Top picks
1. Best overall
2. Best budget
3. Best compact option
4. Best gimbal camera
5. Best optical zoom
6. Best budget option
7. Best for content creators
8. Low-budget option
9. Best wearable
How we test cameras
FAQs
GoPro is a famous name, but you can now find more affordable, more interesting – or simply better – equivalents of the famous action cameras that have become a household name. GoPro isn't the only brand making cameras that are tough, tiny, waterproof, and capable of capturing high-quality stills and videos. A number of challengers have entered the arena.
This is a guide to the best alternatives based on quality (we already think GoPro have lost ground to competitors here), on value (there are definitely cheaper options), and on some cool alternatives that might better serve you. Have you considered the extra benefits of gimbal camera for stability? Or a 360-degree action camera? (We've got a full guide to the best 360-degree cameras, but the best one which serves as an action camera too is right here on this list).
I've tried many (and my colleagues all) of the cameras on this list, and all the models on here are ones we think are one hundred percent worth their asking price, and I'll explain why. You can save a bundle here compared to the asking price of a GoPro, and/or give yourself a whole lot more functionality (and perhaps end up with content that stands out ahead of the pack).
So, scroll on as we count off the best GoPro alternatives you can buy.
Adam has been obsessed with looking at cameras and gadgets for his whole life. He's collected action cams since the early days of GoPro, often to attach them to drones. (He's our drone expert, and written several bestselling books including The Drone Pilot's Handbook). He also owns and travels with a 360-degree camera, and tests as many as he can get his hands on!
Top picks
Best overall
With a bigger image sensor and similar housing, the Osmo Action 4 is, for most, a better choice than a GoPro. Stabilized 4K video looks great and it can take both rough, tumble, and temperature extremes.
Read more below
Best budget option
For a value GoPro alternative, this offers 4K and 6-axis stabilization and phone control that gets the job done for a significantly lower asking price.
Read more below
Best compact action camera
The Action 2 has a cool design concept; a tiny 39x39mm square camera that allows attachment – by a magnetic clip – of additional units for extra connectivity, battery life, and vlogging.
Read more below
Best 360-degree camera
See in every direction so you can't miss the action, and don't aim the camera until you get home – that's the idea, and it's well worth considering, especially with Insta360's excellent apps.
Read more below...
Best gimbal camera
This compact pocket vlogging camera with great stabilization, grew up a little for this incarnation, with a 1-inch sensor and amazing mic integration it's a mobile video studio.
Read more below
Best optical zoom
Great if you want more zoom than a GoPro, with 25mm-100mm range this is the best out there. A 'real' camera that is as 'tough' as it says on the side.
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View the full list ⇩
Best for content creators
With the option of shooting in up to 8K, a folding screen to give vloggers a better view and a 1-inch sensor – plus a great app with live view and editing – this is hard to beat.
Read more below
Best GoPro alternatives in 2024
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Best overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want the best overall action camera: We chose above the GoPro Hero 12 Black in our action camera guide.
✅ You want to work in low light: The larger image sensors mean you can shoot in darker conditions than the GoPro
❌ You are on a tight budget: You can save cash by looking at the previous model
❌ You want more than 4K: Unlike the GoPro or AcePro, DJI's resolution maxes out at 4K.
For most adventurers, the Osmo Action 4 is the perfect balance of quality and price. Rather than pushing to the 5K of GoPro, DJI has expended its effort in fitting the largest image sensor in the business into their action camera and the result is much better video. Since in most all circumstances it's better to export stable 4K video to your editing software, I have no problem with this.
Stabilized 4K video looks great and the camera can take a lot – not just rough and tumble but temperature extremes. It isn’t cheap, but the only reason it is a 'GoPro alternative' is that GoPro is a better-known brand in this space – this is the better camera, and DJI won’t push you toward a subscription after 12 months.
When DJI first switched from the Action 2, I thought it a little sad to see the modular design of the Action 2 seem to fall by the wayside, but that has not only remained available but seen a storage upgrade, making it a useful option as a body-worn. What matters more here is absolute quality in a GoPro-sized box and DJI is now the firm to beat. The EIS remains excellent from the previous generation; RockSteady and HorizonBalancing both produce smooth videos from aggressive action. For most 4K is the ideal resolution for action, especially with up to 120fps.
The fact that Action 4’s isn’t interwoven with subscription software is one I (and many) continue to appreciate – subscriptions are annoying and I don't like continuing to pay for tech I have already bought. DJI still offer a good quality app with remote control, downloading and even editing on the go if you like, and regularly supply firmware updates.
