OptiTrack Motive
OptiTrack Motive works with OptiTrack cameras to capture marker-based movement from people and objects and provide motion data in real time.
What OptiTrack Motive is
OptiTrack Motive works with OptiTrack cameras to capture marker-based movement from people and objects and provide motion data in real time. It is designed for production studios and research facilities, with uses spanning robotics, movement science, game animation, cinematic virtual production, and location-based virtual reality. Motive can track more than 1,500 markers, over 12 skeletons, and more than 300 rigid bodies at once; skeleton capacity depends on license type. Typical rigid-body specifications list positional accuracy of ±0.2 mm or less, rotational accuracy of ±0.1 degrees or less, and latency below 10 ms, subject to camera and tracking conditions. Continuous Calibration refreshes calibration during use, typically every few minutes. Live streaming is available through NatNet and VRPN, with plugins for Unreal Engine, Unity, OpenVR, MotionBuilder, and MATLAB. Motive also offers cleanup tools and exports including CSV, C3D, FBX, BVH, TRC, and USD. It runs on Windows.
Good
- Tracks over 1,500 markers at one time
- Supports real-time NatNet and VRPN streaming
- Exports CSV, C3D, FBX, BVH, TRC, and USD
- Continuous Calibration refreshes calibration during use
Watch out
- Windows platform only
- No free plan
- Some support, including onsite help, is excluded
Who it suits
Motive suits production studios and research facilities that need marker-based motion capture for movement science, animation, game development, filmmaking, or robotics. It is for Windows users working with OptiTrack cameras.
Verdict
Motive combines high-capacity marker tracking, live streaming, and cleanup and export tools for professional motion-capture workflows. Check the license-specific capabilities and maintenance terms against the needs of your studio or research facility.
Plans and prices
From OptiTrack Motive's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Year of Maintenance for Motive:Tracker | $499 a year | Updates and bug fixes for Motive:Tracker · Additional year(s) of updates |
| Motive: Tracker | $999, paid once | Unlimited live rigid bodies · Unlimited non-trained markersets · Security Key M required · Perpetual license with one year of updates |
| 1 Year of Maintenance for Motive:Edit | $1,249 a year | Updates and bug fixes for Motive:Edit · Additional year(s) of updates |
| 1 Year of Maintenance for Motive:Body | $2,499 a year | Updates and bug fixes for Motive:Body · Additional year(s) of updates |
| 1 Year of Maintenance for Motive:Edit Unlimited | $2,499 a year | Updates and bug fixes for Motive:Edit Unlimited · Additional year(s) of updates |
| Motive: Edit | $2,499, paid once | Up to 2 editable trained markersets · Up to 3 editable skeletons · Post only · Security Key M required · Perpetual license with one year of updates |
| 1 Year of Maintenance for Motive:Body Unlimited | $4,999 a year | Updates and bug fixes for Motive:Body Unlimited · Additional year(s) of updates |
| Motive: Edit Unlimited | $4,999, paid once | Unlimited editable trained markersets and skeletons · Post only · Security Key M required · Perpetual license with one year of updates |
| Motive: Body | $4,999, paid once | Unlimited live rigid bodies · Up to 3 trained markersets · Up to 3 live and editable skeletons · Security Key M required · Perpetual license with one year of updates |
| Motive: Body Unlimited | $9,999, paid once | Unlimited live rigid bodies, trained markersets, live and editable skeletons · Security Key M required · Perpetual license with one year of updates |
The facts
Each one read from OptiTrack Motive's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accuracy and latency
- Typical rigid body tracking is listed at positional accuracy of ±0.2 mm or less, rotational accuracy of ±0.1 degrees or less, and latency below 10 ms; the maker notes performance depends on camera and tracking conditions.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Calibration
- Continuous Calibration evaluates markers during system use to provide a fresh calibration, typically every few minutes.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Developer tools
- The NatNet SDK supports C, C++, C#, and Python clients, and the specifications also describe a Motive API and Camera SDK.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Editing and export
- Motive supports cleanup tools and exports data to CSV, C3D, FBX ASCII, FBX Binary, BVH and TRC formats.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Hardware limits
- The specifications state support for over 250 Ethernet cameras or up to 24 USB cameras at one time.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker lists native plug-and-play support for AMTI, Bertec and Kistler force plates, Delsys EMG and analog devices.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes Motive as tailored to production studios and research facilities and its licenses address movement science, character animation, game development and filmmaking.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License and support terms
- An initial purchase includes updates and bug fixes for one year; maintenance provides basic remote phone or email software support, while onsite, installation, code and complex troubleshooting support are excluded.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Marker capacity
- Motive supports tracking over 1,500 markers at one time.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy and security
- The privacy policy says personal information is stored on password-controlled servers with limited access and may be processed in the United States or other countries where NaturalPoint and its affiliates or agents are located.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Motive pairs with OptiTrack cameras to track and capture motion from markers attached to people and objects and deliver real-time motion data.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Streaming
- Motive supports real-time streaming through NatNet and VRPN and lists plugins for Unreal Engine, Unity, OpenVR, MotionBuilder and MATLAB.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Tracking capacity
- The specifications state that Motive can track over 12 skeletons and over 300 rigid bodies in real time, with skeleton capacity depending on license type.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- The maker lists robotics, movement sciences, video game animation, cinematic virtual production and location-based virtual reality as uses for motion tracking data.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Corvallis, Oregon, USAchecked 28 Sep 2026
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