Best Head Tracker for Elite Dangerous (2026)
Elite Dangerous has first-class TrackIR support, and head tracking is the closest thing to VR without the headset. This comparison lives on LookPilot's own site, so every claim is checkable and we say plainly when a rival is the better pick.
| Tracker | Price | Hardware | Tracking | Platforms | Verdict for this game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LookPilot | $14.99 once | your webcam | 6DoF head + eye | Windows, Linux, Steam Deck | Best value for canopy scanning and station approaches |
| TrackIR 5 | $149.95+ | IR camera + clip | 6DoF head | Windows | Proven, works in darkness; 10x the price for the same in-game result |
| Tobii Eye Tracker 5 | $279+ | IR sensor bar | gaze + head | Windows | Best gaze precision; eye tracking capped at 27" 16:9 / 30" 21:9 screens |
| Beam Eye Tracker | $29.99 once | your webcam | gaze + 6DoF head | Windows | Good if gaze overlays matter; twice the price, 88% vs 96% on Steam |
| opentrack | Free | your webcam | 6DoF head | Windows, Linux | Genuinely good and free - if you enjoy tuning curves and filters yourself |
Prices and review scores verified against official pages and Steam, July 2026. Full roundup: best head tracking software 2026.
Setting it up in Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous detects TrackIR-protocol trackers via Options -> Controls -> Headlook. All five options here drive it; webcam trackers need no extra configuration beyond enabling headlook.
Step-by-step: Elite Dangerous setup on Windows · on Linux
Common questions
Does Elite Dangerous support head tracking natively?
Elite Dangerous detects TrackIR-protocol trackers via Options -> Controls -> Headlook. All five options here drive it; webcam trackers need no extra configuration beyond enabling headlook.
Do all five options really work with the same games?
Yes - games listen for the TrackIR/FreeTrack protocol rather than specific hardware, so any tracker that speaks it works. LookPilot, TrackIR, and opentrack all do; Tobii and Beam use their own integrations plus protocol output.
What is the cheapest way to try head tracking in Elite Dangerous?
opentrack is free if you want to tune it yourself. LookPilot has a 14-day full-featured free trial, so trying the tuned-out-of-the-box option costs nothing either.
Try the top pick free
14-day full-featured trial on your own webcam and your own Elite Dangerous install.
Buy LookPilot $14.99