Cheese review
A focused, free Linux webcam tool with effects, recording, and capture controls.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Cheese is a free, open-source GNOME desktop application for taking webcam photos and recording videos on Linux. It fits users who want a straightforward camera utility rather than a full webcam-production suite. Core functions include photo capture, video recording, visual effects, countdown photography, configurable burst mode, webcam switching, resolution selection, brightness and contrast controls, fullscreen mode, and saving or sharing captured media.
Its strongest appeal is the focused capture workflow. Users can select among installed webcams, adjust basic image settings, apply effects to photos and videos, and configure burst photography by choosing the photo count and delay. Captured media can be shared through F-Spot, Flickr, GNOME account photo, and nautilus-sendto. This gives Cheese useful connections within a Linux desktop environment without expanding into streaming, presentation, or virtual-camera workflows.
Cheese is less suitable for users who need a virtual camera, background tools, or broader webcam-production features. Its category profile includes video effects, camera controls, recording, and Linux support, but no virtual camera output or background tools. GNOME replaced Cheese as its core camera app with Snapshot in GNOME 45, while the legacy GNOME Wiki stated that Cheese would continue to be maintained. Choose Cheese for uncomplicated open-source webcam capture on Linux; choose an alternative when virtual output, background processing, or a wider production toolkit is central to the workflow.
Cheese pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open source with photo and video capture
- Effects, burst mode, countdowns, and camera switching
- Resolution, brightness, contrast, and fullscreen controls
- Where it doesn't
- Linux-only availability
- No virtual camera output
- No background tools or broader production features
Cheese fact sheet, pricing and score →
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