Our guide to the best cheap action cameras is here to help you capture all your outdoor adventures without the need to remortgage your home. As you'd expect, all the cams featured here offer excellent value for money, but some feature top of the range features such as 4K60FPS video and more.
While not quite as feature-rich as the latest range-leading models you'll find at the head of our list of the best action cameras (currently topped by the incredible GoPro HERO 9 Black), trickledown technology means that the vast majority of the cameras listed here are rugged enough to capture all of your exploits in icy temperatures, on gnarly trails or deep under the water.
In-camera facilities such as image stabilisation, hyperlapse video modes and HDR photography used to only be found in high-end models, but now you can find them on the latest cheap action cameras too.
Market leaders, GoPro, constantly up their own extremely high bar with every new top-of-the-range release, but slightly superseded GoPros are still massively capable (and now great value) recording tools – see how all the models compare in our best GoPro guide. Our top tip is to save some cash by opting for a not-so-new model, and keep an eye out for bargain GoPro deals. Our dedicated on-page tool will give you the best prices on each of the models here in our list, so you can be sure you're always getting a bargain.
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Best cheap action camera: Our expert pick
- Unlike some of the top-end cams, the cheaper models featured below have lower price tags, sure, but that doesn't necessarily mean they skimp on features.
- Our top pick for the best cheap action camera is a case in point. Considering its low price, the has a seemingly endless list of features, including voice control and digital video stabilisation. It's ideal for all extreme sports and outdoors pursuits, both in and out of the water (its waterproof to 10m).
- Read our GoPro HERO 7 Black vs DJI Osmo Action faceoff
- GoPro HERO 7 Black vs HERO 8 Black: Which is best value for money?
How to choose the best cheap action camera
When choosing your budget action camera, there are certain details you need to keep an eye out for. Video quality is the most important. The highest quality currently available is 5K, but much more common is 4K. To really close in on the back spray from your snowboard as you carve across the slopes, you shouldn’t be looking for an action cam that shoots any lower than 1080p at 60fps.
Also look at the size, shape and weight of the camera. If you’re planning on attaching it to your helmet or equipment, you don’t want a hefty action cam throwing you off balance. You’ll also need to ensure you can get your hands on appropriate mounts for your chosen pursuit. On top of that, keep in mind whether you would rather view raw footage via your camera's companion app (if it has one), or whether you’d like to view it on an LCD screen for instant feedback.
While the best cheap action cameras are waterproof, that's not true of all the models in our list. However, there’s always the option to purchase a case to make them safe in torrential downpours or if you’re taking one surfing or SUPing. Other than that, consider photo resolution (especially if you’re looking to take the occasional selfie) and battery life as the essentials. Ready to discover the best cheap action camera for you? Read on...
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The best cheap action cameras you can buy right now
The best cheap action camera around right now is the GoPro HERO 7 White. Released in October 2018 as a budget companion to the then-flagship HERO 7 Black, the entry-level HERO 7 White offers GoPro's impressive action cam tech in a streamlined, wallet-friendly package. This double T3 Award-winner is not in GoPro's current range, but it's still widely available, and it's far cheaper than the latest model (the incredible HERO 9 Black).
The H7 White it's compatible with GoPro’s extensive mount and housing range (unlike the newer GoPros, you will need to pop it into a frame before you can mount it to anything). The camera is also shock- and waterproof to 10 metres. The responsive, sunlight-friendly two-inch touchscreen provides rapid access to playback and settings. A built-in (non-removable) battery dishes out around two hours of use per charge.
Considering the low price, voice control is is an impressive addition to the HERO7 White. Filming is as easy as saying, "GoPro, start recording" and waiting for the beep. On the whole, voice recognition is incredibly responsive, although when we took the camera surfing we found that the Hero won’t always pick up commands over the cacophony of crashing waves.
