BEST ACTION CAMERAS UNDER $100 [2023 EDITION]

The EK7000 has sold very well since its release and gets excellent reviews from buyers. Considering it is easy to use, has decent video and image capabilities and comes at a low price, this camera would be an excellent choice for beginners or those on a tight budget. It can record 4K videos at 25fps and capture 12-megapixel photos – plus you can shoot time-lapse and burst photos with the fixed 170° super wide-angle lens.

Besides two batteries, waterproof housing, and various mounts, the camera comes with a remote control (although you can also control it via an app from up to 10m away). While it doesn’t have built-in image stabilization, this durable action camera does give you good quality images and video for under $50.

BRAND: Akaso
DIMENSIONS: 0.9 x 2 x 1.5 inches
BATTERY LIFE: 90 minutes 1050mAh
VIDEOS: 4K/25fps
IMAGES: 12 megapixels
CONNECTIVITY: Wifi, HDMI, USB, MicroSD
DISPLAY: 2 inch LCD
IMAGE STABILIZER: No
WATERPROOF: Yes: 30m with housing
COLOR: Black/Silver/Blue

BRAND: Dragon Touch
DIMENSIONS: ‎4.53 x 2.95 x 9.06 inches
BATTERY LIFE: 90 minutes 1050mAh
VIDEOS: 4K/30fps
IMAGES: 20 megapixels
CONNECTIVITY: Wifi, HDMI, USB, MicroSD
DISPLAY: 2 inch LCD
IMAGE STABILIZER: Yes
WATERPROOF: Yes: 40m with housing
COLOR: Black

Being a great value action camera the Brave 4 offers many features for the price it comes at. With a good range of mounts, accessories, two batteries, and underwater housing, this camera can cover most outdoor activities with ease. The waterproof housing can go down to 30m (although the included remote is not waterproof).

The 4K is upscaled rather than native 4K, and while you get much better image stabilization from their pricier models, the Brave 4’s electronic image stabilization does an adequate job. There are four fields of view available, so you can choose between shooting super wide-angle footage at 170° or opt for 140°, 110°, or 70°. The 2″ screen allows you to preview footage but is not a touchscreen.

The SJCAM has a 20-megapixel sensor and is 4K at 24fps. The included waterproof housing lets you take the camera down to 30m and it comes with a fantastic range of mounts and accessories, including a case to keep them in.

The SJCAM comes with a touchscreen and buttons which make it very easy to use. Another awesome feature is the ability to change the angle of view between 70°, 110°, 140°, and 170°. For photography you can apply a few effects in-camera such as: white balance, exposure values, and adjustable ISO – making it suitable for experienced users. It has a self-timer and can shoot bursts. Video and image quality are impressive for the price and the Wi-Fi enables you to share videos and pictures with ease.

BRAND: SJCAM
DIMENSIONS: 2.36 x 1.57 x 0.98 inches
BATTERY LIFE: 90 minutes 1050mAh
VIDEOS: 4K/24fps
IMAGES: 20 megapixels
CONNECTIVITY: Wifi, HDMI, USB, MicroSD
DISPLAY: 2 inch LCD touchscreen
IMAGE STABILIZER: Yes
WATERPROOF: Yes: 40m with housing
COLOR: Black

This camera comes in just under budget, but this considered you do get a lot for your money. With native 4K at 30fps, 12-megapixel photos, and four different fields of view, the specs are impressive. It comes with two batteries, a dual battery charger plus a range of mounts and accessories. This camera is straightforward to use thanks to its touchscreen and Akaso’s iOS or Android apps connecting to the camera via Wi-Fi. The apps work very well, plus you can control the camera and view your videos and photos wirelessly.

The camera can shoot video, photos, burst photos, time-lapse, and slow-motion. It also has a self-timer and remote control. The electronic image stabilization works well and there’s always the option to alter the ISO value, exposure value and time, white balance, metering, and photo quality. This action camera would be great for more experienced photographers/videographers who want more manual control.

