Best Microphones for GoPro

Every experienced GoPro user knows that, while the devices come with built-in microphones, they are not the best at capturing sound quality. For that, there are special external GoPro microphones.

Choosing the best GoPro microphone can take your videos and footage quality to the next level. However, it can be difficult to choose a GoPro microphone when so many options are available.

Hi, my name is Larry. I’ve been using GoPro cameras since 2014 and have experimented with dozens of different GoPro microphones throughout this past decade.

While a GoPro’s built-in microphone can be helpful in a pinch, an external microphone significantly improves audio performance and sound capture. In today’s guide, I’ll explain what makes the best GoPro microphone and share my favorite picks.

Let’s jump right in!

Key Takeaways

• If you don’t film vlog-style content or only use your GoPro a few times a year, it may not be worth investing in a microphone.
• Compatibility and audio quality are two of the most important factors when choosing the best GoPro microphone.
• You may need to purchase an additional adapter to attach the microphone to your GoPro.
• The Rode VideoMicro Compact Microphone is the best overall GoPro Microphone.

What Makes the Best GoPro Microphone

Before diving into the list, you must understand the key elements of an excellent GoPro microphone. While audio quality and GoPro compatibility are the two most apparent criteria to be aware of, you should also consider how much the mic weighs and what direction it picks up sound from.

Let’s take a closer look at each important factor:

• GoPro Compatibility: As you learned earlier, some GoPros do not offer external mic support, even with an adapter. Luckily, most GoPros do offer mic support with the help of a 3.5mm audio input adapter. Compatible GoPros include the HERO10, HERO9, HERO8, HERO7, HERO6, HERO5, HERO5 Session, HERO4 Black/Silver, and HERO3 Black. 
• Polar Pattern: The polar pattern indicates how the microphone picks up sound. Furthermore, the exact polar patterns are cardioid, supercardioid/shotgun, bidirectional, and omnidirectional.
• Frequency Response: The frequency response refers to how the GoPro microphone picks up different frequencies.
• Weight: The weight of each microphone is also important to consider because some mics are heavier than others. Therefore, you may want a lighter mic if you plan to use it for extended filming sessions.

Top 8 Best GoPro Microphones

It’s time to dive into my list of the top seven best GoPro microphones. I crafted this list based on 8 years of using dozens of different microphones on my adventures. So, this list relies on my extensive personal experiences and discussions I’ve had with other GoPro experts.

Remember, these microphones are compatible with all GoPro cameras as long as your GoPro offers external mic support. However, you’ll need to 3.5mm audio input adapter to use each microphone. Furthermore, you can use a GoPro Media Mod, which includes an adapter. 

1. Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone (Best Overall)

• GoPro Compatibility: 3.5mm audio input adapter
• Polar Pattern: Cardioid
• Frequency Response: 100Hz – 20kHz
• Weight: 42 grams or 1.5 ounces

The Rode VideoMicro Microphone is well-made with metal construction and is also very small, extending to only 8cm long. The front of the mic features the grill, which you should point at your audio source. Furthermore, a 3.5mm output on the back plugs straight into your GoPro microphone adapter.

This mic sits in the included shoe mount which uses Rode’s Rycote Lyre suspension system. The suspension system helps reduce unwanted noise from camera movement shocks and bumps. 

The microphone also comes with a windshield which is incredibly useful when shooting outdoors since it alleviates unwanted sound from the wind. Therefore, you get crystal-clear audio from your Rode mic.

In addition, the microphone is powered by your camera once it’s plugged in. This means you don’t have to carry any microphone batteries or keep your mic charged. As far as audio quality goes, it’s awe-inspiring for the price you pay. In my opinion, this mic is unbeatable in terms of price vs. quality. 

The only downside to this microphone is that it doesn’t offer state-of-the-art sound quality if that’s what you’re searching for. If so, I recommend getting the Rode VideoMic Pro+ for professional sound capture and quality. 

My Verdict: The Rode VideoMicro Microphone is the best overall GoPro microphone for the majority of GoPro users because it offers excellent audio capture at an affordable price point. Best of all, it’s lightweight, comes with a shock and windshield, and features outstanding build quality from Rode.

2. Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone (Best Value)

• GoPro Compatibility: 3.5mm audio input adapter
• Polar Pattern: Cardioid
• Frequency Response: 35Hz – 18kHz
• Weight: 51 grams or 1.8 ounces

The Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone comes with the microphone, shock mount, furry windscreen, carrying pouch, camera cable, and smartphone cable. Therefore, you’ll have everything you need to start recording as long as you have a GoPro microphone adapter.  

As a cardioid microphone, the Movo mic picks up sounds with high gain from the front and sides but poorly from the rear. This is perfectly suitable for most GoPro filmers since the audio source is likely in front of you. Directional or cardioid mics are great for documentary and interview work.

The windscreen eliminates wind noise when shooting outdoors, and the suspension system reduces handling and shaking noises caused by movement while filming. Since you most likely film action content in the great outdoors, these two accessories are highly necessary. 

In my experience, this microphone has an even hotter signal than the Rode VideoMicro. This means the microphone is more sensitive and picks up louder sounds.

My only complaint about this microphone is that the windscreen and suspension system aren’t as good as what’s included with the Rode VideoMicro microphone. Nonetheless, this microphone is less expensive than the Rode mic and offers incredible value for your dollars. 

My Verdict: The MOVO VXR10 Microphone is one of the best GoPro microphones in terms of value. This microphone offers an excellent mix of features, from outstanding audio performance to durable build quality made with an aluminum body.