Keeping things simple, the HERO 7 White offers just two filming resolutions: 1440 or 1080p at 30 or 60fps, as well as 10MP stills. From ’board to bike, footage is crisp and vibrant, and Video Stabilisation mode helps keep clips smooth when things get turbulent. Auto Low Light mode works incredibly well when shooting in darker situations, like under a tree canopy; switch these modes off and you’ll quickly realise the difference they make. In the past, entry level GoPro cameras dispensed with the slow-motion video option, so it’s great to see it make an appearance in the HERO 7 White.
If you live for cliff diving or base jumping and need to make banging edits to appease your sponsors, you’ll probably find the Hero’s lack of 4K resolution a tad limiting. However, if you’re a part-time adrenaline junkie needing a reliable, easy to operate HD camera to shoot YouTube-ready footage of your adventures, the GoPro HERO 7 White is the big-name cheap action camera to beat.
The Brave 7 LE fits nicely in the palm of your hand. At 127g, it has a sturdy weight to it and its contoured metal and plastic body looks and feels like a camera with a far heftier price tag. While its headline feature is a front-facing screen, the Brave 7 LE also sports a number of features only usually found on fancier models, such as voice control, time-lapse facilities and six-axis image stabilisation. Factor in that it comes with two batteries, a remote, a wide range of mounts and a waterproof housing and this is a camera that gives fantastic value for money. If you're looking for a rugged and feature packed camera with a wallet-friendly price, the Akaso Brave 7 LE is seriously hard to beat.
Read more: Akaso Brave 7 LE action camera review
There's not many cameras around costing less than £100 that can boast fully-fledged 4K video at 60FPS, never mind at the Crosstour CT9900's current sub-£80 price bracket. But as well as it's mightily impressive video resolution, the camera also has in-built image stabilisation, a 2-inch rear touchscreen, is waterproof to 40 metres and can take 20MP stills.
As well as the camera, waterproof housing and a wide range of mounts, the CT9900's standard package pretty much includes every accessory you'll ever need, with two removable batteries, a shutter remote and a clip-on external USB microphone. A couple of minor corners have been cut to hit the CT9900's extremely wallet-friendly price though – recorded sound is almost inaudible during in-camera playback and you don't get a plug for the charging cable.
While it may look remarkably similar to aging GoPro models, camera is bang up to date. Top billing goes to its ability to shoot 4K video at 30fps, which is mightily impressive for a camera costing less than a £100/$100, but its list of well-appointed features doesn’t end there. While you don't get the front-facing camera included in the slightly pricier Akasko Brave 7 LE, the V50 X can take 12MP stills, has in-built image stabilisation software and comes with an adjustable wide-angle lens that has a maximum field of view of 170 degrees. It also boasts slow-motion video at 1080P90 or 720P120, time-lapse video, a stills timer and a host of metering and exposure options.
The camera comes complete with a host of accessories, including an underwater housing, spare battery, remote shutter and a selection of GoPro-compatible mounts. A smartphone app is also available allowing you to remotely operate the camera, view your content and share it directly on social media. All in all, this is a hugely competitive package that is outstanding value for its price.
The Akaso Keychain is a tiny, 36g, 4K camera that can go everywhere with you. While GoPro might love wide-angle footage, the Keychain has a narrow field of view, which is actually much more helpful if you want to film something specific. Not only is this cheap action cam dinky, it's also magnetic, which means you can attach it to anything from your bike to your gym weights (and you can stash it on your fridge door when not in use). The Keychain stands out by encouraging you to get creative and capture new perspectives, and it's got an excellent app to back that up. Use it to endlessly edit its portrait or landscape videos and photos with fades, wipes, subtitles and special effects. The six-axis image stabilisation system helps produce smooth-looking video, and features such as time-lapse, loop record and 20-megapixel photo options open the door to new possibilities.
Read our full Akaso Keychain review
This second generation gives you a big, bulging bag of bangs for a relatively small number of bucks. It can shoot in 4K, can take 15 megapixel photos, has in-built image stabilisation, is waterproof to 30 meters, can record slow motion at 120fps and has a wealth of other features you’d expect to find on a camera costing a whole lot more. The package also includes a carry case, an array of mounts and accessories, an ultra-fast 64GB MicroSD memory card and even free accidental damage cover. You may expect Olfi to have cut some corners to hit such a competitive price point with the One.Five Black, but the camera is solidly built, the rear touchscreen is responsive and the Sony branded sensor is excellent even in low light conditions.