Read our full DJI Osmo Action 4 review for more details
Best budget
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You are on a low budget: This camera has a very reasonable price
✅ You want dual screens: Vloggers will appreciate the front-fracing monitor
❌ You want fast action: It can't capture 4K at 60fps
❌ You want to get wet a lot: You need to use the housing for waterproofing
Akaso’s budget action cameras continue to impress, with the Akaso Brave 7 LE offering loads of great features for vloggers looking to keep costs down. It shoots 4K video and has a 6-axis stabilization system that’s surprisingly effective for a camera at this price.
It's a bit of a shame, if you're looking to get high-speed action, that you can't get 60fps at the 4K resolution, but for a lot of vlogging purposes the 30fps speed is just fine. For me, to be honest, most of the time that will suit me, and when I do something more exciting I'm happy to sacrifice a little resolution! I appreciate that 2.7K60fps is an option – it's good not to be forced to go all the way down to 1080P.
The front-facing screen makes it good for vlogging, though it really is a tiny camera, and will probably take some getting used to. The waterproofing without housing is also pretty minimal, so bear that in mind before plunging it into the ocean! Overall though, the Akaso Brave 7 LE is a great budget option for vloggers who want a GoPro-lite.
Read our full Akaso Brave 7 LE review for more details
Best value compact
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want to shoot first-person: Because the camera is small enough to wear you can get cool perspectives
✅ You love neat design: DJI's design team created something cool with the modular design
❌ You want fast action: It can't capture 4K at 60fps
❌ You need it waterproof: The camera needs a housing to go underwater because of the design
Leading drone maker DJI forced a re-think for GoPro by introducing a front screen to its first action camera, the Osmo Action. It took a while for the successor to arrive, but eventually, Action 2 came along in 2021, and it was a bit of a different beast. Far from just a straight Osmo Action upgrade, the Action 2 re-imagines what a GoPro-style camera can look like, starting from a tiny 39x39mm square camera and allowing the attachment – by a magnetic clip – of additional units for extra connectivity, battery life, and a vlogging screen.
If it isn't already obvious, I really love this as a design concept (though it should be noted I don't do a lot of underwater stuff). Its core cuboid body looks like a flattened GoPro Session (if anyone remembers those) but with a touchscreen.
But it's modular – The device more resembles traditional GoPro cameras when it comes to output, and it is roughly (standard) GoPro-sized when its battery booster is magnetically clipped on. The image stabilization options are also impressive, including a horizon leveller, and it has a larger 1 / 1.7” sensor to boot.
The key to this flexible design is the ability to wear just the camera portion with a magnetic clip holding it onto, for example, a T-shirt. It records to built-in memory (and DJI have relatively recently bumped the memory options which is much appreciated).
Control is via a touchscreen; it’s a bit limited by the size of the main camera unit, though the front touch-screen attachment matches it perfectly, making vlogging easier. It's not exactly a replacement for a GoPro Hero camera, but it's a compelling alternative, especially at its current price – and should be looked at if you're interested in other body-worn options like the Insta360 Go 3. To better understand the bundles, read the full review.
Read our full DJI Action 2 review for more details
Best 360-degree
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want to try 360 video: 8K is as good as 360-degree video comes, so you can try and succeed
✅ You want a normal action camera: Thanks to the one-camera mode, it works as a good 4K60fps action camera
❌ You are on a tight budget: There are cheaper options (including its own predecessor, the X3) which still provide a lot of quality.
❌ You want top-notch low-light: With 1/2-inch sensors the HDR is good, but low-light performance is only so-so.
Thinking about the real purpose of action cameras, you want a rugged camera which can record action without too much trouble. Fire and forget, as they say. 360-degree cameras capture action all around them, but because they have lenses facing in both directions they can be a little vulnerable.
Insta360 have solved this with the X4 by offering removable lens guards that let you shield the lenses when needed, while the case is incredibly rugged anyway – waterproof to 10m and very reassuring to hold. Several generations seem to have helped refine the design (and I say that slightly jealously as someone who bought the X3 with his own money, but got a nice long review with the X4!)
If you need a 'normal' action camera, you can use the camera to shoot in 4K60fps from just one of the lenses; that's more than good enough for most action camera work.
