R5Updated November 2026

Best Capture Cards of 2026

Internal and USB capture for streaming consoles or a second PC.

Internal and USB capture for streaming consoles or a second PC. These picks are ranked by our score, which blends independent review data, specs, street price and owner feedback. Prices and availability move fast, so check the date beside each price before buying.

01Best overall8.6
Elgato 4K X
USB-C · 4K144 (HDR10 capture Windows only) · 4K144 · HDR capture
A capable USB-C external capture card with 4K144 recording and passthrough, VRR and HDR10 in a small box.
$250Nov 9Buy at Official store
02Best value8.4
Elgato 4K S
USB-C · 2160p60 (HDR10 up to 1080p60, Windows only) · 2160p60, 1440p120, 1080p240 · HDR capture
A solid mid-range USB capture card with 4K60 capture and low-latency passthrough for console and PC streamers.
$147Nov 9Buy at Official store
03Best budget7.9
Elgato Cam Link 4K
USB 3.2 · 4K30 (4K60 MJPG) · None (no HDMI output)
A small HDMI-to-USB dongle that turns a mirrorless or DSLR camera into a plug-and-play webcam.
$85.99Nov 9Buy at Official store
047.8
ASUS TUF Gaming Capture Box CU4K30
USB-C · 2160p30 uncompressed, 1440p60, 1080p120 · 4K60 HDR, 1440p144 HDR, 1080p240 HDR · HDR capture
A budget USB capture box with 4K60 HDR passthrough and VRR that records best at 1080p or 1440p.
$120MSRPBuy at Official store
057.8
AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1
USB-C · 2160p144 (Windows), 2160p60 (macOS) · 2160p144 HDR/VRR · HDR capture
An HDMI 2.1 USB-C capture box with 4K144 passthrough and 4K capture, held back by rough software and firmware.
$300MSRPBuy at Official store

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