GoPro is probably the first name that comes to mind when you are considering getting an action camera. It provides one of the best action cameras in the market.
There is a lot to like about GoPro, but its price is definitely not one of these things to like. To get the newest Hero 9 Black, you will need to pay at least $349.98. And it will cost much more if you also need various Mods and accessories for GoPro.
If GoPro sounds too expensive to you, there are many great GoPro alternatives that you can get for $200 or even less than $100. These cameras are similar to GoPro in features, while they are much more affordable comparing to GoPro. Some of them even offer amazing features that are missing in GoPro.
Find the GoPro alternative that best fits your need here.
1. Brave 7: Best Budget GoPro Alternative
As the newest 2021 model from AKASO, a major GoPro competitor, Brave 7 offers features similar to GoPro at just half its price. 4K video recording, 20MP still images, image stabilization, voice control... All the funs you want to have with a GoPro, you can get them with Brave 7.
And what makes Brave 7 stand out from other cheaper GoPro alternatives is that the camera can be waterproof without a case. It's IPX8 waterproof, which means you can take the camera to shoot videos underwater in up to 16ft deep water without adding any waterproof protection. Although it can't go as deep as the newest GoPro Hero 9 in the water without a case, it is quite impressive considering its much cheaper price.
And similar to GoPro's Hypersmooth, AKASO also supports electronic image stabilization, which is real-time digital image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake when shooting videos in motion by changing the electronic image from frame to frame. This means you can get smooth videos when taking the videos in hiking, surfing, cycling, or even skateboarding.
Image Stabilization OFF VS ON
Brave 7 has two displays, with a front screen that enables you to take selfies from, which is something GoPro didn't offer until the latest Hero 9. The dual-screen design is often only available in premium action cameras.
Is AKASO 7 Better than GoPro
With merely half the price of GoPro, Brave 7 can provide features that you can only find in the premium cameras, such as waterproof without case, dual-screen design. It's probably the best GoPro alternative you can get at a much more affordable price. Of course, Brave 7 lacks 5K recording and Hindsight, the two fancy features that are only available in Hero 9, but it is a decent GoPro alternative that allows you to take high-quality videos of amazing moments in life.
You can now get Brave 7 at 10% at akasotech.com or choose Brave 7 Action Camera and Accessories Bundle to get $29.98 accessories for FREE!
2. Garmin VIRB Ultra 30
VIRB Ultra 30 is a compact, lightweight, rugged action camera for traveling and outdoor sport. It is waterproof in its housing for up to 40 meters, which may seem to fall behind the trend compared to GoPro Hero 9, AKASO Brave 7, which is waterproof without a case.
Like GoPro, VIRB Ultra 30 features voice control for effortless hands-free recording and an intuitive 1.75-inch LCD touchscreen display for playback and access to settings. It captures stunning ultra HD 4K/30fps video and crisp 12MP still images. Its battery allows for a 2-hour 1080p HD video recording on a single charge. It also uses 3-axis image-stabilization to ensure your footage is consistently sharp and steady.
And if you often go hiking and backpacking, you will like the G-METRIX data offered by VIRB Ultra 30, which uses GPS and external sensors to capture data like speed, elevation, heart rate and G-force in your videos. Sounds pretty cool!
Is Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 Better than GoPro?
Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 is much like a GoPro. It has a similar image performance as GoPro Hero 7 Black and offers many features that you can find in a GoPro, such as voice control, waterproof, electronic image stabilization.
Moreover, VIRB Ultra 30 managed to offer somethings that GoPro lacks, such as the built-in GPS that Garmin calls G-Metrix, a wide range of accessories(bike mount, rechargeable battery, waterproof case, etc.)
VIRB Ultra 30 has a similar price as GoPro. It is a premium alternative to GoPro that you may like if you care about the VIRB Ultra 30 features that are missing in GoPro.
3. Sony FDR X3000R: Best GoPro Alternative for Quality
When it comes to action cam, Sony has taken a different approach, with its FDX3000R sacrificing a bit of weight and size for excellent image stabilization, proper zooming, and improved video.
