The Best Capture Cards in 2026
GamesRadar+’s best external capture card is the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 (HDMI 2.1, 4K60 capture). TechRadar’s top pick is the plug-and-play Elgato HD60 X, and PC Gamer’s best budget card is the Elgato Game Capture Neo.
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How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec pages, official prices and published lab measurements from the outlets we name and link. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.
Quick answer
GamesRadar+’s best external capture card is the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 (HDMI 2.1, 4K60 capture). TechRadar’s top pick is the plug-and-play Elgato HD60 X, and PC Gamer’s best budget card is the Elgato Game Capture Neo. Best external overall: AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1, $209.99. Easiest plug-and-play: Elgato HD60 X, $199.99. Best budget: Elgato Game Capture Neo, $113.74.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best external overall | AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 | high-refresh 4K setups | $209.99 |
| Easiest plug-and-play | Elgato HD60 X | PS5 and Xbox players who want simple setup | $199.99 list; seen $159.99 |
| Best for 4K streaming/recording | AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S GC553Pro | recording and streaming in 4K | — |
| Best budget | Elgato Game Capture Neo | 1080p capture on a budget | $113.74 |
| Best internal | Elgato Game Capture 4K Pro | a desktop PC without extra USB clutter | $238.99 |
| Best for two sources | AVerMedia Live Gamer Duo | adding a camera alongside your console | — |
| Best for handheld PCs | AVerMedia Elite Go GC313Pro | Steam Deck-style handheld PCs | — |
| Best 1080p classic | Elgato HD60 S | 1080p capture on PC or Mac | — |
We combined GamesRadar[1]+’s and TechRadar’s[2] 2026 capture card guides with PC Gamer’s[3] guide, which was last updated in September 2025, so newer models may be missing from it (prices checked October 2026). Decide first whether you need 4K capture or only 4K passthrough, and whether you want an external USB box or an internal PCIe card.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Card | Price seen | Type | Max capture | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 | $209.99 | External USB-C | 4K60 | High-refresh 4K setups |
| Elgato HD60 X | $199.99 list; seen $159.99 | External USB | 4K60 per GamesRadar+ (TechRadar: 1080p60 HDR) | PS5 and Xbox players who want simple setup |
| AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S GC553Pro | — | External USB-C | 4K60 | Recording and streaming in 4K |
| Elgato Game Capture Neo | $113.74 | External USB-C | 1080p60 | 1080p capture on a budget |
| Elgato Game Capture 4K Pro | $238.99 | Internal PCIe | 4K60 | A desktop PC without extra USB clutter |
| AVerMedia Live Gamer Duo | — | Internal PCIe | 1080p60, two inputs | Adding a camera alongside your console |
| AVerMedia Elite Go GC313Pro | — | Dock/capture for handhelds | 1080p60 | Steam Deck-style handheld PCs |
| Elgato HD60 S | — | External USB | 1080p60 | 1080p capture on PC or Mac |
The picks in detail
1. AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
Best for: high-refresh 4K setupsGamesRadar[1]+’s best external capture card overall and PC Gamer’s[3] best 4K 144fps card: HDMI 2.1 in and out, 4K60 capture and passthrough up to 4K at 144Hz with VRR. Reviewers praise its crystal-clear footage and easy setup. PC Gamer’s cons: it’s expensive, has a bright lighting strip, and the firmware is a work in progress.
Price (Oct 2026): $209.99 Source
Pros
- HDMI 2.1 passthrough
- 4K60 capture
- Clear footage
Cons
- Expensive
- Firmware a work in progress
- Bright lighting strip
2. Elgato HD60 X
Best for: PS5 and Xbox players who want simple setupTechRadar’s[2] best capture card overall: about as plug-and-play as capture cards get, with 1080p60 HDR capture and 4K passthrough. GamesRadar[1]+ adds VRR support and great capture quality. TechRadar notes compatibility issues on Mac and that it isn’t quite a 4K60 capture card; GamesRadar+ says it costs much more than the HD60 S.