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While it may look more like a desktop webcam, the is a fully functioning action camera that punches well above its gossamer 18.3g weight. At 5cm in length, the Go makes an ideal wearable camera and comes with a back clip and pendant as well as a selection of conventional base attachments. It also has a magnetic rear so it can be quickly fixed to any metal surface.
The Insta360 Go can record 1080p HD quality video at 25fps and is designed for shooting short video clips of up to 60 seconds at a time. In addition to conventional video, it can also record timelapse, moving hyperlapse sequences and slow motion video at 100fps. Incredibly for a camera of this size, the Go comes with in-built image stabilisation, which Insta360 has dubbed FlowState. While not fully waterproof, the tiny camera shrugs off wet conditions and is rugged enough to survive being fully submerged in water for up to 10 seconds at a time.
This rubbery feeling action cam has ridged sides to lessen the chance of you dropping it while you’re getting stuck into your latest high octane pursuit. Controls are located a little strangely, with the Wi-Fi button on top, the power button and indicator lights on the front, and up/down selectors on the side, so it might take a little getting used to.
Move past the odd controls though and the Kaiser Baas X4 puts in a pleasing performance. It shoots detailed 4K video at 30fps, along with 12MP stills. Built-in video stabilisation smooths out the shakes and judders when things getting bumpy. If you want to add some extra style to your edits, the X4 can shoot slow-mo HD video at 120fps. Heading into the water? Attach the included case and it will have no problem hitting depths of up to 40 metres.
It might not be much of a looker, but Veho’s newest cheap action camera can deliver UHD 4K10 or 1080p60 footage with consummate ease. On the camera’s rear is a 1.8-inch smart LCD touchscreen, making it simple to navigate menus and preview your footage and stills. The KX-1’s stills game is strong too. Shoot straight 12MP images, or try time-lapse, photo burst or 180-degree rollover modes (for when you’re mounting the camera upside-down) and get creative with your shots. If you’re looking to take the Muvi KX-1 underwater, the camera comes with a 40m waterproof housing – ideal if you’re diving, surfing, or in the swimming pool on holiday. When you’re done shooting, the free Muvi app for iOS or Android devices makes it a doddle to stream your videos or share you photos on your social channels.
The Xiaomi action camera could earn its place on this list for the stylish design alone, but thankfully there’s plenty happening under the hood to justify its inclusion in our best cheap action camera buyer’s guide. The 7-glass lens and Sony IMX317 sensor work in perfect harmony, whether you’re shooting under blue skies or grey clouds. Footage is electronically stabilised across 6-axes of movement, and 3D noise reduction technology helps smooth out your shots. Settings can be tweaked on the 2.4-inch touchscreen. In its standalone state, the Mijia Camera mini is best used as a lightweight, portable camera to documents your travels, but pair it with the array of mounts or 45m waterproof housing and it will be ready tackle anything.
At its top resolution, AKASO’s budget shooter can deliver crisp footage at 4K25. Drop to 1080p and the EK7000 is capable of 60fps for those epic slow mo clips. There’s also a 16 megapixel sensor if stills are your bag. Built-in electronic image stabilisation takes care of smoothing your footage if the action gets a little unruly or your subject is moving fast, while the adjustable viewing angle enables power users to switch between narrow and super wide.
If most of your adventures take place in water, the EK7000 is definitely aimed at you; add the supplied waterproof case to enable shooting to a depth of 40 metres, while a dedicated Diving Mode compensates for the lack of red light underwater, ensuring that your sub-aquatic shots are just as good as those taken on dry land. The EK7000 also functions as a dash cam with Loop and Upside Down recording functionality, while control of settings, shooting modes and playback is handled smoothly via the 2-inch touchscreen.
