video sources, picture-in-picture windows, digital effects, and other tools to deliver professional streams and recordings. So, how do you choose software that integrates with your operating system and offers all the features you need? 

Here, we discuss the best virtual camera software for live streaming, participating in online meetings, and creating pre-recorded video content. 

• Top 3 Leading Webcam Virtual Software Snapshots
• What is Virtual Webcam Software?
• 5 Best Virtual Webcam Software
1. YouCam – Best Overall
2. Logitech Capture – Best for Mobile Viewing
3. Restream Studio – Best for Live Show Hosting
4. Snap Camera – Best for Applying Lenses
5. SplitCam – Best for Multi-Application Streaming
• Best Virtual Webcam Software Comparison Chart
• How to Use a Virtual Webcam
• Download the Best Virtual Webcam Software
• Virtual Webcam FAQ

Top 3 Leading Webcam Virtual Software Snapshots

What Is Virtual Webcam Software?

Virtual webcam software is an application that lets you use all your computer’s resources, including your live webcam feed, during a video call or live stream. High-end virtual camera products can also: 

• Boost viewer engagement
• Improve viewer focus through visual cues
• Explain topics and demonstrate concepts
• Ensure that you look appropriate, professional, or attractive in your video

Using professional virtual webcam software, you can record your call or video stream. Top products will adjust to maximize your feed quality and appearance, compensating for poor recording conditions. 

Virtual webcam software also lets you deliver recorded videos or live streams to your audience’s favorite platforms. You can have direct integration with video conferencing platforms as well, such as Skype and Zoom, with the right software.

5 Best Virtual Webcam Software

1. YouCam – Best Overall

Compatibility: Windows

Overall Rating: 10 / 10

User Friendliness Rating: 10 / 10

Key Features

1. Direct video call program launching
2. Live social media broadcasting
3. Live skin smoothing and video adjusting

YouCam is the leading virtual webcam software, thanks to direct integration with video conferencing and streaming platforms, reality effects, and customizable elements. Using this software, you can broadcast to multiple platforms, including Twitch, YouTube Live, Facebook Live, XSplit, Wirecast, and OBS Studio. YouCam is also a plug-in for Google Hangouts, Skype, and Zoom. 

YouCam offers customizable images and titles for your livestreams, so you can add instructional steps, sponsor names, advertisements, or your channel logo. To improve your appearance in the webcam feed, you can use YouCam’s live makeup or skin smoothing tools in real-time. YouCam also provides animated emojis, filters, and distortion effects. 

YouCam offers all the webcam face beautification, platform integration, and video enhancement features you might need for quality video streaming or conferencing. 

Reasons to Recommend

1. User-friendly virtual webcam software
2. Professional webcam effects, including interactive particles
3. Drawing tool for touchscreens
4. A suite of face beautification features

Download YouCam today.

2. Logitech Capture – Best for Mobile Viewing

Image from Logitech on YouTube.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

User Friendliness Rating: 10 / 10

Key Features

1. Video personalization with live text overlays
2. Camera customization features, including aspect ratio adjustability
3. Studio-style controls, including chroma key

Logitech Capture is a feature-packed virtual webcam software with an intuitive interface that is easy to use, even if you are new to live streaming. The software is compatible with Windows and macOS, and you can use it as a processing software to stream content via XSplit or OBS Studio. If you have a Logitech StreamCam, this software will provide you with optimal functionality. 

After installing Logitech Capture, you can record content from more than one video source—for example, you can capture the feed from two webcams. You can also record a webcam’s feed and an application window in a side-by-side or picture-in-picture configuration. Other valuable features of Logitech Capture include customizable text overlays and background replacement with a green screen. 

Logitech Capture is a highly functional software for webcam recordings and live streaming, and you get various recording settings to optimize your audience’s mobile viewing experience. However, this product doesn’t offer the same configurability as YouCam. You also don’t get the same range of transition effects and scene selections. 

3. Restream Studio – Best for Live Show Hosting

Image from Restream Studio.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

User Friendliness Rating: 9 / 10

Key Features

1. Video chats to see viewers’ real-time comments
2. Multi-streaming to several platforms
3. Guest invite function to host podcasts or interviews

Restream Studio is a popular browser-based solution for live streaming, and you can use it to share your live webcam feed, computer screen, and local video files with your audience in real-time. This solution offers multi-stream functionality, and you can stream content directly to multiple platforms simultaneously without needing any third-party software or apps. Popular platforms you can stream to with Restream Studio include YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Twitter, Twitch, LinkedIn, and more. 

You can add guests to your stream using Restream Studio, making this product ideal for collaborations, interviews, and podcasts. The software will automatically optimize your video settings to ensure a smooth streaming experience on every platform. If you want complete control over your streaming session, use Restream Studio with a third-party encoder such as XSplit or OBS Studio. 

