Mocai

Overview

Mocai is a video-based motion-capture service for animators and developers who want to turn footage into character motion without a marker suit or calibrated camera setup. Its combination of editor plugins, file exports, and API access makes it flexible to fit into existing workflows, but tight footage quotas and clip-length ceilings are central to choosing a plan.

It suits people who can work from recorded clips and need to bring motion into 3D or game tools. Look elsewhere if your workflow depends on real-time capture or sustained high-volume footage at a low monthly cost.

Browse our AI Motion Capture Software, Motion Capture Software, and Game Motion Capture Software directories for more options.

Key features

Video capture and tracking

Mocai reconstructs a subject’s body, mesh, and 127-joint skeleton from a single video. The maker says footage from any single camera, including a phone, works without markers, suits, or calibration. That lowers setup demands, though the workflow is still based on uploaded video rather than live capture.

Each performer has 70 tracked keypoints from pelvis to fingertips. Finger articulation and hand tracking add detail for gestures, while multi-person capture, root motion, floor grounding, occlusion repair, adjustable smoothing, and synchronized footage review support more involved animation work. The number of performers and maximum clip duration vary by plan, so multi-person support does not mean unlimited cast size or recording length.

Exports, integrations, and automation

Exports include FBX, GLB, BVH, USD, and raw keypoints, with optional retargeting to Mixamo, UE5 Manny, and MetaHuman rigs. Free plugins for Blender, Unity, Maya, and Unreal Engine let users upload clips and import takes inside those editors, a useful bridge for teams already built around one of them.

The public API supports uploads and webhooks, and an MCP server lets AI agents manage takes and exports. API uploads have different size ceilings: two-step uploads support files up to 2 GB, while inline multipart uploads stay under about 30 MB. The monthly footage allowance is shared between portal and API, and new uploads pause once it is used up, so automation does not create extra quota.

Privacy and security

Mocai says customers own their footage and reconstructions, uploads are not used to train machine-learning models, and stored takes are deleted automatically after the plan’s retention period. Its privacy policy says data is encrypted in transit and at rest, stored content uses short-lived signed URLs, and internal access is limited to operational needs. Retention therefore matters for anyone who needs to keep takes accessible beyond the plan window.

Pricing

Mocai has a free tier and paid plans from $10 a month. All listed tiers include downloads in all formats and public API access with webhooks, but footage, clip length, performer count, processing priority, and retention differ substantially.

PlanPriceAllowance and limitsFreefree1 minute of footage per month; clips up to 15 seconds; one person; standard queue; 7-day retentionBasic$10 a month10 minutes per month; clips up to 30 seconds; up to 3 performers; priority processing; 30-day retentionPro$39 a month60 minutes per month; clips up to 60 seconds; up to 10 performers; highest-priority processing; 90-day retentionEnterpriseCustom pricingCustom builds, integrations, and usage limitsFree is best for a brief evaluation or occasional short, solo clips; one minute of monthly footage and a 15-second clip cap make it a poor fit for regular production. Basic raises the monthly allowance tenfold and adds three-person capture, twice the maximum clip length, priority processing, and longer retention, making it the sensible starting point for light recurring work. Pro is the more plausible choice for teams working with longer clips or several performers, but 60 minutes per month remains a defined ceiling. Enterprise is for customers who need custom integrations, builds, or usage limits rather than a standard quota.

Because portal and API usage draw from the same allowance, frequent automated uploads can consume a plan’s footage just as quickly as portal work. New uploads pause at the quota, so users with unpredictable volume should account for that interruption risk.

Platforms

Mocai lists support for web, API, Blender, Maya, Unity, and Unreal Engine. Its broader platform coverage also includes Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, browser extensions, and self-hosted use. The named editor plugins are free, while the video capture workflow itself is not real-time.

Who it's for

Mocai is aimed at people making animation or game content in Blender, Maya, Unity, Unreal, or their own tools. It is a strong fit for creators who can capture footage first and value multiple export formats, retargeting options, or automated API workflows. Solo users with occasional short clips can start free; teams needing longer clips, more performers, or faster processing will need a paid tier.

It is less suitable for real-time capture, long sessions, or high-volume work that cannot pause when a monthly allowance runs out. The free tier’s single-person, 15-second limit is particularly restrictive for production use.

Pros and cons

Pros: Single-camera capture without markers, suits, or calibration keeps the source setup simple.

Pros: FBX, GLB, BVH, USD, raw keypoints, and optional retargets give users several routes into downstream tools.

Pros: Free plugins, API uploads, webhooks, and an MCP server support both editor-based and automated workflows.

Pros: The Pro tier supports up to 10 performers, clips up to 60 seconds, and 90-day retention.

Cons: The free plan allows only one minute of footage per month and clips up to 15 seconds.

Cons: Monthly footage is shared across portal and API, and uploads stop when the allowance is exhausted.

Cons: Capture is not real-time, and longer clips or larger groups require higher tiers.

Alternatives

Move AI is worth comparing for users who want a free allowance of 30 credits that do not expire and videos up to 30 seconds; its listed Starter plan is $18 a month plus VAT. Choose mimem.ai if its Android, iOS, and web coverage or free daily tokens, 2 GB storage, and three-camera support better match the workflow.

PINOC may suit users who prefer a free allowance of five videos per day and a listed Pro plan at $7.99 a month, though its free tier permits only one generation at a time and stores assets and generations for seven days. Plask Motion is a web alternative with a free daily limit of 15 seconds and 1 GB storage; its listed Standard plan is $216 a year, equivalent to $18 a month when billed annually.

QuickMagic is another API-and-web option, with a free tier that includes 50V Coins, two queued videos, a 30-second maximum, 50 MB uploads, 15-day storage, and FBX export. XR Animator is a free option for users comparing Android, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows support.

Webcam Motion Capture is an alternative for users whose platforms include iOS, macOS, or Windows and who want to try all tracking features for free; its longer access options are prepaid rather than subscriptions. FreeMoCap suits users seeking free, self-hosted software across Linux, macOS, and Windows, with no subscriptions, licenses, or hidden fees.

Verdict

Mocai is a good choice for animators and game developers who want single-video motion capture, broad exports, editor plugins, and an API that can slot into an existing pipeline. Its strongest reason to choose it is workflow flexibility; its clearest reason to look elsewhere is the combination of fixed monthly footage limits, short clip caps, and no real-time capture. Start with Free for short solo trials, use Basic or Pro when recurring work demands more capacity, and consider another tool if quotas would interrupt production.