8 Best GoPro Alternatives in 2024 (& Top Budget Action Cam!)

The best GoPro alternative allows you to capture high-octane action without breaking the bank. GoPros have become synonymous with action cameras, but they are not the only players in the camera. DJI, Insta360, and Akaso all make rugged action cameras that make an excellent alternative to GoPros. 

The DJI Osmo Action 4 is our favorite GoPro alternative. It’s rugged and waterproof, records stunning video footage, and has creative features to give your action media that extra wow factor. It’s also more affordable than the latest GoPro camera. 

Don’t worry if that’s not the action camera for you. We have plenty more GoPro alternatives in the following article. Keep reading to find out more. 

What Is the Best GoPro Alternative?

There’s no doubt GoPro is leading the action camera market. But there are plenty of other action cameras out there. In fact, the best GoPro alternatives give you a similar experience only for a cheaper price. 

There are certain things you should look for in any action camera. You need them to be rugged, otherwise they can’t handle the thrill-seeking lifestyle of their users.

They need high-resolution video recording, ideally with slow-mo options. And they need a good array of additional features, such as Wi-Fi connectivity and live streaming capabilities.

All the action cameras in this list hit those marks and more. You can see a quick rundown of all the best GoPro alternatives in the table below. Then we look at each action camera in more detail so you can find the best GoPro alternative for you. 

8 Best GoPro Alternatives

And now, starting with our overall top pick, here are the in-depth looks at each camera. None of the cameras in this review is a poor performer. And you can find a good GoPro alternative with solid features that won’t break the bank!

The DJI Osmo Action 4 is the best GoPro alternative right now. It’s DJI’s fourth instalment in their action camera range, and it’s their best yet. It has everything a thrill-seeking content creator needs for eye-catching media. 

It’s lightweight and compact, even by action camera standards. It’s shock-resistant, so it can withstand the inevitable knocks and scrapes. And you can use it underwater down to 60 ft / 18 m, which is further than you can take a GoPro. That’s ideal for aquatic activities like snorkeling or surfing. 

Armed with a 1/1.3″ sensor and an f/2.8 max aperture, you get excellent picture quality with stills and video. The fast aperture also gives you excellent results in low light. 

The max image resolution is only 10 MP, which is disappointing. But there’s no such disappointment in the video department. 

The Osmo Action 4 produces stunning 4K video footage. You can even record 4K with a super-smooth 120 fps frame rate, giving you fantastic slow-motion footage. And with 10-bit, D-log M color performance, the footage is truly excellent. 

A max viewing angle of 155º gives you a beautifully wide shot. But there’s no warping around the edges, so you get distortion-free footage. 

Dual color touchscreens improve the user experience, allowing you to see yourself while you record. That’s ideal for vloggers. It also has a quick-release mount and connection points for external microphones. 

The DJI Osmo Action 4 is perfect for adrenaline-fueled video content. It isn’t the best option for stills photography, but it’s the best GoPro alternative if you want high-quality video content. 

The Akaso EK7000 is a great GoPro alternative for someone who wants to try one out without committing large amounts of money. Or perhaps you want to film something dangerous and there’s a chance you might lose the camera. Then the Akaso would be perfect.

With 4K recording at 30 fps, you get excellent video footage. There’s a 4x digital zoom if you want to change the composition. And the has ports for external sound recording devices. 

You can also extract 20 MP still images from 2.7K video footage. This means you have a 30 fps burst rate for capturing sharp images from fast action. 

Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity helps you share media with other devices. It also enables the wrist remote. However, the wrist remote is not waterproof, so be careful. 

The camera is not waterproof on its own. But you can take it to depths of 98 ft / 30 m when secured in the waterproof housing. 

If you’re looking for a GoPro alternative, you’re probably quite budget-conscious. If that’s the case, the Akaso EK7000 might be the perfect option. It isn’t as advanced as other GoPro alternatives, but it’s a fraction of the price compared to some. 

If you want a GoPro Alternative with advanced features for high-quality multimedia production, the Insta360 Ace Pro is the best option. 

A 1/1.3″ sensor is fairly standard for action cameras. But there’s nothing standard about the 48 MP image resolution. We’re not saying the Ace Pro produces images that match a camera like the Sony A1. But it is impressive in terms of action cameras. 

You can also shoot still images in JPEG, DNG, or RAW files. That gives you even more options when editing your images. 

Equipped with a high-quality 16mm Leica lens, you get a lovely 151º angle of view. It’s a wide-angle shot, but there’s no warping or distortion around the edges. 

