AI Motion Capture Hit $15/Month
Here's What Technical Directors Need to Know
The complete 2025 comparison of markerless AI mocap tools for game development. DeepMotion vs Move AI vs Plask vs Rokoko Vision—pricing, accuracy, and Unreal Engine integration compared.
Starting price/mo
Accuracy vs traditional
Tools compared
Integration ready
📖 12 min read • Last updated: December 2024
The $15/Month Revolution in Motion Capture
Three years ago, convincing motion capture required a $50,000+ setup with specialized suits, markers, and dedicated capture volumes. Today, AI-powered markerless motion capture delivers 85-95% of that quality from a smartphone video—starting at $15/month.
For technical directors and animation supervisors evaluating these tools, the question isn't whether AI mocap is production-ready—it's which tool fits your pipeline. This guide breaks down the four leading platforms for game development workflows, with special attention to Unreal Engine 5 integration.
👤 Who This Guide Is For
Technical Directors
Evaluating pipeline integration and scalability
Animation Directors
Comparing quality and cleanup requirements
Indie Studios
Finding affordable mocap solutions
Quick Comparison: AI Motion Capture Tools 2025
| Tool | Starting Price | Body Tracking | Hand Tracking | Face Tracking | UE5 Export | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepMotion Budget Pick | $15/mo | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | FBX, BVH | Indie studios, prototyping |
| Move AI Pro Choice | $29/mo | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | FBX, USD | Multi-camera, AAA quality |
| Plask Best UI | $20/mo | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | FBX, GLB | Web-based, quick iterations |
| Rokoko Vision | Free (limited) | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | FBX | Budget testing, hobbyists |
* Prices as of December 2024. Check official websites for current pricing.
DeepMotion Animate 3D
Best Value From $15/monthDeepMotion pioneered AI motion capture accessibility. Their Animate 3D platform processes video through a cloud API, returning skeletal animation data in minutes. At $15/month for the Starter tier, it's the most affordable entry point for serious game development.
✓ Strengths
- • Lowest price point for production-quality output
- • Excellent hand tracking from single camera
- • Fast processing (2-3 min for 30s clip)
- • API access for pipeline integration
- • Direct FBX export, UE5-compatible
✗ Limitations
- • Single-camera only (no multi-view)
- • Face tracking requires separate processing
- • Credit-based system can be unpredictable
- • Occasional ground contact sliding
- • Limited real-time preview options
💡 Best For
Indie studios and solo developers who need affordable mocap for dialogue scenes, basic locomotion, and prototyping. Ideal for projects where you'll polish the output manually but need a solid starting point.
Move AI
Professional Choice From $29/monthMove AI represents the professional tier of AI mocap. Their multi-camera support and higher accuracy make it the go-to choice for studios needing AAA-quality motion data without traditional mocap infrastructure. The $29/month Solo plan includes 60 minutes of processing.
✓ Strengths
- • Multi-camera input for better accuracy
- • Superior motion quality, less cleanup needed
- • Excellent floor contact and physics
- • USD export for modern pipelines
- • Body + hands in single process
- • Local processing option available
✗ Limitations
- • Higher price point
- • Multi-camera requires specific setup
- • Slower processing than competitors
- • Desktop app required (no web option)
- • Learning curve for optimal results
💡 Best For
Mid-size studios producing content that needs to stand alongside traditional mocap. Excellent for action sequences, combat animations, and any scene where physical accuracy matters.
Plask
Best UI/UX From $20/monthPlask offers the most polished web-based experience in the AI mocap space. Their browser-based workflow means no downloads, instant previews, and seamless collaboration. The Pro plan at $20/month includes 30 minutes of processing monthly.
✓ Strengths
- • Entirely browser-based, no installation
- • Best-in-class editing interface
- • Built-in motion retargeting
- • Real-time preview while adjusting
- • Face tracking included
- • Team collaboration features
✗ Limitations
- • Requires stable internet connection
- • Hand tracking less precise than DeepMotion
- • Processing can be slow during peak hours
- • Limited offline capability
- • Export formats sometimes need cleanup
💡 Best For
Teams who value fast iteration and collaboration. Excellent for cinematics, dialogue sequences, and projects where facial performance matters alongside body motion.
Rokoko Vision
Free OptionRokoko Vision is the free tier of Rokoko's AI mocap offering. While limited, it provides a legitimate entry point for testing AI mocap workflows before committing to paid solutions. You get 5 free video uploads per month.
