OpenGazer review
A free Linux webcam tracker for live gaze estimates and local coordinate output.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
OpenGazer is an open-source desktop eye-tracking application for Linux environments, including Debian and Ubuntu. It uses an ordinary webcam to estimate where a user is looking, making it suited to developers, researchers, and technical users who need basic live gaze coordinates without a commercial license. Users select facial tracking points, follow on-screen calibration targets, and view an estimated gaze position alongside head-position indicators.
Its strongest fit is live webcam-based tracking with local output. OpenGazer supports facial tracking-point selection, saved facial tracking points, head-position and rotation tracking, on-screen gaze calibration, an estimated gaze-focus indicator, and standard-output coordinate reporting. It also sends local UDP coordinates on port 20230, which can support software that accepts this form of local data exchange. The published category specifications describe estimated gaze-focus points, head-rotation lines, and a calibration target as its visualizations.
The main trade-off is scope. OpenGazer is limited to Linux, with the repository describing Debian and Ubuntu environments and providing legacy build instructions and dependencies. Its feature set centers on live estimation and coordinate output rather than a broader participant-study workflow or analysis environment. Choose it when free, open-source webcam tracking and local output are the priority; choose another product when you need wider platform coverage or a more developed study and analysis feature set.
OpenGazer pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open source with public repository access
- Tracks gaze, head position, and rotation from an ordinary webcam
- Reports coordinates through standard output and local UDP on port 20230
- Where it doesn't
- Linux-only support limits use on other desktop platforms
- Legacy build dependencies can make setup more involved
- Focuses on live tracking rather than participant-study workflows
OpenGazer fact sheet, pricing and score →
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