Best Android webcam app for Mac

There is no single best Android webcam app for a Mac, and we have not tested any of them, so we will not name a winner. What we can do is sort the options by what you need. Try the free built-in route first: on some Android phones you plug in a USB cable and pick Webcam, with no app on the Mac. If your phone does not offer that, Camo and Iriun Webcam both ship a Mac app, DroidCam reaches the Mac through the OBS plugin, and The Relay is a paid option that adds the phone's camera and microphone to a wider set of Android-and-Mac features.

Publisher note: The Relay publishes this guide and is one of the products discussed. Details about other products come from each maker's own pages, checked on 26 October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm before you buy.

What is the free, built-in option?

Android has a USB webcam mode, and it needs no Mac software. Google's Android Open Source Project page says that on devices running "Android 14 QPR1 or higher," Android supports using the device as a USB webcam, and lists macOS among the USB hosts. Two catches from the same page: the phone maker has to switch the feature on, and "Android devices in webcam mode don't work with USB 3.0+ cables on macOS hosts because of a bug with Apple's UVC driver." So on a Mac, use a plain USB 2.0 charging cable if the first one fails.

For Pixel phones, Google's Pixel Camera help gives the steps: connect with a data-capable USB cable, tap the "Charging this device through USB" notification, and under "Use USB for" choose Webcam. It says the webcam works on any device with UVC support, and it does not name macOS, so treat a Mac as something to test. Our explainer what is UVC webcam mode covers it in more depth. Samsung and other makers: check your phone's USB options for a Webcam entry, since we could not open Samsung's support pages to confirm.

How do the main options compare?

Sources: Camo pricing, Camo's Android guide, Iriun, DroidCam, DroidCam OBS.

Camo

Camo's pricing page says the free plan is "720p (HD) and below" at a standard 30 fps, and Camo Pro goes "up to and including 4K" with up to 60 fps. Pro can be activated on up to 2 computers. Several features are marked "Coming soon to Android," so check that list. Its Android guide recommends USB on a Mac, pairs over Wi-Fi with a QR code, and says you can pick Camo as a microphone source. It also says to turn USB debugging off to connect to a Mac. The page shows monthly and annual toggles but no amounts as text, so read the price on Camo's page. Our Camo vs DroidCam vs Iriun comparison goes deeper.

Iriun Webcam

Iriun's home page offers a Mac installer (v2.9.1 as of 26 October 2026), says macOS 12.3 or later is required, and describes a wireless webcam. It shows no prices, resolution figures, or free-versus-paid details, so check the phone app's store listing.

DroidCam

DroidCam's home page lists Windows and Linux clients and "Free unlimited usage at standard definition." On a Mac you use its OBS plugin, which says "All DroidCam releases support both Intel and Apple silicon," offers Wi-Fi and USB, and claims up to 4K video. Setup steps are in DroidCam on a Mac and phone webcam with OBS.

The Relay

The Relay puts the phone's camera and microphone on the Mac as a camera and a microphone that Zoom, Google Meet, and FaceTime can select. See Android phone as a Mac webcam. It runs over your own Wi-Fi network, with Bluetooth as a fallback, so there is no USB cable mode. It is one subscription through Google Play that covers your phone and your Mac, with a 7-day free trial, and it is not free. Webcam is one feature of a wider app (clipboard, files, texts and codes, notifications, calls). If you only want a webcam, one of the free options above may be all you need. How it differs from the others: The Relay vs Camo and The Relay vs Iriun.

Which should I choose?

• Choose the built-in USB mode if your phone offers it and you are happy with a cable. It costs nothing and installs nothing.
• Choose Camo if you want a Mac app with picture controls and are happy to check its price. Its free tier tops out at 720p.
• Choose Iriun if you want a wireless setup with a Mac app and will check the phone app's store page for what is free.
• Choose DroidCam with OBS if you already stream or record in OBS, or want a free standard-definition camera.
• Choose The Relay if you want the phone's camera alongside the rest of the Android-and-Mac features in one subscription. Skip it if a webcam is all you need, or if you want a cable connection.
• An old phone in a drawer also works. See use an old Android phone as a webcam.

How do I test any of these in five minutes?

1. Install the free version or start the trial.
2. In a test meeting, choose the phone as your camera, and the phone as your microphone if you want its audio.
3. Check the picture in your usual room light, whether lip movement and voice line up, and whether the phone gets warm.
4. Run it for ten minutes before a real call.

Questions people ask

Can I use my Android phone as a webcam on a Mac with no app?

Sometimes. If your phone's maker has enabled Android's USB webcam mode, you pick Webcam in the USB options and the Mac sees a camera. Google's page says to avoid USB 3.0+ cables on a Mac. If your phone has no Webcam entry, you need an app.

Does Android's USB webcam mode work on a Mac?

Google's Android Open Source Project page lists macOS as a supported host. The Pixel help page says only that it works with UVC-capable devices. Try it before you rely on it.

Is there a free Android webcam app for Mac?

Camo has a free tier at 720p, and DroidCam says it offers free unlimited use at standard definition. Iriun's page does not say, so check its store listing.

Can the phone's microphone come along too?

Camo's guide says you can choose Camo as a microphone source. The Relay lists microphone alongside camera. For the others, check each app's page.