FreeMoCap vs Vicon Shogun
FreeMoCap
freemocap.org
Vicon Shogun
vicon.comSide by side
| Figure | FreeMoCap | Vicon Shogun |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 0 |
| Spec score · AI Motion Capture Software | 8.9 (#2) | 6.6 (#26) |
| Spec score · Motion Capture Software | 8.8 (#5) | 6.6 (#45) |
| Spec score · Game Motion Capture Software | 8.8 (#4) | 6.6 (#22) |
| License | The download page identifies FreeMoCap as open source licensed under AGPL-3.0. | Vicon’s Shōgun licensing documentation describes standalone licenses tied to a PC or dongle, and network licenses tied to a license server with configurable seats. |
| Support | Community support is centered on Discord, with GitHub issues for bugs and feature requests and paid setup, training and custom services available. | Vicon directs users to its support team for legacy software versions. |
Plans
In their own words
FreeMoCap
FreeMoCap records and reconstructs full-body movement as 3D motion-capture data. It is free, open-source software for researchers, animators, athletes, and creators. Capture can use two or more standard webcams, GoPros, or smartphones; a printed ChArUco board synchronizes camera feeds and defines the 3D coordinate system. Users can also record video offline on mobile devices and import it later for processing. Results can be exported in formats including CSV, FBX, and .blend files. A Blender add-on loads processed recordings into Blender as a rigged skeleton. Processing happens locally, and the homepage says video data does not leave the user's machine. A backend server download supports headless machines, remote capture rigs, and API use. The download page identifies the current release as alpha. Optional anonymous usage pings may include IP address, timestamp, and camera information, but users can disable them in the GUI. The project directs questions to Discord and bug reports or feature requests to GitHub. Its post-hoc guide notes that RTMPose produces 3D data but does not currently have working Blender export.
Vicon Shogun
Vicon Shōgun is motion capture software for visual effects, virtual production and game development. The Windows suite includes Shōgun Live for real-time optical capture, Shōgun Markerless for machine-learning full-body tracking and Shōgun Post for cleanup and post-production. Live supports finger solving and direct retargeting and streaming to game engines. Markerless can capture unmarked performers alongside marked props. Post provides automatic gap filling, a gap list, character retargeting, Auto-Skeleton and Python or HSL scripting. Shōgun also tracks film and virtual cameras, calibrates SDI cameras and supports live 3D overlays for AR/XR workflows. Vicon lists streaming to game engines, Epic MetaHuman support, an Unreal Engine Live Link plugin and a MotionBuilder plugin. Post supports USD and TRC, while retargeting exports character FBX. Release 1.21 supports 64-bit Windows 10 and 11; Linux and macOS are unsupported. Licensing is standalone or network.