Best Head Tracker for X-Plane 12 (2026)
X-Plane 12 supports TrackIR on Windows and takes head tracking on Linux too, where LookPilot and free opentrack are the only options on this list that follow. 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; the only paid option here that follows X-Plane onto Linux |
| 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 X-Plane 12
On Windows, X-Plane 12 reads TrackIR natively. On Linux, LookPilot ships a native build and connects via its auto protocol; TrackIR, Tobii, and Beam have no Linux support.
Step-by-step: X-Plane 12 setup on Windows · on Linux
Common questions
Does X-Plane 12 support head tracking natively?
On Windows, X-Plane 12 reads TrackIR natively. On Linux, LookPilot ships a native build and connects via its auto protocol; TrackIR, Tobii, and Beam have no Linux support.
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 X-Plane 12?
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 X-Plane 12 install.
Buy LookPilot $14.99