The ingenious dashcam has been growing in popularity over the past decade, and with prices dropping steadily, we’re now in a golden age of the best budget dashcams. There are no drawbacks to fitting one in your car now that good software is available at entry-level prices. In addition to our top picks below, check out our dashcams explainer article.
Our team have tested countless dashcams, looking to find the very best. Even though there are great value-for-money options out there, it’s not always easy to know which ones are best. Paying the extra dollar doesn’t always mean you’re getting a better product. After investigating the most reasonable dashcam options available today, we’ve found the below list to be our current top favourites.
The best budget dashcams at a glance
Depending on your insurance provider, getting a dashcam can reduce your monthly premiums. And in the event of an accident, a dashboard camera can also be an invaluable piece of kit. As well as proving an accident wasn’t your fault, dashcams will often increase the speed of settlements and help you hang on to your no-claims bonus, too. That’s the dash am essentially paying for itself right there. What’s more, they’re a great safeguard against a more unsettling trend; those increasingly popular ‘crash-for-cash’ crimes.
How we tested budget dashcams
Each dashcam was installed using the methods outlined in the instructions. In the instance where a dashcam isn’t supplied with a memory card or a crowbar for installation we used one of our own.
The dashcams were left to shoot footage for a couple of weeks while we continued our normal day-to-day driving. This allowed us to assess the dashcams in the variety of situations, including sunny weather when glare might be an issue, low-light when it might be too dark to capture clear footage, and rainy weather when there’s a higher chance of an accident.
If a dashcam had an app then that was downloaded and assessed too. After a couple of weeks the memory card was also removed and inserted into a laptop or PC to review footage quality. This allowed us to full understand where (if any) weaknesses may lie.
Each camera was rated based on footage quality, value for money, easy of use, and features.
The best budget dashcams
The best budget dashcam
I really liked testing the S900 as it was easy to install and easy to use. I did have to fit the rear camera externally as it wouldn't mount on the rear windscreen easily, but other than that I had no problem using the adhesive mount and the suction cup mount for the front camera (my preferred mount).
Footage quality is great out of the front, as the S900 shoots in 1080p at 30fps. Reviewing the footage, I didn't find many situations where it was difficult to make out details, but when driving quicker the footage can get a little blurry. I think the quality is great for the price of the camera. The rear footage isn't great, in fact, I believe the rear camera offers less than 1080p resolution, meaning that footage is significantly blurry and number plates are not recognisable.
While the rear camera might not be useful, this is a dual dashcam bundle, and there's no harm in mounting the rear camera to ensure you have great coverage than just a front unit. Other useful features include a G-sensor, parking monitoring, and motion detection. For the price, I don't think you'll find much better than the Orskey S900.
Review by Naveed Hussain
Pros
- Great value for money at under £40
- Intuitive functions make it easy to use and install
- An easy entry-point into dual dashcam ownership
Cons
- Not the best-looking dashcam
- Mounting arm and two wires makes it look messy
Editor's pick
Footage quality is great, in fact, it's a step above the level I expected from a budget dashcam, and can even compete with the premium products in this market. The colour is well-balanced and the footage is clear. I was even pleasantly surprised by the low-light footage, which is often where budget dashcams fail.
Installing and using the Miofive is fairly straight-forward, and you even get an app that has a decent amount of features. It's all quite intuitive. The S1 Ultra sits on a mounting arm, which I thought was a little flimsy, but otherwise I couldn't fault the quality of the unit and the thick wires.
You could spend a little less for the S1 Pro (4K + 2K) or the S1 (4K front only), but for not much more the S1 Ultra deserves a second look. You'll see why we like it so much.
Review by Naveed Hussain
Pros
- Dual 4K resolution for consistent footage
- Well-designed camera and wires
- Comes with a range of features
Cons
- Voice alerts are a little harsh
- Mounting arm lets it down on quality
Best picture quality
It still features all the necessities: recording at 30fps; G-sensor; loop recording; and 170° wide lens. However, it also features a Sony sensor for improved night vision, WiFi, GPS, and a large three-inch touch screen.
Installing the J01 is easy as it connects straight into your car's 12V socket. Everytime I start my car I'm greeted with an audible tone that isn't harsh. I particularly like the design, which is a little chucky but it attaches onto the windscreen without the need for a mounting arm. That's great, as it means less space is taken up.
Using the camera is easy since it has tactile buttons that I could use to navigate the menus. Low-light footage isn't bad, but it could be improved, especially in rainy conditions. I found glare from other vehicles to be a slight issue, and number plates are difficult to recognise when vehicles are a little further away. None of these issues are particularly troubling in a budget dashcam, and I would go as far as to say this is one of the best.
Review by Naveed Hussain
Pros
- Great value for money with a lovely design
- Intuitive functions with tactile buttons
- Impressive footage quality for the money
Cons
- Some issues with glare
- Low-light footage could be improved
Best for quality
The footage quality from the E1 Pro rivals many high-end dashcams with beautiful colour thanks to the CPL filter. I found the colour to be quite rich, with minor details standing out in the footage. Despite the screen, which is great for reviewing footage, the small unit can fit behind the rear-view mirror easily for distraction-free driving.
Installing and using the E1 Pro is easy, thanks to the app that doesn't require an account to use. I wouldn't bother with the electrostatic sticker though, as it meant that my E1 Pro fell off the windscreen a couple of time. Ditch the sticker and the camera stays put.
The only downside of the camera is how often it detects events. Even when going over medium sides speed bumps the camera actively takes photos and saves footage. This is great for capturing vital footage but it can interrupt the driving experience. Overall, this small unit should certainly be on your list to consider.
