Top 5 Budget Capture Cards for Streaming and Recording

If you have been looking for a new budget capture card that won’t blow a hole through your wallet, then you have come to the right place.

Top 5 Budget Capture Cards for Streaming and Recording
A bunch of capture cards (Image via Elgato | NZXT | UGREEN | WARRKY)

Setting up a Twitch/YouTube streaming setup with your PC is an expensive affair. A lot of premium equipment, from high-end PCs to cameras with gimbal mini tripods, is required for it. By the time many people buy all that, they are left with little budget for things like a capture card, which is a must-have for high-quality streaming.

Capture cards are quite expensive, especially the internal ones. They are often out of the budget for many users. However, external capture cards cost a bit less, but they are still pricey, around $200, which is not easy for users on a low budget. That’s why we’ve prepared a list of some of the best capture cards you can buy for cheap. You will find it in the article below.

Note: The article is subjective and reflects the writer’s opinion. Also, the prices herein are subject to change.

What Are the Top Budget Capture Cards for Streaming and Recording?

5) WARRKY Video Capture Card With 100W Power Delivery

WARRKY Video capture device
WARRKY Video capture device (Image via WARRKY)

This WARRKY video capture card is the cheapest on this list. If you have a really tight budget, then you can surely consider it. This budget capture card can record at 1080p60, while others in this price range only offer 1080p30. For game streamers, 1080p60 is a must, so the WARRKY video capture card is better than others in the same price range.

It can also be used with gaming laptops, as it offers 90W charging via USB-C passthrough. The only caveat is that there’s no video passthrough.

SpecificationDetails
Type of capture cardExternal via USB
Connectivity1 HDMI, 2 USB-C
Video InputHDMI
Capture QualityUp to 1080p60
PassthroughUSB passthrough for charging only (90W)
No video passthrough

4) UGREEN 2K@30Hz HDMI Capture Card

UGREEN 2K@30Hz Capture Card
UGREEN 2K@30Hz Capture Card (Image via UGREEN)

The UGREEN video streaming card is one of the best capture cards in this price range. It can record at either 2K30 or 1080p60. Gamers can choose the latter, while content creators can go with the former for better video output quality. Essentially, it provides the best of both worlds. On top of that, this UGREEN video capture card has an HDMI passthrough at 4K30, so you can connect multiple monitors to your PC and/or external monitors for your laptop.

SpecificationDetails
Type of capture cardExternal via USB
Connectivity2 HDMI, 1 USB-C
Video InputHDMI
Capture QualityUp to 1080p60 or 2K30
PassthroughVideo passthrough at 4K30
USB passthrough for charging

3) Fifine AmpliGame

Fifine AmpliGame
Fifine AmpliGame (Image via Fifine)

The Fifine AmpliGame is another fantastic capture card that costs a bit more but comes with a unique feature that others don’t. That’s the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack, which allows you to add external microphones directly to the capture card and record flawless audio with the video stream.

The Fifine AmpliGame also offers 4K30 passthrough, but the capture resolution is limited to 1080p60 only. Unfortunately, there’s no 2K30, like the previous capture card. It also has an RGB strip on the body, which gamers will surely appreciate.

SpecificationDetails
Type of capture cardExternal via USB
Connectivity2 HDMI, 1 USB-C, 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack
Video InputHDMI
Capture QualityUp to 1080p60
PassthroughVideo passthrough at 4K30
NO USB-C passthrough

2) NZXT Signal HD60 USB Capture Card

NZXT Signal
NZXT Signal (Image via NZXT)

The NZXT Signal is a premium budget capture card that can record at 1080p60 with 4K60 video passthrough, which is an important factor for gamers. None of the previous ones are capable of doing it. Video passthrough at 4K60 is usually found in capture cards that cost more than $100, yet NZXT Signal is priced under $70. It is also compatible with almost everything, from PCs and consoles to Nintendo Switch.

SpecificationDetails
Type of capture cardExternal via USB
Connectivity2 HDMI, 1 USB-C
Video InputHDMI
Capture QualityUp to 1080p60
PassthroughVideo passthrough at 4K60
NO USB-C passthrough

1) Elgato Game Capture Neo

Elgato Game Capture Neo
Elgato Game Capture Neo (Image via Elgato)

If you are into streaming, you have definitely heard of Elgato capture cards. They are some of the best capture cards and are used by streamers all over the world, but they are also quite expensive. However, the Elgato Game Capture Neo has become a bit budget-friendly over the years. It is currently available for only $104, which may not be very budget-friendly, but it’s the best budget capture card you can buy in this price range.

SpecificationDetails
Type of capture cardExternal via USB
Connectivity2 HDMI, 1 USB-C
Video InputHDMI
Capture QualityUp to 1080p60
PassthroughVideo passthrough at 4K60
NO USB-C passthrough

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