BRAND: Akaso
DIMENSIONS: 2.36 x 1.57 x 1.18 inches
BATTERY LIFE: 90 minutes 1350mAh
VIDEOS: 4K/24fps
IMAGES: 20 megapixels
CONNECTIVITY: Wifi, HDMI, USB, MicroSD
DISPLAY: 2 inch IPS touchscreen
IMAGE STABILIZER: Yes
WATERPROOF: Yes: 40m with housing
COLOR: Black

This camera is at the top end of our budget but offers you good value for money without costing as much as a GoPro. For just under $100 you get native 4K and a 20-megapixel sensor for photos. It features a 2-inch touchscreen which is easy to use and has impressive image stabilization (which even works when shooting in 4K at 30fps). The image stabilization is not as good as more expensive cameras, but it does a decent job.

You can control the camera from the touchscreen, using the buttons or via the app – which connects via Wi-Fi. The camera can shoot slow-motion, time-lapse, and photo bursts. It comes with helmet and bicycle mounting kits, an external charger, and a waterproof housing suitable for use down to 40m. All considered – it’s definitely one of the best action cameras under $100.

BRAND: Exprotrek
DIMENSIONS: 2.3 × 1.6 × 1.3 inches
BATTERY LIFE: 90 minutes 1350mAh
VIDEOS: 4K/30fps
IMAGES: 20 megapixels
CONNECTIVITY: Wifi, HDMI, USB, MicroSD
DISPLAY: 2 inch IPS touchscreen
IMAGE STABILIZER: Yes
WATERPROOF: Yes: 30m with housing
COLOR: Black

There’s a vast amount of choice available to you when looking to buy a cheap action camera. While GoPro makes some of the best action cameras on the market, they are expensive. There are many quality GoPro alternatives under $100 available today.

When choosing which is the best affordable action camera for you, there are several things to consider. You may need your action camera to be waterproof if you are scuba diving or snorkeling, or if you’re mountain biking or rock climbing, then hands-free capabilities will be essential. Depending on what you will be shooting, you will want to consider battery life, connectivity, range of focal lengths, image, and video quality to determine your best value action camera.

Image Quality

For video, the highest quality footage comes from cameras recording in 4K, which has a resolution of 3840 x 2160p, known as native 4K. It is now possible to get a 4K camera under 100 dollars. Native 4K provides higher image quality than Full HD (1080p) but does require a lot of space on your memory cards and can slow the editing process down. When shooting in native 4K, the shooting rate will usually be 30 frames per second (FPS) however for slow motion, you’d want to have the option to shoot at 60 or 120 FPS, so while 4K might be suited to your needs, an inexpensive 1080p action camera could be a better choice. Native 4K cameras generally have the option to shoot in Full HD, so they offer flexibility. Non-native 4K cameras upscale footage, so while they record in Full HD, they can output 4K footage.

Most of our best action cameras under $100 can capture still images at 20 megapixels, but even the lowest 12-megapixel camera will give you decent image quality for printing.

Action cameras generally offer the option to shoot video and photos at several resolutions, which can be useful if you want to preserve battery life.

Modes and Settings

Besides standard photos and videos, most of these action cameras have other modes such as time-lapse, photo bursts, and slow-motion video. You may not need all of these, but if they are something you would like to use, check to see if they are a feature of your chosen camera.

A few of the action cameras we’ve included here have enhanced photography features such as changing the ISO and adjusting white balance and exposure values. These options will appeal to more advanced users as they give a degree of manual control.

Waterproof Depth Rating

All the cameras in our list of the best action cameras under $100 can shoot images and video underwater when used with the supplied underwater housings. The majority come with underwater cases that enable you to capture footage at depths up to 30 meters, so they are perfect companions for recreational scuba diving, and several can go all the way to 40m if you venture that deep.

If you are taking your action camera diving, you might want to consider mounting it on your mask to keep your hands free – take a look at the Octomask in our list of the Best Dive Masks for 2023.

User Friendliness

Due to their small size, action cameras can be tricky to use as space for controls is limited, however some of our best action cameras under $100 have touchscreens that make things easier. Although, touchscreen or not you should ensure you have a good read of the manual when you get your camera, so you understand how to operate all the functions. Touchscreens don’t work underwater, so it’s essential to know how to change settings with the buttons as well if you plan to use your camera in the water.

Image Stabilization

It’s no longer necessary to have external accessories to make sure your footage is smooth. Most of these cameras come with image stabilization, which compensates for camera movements, so even if you are recording while mountain biking, your footage will be smooth rather than jerky. Better image stabilization does come at a higher cost, but it is possible to get a 4k action camera under $100 with this feature. If you choose a camera without image stabilization, we’d recommend getting a gimbal accessory to smooth video footage. Image Stabilization on cheaper action cameras does not generally work when recording in 4K, so a gimbal might be worth purchasing even if your camera does have image stabilization.

