DroidCam alternatives for Mac: what turns an Android phone into a webcam

DroidCam's own site lists a Windows client and a Linux client, and covers the Mac only through its OBS plugin. So the usual DroidCam alternatives for a Mac are Camo and Iriun Webcam, which both list a Mac client; Android's own USB webcam mode, which needs no app on the Mac but depends on your phone's maker; and The Relay, which makes the phone's camera and microphone available to Zoom, Google Meet and FaceTime. If you already work in OBS, the DroidCam plugin may be all you need.

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 2 October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm before you buy.

What does DroidCam actually offer on a Mac?

DroidCam's home page lists "Linux Client" and "Windows Client" under "Get the PC Client", with the note "Supports Windows 10 and 11", and then says: "Using OBS? Then get the Droidcam plugin for direct obs integration on all platforms – no need for a separate client." Its OBS page lists the plugin for Linux, Windows and macOS and says "All DroidCam releases support both Intel and Apple silicon."

The home page also says the video is a "Low latency peer-to-peer connection, your video remains in your local network", offers "Free unlimited usage at standard definition with core features", and lists up to 1080p as a webcam and up to 4K with OBS. Its usage page says "You can try HD video, but will need to purchase the pro upgrade to remove watermarks." For setup see DroidCam on a Mac.

So there is no standalone DroidCam app for macOS on its own site. That is the gap the alternatives fill.

Which alternatives are there?

What do Camo and Iriun say about themselves?

Camo. Its Camo Studio page says "Camo Camera runs on iOS 15+ and Android 7.0+. Camo Studio runs on macOS 12.3+ and Windows 10+." It says you can "plug in or go wireless" and that it works as a virtual camera in over 40 apps including Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and OBS. On privacy it says "Camo processes your video entirely on your device. We never capture or transmit your video." The pricing page says you can "use Camo for free" or upgrade to Camo Pro, and mentions a lifetime licence. Check what the free tier includes before relying on it.

Iriun Webcam. The home page says "Use your phone's camera as a wireless webcam in PC or Mac" and says to install the computer app, install the phone app and start using it with your video applications. It lists macOS 12.3 or later. We did not find prices on that page.

We have not tested either, and we do not compare picture quality. A side-by-side is in Camo, DroidCam or Iriun.

Can the phone be a webcam with no app on the Mac?

Maybe, over a cable. The Android Open Source Project's webcam page says devices on Android 14 QPR1 or higher can be a USB webcam, appearing as a UVC device to hosts including "Linux, macOS, Windows, and ChromeOS". It also says that, in webcam mode, devices "don't work with USB 3.0+ cables on macOS hosts because of a bug with Apple's UVC driver". Which phones turn it on is up to the maker.

Google's Pixel Camera Help says a Pixel can be a webcam over a data-capable USB cable: tap the USB notification, and under Use USB for choose Webcam. It says this works on any device with USB Video Class support "such as laptops" and does not name macOS. So treat it as something to test: plug in, choose Webcam, and look for the phone in the camera menu of your meeting app. See Pixel as a webcam on a Mac and what Android's USB webcam mode is.

What about scrcpy?

scrcpy's README lists "camera mirroring (Android 12+)" and an example that records the camera to an MP4. It also lists "mirroring as a webcam (V4L2) (Linux-only)", so on a Mac scrcpy can show or record the phone's camera but, by its own description, does not present it as a webcam to other apps. It needs USB debugging.

Where does The Relay fit?

The Relay is a paid, wireless route that does not need OBS. You install it on the phone and the Mac and pair by scanning a QR code shown on the Mac. The phone's camera and microphone then appear on the Mac as a camera and a microphone that apps such as Zoom, Google Meet and FaceTime can select from their own menus. It uses your own Wi-Fi network, with Bluetooth as a fallback, and the connection is encrypted.

It is one subscription through Google Play that covers your phone and your Mac, with a 7-day free trial, and it needs Android 8.0 or later and macOS 13 Ventura or later. The same app syncs the clipboard, moves files, and shows the phone's texts, notifications and calls on the Mac. There is no account or sign-up with The Relay; the subscription is bought through Google Play. See the privacy policy.

When DroidCam or another tool is better: if you produce video in OBS, DroidCam's plugin puts the phone straight into your scenes and its page says up to 4K. The Relay has no USB mode, no scene editor and is not free. We have not benchmarked picture quality or delay for any of them. See The Relay vs Camo and The Relay vs Iriun.

How do I choose in two minutes?

1. Already in OBS? Stay with the DroidCam plugin.
2. Want free and a cable? Test Android's USB webcam mode.
3. Want a wireless app with a free tier? Try Camo or Iriun.
4. Want picture controls and overlays? Camo's page lists scenes and overlays.
5. Want the camera and the rest of the phone's features in one Mac app? That is The Relay.

For a five-minute test, join a practice call with each option and compare how long setup takes and how the picture looks in the lighting you really use.

Questions people ask

Does DroidCam work on a Mac?

Only through its OBS plugin, according to DroidCam's pages. There is no standalone macOS client listed.

What is the best free DroidCam alternative for Mac?

Android's USB webcam mode costs nothing if your phone supports it. Camo and Iriun list free use, and you should check their limits.

Can I use a Pixel as a webcam on a Mac without an app?

Google's page says it works with any UVC-capable device and does not name macOS. Android's own documentation names macOS as a host but warns about USB 3.0+ cables. Test it.

Do any of these work without internet?

They use your local network or a cable. DroidCam's page says the video stays on your local network. See Android webcam without internet.