Comparison

Live Link Face vs PORTAL EXP

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Live Link Face

Capture facial performances from your iPhone or iPad for use in Unreal Engine. Create high-fidelity facial animation for MetaHumans or drive characters in real-time. Supports raw video, depth data, and ARKit animation streaming.

Highlights
  • Facial performance capture
  • MetaHuman Animator integration
  • Real-time animation streaming
  • ARKit animation data output
  • Timecode synchronization
  • Remote control via OSC
  • Take management and sharing
Read full description

Live Link Face for effortless facial animation in Unreal Engine—capture performances for use in Unreal Engine from your iPhone or iPad. Capture facial performances for MetaHuman Animator: - Live Link Face supports both real-time and processed animation. - MetaHuman Animator uses Live Link Face to capture performances, then applies its own processing to create high-fidelity facial animation for MetaHumans. - The Live Link Face app captures raw video and depth data, which can be transmitted directly from your device into Unreal Engine for use with the MetaHuman plugin. - Facial animation created with MetaHuman Animator can be applied to any MetaHuman character in just a few clicks. - This workflow requires an iPhone (12 or above) and a desktop PC running Windows 10/11. Real-time animation for MetaHumans: - The Live Link Face app generates animation to drive a MetaHuman Character in real time. - Animation data is streamed to Unreal Engine over a network using the MetaHuman Live Link Plugin. - This workflow requires an iPhone (12 or above) and a desktop PC running Windows 10/11. Real-time animation for non-MetaHuman characters: - Stream out ARKit animation data live to an Unreal Engine instance via Live Link over a network. - Visualize facial expressions in real time with live rendering in Unreal Engine. - Drive a 3D preview mesh, optionally overlaid over the video reference on the phone. - Record the raw ARKit animation data and front-facing video reference footage. - Tune the capture data to the individual performer and improve facial animation quality with rest pose calibration. Timecode support for multi-device synchronization: - Select from the system clock, an NTP server, or use a Tentacle Sync device to connect with a master clock on stage. - Video reference is frame accurate with embedded timecode for editorial. Control Live Link Face remotely with OSC or via the MetaHuman Plugin for Unreal Engine: - Trigger recording remotely so actors can focus on their performances. - Capture slate names and take numbers consistently. - Extract data for processing and storage. Browse and manage the library of captured takes: - Delete takes within Live Link Face, share via AirDrop. - Transfer directly over network when using MetaHuman Animator. - Review captured footage on-device.

About

PORTAL EXP

Read full description

Inside the PORTAL EXP app, you can: Access all of your videos in one easy to use app Receive push notifications with the latest news and updates Access to all of your videos without having to remember your password Save your favorite posts so you can quickly find them later END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Live Link Face4 screens
PORTAL EXP3 screens

Verdict

The call

Live Link Face and PORTAL EXP are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Live Link Face ships an update every 2 months, PORTAL EXP every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Live Link Face versus PORTAL EXP: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLive Link FacePORTAL EXP
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (114 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews48.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings114 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUnreal EngineEmily Sudduth

In-app purchases

None

Live Link Face

No in-app purchases

None

PORTAL EXP

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Live Link Face free?
Live Link Face is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PORTAL EXP free?
PORTAL EXP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Live Link Face or PORTAL EXP have ads?
Neither Live Link Face nor PORTAL EXP shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Live Link Face or PORTAL EXP?
Live Link Face ships an update every 2 months, and PORTAL EXP every 5 weeks. Most recently, Live Link Face was updated on November 11, 2026 and PORTAL EXP on November 8, 2026.

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