The Best Capture Card for Streaming

It captures 1080p60 and appears to the PC as a webcam, so it works in Windows, Mac and OBS without a driver. It connects over USB 3.0. A 3.5mm mic input and audio output mix commentary with game sound, and it works with Switch, PS5, Xbox and PC.

It carries a two-year warranty. It shares a 1080p60 capture key figure with the HD60 Pro; the Cam Link 4K goes with a 1080p60 or 4K30 key figure. A capture card needs the console or second PC's HDMI output and a free USB port on the streaming PC; check which USB version it needs. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Guermok USB-C was the next step up.

It takes up to a 4K30 input over HDMI and captures at up to 1080p60 over USB 3.0. The aluminium shell sheds heat, and it needs no driver. It needs no driver or external power, and it streams to YouTube, Twitch and Facebook.

A USB-C adapter comes in the box. Its output tops out at 2K30 or 1080p60, so it suits console streaming rather than high-refresh PC capture. A capture card needs the console or second PC's HDMI output and a free USB port on the streaming PC; check which USB version it needs. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper HeavenBird and the pricier Mwin Cam Link 4K, at the time of writing.

It captures up to 4K30, 1080p120 or 1440p60 over USB 3.0 and needs no driver or external power. It works with HDMI sources such as PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch and DSLRs, and with software such as OBS, VLC and AMCap. It also offers a lower price than branded camera dongles.

A capture card needs the console or second PC's HDMI output and a free USB port on the streaming PC; check which USB version it needs. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the HeavenBird at the time of writing. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper Guermok USB-C and the pricier Cam Link 4K, at the time of writing.

It is dongle-sized. It works with camcorders, action cams and iPhones, and low latency keeps video and audio in sync. An iPad with USB-C can serve as a field monitor.

It connects through a USB 3.0 USB-A plug and supports Windows 10 and 11 as well as macOS. No other pick in this guide offers a 1080p60 or 4K30 key figure; compare the HeavenBird, which has a 1080p60 capture key figure. A capture card needs the console or second PC's HDMI output and a free USB port on the streaming PC; check which USB version it needs. It was priced above the Mwin Cam Link 4K and below the HD60 Pro at the time of writing.

It sits in a PCIe slot and captures 1080p60 with zero-lag passthrough. Flashback recording and unlimited capture length come through Elgato's software. Instant Gameview keeps delay low while recording, and recordings save to your drive with no time limit.

It suits a desktop with a spare PCIe slot. Like the HeavenBird, it has a 1080p60 capture key figure, while the Cam Link 4K uses a 1080p60 or 4K30 key figure. You also get an internal card that frees a USB port.

A capture card needs the console or second PC's HDMI output and a free USB port on the streaming PC; check which USB version it needs. Only the Cam Link 4K came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.