Although it's bigger than GoPro and other GoPro alternatives, it's not a huge camera. It can easily be fixed on your helmet or handlebars at 29 mm x 47 mm x 83 mm and 114 g.
The FDRX3000's most remarkable feature is its optical image stabilization, which can deliver more stable videos compared with the electronic version of GoPro.
The camera maxes out at 4k/30fps. Its BIONZ X™ image processing engine can capture images with more details than the GoPro and the Exmor R™ CMOS sensor of Sony guarantees a great performance in low-light conditions.
Is Sony FDR X3000R Better than GoPro?
As a leading brand in DSLR, mirrorless camera, Sony is a great alternative to GoPro with its X3000R action cam. Equipped with excellent image quality and optical image stabilization that is commonly found in professional DSLR digital cameras, Sony X3000R can deliver sharper and clearer videos than GoPro, while it is as expansive as GoPro Hero 9.
4. AKASO EK7000: Cheap GoPro Alternative Under 100
AKASO EK7000 is a durable action camera suited for extreme environments. It is waterproof in its case for up to 30 meters and comes with remote control; handy for setting up shots from a distance. It records 4K/25fps high definition video, as well as sharp 16MP still images. Plus, it comes with built-in electronic video stabilization to ensure everything is in focus.
It comes with various mounting accessories and two rechargeable batteries–each one able to record up to 90 minutes of footage. The camera has built-in Wi-Fi, a 2-inch touchscreen display, and a remote controller making it simple and easy to use.
Is AKASO EK7000 Better than GoPro?
EK7000 is a good alternative to GoPro, if you only take the budget into account. The AKASO camera is much cheaper than a GoPro. How much are we talking about? The newest GoPro flagship will cost you nearly $400, while you can get a GoPro alternative at less than $100 with EK7000.
If you don't have the budget for GoPro, then AKASO EK7000 is a more reasonable choice for you. It won't cost you a fortune and give you a decent action camera for recording your traveling and daily life.
5. Olympus TG Tracker: Best GoPro Alternative for Extreme Sports
Here's an amazing camera package with all the good features that all adventure enthusiasts can use. It comes with a 1.5 inch LCD screen that can be used tilted while recording 4K videos at a rate of 30fps. The wide-angle lenses will cover up to 204 degrees, another good feature is its 5-axis image stabilization. With this camera, you can capture 8MP clarity stills. TG tracker is built with proof material that is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, freezeproof, and crush so that it is best suited for your adventure sports.
Is Olympus TG Tracker Better than GoPro
Olympus TG Tracker can be a good alternative to Hero 8 Black. Olympus is bigger than GoPro in size. It is almost twice as heavy as the GoPro camera. Equipped with a BSI CMOS sensor, Olympus is able to capture more light than GoPro with a CMOS sensor. It also provides a 204-degree field of view (FOV), which is much wider than GoPro.
While another action camera like GoPro only has GPS, the Olympus camera can track temperature, elevation, depth, latitude/longitude, barometric pressure, and more, which makes it a better tough camera for extreme sports than GoPro.
6. Garmin Virb XE
Waterproof body, sophisticated motion sensors, and GPS communication – all these are Virb's impressive features. The VIRB XE action camera shoots wide-angle, high-definition footage at 1080p that offers a maximum speed of 60fps. The still resolution goes up to 12MP whereas its battery can serve you up to 2 hours easily.
Designed for the harshest environments, VIRB XE can dive without a case to 50 meters of depth, allowing for cleaner and clearer audio capture. VIRB XE also has built-in WiFi and can be controlled, configured, and viewed from a compatible Garmin device or via the mobile app. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0, VIRB XE will directly connect to Bluetooth wireless headsets or microphones for high-definition audio capture.
7. TomTom Bandit: GoPro Alternative with Long Battery Life
TomTom Bandit offers impressive quality for video recording with all its clever editing features, waterproof and splash-resistant design. TomTom Bandit has been designed to provide an outstanding GPS experience along with multiple sensors that remain active to enhance your video recording experience, beating the GoPro capabilities with all new stuff. It can be conveniently linked to the phone through a dedicated program, which also provides easy editing features.