✓ Strengths
- • Completely free tier available
- • Integrates with Rokoko ecosystem
- • Direct Unreal Engine plugin
- • Good for testing AI mocap workflows
- • No credit card required
✗ Limitations
- • Lower quality than paid alternatives
- • Very limited monthly processing
- • No hand tracking
- • Basic face tracking only
- • Watermarked exports on free tier
💡 Best For
Hobbyists, students, and studios evaluating whether AI mocap fits their workflow before investing in paid solutions. Also useful for very rough blocking and reference.
Best Mocap Workflow for Unreal Engine 5
Capture Reference Video
Record your actor with good lighting, minimal occlusion, and camera at waist height. For multi-view setups (Move AI), position cameras at 45° intervals.
Process Through AI Mocap Tool
Upload to your chosen platform. Configure skeleton type (usually "Unreal Mannequin" or "Mixamo") for optimal retargeting later.
Import to Unreal Engine
Import FBX with "Import Animations" enabled. Use UE5's IK Retargeter to map the animation to your game skeleton.
Polish in Control Rig
Use UE5's Control Rig for final adjustments. Fix foot sliding, smooth transitions, and add secondary motion.
📹 Need to Record Your Animations in Action?
Once your mocap animations are in Unreal Engine, capture them in-game for demos, trailers, or QA review. Runtime Video Recorder lets you record directly from UE5 with hardware acceleration—no performance impact.
Learn About Runtime Video Recorder →Our Recommendations by Use Case
Indie Game Studios
Best value for teams with limited animation budgets. The hand tracking alone justifies the cost for dialogue and interaction sequences.
Alternative: Plask if you prioritize face tracking and web-based collaboration.
AAA / Mid-Size Studios
Multi-camera support delivers quality that can stand alongside traditional mocap. Worth the premium for hero animations.
Alternative: Traditional mocap for hero characters, AI mocap for background NPCs and variations.
Game Cinematics
Built-in face tracking and the polished editing interface make it ideal for dialogue-heavy cutscenes.
Workflow tip: Combine with dedicated face capture (Live Link) for hero characters.
Rapid Prototyping
Free tier is perfect for blocking out animations and testing concepts before investing in proper mocap capture.
Upgrade path: Once validated, move to DeepMotion or Move AI for production quality.
AI Motion Capture Accuracy: The Real Numbers
Based on our testing and industry reports, here's how AI mocap compares to traditional marker-based capture:
Basic locomotion (walk, run, jump)
Complex actions (combat, sports)
Subtle performance (acting, dialogue)
⚠️ Where AI Mocap Still Struggles
- • Precise finger articulation (improving rapidly)
- • Multi-person interaction with occlusion
- • Subtle weight shifts and micro-movements
- • Ground contact in complex terrain
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does AI motion capture cost in 2025?
AI motion capture tools now start at $15/month for basic plans. DeepMotion offers plans from $15/month, Plask starts at $20/month, and Move AI begins at $29/month. Free options like Rokoko Vision offer limited credits. Enterprise pricing typically runs $200-500/month for unlimited processing.
Which AI mocap tool is best for Unreal Engine integration?
Move AI and DeepMotion offer the best direct Unreal Engine integration with FBX export and retargeting support. Both support UE5's Control Rig and IK Retargeter. Plask requires additional processing for optimal UE5 results but offers excellent web-based previews.
Is AI motion capture accurate enough for AAA games?
AI mocap achieves 85-95% accuracy of traditional marker-based systems for most body movements. It excels at locomotion, combat, and dialogue scenes. However, precise finger tracking and subtle facial expressions still benefit from traditional mocap or manual polish for AAA quality standards.
What is markerless motion capture?
Markerless motion capture uses AI and computer vision to track human movement from regular video without requiring special suits, markers, or dedicated hardware. Tools like DeepMotion, Move AI, and Plask can extract animation data from smartphone or webcam footage.
Can I use AI motion capture for commercial game projects?
Yes, all major AI mocap platforms (DeepMotion, Move AI, Plask) include commercial usage rights in their paid plans. Free tiers typically have restrictions, so check licensing terms before using in released games. Most platforms require attribution only for free-tier usage.
Ready to Capture Your Mocap Animations?
Once your AI mocap animations are in Unreal Engine, record them in action with Runtime Video Recorder. Hardware-accelerated capture for demos, trailers, and QA testing.