Live Link Face

Live Link Face is a free mobile facial-performance capture app for driving MetaHuman characters in Unreal Engine. It suits creators and production teams already working in Unreal Engine with a compatible iPhone or Android phone. The main choice is between iOS’s live and processed workflows and Android’s live-only beta, with device and network compatibility determining whether it fits your pipeline.

Overview

Live Link Face streams facial animation to Unreal Engine through the MetaHuman Live Link plugin. Real-time operation requires the phone and the Unreal Engine computer to share a network; Epic recommends using the same wireless network or a direct Ethernet connection. It is therefore a focused capture component for a connected MetaHuman workflow, not a standalone animation editor.

The two mobile versions have materially different capabilities. iOS captures raw video and depth data for the MetaHuman plugin, supporting both real-time animation and processing after recording. Android is presented as a beta for real-time MetaHuman facial animation and does not support capture for offline processing. If performances must be processed later, iOS is the practical choice; Android fits sessions where live output is sufficient.

Key features

• Real-time output: Animation streams to Unreal Engine through MetaHuman Live Link, allowing a connected phone performance to drive a MetaHuman during production.
• iOS processed capture: Raw video and depth recording gives iPhone and iPad users a post-capture workflow that Android does not provide.
• Recording management: Live Link Hub can download recorded media from the app on either platform and trigger recording on a connected phone, which is useful for coordinating takes from the desktop side.
• Synchronization options: Android timecode can use the device system clock, an NTP server, or a Tentacle Sync device. These choices support multi-device timing when a production needs synchronized captures.
• OSC control: Settings include OSC connections for external controllers and devices, giving technical setups a way to integrate outside control hardware or software.
• Production outputs: The listed export formats are CSV and MOV. Body tracking and character retargeting are supported alongside real-time output.

Pricing

The Live Link Face plan costs nothing and includes the free iOS and Android app versions. There is no paid tier or free trial, so the price does not impose a subscription commitment. The trade-off is capability rather than plan limits: Android lacks offline capture, while iOS requires newer hardware and software.

Platforms

Live Link Face supports iOS and Android. The App Store requirement is iOS 16 or later on iPhone and iPad; Epic’s workflow specifies an iPhone 12 or later and a desktop PC running Windows 10 or 11. Android real-time animation is limited to certain Qualcomm chipsets and tested phone models, and Snapdragon 8s chipsets are unsupported. Check the chipset before treating an Android handset as production-ready.

The network requirement is central to live use: the mobile device and Unreal Engine computer must connect over a network. Android’s beta status and lack of offline processing make it less suitable for capture-heavy pipelines than a qualifying iPhone.

Who it's for

Choose Live Link Face if you need a no-cost route from a mobile facial performance to a MetaHuman in Unreal Engine, especially for real-time sessions and teams that can meet the phone, desktop, and network requirements. iOS is the better fit for recorded performances that need later processing. Android is appropriate when live animation is enough and the phone uses a supported Qualcomm chipset.

It is a poor fit for users seeking a general-purpose facial-animation package, an offline Android recorder, or a workflow that cannot keep the phone and Unreal Engine computer connected.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Free on both mobile platforms: There is no subscription charge for the listed app plan.
• Two iOS capture modes: Live and processed capture cover both interactive and post-capture MetaHuman work.
• Unreal integration: MetaHuman Live Link and Live Link Hub connect capture, streaming, recording, and media transfer in one workflow.
• Flexible timing and control: Android timecode sources and OSC connections help accommodate synchronized or externally controlled setups.

Cons

• Android is constrained: It is beta software, depends on selected Qualcomm chipsets, excludes Snapdragon 8s, and cannot record for offline processing.
• iOS hardware threshold: The documented iPhone 12-or-later and iOS 16 requirements rule out older Apple devices.
• Network dependence: Real-time streaming stops being a straightforward option when a reliable shared wireless or Ethernet connection is unavailable.

Alternatives

For localization rather than MetaHuman facial capture, Crowdin offers a freemium service with Android, iOS, desktop, web, and API access. locize is the better choice for a small translation setup needing a free tier with 2,000 words, two languages, five namespaces, and one user. OneSky suits teams seeking AI-driven quality estimation or multi-agent translation. Tolgee provides a free plan with 30,000 words and three seats.

Weblate is an option for hosted localization with unlimited languages, projects, and components on its Premium Cloud 10k plan. Transglot fits a free, limited-volume translation project with 100,000 initial words, 14 target languages, and three seats. ECI Flow is free to qualified game development companies and publishers. Localazy suits projects wanting unlimited seats and languages on its free plan. For rigging, motion capture, audio middleware, profiling, or build automation, use the relevant 3D Rigging Software, Motion Capture Software, Game Audio Middleware, Game Profiling Software, or Game Build Automation Software directory instead; Game Localization Software covers translation workflows.

Verdict

Live Link Face is the right choice for Unreal Engine creators who want free mobile facial capture feeding MetaHuman animation, with iOS offering the strongest workflow through offline processing. Look elsewhere if you need Android offline capture, broad device compatibility, or a tool that works independently of a networked Unreal Engine setup.