But the real advantage afforded by 360 is the ability to shoot the whole 8K view (an outward sphere of a view from the camera) and re-frame it afterwards. Not only is the relatively high resolution, 8K, very useful here, but Insta360's software is a real winner. As well as an excellent phone app (iOS/Android), there is an Insta360 Studio for Mac/PC and plugins for Premiere and Final Cut Pro so creating content can happen almost immediately for social, or in careful detail later. The AI subject tracking is excellent too, saving hours in manual keyframing compared to GoPro's offering.
Insta360 also have a range of accessories, including the near-essential selfie sticks – one is 3 meters / 10 feet long – and one which allows you to swing the camera at high frame rate and, together with a feature in the app, can be assembled to create a 'bullet time' effect. Other refinements keep the X4 well ahead of the pack, like the ability to connect external microphones. It might take a bit of extra thought, but you should be able to tell some amazing visual stories with this camera (albeit for a bit more cash than you might have planned on spending).
See my full review of the Insta360 X4
Best gimbal camera
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Vlogging is important to you: Stabilizing video for walk-and-talk is easy, as is face-tracking
✅ You want an external mic: The option of a DJI Mic 2 makes sound quality easy
❌ You are on a tight budget: The gimbal adds to the cost
❌ You need something rugged: While this is well-built, it is more vulnerable than a traditional action camera
If capturing the action for you is more about vlogging and walk-and-talk footage than the Pocket 3 is a brilliant choice, an amazing improvement from the already good Pocket 2, bringing a bigger 1-inch image sensor to wipe away concerns about low-light performance and a bigger screen for easier composition.
I chose it for this list because it handles a similar kind of vlogging niche as GoPro cameras, though it has to be said the 1-inch sensor already beats GoPro. Also, while the GoPro Hero 12 Black can record audio through AirPods, this is offered as part of an excellent Creator Combo pack, including a DJI Mic 2 which wirelessly records sound in up to 32-bit to the video and as a separate track. There is also a good quality case, tripod mount, battery extension grip, wrist strap, a dead-cat windshield for the mic and a wide-angle lens accessory.
As well as class-leading video stabilization, the smart subject tracking tools which are bolstered by a quicker processor and are rarely fooled make this a potent little camera for bloggers. The improvements to video and audio have pushed the price up a little, however.
Read our full DJI Osmo Pocket 3 review for more details
Best optical zoom
6. OM System Tough TG-7
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a more traditional camera: It's tough, but the shape is more traditional
✅ You want zoom: With a powered zoom, it can retract safely
❌ You need fast 4K: The 4K video is only 30fps max
❌ You need to record a long time: The battery is
One of the main restrictions of GoPros is that they have a fixed wide-angle lens, so you are locked into that distinct GoPro perspective. The OM System Tough TG-7 is a waterproof compact that is equipped with an optical zoom lens, a 25-100mm equivalent with a maximum aperture of f/2 at the wide end.
It looks and handles much more like a traditional camera than anything else on this list, making it a noticeably bulkier choice than a standard GoPro. But if this doesn’t bother you, it’s an extremely tough camera that’ll stand up to some punishment and keep right on trucking.
It is, though, on our 'alternative' list to get you thinking more than anything else. It's something of an odd product in general, not having changed that much from its predecessor but (as my colleague discovered) actually preferred by at least one executive of a competitor so people out there certainly admire the solid build.
Like GoPros and other action cameras there is also app control and remote transfer.
Read our full OM System Tough TG-7 review or see the Best waterproof cameras
Best for content creators
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Vlogging is important to you: The large flip screen is a great monitor, and bigger than a front screen
✅ Quality matters: The 1-inch image sensor works well in low light and offers 8K if you need it
❌ You need it very rugged: The hinge does make the device more vulnerable than some
❌ You need to keep it small: It's only a bit bulkier than the average action camera, but a few mm can matter
With GoPro dominating the mainstream of action cameras, it makes sense for rivals to innovate. Insta360 have done this in many ways – with 360 cameras like the X3, with ultra-compact options like the tiny Go 3, and with the new AcePro which is perhaps a natural extension of the ONE R Twin Edition into a vlogging camera meets action camera body.
Adding only a little bit more bulk at the back than a typical action camera, this device opts to put a hinged so the back touchscreen can be viewed from the front for vlogging with a much larger monitor (the front display is just for data, and looks more discrete and elegant for it). Despite a hinge, the body is still waterproof to 10m without a case too.
