Explainer
Online vs desktop live face swap: which fits you?
Browser-based live face swap vs an installed desktop app: install, GPU, privacy, cost and stream capture, and where LiveFaceSwap sits today.
The short version
Online means the model runs in a cloud session and you open it in a browser. Desktop means the software runs on your machine, usually on your GPU. That split decides most of the other differences: setup, hardware, where your video goes, how you pay, and how other applications receive the output.
Setup and hardware
The browser route needs a webcam, a modern desktop browser and a stable connection. Nothing else: no installer, no driver, no graphics card. A desktop tool needs an install, and a local model needs a capable GPU, current drivers and disk space. Some desktop tools send frames to a cloud service anyway, which brings the online trade-offs back.
Where your video goes
In a browser session your camera frames travel to the cloud service for processing. At LiveFaceSwap.co the camera stream is not recorded, but it does leave your machine. A local tool keeps frames on the machine, which some people prefer, as long as they trust the software and the rest of their setup.
Either way, the people who see the output need to know it is AI-generated.
Cost
Our pricing is prepaid and per live second: 0.6 credits per second, which is about 1.67 seconds per credit. New accounts get 10 free credits; one-time packs are $10 for 1,000 credits, $59 for 4,000 and $119 for 10,000, and they do not expire. Quarterly subscriptions start at $10/month for 650 credits, up to Max at $46/month for 7,500 credits.
Desktop tools usually charge once, by subscription or not at all, and you pay for the GPU and the setup time instead. Neither model is cheaper in every case; it depends on how much you use the effect and what hardware you already own.
Stream capture, and which fits you
This is where some desktop tools still have an edge, and it matters to streamers. Many desktop applications register a virtual camera, so OBS, Zoom, Meet or Discord can select the swapped video as a normal camera. The browser studio cannot do that yet: today you capture the browser window in OBS or share it in a call. A desktop app with a virtual camera is planned and marked coming soon — the browser is what ships now.
- Start today, no GPU, no install: use the browser studio.
- Need a system-level camera in other apps: wait for the desktop app, or use window capture in the meantime.
- Want frames to stay on your machine and do not mind hardware and setup: a local desktop tool.
FAQ
- Is there a LiveFaceSwap desktop app?
- It is planned, not available yet. The browser studio is the version that ships today. A desktop app with a virtual camera is marked coming soon.
- Do I need a GPU for the browser version?
- No. The model runs in a cloud session, so your computer only handles the camera, the browser and video playback.
- Can other apps see the output as a camera?
- Not yet. There is no virtual camera today; share the browser window or screen instead. A virtual camera is planned for the desktop app.
- Is online slower than desktop?
- It depends. A cloud session adds network time, while a local model depends on the speed of your GPU and its drivers. Neither is universally faster.