We tested budget capture cards under $100 for PS5 and Xbox Series X. The Rybozen delivers 4K60 passthrough for lag-free gaming, while the Guermok is the best value for 1080p60 recording. Our top picks balance recording quality, passthrough resolution, and build durability.
You just hit a clip-worthy play in Call of Duty or Elden Ring, and you want to share it. But HDMI capture cards — the ones that can handle a PS5 or Xbox Series X without introducing lag — used to cost as much as a game. Not anymore.
Under $100, you can grab a capture card that records at 1080p60 while passing 4K60 through to your TV. The trade-off is simple: you're recording at 1080p, but you're playing in 4K with no added latency. That's the sweet spot for most streamers and clip-sharers.1
Here are the four best budget capture cards for next-gen consoles, tested and ranked.
Best for: 4K60 passthrough while recording at 1080p60
If your priority is zero-lag gameplay on a 4K TV while capturing clean 1080p60 footage for YouTube or Twitch, the Rybozen is the pick. It supports 4K60 HDR passthrough and captures at 1080p60 over USB 3.0 — exactly the split most console gamers need.1
The Rybozen is plug-and-play with OBS, Streamlabs, and Discord. No drivers, no fuss. It's the most recommended card among budget-focused reviewers for console-first setups.
Best for: smooth 1080p60 capture on a tight budget
The Guermok matches the Rybozen on capture resolution (1080p60) but at a lower price point. It also supports 4K passthrough, though its real strength is consistent 1080p60 recording without dropped frames.1
It's a great entry point if you're not sure how deep you'll go into streaming. The build is all-plastic, but the internals hold up well in extended sessions.
Best for: long-term reliability and build quality
The ByteWave stands out for its aluminum shell and braided USB cable — small details that matter when you're plugging and unplugging between setups. It captures at 1080p60 and supports 4K30 passthrough.1
If you're a traveling streamer or someone who moves their capture card between a desktop and a laptop, the extra build quality is worth the slight premium over the Guermok.
Best for: brand trust and zero-lag performance
NZXT is a known name in PC gaming gear, and the Signal HD60 brings that reliability to console capture. It delivers 1080p60 capture with 4K60 passthrough and near-zero latency — NZXT claims under a frame of delay.1
It's the most expensive pick here (around $70), but you're paying for polish: consistent firmware updates, wide OBS compatibility, and a clean design that fits any desk.
| Feature | Rybozen | Guermok | ByteWave | NZXT Signal HD60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capture Res | 1080p60 | 1080p60 | 1080p60 | 1080p60 |
| Passthrough Res | 4K60 | 4K30 | 4K30 | 4K60 |
| Connection | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 |
| Build | Plastic | Plastic | Aluminum | Plastic |
| Price Tier | ~$50 | ~$35 | ~$45 | ~$70 |
For gaming footage, 60 frames per second is the floor for watchable content. 4K recording at 30fps looks choppy on modern displays. Every card here records at 1080p60 — that's the right priority.1
All four picks use USB 3.0. USB 2.0 capture cards can't sustain 1080p60 without compression artifacts or dropped frames. If you see a card under $30 that claims 1080p60 over USB 2.0, it's almost certainly lying about real-world performance.1
If you notice audio lag in your stream, add a 200–300ms sync offset to your video source in OBS. Most budget cards introduce a small audio delay that's easy to compensate for.
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