The camera is co-branded with Leica and the one-inch sensor brings the kind of quality that name suggests. I didn't get to try it in anything other than British winter weather (so far) but it still impressed and did well with low-light. I also found the camera's menus easy to navigate after a very short time getting used to them, which – given the range of modes available – is impressive.
Sure, it isn't cheap, but Insta360 seem to be taking this market very seriously and as such software tricks (like GoPro's AirPods mic mode) are available alongside more powerful hardware. Despite the price, it's tough not to be tempted, especially as the sensor is excellent and low-light performance brilliant.
Read our full Insta360 AcePro review
Super low budget
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want value: Aside from a memory card, you get all you need in the box
❌ You need top quality: It isn't bad, but it's not going to beat the leading brands
There are a wealth of cheap GoPro alternatives out there, but it’s best to be discerning, as not all are worth your time. My colleague Jon reviewed the Akaso EK7000 Pro and found it to be a good camera across the board, shooting pretty impressive 4K footage and sporting a handy 2-inch touchscreen – though it's worth being aware that you can’t use the touchscreen when it’s in the waterproof case, which can make control a little fiddly (though to be fair this a broader issue with waterproof housings).
The sensor struggles a little in low light, but otherwise does a decent job, and for a price this good it’s hard to complain. Though it doesn’t come with the required SD card, so if you don’t have one already, you’ll need to factor that into your costs.
When you're keeping your costs down you can't expect quite as much in terms of quality as the premium brands (especially now they've overtaken GoPro in most respects), but you often get useful features and a good bundle of accessories that others will charge extra for – this is one such device.
Read our full AKASO EK7000 Pro review for more details or Read the Best budget action cameras
Best wearable
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want first person/POV: It's so compact and light you can easily wear it on your clothes
❌ You need top quality: The tiny camera isn't the best, especially in lower lighting.
The Insta360 brand might initially make you think of, well, 360-degree cameras (I can't think why) but it is turned its innovation to the full gamut of action cameras, and the Go series has been a very popular example. As a pedant, I find it hard to give a device without 4K a spot further up a list like this, but in truth, few people need the resolution and in exchange what you get is something quite extraordinary.
Moreover, unlike the DJI Action 2, this isn't a mere flirtation with compact shells and clever magnets. That device is 4K, and a great price, but probably only because DJI is shedding stock and reverting to the boring GoPro shape. Insta360's 'Go' concept is proven and developed. Just before Christmas 2023 the Go 3 even got an extra colorway thanks to its popularity.
Because it's noticeably smaller than a typical action camera when used without the body and flip screen, it can easily be worn – it's basically like wearing a magnetic mic (like the DJI Mic 2). That's very, very useful for POV footage. Insta360 also provide excellent software. A little better in low-light (and perhaps a bit cheaper) and we'd be at the top of this list!
Nevertheless this is a cool camera with something of a unique offering, and is lighter than the Action 2; it's almost like and Airpod camera (though there is now a black option too).
Read our full Insta 360 Go 3 review for more details
How we test cameras
How we test cameras
When it comes to action cameras like the best GoPro alternatives, our team of reviewers tests them out in real-world conditions to get an idea of how well they perform. We test out all the different photo and video settings to get a feel for the kind of imagery the camera is capable of capturing, and also assess the user experience, as well as the usefulness of any connectivity features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS. Read more about how we test and review at Digital Camera World.
FAQs
What makes the best GoPro alternative?
When we put together our guide to the best GoPro alternatives we considered the weight and size of models, along with the price and actual camera features.
1. Weight and size: GoPros are small, unobtrusive, and light by nature. This is so that they can be mounted in all sorts of positions when you're adventuring, and so that they don't get in the way of whatever activity you're doing. We've therefore stuck to very compact models that are versatile.
2. Price: GoPro leads the way when it comes to creating cameras for active lifestyles, but they can often be relatively expensive when first released. In this guide the models chosen should be under the price of an equivalent GoPro camera, offering you more value for money when you ditch the GoPro branding.
3. Camera features: The most important part of a GoPro alternative is that it still has decent camera specs. We looked at stabilization systems, resolution, video functions, and battery life to ensure that any alternatives are up to the task.
What is the difference between a GoPro and an action camera?
On the whole, nothing except a brand name is different between GoPros and some of the best action cameras. GoPro has made a name for itself as a reliable brand that makes not only god quality products but which also provide excellent photo and video. A lot newcomers to the action camera market also make similarly excellent products but as of yet have not built that brand reputation to the same degree as GoPro.
