Apart from sounding very geeky to your friends, there are other uses for such an arrangement. Let’s take a look:
Why You Need Webcam
Keep an eye on your kiddo Keep an eye on your employees Do so discreetly Catch unsuspecting thieves Useful as a security camera Watch out for the elders Connect with video calling apps like Skype Video chat with friends, kids, significant other or boss
Alright, you get the picture. Let’s begin. Also Read: Apps to Use Phone Camera as Web Camera tor PC and Mac
1. EpocCam
EpocCam has come a far way since the last time I took it for a spin. Compatible with both Windows and Mac, you can use both front and back camera to connect a video call. Front shooters are usually not so powerful, especially when compared with the back camera. They claim the range to be around 20 feet, but I found it to be around 15 feet.
The streaming quality seems to be capped at 720p even though my phone and monitor supports 1080p. Well, it’s good enough for most work so not complaining. EpocCam is free but comes with ads. The pro version will cost $1.99 with no ads and audio recording feature. Pros:
Supports Windows and Mac 720p max resolution Front and back cam Supports Skype, Messenger, etc. Audio recorder
Cons:
Can’t save video or audio No cloud connectivity No 1080p resolution Not secure
Download EpocCam: Android (Freemium, $1.99)
2. IP Cam – Acid
IP Cam from Acid is another webcam app for Android that supports both the cameras and audio recording. It also comes with some additional features like an alarm and a ringtone. The alarm feature is useful to alert the people around, in case of an emergency.
IP Cam by Acid is a good enough app that comes with a security feature where you have to enter a code before you could connect. The range is not very good but OKish at around 10-15 feet. The video quality is again capped at 720p which is disappointing. Pros:
Supports Windows 720p max resolution Front and back cam Supports Skype, Messenger, etc. Audio recorder Alarm, ringtone Secure
Cons:
No Mac support Can’t save video or audio No cloud connectivity No 1080p resolution
Download IP Cam – Acid: Android (Freemium)
3. DroidCam
DroidCam is one of the finest webcam apps for Android platform. You can download the desktop client from here for Windows and Linux. There is no macOS version available. There is a Keep Awake feature that will prevent your phone from sleeping. Users of other apps often complain of losing connection after 10-15 minutes, but don’t realize that it’s happening because their phone auto-locks itself.
There are three video and audio qualities to choose from. Useful when you are working with a slow Internet connection. Another useful feature is the USB support which is more reliable than wireless connection. While the free version is pretty good, you might want to go for the pro version. For $3.99, you can adjust brightness, enable portrait mode, unlock more resolutions, and use the zoom feature. Pros:
Supports Windows, Linux 720p HD max resolution Front and back cam Supports Skype, Messenger, etc. Audio recorder Secure Keep awake, brightness, Change audio, video variables USB support Works in browser
Cons:
No Mac support Can’t save video or audio No cloud connectivity No 1080p resolution
Download DroidCam: Android (Freemium, $3.99)
4. IP Webcam
IP Webcam is even more popular than DroidCam and super simple to use. You can download the desktop client from here. Only available for Windows though. You can view the webcam feed in Chrome and Firefox browser. Changing the resolution is easy. One feature that I love is the ability to record and save videos with sound output. It only works with Dropbox via a plugin. You can also use email but usually, most email clients have upload limits.
It also works with Tasker app. One cool recipe is motion detector that will trigger a sound alarm in case someone approaches the webcam. In case you are monitoring your pet or kid, there is a sound and motion detector settings to alert you of any movements. Get the pro version for $3.99 to remove ads, enable Tasker integration, and remove watermarks in saved videos. I think that’s generous of them. Pros:
Supports Windows 720p HD max resolution Front and back cam Supports Skype, Messenger, etc. Secure Motion detector alarm Change audio, video variables Record, save audio and video in Dropbox, email Tasker integration Works in browser
Cons:
No Mac support No 1080p resolution
Download IP Webcam: Android (Freemium, $3.99)
5. tinyCam
The last app in the list, but definitely not the least, tinyCam is more suitable for surveillance than connecting with messaging apps. tinyCam supports a number of codecs for popular companies like Amcrest and Foscam, P2P support, and more. You can also use it to communicate as there is two-way audio support.
There is no limit to the number of cameras you can connect, however, monitor size will determine the output rendered. With more than 17 layouts to choose from, tinyCam is one of the best webcam apps for Android phones. Want to switch cameras every x minutes automatically? Check out the sequence mode. There is support for a number of services like Tasker, Chromecast, Android Wear, sensors, and more. tinyCam raises the bar and is truly the webcam of choice if you are serious about video surveillance. Pros:
Supports Windows 720p HD max resolution Front and back cam Supports Skype, Messenger, etc. Supports all major cloud storage Secure Motion detector alarm Change audio, video variables Record, save audio and video in Dropbox, email Tasker, Chromecast, Android Wear integration Multiple cams, layouts Sensor, alarm,
Cons:
No Mac support No 1080p resolution
Download tinyCam: Android (Freemium, $1.99)
Webcam Apps for Android
If you are looking for a webcam app that is an all-rounder, whether you want to use it for surveillance or with messaging apps, IP Webcam and DroidCam are both good alternatives. If you want a surveillance webcam app that can handle anything you throw at it, tinyCam is a better alternative.
