How to Start Using GazeRecorder and Is It Free?

Updated

GazeRecorder is a webcam-based eye-tracking platform you can start using directly in a browser — no special hardware beyond a webcam. The site offers a "Try it FREE" entry point and an Online Live Demo, so you can evaluate the core experience before committing. The presence of purchase-related signals on the site indicates paid options likely exist, but the free trial and demo let you test first.

What GazeRecorder Is

GazeRecorder is an online eye-tracking and behavioral analytics platform that uses a standard webcam as its input source. According to the site, it tracks eye movement and can create video recordings of gaze behavior. It is positioned as a cloud eye-tracking insights platform for remote behavioral research.

The product family includes several tools:

Tool What it does
GazeRecorder App Website eye-tracking heatmaps and behavior analytics
GazeCloud Online eye-tracking engine
GazeCloudAPI.js Integrate real-time eye tracking into a website with a few lines of code
GazeRecorder API Programmatic access to the tracking engine
GazePointer Control mouse cursor position with your eyes via webcam
GazeBoard Text entry using only an ordinary webcam
GazeFlow Hardware-independent real-time eye movement tracking engine
Mobile Eye Tracking Eye tracking for mobile devices

What You Need to Get Started

Based on the site's descriptions, the requirements are minimal:

  • A webcam — this is the only stated input source. GazeFlow is described as hardware-independent and works "using only a common webcam and software running on a PC."
  • A browser or PC — the online tools run in a browser; the desktop-oriented tools (GazePointer, GazeBoard, GazeFlow) run on a PC.
  • No physical contact equipment — the technology performs real-time tracking without any physical contact.

If you want to embed tracking into your own website, you would use GazeCloudAPI.js, which the site says integrates real-time eye tracking in a few lines of code.

How to Start: Step by Step

  1. Go to the site and find the "Try it FREE" link in the navigation. This is the stated free entry point.
  2. Run the Online Live Demo to see how tracking behaves with your webcam before doing anything else. This lets you check whether your camera and lighting produce usable results.
  3. Choose your path based on your goal:
    • For website heatmaps and behavior analytics → start with the GazeRecorder App.
    • For cursor control → try GazePointer.
    • For text entry via gaze → try GazeBoard.
    • For embedding into your own site → use GazeCloudAPI.js.
  4. Check the FAQ and Downloads pages for setup details and any software you need to install for the desktop tools.
  5. If you need a paid tier, look for the purchase option on the site — the page contains purchase-related signals, but the exact plans and prices are not specified in the available information, so verify them directly on the site.

Expected result: After the demo, you should know whether your webcam setup produces stable tracking. If it does, you can proceed to the app or API that matches your use case.

Is It Free?

The site provides a free trial entry ("Try it FREE") and a free online demo, so you can start and evaluate at no stated cost. However, the page also contains purchase-related signals, which indicates that paid plans or paid features likely exist. The available information does not specify:

  • What the free tier includes versus what requires payment
  • The price of any paid plan
  • Whether a login is required for the free trial

Practical takeaway: Treat the free trial and demo as your evaluation path. Confirm current pricing, plan limits, and login requirements directly on the site before relying on it for a project.

Common Use Cases It Supports

The site lists research and behavioral analytics applications, including:

  • Remote video testing — understanding viewer engagement with ads and promotional videos
  • Shelf testing — optimizing product design to stand out on a store shelf
  • Consumer behavior — studying behavior in a virtual store environment
  • Website heatmaps — seeing where attention goes on a page
  • Desktop and mobile eye tracking

The publications section references academic work on eye-tracking data collection in programming education, web-browsing patterns and mental health, lesion detection training in medical imaging, webcam-based gaze estimation, and web-based eye-tracking performance under different lighting conditions.

Common Pitfalls to Watch For

  • Lighting matters. One of the cited publications specifically investigates web-based eye-tracking performance under different lighting conditions — so expect accuracy to vary with your environment.
  • Webcam quality affects results. Since tracking relies on a standard webcam, results will differ from dedicated infrared eye-tracking hardware.
  • Don't assume the free tier covers everything. The purchase signals suggest limits; check what's included before building a workflow around it.
  • For integration, start with the API docs. GazeCloudAPI.js is the stated path for embedding tracking, and the FAQ is the stated place for setup questions.