SplitCam for Windows

SplitCam 10.9.2 is a free webcam program for Windows from Splitcamsoft. You download SplitCam when you want one camera to work in several apps at the same time, add effects or a virtual background, or stream video without learning a full broadcasting suite.

What SplitCam does

Normally, a webcam can be opened by only one program at a time: if a video chat is running, another app shows a black screen or an error. SplitCam solves this by creating a virtual camera. The real webcam feeds into SplitCam, and every other application, whether it is a messenger, a meeting tool or a browser, picks up the SplitCam camera instead. On top of that, the program works as a small video mixer. You can combine several sources in one scene, such as the webcam, a screen capture, an image or a video file, place them as layers, and apply effects, filters and background replacement. The same scene can be sent to streaming platforms or recorded to a file. The official download page states that the installer comes with no bundled software.

Who it is for

• Remote workers who switch between several meeting apps and are tired of camera conflicts.
• Beginner streamers who need scenes, overlays and a stream button, but not a complex studio.
• Teachers and presenters who want to show their face and the screen in one picture.
• Casual users who simply like face effects and fun backgrounds in video calls.

Who might want something else

Professional streamers who need advanced audio routing, plugins and many scenes will find OBS Studio more flexible. Owners of old PCs without a 64-bit system cannot use the current Windows version at all.

System requirements

The Windows package is large, about 467.51 MB according to catalogue data, because it includes the effects library.

How to install

1. Go to the official SplitCam website and open the download section.
2. Run the installer and follow the steps; restart the PC if asked, so the virtual camera is registered.
3. Open SplitCam and select your physical webcam as a source.
4. In Zoom, Skype, Teams or a browser, choose SplitCam as the camera.

Safety and price

SplitCam is free. Get it from splitcam.com; the changelog there lists what each version fixes. A virtual camera driver has deep access to video, so avoid repackaged installers from unknown sites.

Pros and cons

• Pro: one webcam in several apps at once.
• Pro: free, with effects and virtual backgrounds.
• Pro: built-in streaming and recording.
• Con: large installer.
• Con: effects put load on weaker PCs.
• Con: fewer pro features than OBS Studio.

Alternatives

Other video tools on our site include OBS Studio and Streamlabs OBS for streaming, and iVCam, DroidCam and Iriun Webcam for turning a phone into a PC webcam.