Live Link Face
Live Link Face: A free mobile capture app for real-time Unreal facial animation and MetaHuman workflows. Ranked #9 of 64 in Motion Capture Software by our editors (8.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free Unreal facial animation capture.
At a glance
- Editor score8.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree Unreal facial animation capture
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- Character retargetingYes
- Founded1991 · Cary, North Carolina, United States
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free access with real-time facial streaming to Unreal Engine
- Supports MetaHuman animation and ARKit data for other characters
- Includes calibration, synchronization, recording, and review tools
Where it doesn't
- Its strongest workflow is tied to Unreal Engine and MetaHuman tooling
- Android support is documented as beta with different capture capabilities
- Broader offline processing and recording workflows focus primarily on iOS
Our verdict on Live Link Face
Live Link Face is a free mobile capture application from Epic Games for character artists, animators, virtual production teams, and developers working with MetaHumans or other Unreal Engine characters. It supports iOS and Android devices, with real-time facial animation streaming to Unreal Engine through Live Link or MetaHuman Animator. Current MetaHuman workflows also support body animation, while ARKit animation data can drive non-MetaHuman characters. The app is best suited to teams already working in Unreal Engine and seeking mobile facial capture without a software purchase.
Its strongest feature set centers on capture control and production timing. On iOS, Live Link Face supports offline processing from video, depth, and audio, alongside real-time animation. Users can record raw facial animation and reference video, apply rest-pose calibration, and synchronize timecode through the system clock, NTP, or Tentacle Sync. Remote recording control is available through OSC or the MetaHuman Plugin. Take browsing, review, deletion, and transfer help organize recorded performances, while RTSP video streaming supports real-time processing and monitoring.
The platform fit is focused rather than broad: Unreal Engine, MetaHuman Animator, Live Link, MetaHuman Live Link, OSC, NTP, and Tentacle Sync are central to the documented workflow. Android supports real-time animation and newer capture workflows, but its support is documented as beta and differs from iOS. Choose Live Link Face for free Unreal facial capture, MetaHuman animation, and ARKit-based character workflows. Teams needing a capture tool centered outside Unreal Engine, or requiring equivalent capture capabilities across iOS and Android, should assess whether its platform focus matches their pipeline.
Your product? Our editors can test Live Link Face in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $99/mo →
Live Link Face pricing
Live Link Face fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Body tracking | Yes |
| Face and hand tracking | Not verified |
| Character retargeting | Yes |
| Cleanup tools | Not verified |
| Export formats | [".csv", ".mov"] |
| Real-time output | Yes |
| Supported platforms | ["iOS", "Android"] |
| Deployment | Mobile |
| Platforms | iOS, Android |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 7 integrations: Unreal Engine, MetaHuman Animator, Live Link, MetaHuman Live Link, OSC, NTP … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | dev.epicgames.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Live Link Face integrations
Live Link Face lists 7 integrations on its own site.
- Unreal Engine
- MetaHuman Animator
- Live Link
- MetaHuman Live Link
- OSC
- NTP
- Tentacle Sync
Alternatives to Live Link Face
- Vicon ShogunA mature Windows suite for detailed optical, markerless, and finger motion capture.8.9
- Xsens AnimateA mature inertial capture suite for live production, offline export, and complex scenes.8.8
- Autodesk MotionBuilderA character-animation workspace with mocap retargeting, control rigs and FBX exchange.8.7
See all Live Link Face alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Live Link Face is ranked in 6 of our directories.
Used Live Link Face? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Live Link Face for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Live Link Face is listed in our Motion Capture Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/live-link-face/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/live-link-face.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update