The 4K footage is bright and vibrant, in part due to the AI exposure balancing system. There’s an Active HDR video mode for even better detail. And there’s a 4K 120 fps slow-motion mode for gorgeous slow-mos. 

Fully waterproof down to 33 ft / 10 m, it’s a great option for water sports. It also has a flip-out touchscreen that helps you shoot from different angles. 

Insta360’s FlowState stabilization is one of the best in the business. It keeps even the bumpiest footage smooth, and the horizon lock keeps the footage level no matter what. 

A magnetic mounting system makes the camera easy to mount and dismount. Wi-Fi connectivity also makes it easy to share media with the Insta360 app on your smartphone. Uploading media to your social media profiles only takes a minute. 

The Insta360 Ace Pro can go toe to toe with the latest GoPro in most departments. The price is similar to that of the real GoPros, but it’s worth spending a bit extra for this level of quality. 

The DJI Action 2 took an innovative approach to create an action cam. And the results are interesting and largely successful. It is definitely head-to-head with GoPro in the battle for a premium action camera. It is modular. And the main camera is a small cube.

DJI makes the most of this modular capability. You can add a battery module for extended power. Or you can add a front screen module for selfies or talk to the camera. Then you connect these to the camera magnetically.

Magnets are also the key to a range of mounting options. A lanyard allows you to clip the camera to your clothes. And there are headbands, ball joints, and mount adapters.

The DJI Action 2 does not compromise image quality. You can get amazing slow-motion shots in 4K at up to 120 fps. The image stabilization is consistently impressive. And the horizon lock keeps everything steady.

It’s a waterproof action camera, allowing you to use it at 33 ft / 10 m below without a case. You can take it even further when paired with the waterproof case, allowing for a dive of 197 ft / 60 m. 

The Insta360 GO 3 looks nothing like a GoPro… unless you want it to. That’s because the smallest available action camera now comes with a detachable “Action Pod.” This turns a small, lozenge-shaped camera into a more conventional-looking action cam.

Without the Action Pod, this is an impressive action camera, anyway. It is very small and easy to mount. It can be attached magnetically to a lanyard around your neck or any other convenient place.

The significant upgrade over its predecessor is the Action Pod. This extends the battery life and adds an articulating color screen. It’s a really interesting take on the action camera idea.

Where the GO 3 disappoints slightly is the limited video resolution. While the GoPro HERO12 boasts 5.7K video, the Insta360 GO 3 is limited to 2.7K.

In other areas like image stabilization, timelapse, and slow motion, the GO 3 holds its own. So you must decide whether its adaptability and size are enough to compensate for its inferior video performance.

The Brave 7 LE. is another excellent GoPro alternative from Akaso. This version has some notable improvements over the EK7000. The most obvious is this has a front screen, which makes a big difference for action camera users.

There is some waterproofing built into the main camera. It won’t mind getting splashed, and you can submerge it in water. But remember that depth ratings are for static situations. If you dive into a 10-foot pool, your camera needs more than a 10-foot rating.

Image stabilization performance is fantastic for a camera in thing price bracket. It does crop the footage lighting when activated, but it makes a huge difference to the quality of your video. 

As with all the Akaso cameras in this review, the Brave 7 LE has an impressive number of accessories. It has waterproof housing. There are lots of different mounts and a dual battery charger—with two batteries! And it also has a standard tripod mount on the body.

Image quality leans more toward the GoPro look than the other Akaso cameras. It’s not quite as punchy, but blacks are much more suppressed. Detail retention in shadows is still good. And there’s no significant problem with blown-out highlights.

In a side-by-side test with a GoPro HERO9, the GoPro outperforms the Akaso on most metrics. But they are in very different price brackets.

The Brave 7 LE is perhaps the one Akaso camera we recommend without emphasizing “for the money” at the end. This makes it one of the best GoPro alternatives in this review.

The Insta360 ONE really is a fresh approach as a GoPro alternative. It’s also a modular camera. There’s the ONE RS Core, a cube that is the heart of the camera, with a screen on one side.

You can add the 4K boost lens. Or you can choose the 5.7K 360 lens for 360-degree shooting. Or there’s the 5.3K 1-inch lens made by Leica. This has the largest sensor of any action camera.

All these modules lock together rather cleverly. This gives unmatched flexibility in any single camera on our list. Plus, there are many Insta360 ONE accessories. You can buy the MantisPod (tripod) or an extra battery base.