You can enjoy 15fps at 4k resolution while it can deliver a 60fps frame rate for 1080p. With 16Mp ability, the still resolution is high enough and the battery life will serve you continuously for 3 hours.
Is TomTom Bandit Better than GoPro?
With its tube-like look, the Bandit has a very different look compared with the square little box of GoPro. With the price of GoPro Hero 7, Bandit manages to stand out in the world of action camera with its Batt-Stick battery Pack that supports 3 hours of video recording, GPS facilities that can track speed, rotation, attitude, the video editing app that can seamlessly stream the video recording. Also, its Base Pack includes a GoPro adapter and a bunch of mounts for the bike handlebar, helmet, etc.
8. SJCAM SJ8 PRO
SJCAM SJ8 Pro is the perfect starter action camera for beginners. It produces high-quality footage and is waterproof in its housing up to 30 meters, with high camera quality at 12MP.
The SJ8 Pro can be connected wirelessly from up to 10 meters away and also comes with a range of mounting accessories that can be used in a variety of environments. It is sold with a high-capacity 1200mA detachable battery with up to 70 minutes of recording time at 4K/60fps. The camera captures 170-degree, super wide-angle footage with 4K/30fps video as well as a clean image 8x digital zoom.
Is SJCAM SJ8 PRO Better than GoPro?
SJCAM SJ8 Pro is able to offer some major features of the GoPro Hero7 Black at a more affordable price. With a maximum resolution of 4K at up to 60fps and 6-axis image stabilization, SJ8 Pro can deliver videos and photos at impressive quality. However, unlike the latest GoPro flagships, SJ8 Pro still needs a waterproof case for underwater videography, which makes GoPro more attractive to surfers and divers.
9. Polaroid Cube Act II: Smallest GoPro Alternative
The Polaroid Cube Act II is the smallest action camera on this list, at only 35mm in height and weighing in at just 49g. The Cube is shock and splash-resistant on its own, plus it is waterproof for up to 30 meters in its case (sold separately).
It only captures HD video at 1080p and still images at 6 MP. The 124-degree, wide-angle lens, perfect for shots that require a larger field of view, is really impressive.
It also includes video/image stabilization, and the rechargeable battery can record continuously for up to 90 minutes on a single charge. One standout feature of this tiny but mighty device is its magnetic base that can be mounted to any metal surface, such as helmets and bike handlebars.
Is Polaroid Cube Act II Better than GoPro
As a cute, small cam, the Cube ACT II looks nothing like a GoPro. It can not be used as a rugged sports camera for surfing, diving, motorcycling like GoPro, but it can be a handy tool for younger people to record their life, for example, to record what their pets can see, a family party, etc. It can be an option for beginners who want to have a try with an action camera.
10. PROGRACE Kids' Camera: GoPro Alternative for Kids
One of the top GoPro alternatives for kids is the PROGRACE Kids' Camera. It is durable, colorful, and waterproof in its housing for up to 30 meters.
The camera can withstand shocks, bumps, and drops, perfect for adventurous children. The PROGRACE records videos in HD 1080p/30fps and captures photographs with a 5 MP camera. It is sold with a few mount accessories, ideal for connecting to skateboards, bike handlebars, or helmets.
The PROGRACE also includes a built-in mini-game, 40 funny photo frames, and 7 color modes; designed to unleash kids' creativity and allow them to edit their images.
Is PROGRACE Kids' Camera Better than GoPro for Kids
If you are looking for an action camera for kids, GoPro is too rugged-looking, complicated, and expansive. PROGRACE Kids' Camera, on the other hand, is a better alternative to GoPro as it has the color and looks that children will like and it's super easy-to-use for even a 4-year-old. More importantly, GoPro is way too expensive as a toy for a child!
I hope this list of the top GoPro alternatives for all your needs in 2020 will help you choose a budget action camera, that will provide you with a great bang for your buck and help you find one that fits your needs. Let me know what you think about the suggestions.
