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Video Production · head to head

HitFilm vs LiveFaceSwap AI

H

HitFilm

Video Production

Video editor and 3D compositor in one application, now owned by Artlist

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LiveFaceSwap AI logo

LiveFaceSwap AI

Video Production

Real-time face swapping into a virtual camera

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: HitFilm editing and compositing share one interface, which suits a single operator and obstructs a team that wants to split the edit from the effects work.; LiveFaceSwap AI no free tier, only 90 seconds on signup. At 0.6 credits a second that is barely more than a look, and every plan is a subscription or a pack after it.
  • They diverge on capability: HitFilm covers Composite shots, LiveFaceSwap AI covers Virtual camera output.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 24 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HitFilm and LiveFaceSwap AI actually diverge.

Attributes where HitFilm and LiveFaceSwap AI differ
AttributeHitFilmLiveFaceSwap AI
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb, Windows, macOS

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Video Production).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in HitFilm

  • Composite shots
  • Particle simulator
  • Camera tracking
  • Keying
  • Text and titling
  • Export presets

Only in LiveFaceSwap AI

  • Virtual camera output
  • Real-time face swap
  • Try-On mode
  • Restyle mode
  • Cloud processing
  • Browser preview

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

HitFilm

  • Cutting and finishing an effects-heavy short film without moving between an editor and a compositornot LiveFaceSwap AI
  • Producing a YouTube channel with recurring motion graphics on one subscriptionnot LiveFaceSwap AI
  • Learning compositing concepts on the free tier before committing to a paid effects toolnot LiveFaceSwap AI
  • Adding tracked 3D elements to live footage in a one-person productionnot LiveFaceSwap AI

LiveFaceSwap AI

  • Streaming with a swapped face through OBSnot HitFilm
  • Appearing as a character in a video callnot HitFilm
  • Previewing an outfit on a live feed rather than a photonot HitFilm
  • Applying a stylised look to a webcam without a local GPUnot HitFilm
  • Testing the effect in a browser before installing anythingnot HitFilm

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

HitFilm

  • Editing and compositing share one interface, which suits a single operator and obstructs a team that wants to split the edit from the effects work.
  • The perpetual HitFilm Pro licence was retired after the Artlist acquisition, so long-standing owners who bought outright must subscribe to receive current versions.
  • Effects and add-on packs were historically sold separately, and archived projects can open with missing effects if the current plan does not cover them.
  • Performance falls off sharply on integrated graphics, so a machine that edits comfortably can still be unusable for the particle and 3D work that is the reason to choose HitFilm.
  • Colour management and delivery options are thinner than DaVinci Resolve, so any project with a broadcast or cinema deliverable ends up round-tripping to another application anyway.

LiveFaceSwap AI

  • No free tier, only 90 seconds on signup. At 0.6 credits a second that is barely more than a look, and every plan is a subscription or a pack after it.
  • The cost depends on which model runs, and the difference is large: the Lucy models burn three to six times the credits of XMAX 2.0, so a plan's advertised minutes assume the cheapest one.
  • Processing is cloud-side, so a live camera feed leaves your machine for a third party. For a meeting under any confidentiality obligation that is a decision to make deliberately.
  • The desktop app, which is the only way to get virtual camera output, requires Windows 11 or macOS 13 on Apple Silicon. Intel Macs and Windows 10 are excluded.
  • No operator is disclosed beyond the trading name, which is worth knowing before sending a live feed of your own face to their servers.

Pricing, plan by plan

HitFilm

Free
  • Free$undefined/month
    • Editing and basic compositing
    • Limited export resolution
    • Limited effects set
  • Creator$undefined/month
    • Expanded effects
    • Higher export resolution
    • Additional export formats
  • Pro$undefined/month
    • Full effects set
    • Highest export resolution
    • Advanced compositing and tracking

LiveFaceSwap AI

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 90 seconds on signup
    • Browser preview
  • Basic$12/month
    • 650 credits a month
    • About 18 minutes on XMAX 2.0
    • No watermark
  • Pro$23/month
    • 2,500 credits a month
    • About 69 minutes on XMAX 2.0
    • Credit top-ups available
  • Max$55/month
    • 7,500 credits a month
    • About 3 hours 28 minutes on XMAX 2.0
    • Credit top-ups available

Which should you pick?

Choose HitFilm if

  • You need composite shots.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want particle simulator.
HitFilm review

Choose LiveFaceSwap AI if

  • You need virtual camera output.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want real-time face swap.
LiveFaceSwap AI review

Questions people ask

Is HitFilm or LiveFaceSwap AI better?
Neither clearly leads. HitFilm starts at Free and LiveFaceSwap AI at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HitFilm or LiveFaceSwap AI?
HitFilm starts at Free and LiveFaceSwap AI at Free.
Does HitFilm or LiveFaceSwap AI run on more platforms?
HitFilm runs on Windows, macOS. LiveFaceSwap AI runs on Web, Windows, macOS.
Can I use HitFilm for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is HitFilm best used for?
HitFilm is most often used for cutting and finishing an effects-heavy short film without moving between an editor and a compositor, producing a youtube channel with recurring motion graphics on one subscription, learning compositing concepts on the free tier before committing to a paid effects tool, adding tracked 3d elements to live footage in a one-person production. Of those, cutting and finishing an effects-heavy short film without moving between an editor and a compositor and producing a youtube channel with recurring motion graphics on one subscription are not what LiveFaceSwap AI is typically brought in for.
What can HitFilm do that LiveFaceSwap AI cannot?
HitFilm covers Composite shots, Particle simulator, Camera tracking, Keying. LiveFaceSwap AI covers Virtual camera output, Real-time face swap, Try-On mode, Restyle mode.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

HitFilm: Is HitFilm still free?

There is still a free tier with limited effects and export resolution. The perpetual Pro licence is gone; the paid tiers are subscriptions.

LiveFaceSwap AI: Does it work with OBS and Zoom?

Yes, through the desktop app, which exposes the processed feed as a virtual camera. Anything that reads a webcam, including OBS, streaming software and meeting clients, picks it up without integration work. The browser preview does not provide virtual camera output.

Source
HitFilm: What hardware does it actually need?

A discrete GPU with adequate video memory. Integrated graphics will run the editor but stall on composite shots, particles and 3D layers.

LiveFaceSwap AI: What does LiveFaceSwap AI cost?

Subscriptions are $12 a month for 650 credits, $23 for 2,500 and $55 for 7,500, with 20 percent off quarterly. One-off packs are $59 for 4,000 credits and $119 for 10,000, and those never expire. New accounts get up to 90 seconds free.

Source
HitFilm: Does the Artlist acquisition affect the software?

It puts HitFilm inside a stock media subscription business. The licence model changed after the acquisition, and the roadmap now serves that business.

LiveFaceSwap AI: How fast are the credits used?

By the second, and it depends on the model: XMAX 2.0 costs 0.6 credits a second while the Lucy models cost 1.8 to 3.6. The minute figures quoted on each plan assume XMAX 2.0, so running Lucy shortens them by three to six times.

Source
LiveFaceSwap AI: Do I need a GPU?

No. Processing happens in the cloud, so there is no local GPU requirement and no model download. The consequence is that your camera feed is sent to their servers.

Source
LiveFaceSwap AI: What are the system requirements?

The desktop app needs Windows 11, or macOS 13 and later on Apple Silicon. The browser preview runs anywhere but cannot output a virtual camera.

Source
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