Live Link Face review
A free mobile capture app for real-time Unreal facial animation and MetaHuman workflows.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
Live Link Face pros and cons
- 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
Live Link Face fact sheet, pricing and score →
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