3. Moukey Video Camera Microphone (Best Budget)

• GoPro Compatibility: 3.5mm audio input adapter
• Polar Pattern: Cardioid
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 16kHz
• Weight: 238 grams or 8.4 ounces

The Moukey Video Camera Microphone comes with a microphone, foam cover, TRS cable, TRRS cable, OMTP adapter, travel pouch, furry windscreen, and shock mount. I was shocked at how many accessories are included with this microphone, given its low price point.

This mic features solid build quality made with an aluminum frame. You can tell it’s made out of metal, and it feels heavy in my hands. However, the best feature of this microphone is that it offers significantly better audio quality than the built-in microphones on GoPro cameras. 

For its highly affordable price point, you can’t go wrong with the Moukey Microphone if you want a budget-friendly option. Although it’s no Rode microphone, the Moukey mic held its own in terms of audio capture and performance. 

The main complaint I have about this microphone is that the included furry windscreen is too big for this small mic. While the length is perfectly fine, it’s too broad and flops around when attached to the mic. However, I solved this issue by putting on the foam windscreen first, then forcing the furry windscreen over the foam counterpart. 

My Verdict: The Moukey Video Microphone is the best budget GoPro mic because it offers a high-quality cardioid sound condenser capsule and aluminum build quality at a shallow price point.

4. Rode VideoMic Pro+ (Best Premium)

• GoPro Compatibility: 3.5mm audio input adapter
• Polar Pattern: Shotgun
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
• Weight: 85 grams or 3 ounces

The Rode VideoMic Pro+ is a premium shotgun mic with lots of clarity and tremendous sound capture. As one of the market’s most popular compact directional shotgun mics, this is the only mic you should consider if you want premium audio quality for your GoPro videos. 

While the Rode VideoMic Pro+ microphone is an excellent choice for a handful of reasons, I can’t say enough about the audio capture. As a shotgun microphone, it picks up sound wherever you point it towards. For this reason, it’s important to point it at your audio source when recording.

In terms of how clear and defined the sound is, the Rode mic has a wide frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz. This covers the standard range of the human ear, allowing you to hear those warm, deep low ends with clean and crispy highs. 

I really enjoy using this microphone for run-and-gun shooting. So if you’re working on a vlog or capturing content for YouTube, this is an excellent choice for you.

The only downside to this microphone is that the included windscreen doesn’t work as well during extremely harsh conditions. So if you face strong winds frequently while recording, you may need to purchase a better windscreen to reduce the wind sounds. 

Furthermore, since the mic is so lightweight, you need to be careful not to drop it as it may damage the microphone. 

My Verdict: The Rode VideoMic Pro+ offers the best audio performance out of every microphone on today’s list. Although there are many tremendous features to talk about, the stand out ones are its automatic power function and 3-stage gain control.

5. Purple Panda Lavalier Lapel Microphone Kit (Best Clip-On Mic)

• GoPro Compatibility: 3.5mm audio input adapter
• Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional
• Frequency Response: 40Hz – 16kHz
• Weight: 22 grams or 0.8 ounces

The Purple Panda Microphone comes with the lavalier microphone, three-meter extension cord, a mini USB adapter, travel case, and fuzzy windscreen. This portable mic is made with robust plastic material and has enhanced reliability and durability.

This is the best choice for GoPro users who want a lightweight and easy way to record great audio quality. Made for individuals who are on the go, it’s compact enough to fit into your pocket or a nook in your GoPro travel backpack. 

In my experience, this microphone is suitable for vlogging, moto-vlogging, casual filmmaking, podcasts, and interviews. You can even use it for Zoom or Skype calls. Moreover, since it’s only 22 grams heavy, you won’t even feel it after you clip it onto your shirt. 

This mic has perfect sensitivity that it picks up your voice and a bit of the outside sounds. The fuzzy windscreen also eliminates wind sounds, providing crystal-clear audio quality. 

The only downside to consider is that this mic doesn’t capture stereo audio. Instead, it uses a single omnidirectional (non-directional) microphone capsule to capture monaural audio. This means it records sound as if it’s emanating from one position. 

My Verdict: If you’re looking for a clip-on lapel microphone, you can’t go wrong with the Purple Panda. Although small and discreet, it offers excellent sound capture with an omnidirectional polar pattern. This means it captures sound from all directions, which is great for vloggers. 

6. Comica CVM-V30 Lite (Best Budget Shotgun Mic)

• GoPro Compatibility: 3.5mm audio input adapter
• Polar Pattern: Shotgun
• Frequency Response: 60Hz – 20kHz
• Weight: 52 grams or 1.83 ounces

If you’re on the hunt for an inexpensive shotgun microphone, you can’t go wrong with the Comica CVM-V30 Lite Microphone. This microphone surprised me because it sounds similar to the Rode VideoMicro mic I ranked as number one on today’s list. 

However, the mount performance on the Rode VideoMicro is significantly better because the Comica mic still picks up some sounds when you tap or bump your GoPro into the mic. In my opinion, the mount should’ve been made with rubber instead of plastic.

In terms of audio, the highs and clarity portion of the audio does offer directionality, which is the exact purpose of a shotgun mic. When it comes to the mid to low end of the audio spectrum, the mic offers the same audio level no matter where the mic is pointed. 

The Comica CVM-V30 Lite is an excellent starter mic for GoPro users on a budget. Although this mic struggles a bit in windy situations, you can order an external wind cover to reduce this problem.

My Verdict: The Comica CVM-V30 Lite is an excellent choice if you want an affordable shotgun mic that captures sound from long distances. It’s built with a tube-shaped form and offers similar audio quality to the Rode VideoMicro Microphone. 

7. Comica CVM-VM10II Professional (Best Compact)

• GoPro Compatibility: 3.5mm audio input adapter
• