ClaraCam for Mac

Beauty filter for your Mac camera

macOS has no built-in beauty filter. Its video effects (Portrait, Studio Light, Edge Light, backgrounds) change background and lighting, not skin. ClaraCam adds the touch-up: it appears as a camera on your Mac, so one setting covers Zoom, Meet, Teams and FaceTime. Apple silicon, macOS 14 or later.

Checked September 2026

Try ClaraCam free

7 days. No credit card.

Download for Mac (Apple silicon) Download for Windows 11

For your computer: macOS 14+ with Apple silicon, or Windows 11 24H2+.

Intel Macs and Windows 10 are not supported.

Meeting

MacBook Pro Camera

You

Real footage — hold the video to see the original, or pick a camera in the menu.

What macOS offers

The Mac's own video effects

While a video app uses your camera, the Video menu in the menu bar offers Apple's effects. Portrait blurs the background. Studio Light dims the background and illuminates your face. Edge Light, added in macOS Tahoe 26.2, is a virtual ring light for dim rooms with brightness and color temperature controls.

All three are about light and background. None evens skin, softens under-eye shadows, or adjusts eyes and teeth.

	macOS video effects	ClaraCam
Skin	None	Evens skin and softens under-eye shadows; texture stays
Eyes and teeth	None	Separate controls for each
Lighting on your face	Studio Light, Edge Light	Ring light in three strengths
Background	Portrait blur; background replacement (macOS 15+)	Background blur, off by default
Mac required	Portrait and Studio Light: Apple silicon laptop camera or an iPhone via Continuity Camera. Edge Light: Apple silicon, macOS 26.2+	Apple silicon, macOS 14 or later
Where video is processed	Not stated by Apple	On your Mac; never uploaded to ClaraCam
Cost	Included with macOS	7-day free trial, then a subscription

macOS facts from Apple Support: video effects on Mac and Edge Light. Checked September 2026.

Setup

Set up ClaraCam on a Mac

About two minutes. The one step people miss is the camera extension.

Download and move it to Applications.
Open the download, drag ClaraCam to Applications, and open it from there.
Approve the camera extension.
Click Add ClaraCam camera, then Open System Settings. On macOS 15 or later: General → Login Items & Extensions → Camera Extensions, turn on ClaraCam. The setup guide covers macOS 14.
Choose your look.
Pick Natural, Polished or Studio, or move the sliders while you watch the preview.
Select ClaraCam in your video app.
Choose ClaraCam in the camera list of Zoom, Meet, Teams or FaceTime. If it isn't listed, quit the app with ⌘Q and reopen it.

Questions

Common questions

Does the Mac camera have a built-in beauty filter?

No. macOS has video effects for the camera, but none of them smooths skin. Portrait blurs the background, Studio Light dims the background and illuminates your face, and Edge Light adds a fill light in low light. For skin, eye and teeth touch-up you need an app such as ClaraCam.

How do I add a beauty filter to my MacBook camera?

Install ClaraCam, approve its camera extension in System Settings, and choose "ClaraCam" as the camera in your video app. ClaraCam takes the picture from your MacBook camera, retouches it on your Mac, and passes it on.

Does ClaraCam work with FaceTime, QuickTime and Photo Booth?

ClaraCam is a system camera on macOS, so apps that let you choose a camera can use it. In FaceTime, choose ClaraCam in the Video menu.

Does ClaraCam work on Intel Macs?

No. ClaraCam needs a Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) and macOS 14 or later.

Can I use ClaraCam with an external webcam?

Yes. ClaraCam uses the camera you select as its source in the app, then publishes the retouched picture as the ClaraCam camera.

Can I combine macOS Studio Light or Edge Light with ClaraCam?

They solve different problems. Apple's effects change lighting and background. ClaraCam adjusts skin, eyes and teeth and has its own Ring light for uneven light on your face. Start with ClaraCam alone, then add an Apple effect only if you still need it.

Is ClaraCam safe to install? It asks for a camera extension.

Since macOS Sonoma 14.1, virtual cameras must be camera extensions, which you approve in System Settings. ClaraCam is signed and notarized with Apple, processes video on your Mac, and never uploads it to ClaraCam.

More guides

One camera, every app.

See the difference on your next call.

Try the full touch-up for 7 days. No credit card required. After the trial, your camera keeps working with a ClaraCam watermark until you subscribe.

Try ClaraCam free