Best Head Tracker for Euro Truck Simulator 2 (2026)

This comparison is published by LookPilot. The recommendations below include the cases where another tracker is the better fit.

Quick comparison

Head tracker	List price	What you need	Tracking	Platforms	Best for ETS2
LookPilot	$14.99 once	Standard webcam	6DoF head and eye	Windows, Linux, Steam Deck	Most players who want an easy, low cost setup
TrackIR 5	$149.95	IR camera and reflective clip	6DoF head	Windows	Driving in a very dark room
Tobii Eye Tracker 5	$279 / EUR 279	Dedicated IR sensor bar	6DoF head and eye	Windows	Dedicated infrared eye tracking
Beam Eye Tracker	$29.99 once	Webcam or phone	6DoF head and eye	Windows	Streamers who want a gaze overlay
opentrack	Free	Webcam or another supported input	6DoF head	Windows, Linux	Tinkerers who want maximum control at no cost

Why head tracking works so well in ETS2

Euro Truck Simulator 2 gives head tracking useful work on almost every drive. You can check both mirrors without taking a hand off the wheel, look through the side window at a junction, lean toward the windshield at a tight exit, and turn farther while reversing a trailer. The result is not just extra immersion. It is a more natural way to manage the cab camera.

ETS2 accepts TrackIR/FreeTrack input. With LookPilot, set the output protocol to freetrack, start tracking, and launch the game. If the camera does not respond, confirm that uset g_trackir is set to "1" in the game's config.cfg, then bind and press the in-game Enable Head Tracking control if needed.

1. LookPilot, best overall for most ETS2 players

LookPilot uses the webcam you already own for 6DoF head tracking and optional eye tracking. It outputs TrackIR/FreeTrack and opentrack-compatible data, so ETS2 can use it without TrackIR hardware. It runs on the CPU, needs no dedicated GPU, and supports Windows plus Linux, SteamOS and Steam Deck.

The $14.99 lifetime license includes future updates. A 14-day free trial lets you test your own webcam, lighting and preferred sensitivity before buying. LookPilot also supports 700+ games and has a 96% positive Steam rating.

Choose LookPilot if: you want a simple webcam setup, smooth mirror checks, no device clipped to your head, and the strongest balance of price, platform support and convenience.

2. TrackIR 5, best for a very dark room

TrackIR 5 is a dedicated infrared head tracker with 6DoF support. The $149.95 package includes its camera and the standard TrackClip. You mount the camera on the monitor and wear the reflective clip on a cap or visor.

Its honest advantage is lighting independence. If you drive in a room too dark for a normal webcam to see your face, infrared tracking is the safer choice. It is not inherently more accurate than a well-lit LookPilot setup, and it costs substantially more for the same basic ETS2 camera control.

Choose TrackIR 5 if: you regularly play in a very dark room and do not mind dedicated hardware or a clip on your head.

3. Tobii Eye Tracker 5, best for dedicated infrared eye tracking

Tobii Eye Tracker 5 combines head and eye tracking through a sensor bar mounted below the display. ETS2 has an official Tobii integration and supports six degrees of freedom for the in-game camera.

At $279 / EUR 279, it is the most expensive option here. Its reason to exist is dedicated infrared gaze tracking, not better ETS2 head tracking accuracy. It also works in very low light. For drivers mainly interested in turning the cab camera toward mirrors and junctions, the extra hardware and price are difficult to justify.

Choose Tobii if: precise infrared gaze tracking matters beyond ordinary cab camera movement, or your room is very dark.

4. Beam Eye Tracker, best for streamers

Beam turns a webcam or phone into 6DoF head and eye tracking for Windows. It costs $29.99 once and supports ETS2. Its clearest advantage is the customizable eye tracking overlay that can show viewers where you are looking through OBS or Streamlabs.

For ordinary driving, LookPilot offers the same core webcam head and eye tracking category for half the price, with Linux and Steam Deck support. Beam makes more sense when gaze visualization is part of the content you produce.

Choose Beam if: you stream ETS2 and want a polished gaze overlay for viewers or recorded analysis.

5. opentrack, best free option

opentrack is free, open source head tracking software for Windows and Linux. It supports webcam based neural tracking, many other input devices, filters, response curves, FreeTrack output and Wine compatibility.

That flexibility is its strength and its tradeoff. You choose the tracker, filter, output and curve settings yourself. Players who enjoy tuning can get a strong ETS2 setup without paying anything. Players who want a finished app, automatic game handling, eye tracking, presets and direct support may prefer LookPilot.

Choose opentrack if: spending nothing matters most and you are comfortable configuring the full tracking chain.

Which ETS2 head tracker should you buy?

• Pick LookPilot for the best overall value and the easiest webcam setup.
• Pick TrackIR 5 if your room is too dark for webcam tracking.
• Pick Tobii Eye Tracker 5 if dedicated infrared gaze tracking is the priority.
• Pick Beam if a viewer-facing gaze overlay is central to your streams.
• Pick opentrack if you want a free, highly configurable tool.

How to get stable head tracking in ETS2

Good lighting and a sensible response curve matter more than aggressive sensitivity.

1. Put the webcam near the center of the monitor and point it directly at your face.
2. Light your face from the front. Avoid a bright window behind you.
3. Recenter while seated normally and looking at the road ahead.
4. Keep the middle of the yaw curve gentle for steady highway driving.
5. Make the outer yaw range steeper so mirror checks and reversing do not require an uncomfortable head turn.
6. Add enough smoothing to remove small shakes without making the camera feel delayed.

Frequently asked questions

Does Euro Truck Simulator 2 support head tracking?

Yes. ETS2 accepts TrackIR/FreeTrack input. LookPilot, TrackIR and opentrack can provide that camera control, while Tobii and Beam also support ETS2 through their own software paths.

Do I need TrackIR hardware for ETS2?

No. ETS2 listens for tracking input, not only one brand of camera. LookPilot can send TrackIR/FreeTrack-compatible output from a normal webcam, and opentrack provides a free software route.

What is the cheapest head tracker for ETS2?

opentrack is free. LookPilot is the lowest priced paid option in this comparison at $14.99 once, and its 14-day free trial does not require a credit card.

Can I use head tracking with a steering wheel?

Yes. Head tracking lets your hands remain on the wheel while you look toward mirrors, junctions and trailer positions. With LookPilot, use the freetrack output rather than a virtual joystick to avoid unnecessary device conflicts with wheel drivers.

Does ETS2 head tracking work on Linux or Steam Deck?

LookPilot supports Linux, SteamOS and Steam Deck, and opentrack supports Linux. TrackIR 5, Tobii Eye Tracker 5 and Beam are Windows choices in this comparison.

Is TrackIR more accurate than webcam head tracking?

No. LookPilot's testing finds modern neural webcam head tracking comparable to infrared hardware for tracking quality. TrackIR's real advantage is reliable operation in a very dark room, where a normal webcam may not see enough facial detail.

Try the top pick in your own truck

Use your existing webcam to test 6DoF head and eye tracking in Euro Truck Simulator 2. LookPilot includes a full 14-day free trial with no credit card required, then costs $14.99 once for a lifetime license.

Try LookPilot free