5 Best Cheap Action Cameras Under $100 (2026)

By Alex Mercer | Updated 2026

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Under $100 buys you a genuinely capable action camera in 2026. My top pick is the AKASO Brave 4 at $69.99. It balances real-world image quality, a solid accessories kit, and two batteries out of the box, which cheaper rivals skip. If you want to spend less and still get the core AKASO experience, the EK7000 at $55.49 is the smarter budget grab than the pricier EK7000 variant.

Quick Comparison

The Picks

1. AKASO Brave 4, Best Overall Under $100

$69.99 on Amazon →

The Brave 4 is the one I'd hand to a friend who wants a capable action camera without overthinking it. At $69.99 it competes directly with the original EK7000, but the Brave 4 wins on real-world usability. Two batteries in the box is huge. Most competitors ship with one, and a dead camera at the 45-minute mark on a hike is genuinely annoying.

The 4K 30fps footage holds up well in good light. Colors are punchy without looking processed, and the EIS makes handheld shots usable rather than nauseating. The remote control is a nice touch for helmet or handlebar mounting where you can't reach the camera easily.

What stands out:

• Ships with 2 batteries, which adds roughly 90 extra minutes of shooting time versus competitors
• EIS noticeably reduces wobble at 1080p, though 4K EIS softens detail slightly
• WiFi app connection works reliably for live preview and remote triggering
• Waterproof to 131ft with the included housing, better depth than most pools require

Honest downsides: Low-light performance is mediocre. Noise shows up fast indoors or at dusk. The plastic hinge on the housing feels thin and requires careful handling. The microphone audio is fine for outdoor wind noise but sounds hollow in enclosed spaces.

Pick this if you want a reliable all-rounder for travel, cycling, or snorkeling with minimal extra purchases needed.

Skip this if you need a touchscreen, 60fps at 4K, or the sharpest possible footage in mixed lighting.

Check price on Amazon

2. AKASO EK7000 (Budget Version) -- Best Pure Budget Pick

$55.49 on Amazon →

This is the $55.49 version of the EK7000, and it's the one to buy if price is your main filter. For under $60 you get 4K 30fps, 20MP photos, EIS, WiFi, and a remote. The spec sheet is nearly identical to the $69.99 EK7000 version below, which makes that one harder to justify unless it's bundled with significantly more accessories at the time you're reading this.

I looked at the 6,876 reviews carefully. The pattern in the 1-star complaints is almost exclusively about two things: the waterproof case seal failing on aggressive dives and the WiFi app being clunky on older Android phones. Neither issue affects casual use.

What stands out:

• 131ft waterproof rating with the housing covers beach, pool, and kayak use comfortably
• The 4X digital zoom is functional but gets grainy past 2X, use it sparingly
• Remote control included, useful for mounting on helmets where you can't see the buttons
• At $55.49 it leaves budget for a spare battery or extra mount kit

Honest downsides: Only one battery ships with it. You'll get about 60-70 minutes per charge under normal use. The physical buttons take some getting used to, the menu navigation feels like a budget camera from a few years ago because it essentially is.

Pick this if your budget is tight and you want AKASO's proven reliability without paying for extras you might not need.

Skip this if you're doing any serious underwater photography or need a touchscreen interface.

Check price on Amazon

3. AKASO EK7000 (Original) -- Best Accessories Bundle

$69.99 on Amazon →

This is the $69.99 EK7000 variant with the larger accessories kit. It's the same core camera as the $55.49 version above. I want to be direct: you're paying $14.50 more for mounting hardware, extra clips, and bundled extras rather than any camera upgrade. That's either smart or wasteful depending on what you already own.

If you're starting from zero and don't want to source mounts separately, this version makes sense. The accessory kit typically includes handlebar mounts, helmet mounts, helmet strap mounts, and waterproof housing. Buying those piecemeal would cost you more than $14.50 anyway.

What stands out:

• One of the most review-tested cameras in this price range, 31,946 ratings is a meaningful sample
• The accessory variety means you can experiment with different mounting positions
• 4.4/5 at that review volume suggests consistent quality control
• WiFi remote works from up to 32ft, useful for group shots

Honest downsides: The image quality is not a step up from the cheaper EK7000 variant. If you have mounts already, this bundle adds no value. Battery life is the same single-battery limitation as the budget version.

Pick this if you want to start with a full kit and skip the accessory shopping rabbit hole.

Skip this if you already own GoPro-compatible mounts or if you're buying the Brave 4 anyway, which comes with two batteries and matters more than extra clips.

Check price on Amazon

4. ODDV 4K60FPS. Best Specs Per Dollar (Watch This One)

$49.99 on Amazon →

The ODDV is the wildcard here. At $49.99, it claims 4K 60fps, 30MP photos, dual screens, and 5X zoom. That spec list beats everything else in this roundup on paper. The 4.7/5 rating is impressive too, though 225 reviews is a small sample compared to the AKASO cameras with 30,000 plus reviews.

