GoPro may be the first name that comes to mind when it comes to action cameras, but it is certainly not your only option. Many companies, big and small, have entered the industry over the past few years, and quite a few of them offer extremely compelling products at much lower price-points, so you can buy yourself a decent action camera these days without burning a hole in your pocket. So, if you are in the market for an action camera, let’s check out the 14 best GoPro alternatives you can buy in 2020.

Seeing as GoPro has a whole host of devices in its portfolio, including action cameras like the Hero 8, 360-degree cameras, as well as smaller, inexpensive devices like the Session, we’re including a number of options that will also cover the entire gamut. So, irrespective of which GoPro camera you have in mind, you’ll very likely find an alternative for it on our list.

  • Buying Guide for Beginners

If you are looking to buy an action camera like GoPro then you should check if it comes with OIS. If not OIS then at least, it should come with EIS with a robust algorithm to shake off any vibration from videos. Next, a premium action camera should have 4K/60FPS recording capability, and budget action cameras should support 1080/60FPS recording. In addition, if the action camera offers you a touchscreen then it will be great for customizing video parameters on the go.

Buying Guide for Beginners

Something that doesn’t relates to the action camera capabilities but is also quite important is the accessory support. Go Pro cameras have great accessory support, thanks to their popularity. If you are buying an action camera, make sure to see if it has the needed accessory market to allow you to adapt the camera for different shooting scenarios.

1. DJI Osmo Action

For a long time, the action camera space has been dominated by GoPro, but now with DJI’s foray into the pocket camera domain, the competition has gotten fierce. Last year, DJI launched its action camera under the Osmo series and it got rave reviews from all quarters. For good measure, it comes with 4K video recording at 60FPS. But that is not all. Osmo Action also supports HDR video rendering at 4K-60FPS which is just amazing.

Pros

Cons

Midway between price-effectiveness and best features, the Insta360 ONE X supports up to 360-degree video recording at up to 5.7K. With the additional support of 50 fps recording, the videos turn out to be very smooth and satisfying. If you want stunning and cinema-quality video clips in slow motion, the ONE X supports 3K video recording at 100 fps. It is equipped with 210-degree dual fisheye lenses along with a Sony sensor.

Furthermore, the ONE X features FlowState Stabilization for Gimbal-like stability and super-smooth and stabilized hyperlapse videos. For direct transfer to smartphones, the camera features support for 5GHz Wi-Fi with a maximum of 50MBps speed. Additionally, the camera can not only take great videos but also shoot 18-megapixel circular photos and correction options to mask the official selfie stick and make it invisible.

Ricoh Theta V is a new addition to the company’s portfolio of action cameras and brings sharp 4K shooting the table. Besides 4K, it also shoots 360-degree videos at 30 fps. It has an excellent spherical camera that can help you shoot some great 360 videos.

Cons

  • No display
  • Need case for waterproofing

Sony’s flagship action camera, the FDR-X3000, may not necessarily be the market leader in its segment, but offers one critical feature that you won’t get with the GoPro Hero 8 – OIS (Optical Image Stabilization).

Sony also makes the HDR-AS50 action camera, which is priced nearly half as the X3000 but brings almost the same features. The only areas where it lags behind the X3000 or X3000R are the smaller focal range, and limitation of Full HD videos to 60fps, while the 120fps mode is only available in HD (720p) videos.

Olympus may be a well-known name for photography enthusiasts, but the company only recently entered the action camera market with the TG-6 that stands out from the crowd of me-too action cameras with a rugged and stylish design. The device also got the specs and features to match those looks, making it a serious GoPro alternative.

The device features a 12MP sensor that’s paired with an f/2.0 lens to capture fast action with crispness and clarity. At 204-degree angle of view, the lens is also wider than the GoPro Hero 8 Black, which has a maximum angle of view of around 150 degrees. The camera can shoot 4K videos at 30 frames per second (fps), but 1080p can go up to 120 fps.

  • 4K recording
  • WiFi support
  • Built-in sensors
  • Rugged design

If the Campark X30 is on the affordable side of things, the Garmin Virb 360 is at the other end of the spectrum. It’s rugged, it’s waterproof, it’s bigger, it’s heavier, and it comes with features that even the GoPro Fusion can only dream. If you thought the ability to shoot 4K videos on the Fusion was cool, the Virb 360 is on another planet altogether.

In terms of hardware, the Garmin Virb 360 ships with 2x 1/2.3-inch 12MP CMOS sensors, and has built-in GPS and GLONASS. It is also compatible with Garmin’s proprietary G-Metrix technology that displays data overlays in 360-degree augmented reality.

Buy From Garmin: ($799.99)

GoPro Alternatives: Mid-range

7. AKASO Brave 7

The AKASO Brave 7 action camera is one feature-packed GoPro alternative you might want to consider. This is an action camera that features a 2“ touch display, supports 4K at 30FPS video recording with advanced EIS and captures 20MP photos. All that is great but what makes this action camera a great buy are the unique features.

Yes, the Brave 7 has you covered when it comes to features and the accessories, so if you are looking for a feature-packed and affordable GoPro alternative, the AKASO Brave 7 should be a good bit.

Campark X30 is the latest addition to the company’s series of action cameras and noticeably the most powerful one. The camera is capable of shooting 4K video at 60 fps and 1080p at 120fps. The Campark X30 sports a 12-megapixel sensor for still photography and comes with a smart LCD display inside the box package which hooks on to the action camera.

Besides the LCD display, the Campark X30 comes with a score of accessories within the box including a protective case, tripod mounts, adhesive pads, lens protector, decals, lanyards, and a USB cable.

  • 4K at 60FPS supported
  • Touchscreen display
  • Great battery life
  • Can withstand deep waters

Designed and marketed by U.K.-based Drift Innovation, the Drift Ghost X is yet another cool GoPro alternative that was launched recently as a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Drift HD Action Camera that was released back in 2016.

 

The Ghost X features dual microphones to reduce wind noise and has video stabilization to minimize blur in photos and videos. The device also comes with a modular design that allows users to snap-on an additional LCD screen or external battery packs, giving users more control over how they want to use their camera.

  • No 4K recording

10. AKASO EK7000

If you’ve found Campark’s above-mentioned action camera to be an attractive option but are cash-strapped, the Campark 4K can be a good choice. Despite being priced at one-fourth of the X30, the Campark 4K comes with 4K recording at 30 fps thanks to the Sony IMX206 sensor. The action camera is equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to let you control the camera remotely and to share the captured media using a smartphone.

The power-packed and pocket-friendly Campark 4K can also capture images at 20MP and features EIS to keep the images still. There’s a 2-inch display for I/O and the inbuilt battery can capture videos at 1080p continuously for over two hours. Lastly, to have more control over your shots, you can also set individual image quality parameters to capture good-looking shots irrespective of the ambiance.

Dragon Touch 4K offers the rich features of a great and reliable action camera in a much smaller form factor. It comes in quirky colors and small modular designs. The small camera is more suitably a lifestyle action camera. However, it comes with electronic image stabilization and the ability to remotely control the device, which makes it a worthy GoPro alternative.

  • Battery life is mediocre

Crosstour Action Camera has been upgraded over the last-gen camera and comes with key upgrades over the previous version. The most attractive and welcome addition is that of support for 4K recording at this price. The Crosstour Action Camera now has a 2-inch screen and the smaller bezels give it a more modern look.

VanTop Moment 3 is our final action camera on this list which offers you all the basic features of GoPro cameras. But even at this price, it offers you 4K recording at 30FPS which is simply amazing. The VanTop Moment 3 uses a premium Sony sensor so you can expect a much better output. And if you want to shoot at 1080p then you can take advantage of 60FPS recording. That’s quite too much for the price, right?

Apart from that, you can take still shots of 16MP, take ultra-wide videos (170-degree), create time-lapse and slow-motion videos as well. Not to mention, there is support for wireless sharing and remote control too through its XDV app. Lastly, talking about waterproofing, it can remain underwater to the depth of 30m. All in all, VanTop Moment 3 is an excellent GoPro alternative if you want an action camera for an affordable price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is a Cheaper Alternative to a GoPro?

I would easily recommend the new DJI Osmo Action. It costs much lesser than the latest GoPro Hero 8. But if you are on a budget then go for Akaso Brave 7 or Campark 4K.

Q. Is GoPro Still the Best?

GoPro is still the king when it comes to shooting high-motion videos. It comes with HyperSmooth stabilization, HDR processing, rugged build-quality and tons of accessories to make your footage stand-out. That said, companies like DJI are catching up by offering cheaper and robust alternatives.

If you can’t afford the Hero 8 then you can go for Hero 7. It has got most of the latest features and costs almost half.

If you have a higher budget then surely go for Max. As the name suggests, GoPro has literally maxed out the specs. You have got 6K recording, improved HyperSmooth stabilization, bigger screen, 270-degree panorama, and much more.

All GoPro models can sustain water depth of 10m without any external casing. However, keep in mind GoPro Max is the only exception and it’s only resistant up to 5m which is surprising. So all I would say is get the standard GoPro model and use a case to extend waterproofing.

GoPro is generally expensive because it really offers you a rock-solid experience. You have HyperSmooth technology which is unparalleled in the industry, excellent build quality that is unmatched, spatial audio recording, and much more.

Pick the Best GoPro Alternative

GoPro cameras are some of the best that money can buy, but if you do sniff around, there are enough deals to be had that can get you either similar devices at much lower price points or higher-spec devices at similar price-points. Since offerings from unknown manufacturers are always a risk, we have largely restricted ourselves to recommending products from reputable vendors, such as DJI, Garmin, and Olympus, all of whom offer great GoPro alternatives at pocket-friendly prices to satiate your hunger for the best action camera.