Live Link Face

Live Link Face captures facial performances and turns them into animation for MetaHuman characters in Unreal Engine. It is free on iOS and Android. The iOS app supports real-time and processed animation and can capture raw video and depth data for the MetaHuman plugin. Epic describes Android as a beta for real-time facial animation; it does not support capture for offline processing. To stream animation, the phone and Unreal Engine computer need a network connection, using the MetaHuman Live Link plugin. App settings include OSC connections for external controllers and devices. Android timecode can use the system clock, an NTP server, or a Tentacle Sync device for synchronizing devices. Real-time Android animation is limited to certain Qualcomm chipsets, and Snapdragon 8s chipsets are unsupported. iOS requires version 16 or later; Epic's workflow description specifies an iPhone 12 or later and a Windows 10 or 11 desktop PC. Live Link Hub can download recorded media from Android and iOS devices and trigger recording on a connected phone.

Live Link Face provides mobile facial capture and streaming for MetaHuman animation in Unreal Engine. Its platform-specific capture modes and Android chipset limits are important to consider before choosing a workflow.

It suits Unreal Engine users creating MetaHuman facial animation with a compatible iOS or Android device. Android users should check chipset support and note the lack of offline capture.

Live Link Face is a free mobile capture app that sends facial animation to MetaHuman characters in Unreal Engine. It suits creators building a real-time facial-capture workflow around a compatible iPhone or Android phone. Its platform-specific modes make the choice clear: iOS supports both live and processed capture, while Android is limited to live animation.

Overview

The app connects to Unreal Engine through the MetaHuman Live Link plugin, streaming animation over a network. That makes it a focused capture tool for MetaHuman production rather than a standalone animation package. The mobile device and Unreal Engine computer must share a network; Epic recommends the same wireless network or a direct Ethernet connection.

On iOS, Live Link Face captures raw video and depth data for MetaHuman Animator, supporting both real-time use and processed animation. Android is described as a beta for real-time facial animation and cannot capture for offline processing. That gap matters for teams choosing between a live performance workflow and one that needs recorded media for later processing.

Key features

• Live facial animation: Streams animation to Unreal Engine through the MetaHuman Live Link plugin, making it useful for driving a MetaHuman during a connected session.
• Processed capture on iOS: Raw video and depth data support offline processing, giving iPhone users a second workflow that Android users do not have.
• Synchronization and control: Android timecode can use the system clock, an NTP server, or a Tentacle Sync device. OSC connections in the app settings support external controllers and devices.
• Recording workflow: Live Link Hub can download recorded media from the app on either platform and trigger recording on a connected phone.

Pricing

Live Link Face costs nothing on iOS and Android. There is no free trial because the app is free. With no paid tier, there are no subscription terms or plan-based seat limits to weigh; the practical limits come from platform capabilities and compatible hardware.

The free app includes the mobile capture workflow, real-time output, body tracking, and character retargeting. iOS also supports capture for processed animation. The trade-off is that Android lacks offline-processing capture, and real-time use is restricted to supported Qualcomm chipsets.

Platforms

Live Link Face runs on iOS and Android. The App Store requires iOS 16 or later on iPhone and iPad; Epic's workflow description calls for an iPhone 12 or later and a desktop PC running Windows 10 or 11. Android support is narrower: real-time animation is limited to certain Qualcomm chipsets, and Snapdragon 8s chipsets are unsupported. Check the supported phone models before building an Android workflow around the app.

Both platforms need a network connection to stream to Unreal Engine. The app's iOS privacy disclosure says the developer indicated that it does not collect data; Apple says it has not verified that disclosure.

Who it's for

This is a strong fit for MetaHuman creators who want mobile facial capture integrated directly with Unreal Engine, especially iPhone users who need both real-time streaming and offline processing. Android users can use it for real-time animation if their device has a supported chipset, but should look elsewhere if recorded capture for offline processing is essential.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Free on both supported mobile platforms, with real-time output into Unreal Engine through the MetaHuman plugin.
• Pro: iOS capture supports both live animation and raw video and depth data for processed animation.
• Pro: Android timecode options and OSC connections support synchronization and external control needs.
• Con: Android is a beta and cannot capture for offline processing, limiting it to real-time MetaHuman animation.
• Con: Android compatibility depends on specific Qualcomm chipsets, with Snapdragon 8s explicitly unsupported.
• Con: Streaming requires the phone and Unreal Engine computer to share a network, so it is not a disconnected capture setup.

Alternatives

For a free character-rigging tool rather than mobile facial capture, InstantRig is designed for keyframe animation and limits each license to one user. Mesh2Rig is a free Blender add-on for Blender 4.2 LTS and newer, making it a better fit for users rigging inside Blender. Mixamo is a free web option that requires an Adobe ID and has account and regional restrictions.

Readers considering other tools can also browse Motion Capture Software and 3D Rigging Software.

Verdict

Choose Live Link Face if your goal is to drive MetaHuman facial animation in Unreal Engine from a phone, particularly if you need iOS's live and processed capture modes at no cost. Look elsewhere if you need Android offline capture or cannot use a compatible Qualcomm device. Its value is in a direct mobile-to-Unreal workflow, with platform and chipset constraints that should guide the choice.