Restream Studio is a user-friendly and flexible webcam streaming solution. However, all streams have Restream Studio branding, even if you pay for the service. The live chat function also tends to lag, which can be frustrating. 

4. Snap Camera – Best for Applying Lenses

Image from PCWorld.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Overall Rating: 7 / 10

User Friendliness Rating: 9 / 10

Key Features

1. Extensive library of lenses
2. Direct photo or video capturing
3. Integration with video conferencing platforms

Snap Camera is the virtual webcam software from Snapchat and a viable option if you like playing around with different lenses when chatting with friends, recording gameplay videos, or creating other video content. The software is easy to use, and when you install it for the first time, a step-by-step guide will help you complete all the necessary steps. 

Snap Camera’s most significant feature is its extensive library of animated lenses, including the conventional Snapchat lenses that add dog ears or a toilet paper hat to yourself in the video. You can also choose a background from the library, and the software will crop you out and add a layer image. Some backgrounds also have lenses that will change your face. 

If you want to make your video calls and recordings more interesting, Snap Camera is a great tool, and you can use it in Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and OBS Studio. However, the software lacks skin-enhancing tools and doesn’t allow direct streaming to popular platforms.

5. SplitCam – Best for Multi-Application Streaming

Image from Softonic.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Overall Rating: 7 / 10

User Friendliness Rating: 8 / 10

Key Features

1. Video splitting to multiple platforms
2. A comprehensive range of effects and 3D masks
3. Multiple source broadcasting ability

SplitCam is a virtual webcam solution for live streaming to several channels simultaneously. This app is suitable for online tutoring, streaming gameplay, and hosting casual live interviews. Online services that SplitCam supports include Skype, Yahoo Messenger, YouTube, Ustream, Camfrog, and more. 

Using SplitCam, you can broadcast content from your webcam, desktop, video file, or any application, such as a slideshow. You can also choose to stream a single source instead of everything that appears on your screen. Video enhancement features available with SplitCam include an extensive range of effects, background replacements, and 3D masks that replace your entire head with a moving object.

If you are looking for configurable and flexible virtual webcam software, SplitCam is worth considering. However, applying effects can reduce your video quality. The effects also lack sophistication, and you should consider YouCam for professional settings. 

Best Virtual Webcam Software Comparison Chart

How to Use a Virtual Webcam

Using a virtual webcam software for the first time can be challenging, and the process of setting up the software in each video conferencing or streaming platform is unique. The steps below discuss how to use a virtual webcam using YouCam with some popular services.

Overview

Using virtual webcam software consists of the following steps:

1. Download YouCam.
2. Configure your YouCam settings. 
3. Select YouCam as the webcam device in your video conferencing or streaming settings.

Configuring YouCam for a Video Call or Live Stream

Follow the step below to set up YouCam. 

1. Launch YouCam on your computer. 


YouCam features a preview screen showing your webcam feed with three modules: Camera, Presentations, and Utilities. 

2. Select your webcam. 


Open the Camera tab, then select your webcam from the Capture device drop-down menu. Here, you can also choose your capture resolution and audio device. Click OK to apply your settings. 

3. Choose where you want to store your video recordings. 

Click the Settings icon below the preview screen, then open the Capture & Snapshot tab. Under the Capture folder box, choose the folder where you want to save your recordings. You can also choose your capture format and quality in this window.

Add YouCam as Your Webcam Device

After setting up YouCam, you can add it as your webcam on various video call and streaming service platforms.

Skype and Skype for Business

1. Launch Skype on your computer. 
2. Click on the meatball icon (three horizontal dots) next to your name, then select Settings. 
3. Click on Audio & Video, opening the camera settings menu. Open the camera drop-down menu at the top of your screen, then select CyberLink YouCam 10 from the list. 

4. Click Save to make YouCam your audio and video source.

YouTube Live

1. Log into your YouTube Live account. 
2. Click on the Create icon at the top of your screen, then click on Go Live. 

3. Select Webcam from the list to the left of your screen. 
4. Enter your stream title, adjust your privacy settings, and select CyberLink YouCam 10 from the camera drop-down menu. 

5. Click Next. Your camera will take a picture for your thumbnail, and you can continue with the streaming process.

Download the Best Virtual Webcam Software

If you only use a webcam and microphone, video conferencing and live content creation can be challenging. Installing YouCam will significantly enhance your streaming and video conferencing functionality. This software lets you create engaging content while promoting timely interaction with your viewers. 

YouCam offers many features, including live broadcasting to social media, a face beautifier tool, face tagging capability, panorama image creation, and video editing. This virtual webcam platform is beginner-friendly and suitable for various applications.

Download CyberLink YouCam today.