Lens Viewing Angles

Every camera in our budget action camera review offers a wide-angle lens, while some of these are fixed to one angle while others allow you to choose between different options. Super wide angles like 170° will enable you to capture all the action with the traditional action camera “look,” but if you would like more options, some of these cameras can shoot at 70°, 110°, or 140° as well.

Battery Life

All of our action cameras, cheaper than GoPro, have a comparable battery life, which is excellent as you’ll likely be using your choice of the best action camera under 100 dollars in situations where it’s not easy to recharge your batteries. Some of these cameras come with a second battery but alternatively you can purchase extra batteries to go with your camera. More battery life is always good but be aware it can be affected by the quality of footage you are shooting; higher resolutions will lessen battery life during shooting.

You can conserve battery life by turning off Wi-Fi and the screen but also be aware that batteries will deplete faster in cold environments. Most manufacturers claim batteries will last 90 minutes, but this usually means 90 minutes of shooting at 1080p rather than 4K.

Connectivity & Editing

All the cameras mentioned in our guide to the best action camera under 100 dollars use a Micro SD card to record footage, but you can either use the card or a USB cable which connects to your computer to view and edit your footage. Remember to always format the card in your action camera before using it. But like GoPro, many of the cheap GoPro alternatives offer Wi-Fi connectivity so you can transfer images to mobile devices and control your camera from your phone. We cover what connectivity and apps are available in our review.

If you opt to transfer your footage to a mobile device, there are various editing options available. From using manufacturers’ apps and third parties to using professional software. Here is an awesome video with some tips on how to get the best out of underwater footage.

Accessories

Different types of activities require various accessories – we’ve already looked at waterproof cases, now it’s time to dive deeper. All the cameras we’ve reviewed come with these included, which is advantageous to these GoPro alternatives. The most affordable waterproof action camera consists of a housing, whereas GoPro does not as a standard. All the cameras in our best cheap action camera comparison include various accessories and mounts, so be sure to see if these are the ones you will need for your sport or activity.

1. Do I need a touchscreen?

Touchscreens can make using your action camera easier, but they are not essential. All the cameras mentioned here have buttons for accessing menus, settings, and functions. These buttons are necessary as touchscreens don’t work underwater when the cameras are in their housings. It can take a little while to get used to using the buttons, as it can with any type of camera. You should read the manual to make sure you know what you’re doing.

2. Which memory card should I buy?

All the cameras in our top ten use Micro SD cards. The larger your card, the more video and photos it can store. However, make a note of the maximum card size for your chosen action camera as many only support up to 64GB cards. If you need to store more footage on your cards, then look for one that supports up to 128GB, but you can of course always keep more than one memory card! For a quick lesson on choosing memory cards, please have a look at this video.

Some, but not all of the action cameras we’ve listed here come with memory cards, so you can be sure those will be compatible with the camera.

3. What is the best 4k action camera under $100?

We think the Victure AC900 is the best action camera under 100 dollars as it has very impressive image quality, Native 4K, good image stabilization, a touchscreen, and plenty of features. It’s simple to use, comes with two batteries, an underwater case, and is an excellent deal.

4. Should I get an action camera or a more traditional camera for underwater use?

Action cameras are brilliant for taking underwater videos and photos, but if you are more focused on photography than videography, it’s worth looking at alternatives. Action cameras are very convenient as they’re so small, but larger cameras offer more photography features and are much better for macro photography.

You won’t get an underwater camera for as low a price as these budget action cameras, but if you are serious about photography underwater, take a look at our guide to the Best Underwater Cameras of 2023.

5. Which action camera is right for me?

The best action camera for less than $100 for you will depend on which features are the most important to you and best suited to your chosen activities, and what you want to do with your photos and videos after shooting them. With more and more apps available, editing on mobile devices is easy and great for traveling as you can keep your social media updated on the road. Wi-Fi and an app suitability for your device is a great feature to have.

As always, we create our content with you, fellow adventurers, in mind. So, how’d we do? Did you find this informative? Did it help you make a decision? Did we miss anything? We’d love to hear from you below. Thanks for reading and we hope your next adventure is a great one!