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Head-to-head · Motion Capture Software

Xsens Animate vs Autodesk MotionBuilder

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Xsens Animate #2 in Motion Capture Software 8.8/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Xsens
Autodesk MotionBuilder #3 in Motion Capture Software 8.7/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 5 features Visit Autodesk

Xsens Animate leads on 0 checks, Autodesk MotionBuilder on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreXsens Animate · 8.8/10
  • Free trialonly Autodesk MotionBuilder
  • Most featuresXsens Animate · 4 of 5

Xsens Animate scores higher on our rubric for motion capture software: 8.8 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.

Xsens Animate is the better fit for professional inertial capture pipelines. Autodesk MotionBuilder is the better fit for animation teams focused on character retargeting.

  • Xsens Animate fits best

    Professional inertial capture pipelines

  • Autodesk MotionBuilder fits best

    Animation teams focused on character retargeting

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Side by side

Feature Xsens Animate 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Autodesk MotionBuilder 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.7
Ranking #2 in Motion Capture Software #3 in Motion Capture Software
Best for Professional inertial capture pipelines Animation teams focused on character retargeting
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — —
Free plan Not checked yet —
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, Linux Windows, Linux
Support Docs Community, Docs · 24/7
Integrations 15 integrations 3 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Xsens Animate 4/5 · Autodesk MotionBuilder 1/5
Body tracking ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Face and hand tracking ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Character retargeting Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Cleanup tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Real-time output ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Export formats FBX, BVH, C3D, MVNX Not checked yet
Supported platforms Windows 11 64-bit; Linux Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Full-body inertial capture with real-time streaming and offline processing
  • Exports FBX, BVH, C3D, and MVNX motion data
  • Plugins and integrations span major 3D and virtual production tools
  • Retargets motion between characters and supports mocap-driven animation
  • Combines control rigs, keyframes, plotting and facial animation
  • Exchanges FBX with Autodesk Maya and 3ds Max
Cons
  • Pricing is handled through contact or configuration-based quotes
  • Advanced cleanup tools and complex multi-actor workflows require Animate Pro
  • Platform support is limited to Windows 11 64-bit and Linux Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS
  • Its listed capabilities emphasize animation more than capture
  • There is no free plan
  • The product is a desktop application for Windows and Linux
Our verdict

Xsens Animate is motion capture software for animation, games, film, VFX, virtual production, live entertainment, and streaming. It works with Xsens Link, Awinda, and Awinda Starter hardware to capture body movement, process motion data,…

Read the review →

Autodesk MotionBuilder is desktop 3D character animation software for professional animation and game studios. It supports capturing, editing, previewing and exporting character animation in an interactive real-time environment. Its focus…

Read the review →
  1. Xsens AnimateMotion Capture Software 8.8Pricing on request
  2. Autodesk MotionBuilderMotion Capture Software 8.730-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Xsens Animate — where it wins

    • Full-body inertial capture with real-time streaming and offline processing
    • Exports FBX, BVH, C3D, and MVNX motion data
    • Plugins and integrations span major 3D and virtual production tools

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing is handled through contact or configuration-based quotes
    • Advanced cleanup tools and complex multi-actor workflows require Animate Pro
    • Platform support is limited to Windows 11 64-bit and Linux Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS

  • Autodesk MotionBuilder — where it wins

    • Retargets motion between characters and supports mocap-driven animation
    • Combines control rigs, keyframes, plotting and facial animation
    • Exchanges FBX with Autodesk Maya and 3ds Max

    Where it doesn't

    • Its listed capabilities emphasize animation more than capture
    • There is no free plan
    • The product is a desktop application for Windows and Linux
  • Xsens Animate8.8/10 · Pricing on request

    A mature inertial capture suite for live production, offline export, and complex scenes.

    Visit XsensFull verdict →
  • Autodesk MotionBuilder8.7/10 · 30-day trial

    A character-animation workspace with mocap retargeting, control rigs and FBX exchange.

    Visit AutodeskFull verdict →

More comparisons

All motion capture software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update