Price (Oct 2026): $199.99 list; seen $159.99 Source
Pros
- Plug and play
- HDR and VRR support
- 4K passthrough
Cons
- Mac compatibility issues
- Pricier than the HD60 S
3. AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S GC553Pro
Best for: recording and streaming in 4KPC Gamer’s[3] best overall and best for streaming and recording: HDMI 2.0 in and out, 4K60 capture (1440p at 144fps, 1080p at 240fps), VRR and HDR, and 5.1 audio at a reasonable price. Its con is the app.
Price (Oct 2026): — Source
Pros
- 4K60 capture
- 5.1 audio
- Reasonable price
Cons
- The companion app
4. Elgato Game Capture Neo
Best for: 1080p capture on a budgetPC Gamer’s[3] best budget card is the cheapest Elgato card, with lag-free 4K HDR 60fps passthrough and no-hassle USB-C setup: plug it in, run OBS and select it. It’s limited to 1080p60 capture and only 60fps passthrough.
Price (Oct 2026): $113.74 Source
Pros
- Cheapest Elgato card
- 4K HDR60 passthrough
- Simple setup
Cons
- 1080p60 capture only
- 60fps passthrough only
5. Elgato Game Capture 4K Pro
Best for: a desktop PC without extra USB clutterGamesRadar[1]+’s best internal card: PCIe, 4K60 capture, 240Hz VRR passthrough and 8K future-proofing. It has fewer recording options than rivals, passthrough can have frame rate wobbles, Elgato’s software can be volatile, and it’s not distinct enough from the 4K60 Pro. PC only.
Price (Oct 2026): $238.99 Source
Pros
- Internal: no extra USB box
- 4K60 capture
- 8K passthrough
Cons
- PC only
- Software can be volatile
- Passthrough frame rate wobbles
6. AVerMedia Live Gamer Duo
Best for: adding a camera alongside your consolePC Gamer’s[3] best two-source card can capture two HDMI sources at once (for example a console and a DSLR) and is easy to set up. It’s 1080p only and does passthrough on only one HDMI source. It’s an internal PCIe card.
Price (Oct 2026): — Source
Pros
- Two HDMI sources
- Easy setup
Cons
- 1080p only
- Passthrough on one source only
7. AVerMedia Elite Go GC313Pro
Best for: Steam Deck-style handheld PCsPC Gamer’s[3] pick for handheld gaming PCs is a dock that charges multiple devices while recording, and it’s reliably simple. It’s limited to HDMI 1.4 and 1080p recording.
Price (Oct 2026): — Source
Pros
- Charge and record
- Simple
Cons
- HDMI 1.4 only
- 1080p max
8. Elgato HD60 S
Best for: 1080p capture on PC or MacGamesRadar[1]+’s best 1080p capture card for most people works with PC and Mac, with great capture quality, a reasonable price and instant game view. The editing software isn’t perfect, and Elgato software can be prone to technical issues.
Price (Oct 2026): — Source
Pros
- PC and Mac
- Great 1080p quality
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Software can be glitchy
Also considered
NZXT Signal HD60: GamesRadar[1]+’s budget pick; takes much of the software faff out of capture.
AVerMedia Live Gamer Extreme 3: Listed in GamesRadar+’s deals at $169.99 (seen $109.99).
Rode Streamer X: GamesRadar+’s best all-in-one capture card; records at up to 4K30.
Capture resolution vs passthrough
Passthrough is what your TV or monitor shows; capture is what gets recorded or streamed. Many cards pass through 4K while recording only 1080p, like the Game Capture Neo. If you want 4K recordings, choose a card that captures 4K60, like the Live Gamer Ultra 2.1, GC553Pro or 4K Pro.
The rest of your streaming setup
Frequently asked questions
What is the best capture card?
What is the best cheap capture card?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
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