Backdrop Cam
Get Backdrop Cam
Mac · October 2026
Ways to get a video background on a Mac, compared
Short answer
There are four routes: the meeting app's own effects (video in Zoom, Webex and Discord Nitro only), macOS's Background effect (images only), a general studio like OBS with a plugin, or a virtual-camera app. Backdrop Cam is a small virtual-camera app that does one thing: your video, behind you, in every app.
At a glance
| Option | What it is | Your own video | Every app | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting apps' own effects | Built into Zoom, Meet, Teams, Webex… | Zoom, Webex, Discord (Nitro) | No | Per app; each has its own library and limits. |
| macOS Background (15+) | System video effect | No | Most apps | A color, Apple's images or your own photo. |
| OBS Studio + plugin | Free broadcast studio | Yes | Via OBS Virtual Camera | Build the scene yourself; heavy for calls. |
| Airtime (formerly mmhmm) | Presentation and recording app | See vendor | Virtual camera | Rebranded from mmhmm in April 2025; focused on presenting. |
| VCam (formerly XSplit VCam) | Background removal app, Windows and Mac | See vendor | Virtual camera | Backgrounds, blur, branding; account and plans. |
| NVIDIA Broadcast | AI effects app | — | — | Windows only, needs an NVIDIA RTX GPU. Not for Mac. |
| Snap Camera | Lenses and filters | — | — | Discontinued January 25, 2023. |
| Browser extensions | Inject effects into one site | Some | No | One browser, one site, same tab as the call. |
| Backdrop Cam | Menu-bar app + camera extension | Yes, any MP4/MOV | Yes | Free, open source, on-device, Apple silicon. |
"See vendor" means the product's current plans and limits change; check its own site.
When to choose what
- Only Zoom or Webex? Use their built-in video backgrounds. See the Zoom and Webex guides.
- Google Meet, Teams, FaceTime, Slack or WhatsApp? They don't take your own video; a virtual camera is the only way.
- Streaming with scenes and overlays? OBS is the right tool, and it can take Backdrop Cam as a source. See the OBS guide.
- Presenting slides with yourself on screen? A presentation tool such as Airtime, or macOS's Presenter Overlay.
- Just your video, behind you, everywhere, privately? That's Backdrop Cam.
Why Backdrop Cam is built the way it is
Backdrop Cam is a native macOS camera extension, the same mechanism Apple recommends for virtual cameras since the old plug-ins were deprecated. The webcam runs only while an app uses Backdrop Cam. The cut-out runs on the Neural Engine with Robust Video Matting, re-exported so the default quality costs about 8% of one CPU core on an M3 Pro. Nothing is uploaded.
Questions
What's the best way to get a video background on a Mac?
If you only use Zoom or Webex, their built-in video backgrounds are enough. For Google Meet, Teams, FaceTime, Slack or WhatsApp, or for one background everywhere, use a virtual camera such as Backdrop Cam.
Is there an NVIDIA Broadcast for Mac?
No. NVIDIA Broadcast runs on Windows with an NVIDIA RTX GPU. Macs with Apple silicon use the Neural Engine instead, which is what Backdrop Cam's cut-out runs on.
What happened to mmhmm?
mmhmm rebranded as Airtime in April 2025. It's a presentation and recording tool; Backdrop Cam is only about the background.
Can I use OBS for video backgrounds in Zoom or Meet?
Yes, with a background-removal plugin, a looping media layer and OBS's virtual camera. Backdrop Cam gets the same result without building a scene.