Best Head Tracker for American Truck Simulator (2026)

The short answer is simple. LookPilot is the practical pick for most ATS players because it delivers 6DoF head tracking from a webcam for $14.99 once, works on Windows and Linux, and includes a 14-day free trial. TrackIR 5 is worth considering if you drive in a very dark room. Tobii Eye Tracker 5 adds dedicated eye tracking hardware. Beam is strongest for streamers who want gaze overlays. opentrack is the best choice when the budget is zero and you are comfortable configuring the tracking pipeline yourself.

This comparison appears on LookPilot's site. The goal is not to pretend every rival is worse. It is to show which option fits which ATS setup.

Quick comparison

Tracker	Price	What you need	Tracking	Platforms	Best fit for ATS
LookPilot	$14.99 once	Existing webcam	6DoF head plus eye tracking	Windows, Linux, Steam Deck	Most players who want a low-cost, ready-to-use setup
TrackIR 5	$149.95+	IR camera and reflector or LED clip	6DoF head tracking	Windows	Players who regularly drive in a very dark room
Tobii Eye Tracker 5	$339 listed	Dedicated IR sensor bar	Head plus eye tracking	Windows	Players who specifically want dedicated gaze hardware and native ATS integration
Beam Eye Tracker	$29.99 once	Existing webcam	6DoF head plus eye tracking	Windows, with Linux and macOS public beta	Streamers who want polished gaze overlays
opentrack	Free	Webcam or another supported input	Configurable head tracking	Windows and Linux	Tinkerers who want the free option and do not mind setup

Why head tracking matters in ATS

American Truck Simulator gives you a 6DoF cab camera. Rotation handles the familiar left, right, up and down view changes. Translation lets you lean closer to the windshield, shift toward a mirror or move within the cab.

That freedom is useful on almost every drive:

• Check hood and side mirrors without reaching for the mouse.
• Look through an intersection while keeping both hands on the wheel.
• Lean forward for a better view at rail crossings or awkward junctions.
• Scan the dashboard and GPS with a small, natural movement.
• Enjoy long highway drives without locking the camera straight ahead.

ATS and Euro Truck Simulator 2 together account for roughly two thirds of LookPilot tracking hours. That makes the truck-sim configuration one of the most heavily used paths in the app.

1. LookPilot, the practical choice for most ATS players

LookPilot turns a standard webcam into a 6DoF head and eye tracker. It costs $14.99 as a one-time lifetime license, includes future updates and has a 14-day trial with no credit card required. It supports Windows 10 or later and Linux, including SteamOS and Steam Deck.

For ATS on Windows, select the FreeTrack protocol and start tracking. ATS reads the protocol directly, so no virtual joystick is needed. LookPilot also supports TrackIR or FreeTrack compatible output, opentrack UDP, virtual joystick and mouse output across more than 700 games.

The main reason to choose it is balance. You get both rotational and positional movement without buying a sensor bar, wearing a clip or assembling several separate programs. LookPilot is also 96% positive on Steam.

Choose LookPilot if you already own a webcam, want a straightforward ATS setup and would rather test the result in your own room before paying.

2. TrackIR 5, the dark-room hardware option

TrackIR 5 uses an infrared camera and a reflector clip or powered LED clip. The camera lists at $149.95, while the package with TrackClip Pro lists at $169.95 before shipping. It provides 6DoF head tracking on Windows.

For ATS, the meaningful advantage is lighting independence. The infrared system tracks its markers rather than facial detail, so it remains the safer choice when you play in a very dark room.

That does not make its in-game head tracking more accurate than a well-lit LookPilot setup. LookPilot's own testing finds modern webcam neural tracking comparable for the movements ATS needs. TrackIR also adds dedicated hardware on the monitor and something worn on a hat or headset.

Choose TrackIR 5 if darkness is a fixed part of your setup and the extra hardware and cost do not bother you.

3. Tobii Eye Tracker 5, dedicated gaze hardware

Tobii Eye Tracker 5 is a dedicated infrared sensor bar that combines head and eye tracking. Its official product page lists it at $339. American Truck Simulator has integrated Tobii support, including separate settings for head movement and gaze-driven camera movement.

For ordinary mirror checks and cab movement, head tracking still does most of the work. Tobii becomes more relevant when dedicated eye tracking is itself the feature you want. Its eye tracking also has screen-size guidance, up to 27 inches for 16:9 displays or 30 inches for 21:9 displays, while head tracking does not carry that screen-size limit.

Like TrackIR, Tobii's clear environmental advantage over webcam tracking is operation in very dark rooms. It is otherwise a much more expensive route to moving the ATS camera.