Every camera so far has fallen short of GoPro’s highly-regarded image stabilization (IS) system. With the Insta360, the maximum stabilization is arguably as good as the GoPro HERO12. The latter doesn’t have the same flexibility, though.

It’s high praise that the Insta360 ONE is often compared to the HERO12. Its 4K edition is significantly cheaper than the GoPro. And for a little more than the GoPro, you get the 360-degree lens for amazing video footage.

With the “invisible selfie stick,” the camera appears to hover above your head or travel alongside you. And you can reframe the footage after shooting to give some striking effects.

I think that video quality, slow-motion quality, and some of the time-lapse capabilities are better on the HERO10. But the Insta360 ONE is close enough to make it very tempting as a high-quality alternative to a GoPro.

The OM System Tough TG-7 is a different beast than all the other GoPro alternatives. I include it here for those who might want a compact camera that has all the qualities of an action camera. It’s waterproof, records 4K video, and has specialist photography modes. 

The Tough TG-7 stands out in the compact camera market as it’s completely waterproof. It also has several underwater shooting modes, so you get fabulous results from beneath the waves. 

This camera really is tough. It’s shock and crush-proof. And you can even use it in sub-zero temperatures. 

A 12 MP resolution isn’t record-breaking, even for a compact camera. But you can shoot in JPEG or RAW. It also has a wide f/2 max aperture and a 4x optical zoom. 

Specialist macro shooting modes produce stunning results, allowing you to shoot macro photography with additional equipment. 

A 10 fps burst mode allows you to capture full-res action images. It even start snapping 0.5 seconds before you’ve fully pressed the shutter button, so you never miss the moment. 

Crisp and clear 4K video will satisfy even fussy action camera enthusiasts. You even have an option for 4K 120 fps slow-motion footage. 

The OM System Tough TG-7 is one of the best underwater cameras. And it’s compact size, video recording, and mountability make it a great GoPro alternative. 

What Should You Look for in an Action Camera?

The best GoPro alternatives will perform strongly in all of these areas:

Ruggedness

Action cameras have to withstand treatment that would destroy a normal camera. So your action camera should laugh at The Four Horsemen of the DSLR Apocalypse—dust, grit, shock, and weather.

The best GoPro alternatives have weatherproof, dust-resistant, and shock-resistant bodies. But in many cases, this does still leave the lens vulnerable. This is especially true for wide-angle lenses that often protrude from the camera body.

Waterproofing

Action cameras vary in their resistance to water. Some have a watertight body for limited proofing and need external housing to go deeper. Be sure to check the depth ratings for your chosen action camera.

Image Stabilization

There’s a point where shaky camera work ceases to emphasize the action and starts to become tiresome. Electronic image stabilization (IS) is important when choosing a GoPro alternative.

Unless you want a Cinéma vérité feel to your bungee jump, you need in-camera IS. The best GoPro alternatives will also offer some form of horizon leveling.

Viewing Angle

One key aspect of that GoPro “look” is the wide viewing angle. A wide-angle lens lets you capture all the action without worrying about framing the shot. After all, your attention is likely to be elsewhere.

A feature to look out for is adjustable “digital” lenses. Basically, the digital cropping of an image allows a tighter composition. This is possible nowadays because cameras record in at least 4K.

Image Resolution

Action cameras need to be good at both video and still photography. But perhaps video is more important. Many let you capture high-resolution stills from video footage. When choosing a GoPro alternative, you shouldn’t compromise image quality.

Sound

Flexibility in recording sound is important. My recent review of microphone attachments for action cameras talks you through the options for improving the sound of your video.

Poor sound is more likely to ruin your video than anything else. It’s worth it to have external microphone connectivity on your GoPro alternative.

Other Features

There are so many features to look out for. Keep your eyes open for the following:

• Front screen
• Face or smile recognition
• Time-lapse
• Remote control or voice control
• Good battery life

You can check out our Total Time-Lapse course to get amazing time-lapse videos from any of these action cameras!

Conclusion: Best GoPro Alternatives

Competition with action cameras is good news for the consumer. It has led to some exciting innovations. At the top end of the scale, the quality and features of the best GoPro alternatives are quite something. And less sophisticated cameras are competitive at the cheaper end of the price scale.

If you’re not completely sure about an action camera or have a tight budget, then you can’t go too wrong with the Akaso EK7000. If you’re looking for a top-quality alternative, the DJI Osmo Action 4 is the best choice. It has an impressive range of features, performs at an excellent level, and the durability required of a top action camera.