Review by Naveed Hussain
Pros
- 4K footage from a mini budget dashcam
- Great build quality
- Lovely footage quality for clear video
Cons
- Detects events too frequently
- Don't bother with the electrostatic sticker
Best all-rounder
Footage quality out of the front is great for a budget dashcam. It shoots in 4K, and while it doesn't compete with the high-end dashcams on picture clarity, it does do relatively well in low light. During daylight, the edges may become a little blurry when travelling at speed. The rear cameras shoots in 1080p which is okay for offering rear coverage but it does mean that some details (like number plates) are hard to make out when a car is at a distance.
Installing the D2 Pro is easy, and since the date and time is automatically set it means I simply had to plug it all in and go. A 64GB memory card is even included. Driving with the D2 Pro installed is great, since it doesn't give any voice alerts, although I did once hear it say something but I couldn't make out what it was saying. It's a shame I couldn't get it to speak again after that.
If you're wanting dual coverage on a budget then the D2 Pro offers an elegant solution with the wide screen and alert-free driving. My passengers were impressed.
Pros
- Decent 4K footage quality out of the front camera
- Easy to install and set up thanks to automatic time and date
- 64GB memory card included
Cons
- Rear camera only shoots in 1080p
- No voice alerts
Best for build
The 122HD is the cheapest way to get a new Nextbase dashcam, and for your money, you'll get HD recording, a 120-degree viewing angle and an intelligent parking mode to keep your car safe at all times. It may be a little bare-bones with other features, but it'll be exceptionally made and the perfect starting point for a new driver.
Pros
- Recognised brand
- Top build
Cons
- Lower spec than other budget dash cams
Budget dashcams FAQs
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Are dashcams worth it?
Depending on your insurance provider, getting a dashcam can reduce your monthly premiums. And in the event of an accident, a dashboard camera can also be an invaluable piece of kit. As well as proving an accident wasn't your fault, dashcams will often increase the speed of settlements and help you hang on to your no-claims bonus, too. That's the dashcam essentially paying for itself right there. What's more, they're a great safeguard against a more unsettling trend; those increasingly popular 'crash-for-cash' crimes.
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What should I look for in a dashcam?
When it comes to finding the best dashcam for you, there are a fair few factors that contribute to making a model the right one for your needs.
The first and most obvious is the quality of the footage. In the event of an incident, if you can't rely on that footage to prove your case, it's a waste of an investment, so you need to make sure it's reliable in all conditions. This is the first thing we looked at when rating the above dashcams.
The main specification that you need to look out for here is the video resolution, so for this, the recording needs to be 1080p at least - 720p just isn't good enough. All of the dashcams mentioned here are 1080p or above, but there are other image quality features that come into play to really make it a quality product. Just remember to have the correct SD card for your needs.
These include the frame rate (how many frames are captured per second), having 'low light performance' features (meaning it can see well at any time of day), a high dynamic range (good levels of contrast in the image) and the widest lens possible (minimum 120°).
Other features that might impact which dashcam is best for you come down to your use of the camera, how it looks & is mounted and accessing the footage. For instance, screens are useful if you are doing more one-off recordings, such as a specific journey or track run, but for everyday driving where you are continually recording, you may want something less intrusive. However, if you don't care about aesthetics, this may not be an impact factor.
Mounting can be another important feature since you may wish to move the cam between vehicles. Most dashcams utilise suction cups that fit the windscreen. However, some models come with 3M double-sided adhesive stickers to offer a more permanent and secure solution.
Accessing the footage can either be done via mobile apps or by plugging the device into your computer; the former, of course, offers more instant access to footage, but this bonus usually comes with a heftier price tag. If you're happy to take on the hassle of unmounting, connecting and manually downloading the files, you're likely to save a good few pennies, but it depends on what's important to you. You can spot which cams can connect to your mobile by seeing which ones have WiFi smartphone features.
We've outlined all the best dashcam features you need to consider when choosing your dashcam in a quick checklist below. -
How do I fit a dashcam?
Cheap dashcams are often reasonably priced for a reason, be that a slightly more fiddly setup or wires that need a bit of negotiating. But if you're looking to save on pennies, a cheaper model can certainly be worth the extra effort. The same goes for the dashcam installation: you can either plug the cam into your cigarette lighter and go, opt to fit the dashcam yourself with a hardwire installation kit costing between £5-£20, or get it fitted professionally.
Service stores such as Euro Car Parts offer fitting services from £30, or if you buy your dashcam through RAC, they can include the fitting as part of the dashcam package. However, the first cam we would consider buying from their range starts at £69.00, and that still has a limited angle range of 140°.
Since cigarette lighter sockets usually turn off with your engine, you may wish to hardwire the cam to take advantage of parking sensor features. The internal battery of some cams may last a little while, but they can never outlast a hardwired cam. If you drive every day, the cam can recharge via the cigarette lighter port, but otherwise, hardwiring your cam is the cleanest and best option to leverage overnight monitoring.
If you're worried about the dashcam draining your car's battery (which is possible if you don't drive that frequently), you can also install a battery pack to keep things topped up. Since these can cost anything from £100-£300 though, you might just want to run to the shops once a week to keep your car battery healthy and happy. -
Which dashcam is the best?
Well, that's a complex question, but the simplest answer is the best dashcam is the one that fulfils all of your requirements. You might not need 24H parking features (maybe you park in a garage), but dual 4K may be useful. Maybe you don't care for ADAS and voice alerts but a dashcam with 5G Wi-Fi might be crucial for you. Our advice is to find the most affordable dashcam that fulfils your criteria.
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