I want to be honest about that review count. 225 reviews isn't nothing, but it's a much smaller data set. What I look for in newer products is whether the 1-star complaints show systemic problems. The current pattern doesn't show major red flags, mostly accessories and WiFi connectivity issues rather than camera failures.

The dual-screen setup is genuinely useful for vlogging and solo travel. You can see yourself in the front LCD while recording, a feature you usually pay more for.

What stands out:

• 4K 60fps at $49.99 is remarkable, AKASO cameras max at 4K 30fps at any price in this roundup
• Front LCD screen for solo shooting is a real differentiator
• Touchscreen rear interface is more intuitive than button navigation on the EK7000
• 132ft waterproof rating, slightly better than competitors

Honest downsides: Brand is newer and less proven at scale. The 5X zoom is digital and gets noticeably soft. Front LCD is small, about the size of a postage stamp, so framing isn't as straightforward as it sounds.

Pick this if you want 60fps or a front-facing screen and you're willing to accept a newer brand.

Skip this if you need the long-term reliability confidence that comes with thousands of reviews.

Check price on Amazon

5. 5K Action Camera (B0G7J11H2J) -- Best for Getting Started Fast

$69.99 on Amazon →

This one ships with a 64GB SD card included, which no other option here does. For someone who just wants to buy one thing and start shooting, that matters. SD cards add $10-15 to any camera purchase, so the effective price gap between this and the ODDV is smaller than it looks.

The 4.9/5 rating catches your eye, but 111 reviews is a very small pool. I wouldn't put too much weight on that number yet. The "5K" label should be read skeptically. At this price point, 5K typically means interpolated resolution rather than true 5K sensor output. Treat it as a good 4K camera.

The 64GB included card and the 170-degree wide angle lens are the real selling points here. Wide angle is great for action sports where you want to capture the environment, not just the subject.

What stands out:

• 64GB card included, genuinely saves you a separate purchase
• 170-degree wide angle captures more of the scene than narrower competitors
• EIS and WiFi app included at the same $69.99 price as AKASO options
• Remote control included for hands-free operation

Honest downsides: Brand is very new with minimal review history. "5K" is marketing language at this price. No dual-battery setup included. With only 111 reviews, long-term durability is an unknown.

Pick this if you want to skip the SD card purchase and get a wide-angle perspective right away.

Skip this if brand reliability history matters to you, the AKASO cameras have years of real-world data behind them.

Check price on Amazon

What Alex Mercer Looked For

Based on analysis of 55,000+ customer reviews across these five cameras, I focused on what actually matters for sub-$100 action cameras.

Video quality in real conditions. Not spec-sheet 4K, but how footage looks on a bike trail or in a pool. EIS quality and low-light behavior matter more than resolution claims.

Waterproofing reliability. The housing seal is the most common failure point in 1-star reviews across all budget action cameras. I flagged cameras where housing failures appeared repeatedly.

Battery life and included extras. A camera that ships with two batteries and a memory card is worth more than its sticker price suggests.

Review volume and pattern. A 4.9 rating with 100 reviews tells me less than a 4.4 rating with 30,000 reviews. I weight both number and quality of feedback.

Real-world usability. Button layout, menu speed, app connectivity. Things you only learn from reading enough honest reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cheap action cameras actually waterproof?

Yes, with the housing attached. All five cameras here use a waterproof housing rather than a native waterproof body. The housing is rated to 131-132ft, which covers snorkeling and swimming comfortably. The weak point is always the housing seal. Rinse it with fresh water after saltwater use and inspect the rubber gasket before each dive.

Can I use these action cameras instead of a GoPro?

For casual use, cycling, travel, and snorkeling, yes. The GoPro Hero series has better color science, superior low-light performance, and more reliable software. If you're mounting on a ski helmet and need footage that holds up in variable lighting, the $400+ GoPro investment pays off. For YouTube vlogging or family vacations, these cameras do the job at a fraction of the cost.

Do I need to buy a memory card separately?

For almost all of these, yes. The exception here is the 5K camera (B0G7J11H2J) which includes a 64GB card. The AKASO cameras and the ODDV require a separate purchase. A Class 10 or UHS-I rated microSD card is required for 4K recording. Cheap cards will cause dropped frames or recording errors.

What's the actual battery life on these cameras?

Expect 60-90 minutes per charge at 4K. Lower resolution and screen-off modes extend that. The AKASO Brave 4 ships with two batteries, so you effectively get 2-3 hours of shooting before you need to find a charger. For any full-day activity, I'd recommend at least two batteries regardless of which camera you choose.

Bottom Line

The AKASO Brave 4 is my clear overall pick. Two batteries, proven reliability across 16,000 plus reviews, and solid 4K 30fps performance make it the easiest recommendation in this price range. If budget is the priority, the AKASO EK7000 at $55.49 gives you the same core camera for $14.50 less. The ODDV is the one to watch if you want 60fps or a front screen and you're comfortable being an early adopter.

Related Reading

• 5 Best Budget Action Cameras Under $100 (2026)
• 5 Best Action Cameras Under 5000 Rupees (2026)
• Best 4K Action Camera for Motorcycle in 2026

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