Choose Tobii if you specifically want dedicated gaze hardware, prefer its native ATS integration and are comfortable paying for the sensor.

4. Beam Eye Tracker, the streamer-friendly webcam option

Beam also uses a normal webcam for 6DoF head and eye tracking. Its one-time desktop price is $29.99. Head tracking can connect to supported games through built-in protocols, and Beam's current site also describes Linux and macOS support as a public beta.

Beam's honest edge is presentation. Its gaze bubble and eye-tracking overlays are useful when viewers should see where you are looking. That can make it the better choice for ATS streamers, driving instructors or creators explaining mirror checks and scanning habits.

If your priority is simply controlling the cab camera, LookPilot costs less and leads with head tracking. If the gaze overlay is part of the content, Beam earns the extra cost.

5. opentrack, the genuinely free option

opentrack is free, open-source head-tracking software for Windows and Linux. It supports webcam neural tracking, filters, response curves and many input and output protocols, including FreeTrack on Windows and Wine FreeTrack glue on Linux.

It can deliver a good ATS experience without a license fee. The tradeoff is time. You choose and configure the input, filter, curves and output yourself, then troubleshoot the pieces if the game does not respond as expected.

Choose opentrack if free matters most, you enjoy tuning software and you want full control over the pipeline. It is not a token free mention. For technical users, it is a serious option.

How to set up webcam head tracking in ATS

The LookPilot path on Windows is short:

1. Install LookPilot and let it detect your webcam.
2. Set the output protocol to freetrack.
3. Start tracking before or after launching American Truck Simulator.
4. Sit naturally, face forward and recenter.
5. Tune yaw sensitivity so a comfortable head turn reaches both mirrors.

ATS should respond automatically. If it does not, close the game and check Documents/American Truck Simulator/config.cfg. The setting uset g_trackir should be "1". The game can rewrite the file when it exits, so edit it while ATS is closed. You can also bind and press the in-game Enable Head Tracking command.

If mouse look stops after closing the tracker, restart ATS. This is a known behavior in SCS titles. Keeping the tracker active for the full session avoids the handoff problem.

Settings that feel good for long drives

The best ATS profile is usually calmer near the center and faster toward the edges.

Start with these adjustments:

• Put the webcam directly above or below the monitor, not far to one side.
• Recenter while holding your normal steering posture.
• Add a small center plateau so breathing and posture shifts do not move the view.
• Increase smoothing until the image is stable, then reduce it until steering checks still feel responsive.
• Add front lighting if the webcam frame rate falls in low light.
• Use FreeTrack output instead of a virtual joystick to avoid unnecessary conflicts with wheel drivers.

You should be able to glance at a mirror without straining, then return to center without repeated correction.

Frequently asked questions

Does American Truck Simulator support head tracking?

Yes. ATS accepts TrackIR or FreeTrack style head-tracking input. LookPilot uses FreeTrack on Windows, while other trackers can connect through their native integration or a compatible output path.

Do I need TrackIR hardware for ATS?

No. ATS reads the protocol, not only the TrackIR camera. LookPilot can send compatible tracking from a webcam, and opentrack provides a free configurable route.

What is the cheapest ATS head tracker?

opentrack is free. LookPilot is the lowest-priced paid option in this five-way comparison at $14.99 once, and its 14-day trial lets you test the full feature set first.

Is eye tracking useful in American Truck Simulator?

It can be, especially for subtle camera assistance or showing gaze on a stream. Most driving actions, such as mirror checks and looking through a turn, are naturally handled by head tracking. Beam is the strongest choice here when a gaze overlay is the priority.

Which tracker works best in a dark room?

TrackIR 5 and Tobii Eye Tracker 5 use infrared hardware and are the safer choices in a very dark room. Webcam tracking needs enough visible facial detail. A monitor or small front light may be sufficient, but the 14-day LookPilot trial is the best way to test your exact camera and lighting.

Does LookPilot work with a steering wheel?

Yes. Use the FreeTrack protocol for ATS rather than virtual joystick output. This keeps camera tracking separate from the wheel's input device and avoids unnecessary driver conflicts.

Does ATS head tracking work on Linux or Steam Deck?

LookPilot supports Linux, SteamOS and Steam Deck, including ATS through Proton or Wine. opentrack also runs on Linux, although it requires more manual configuration.

Try ATS head tracking on your own webcam

You do not need to guess whether webcam tracking suits your camera, lighting or driving position. LookPilot includes a 14-day full-featured trial with no credit card required.

Install it, set the protocol to FreeTrack, recenter in the driver's seat and take one delivery. If checking both mirrors feels natural by the first junction, you have your answer.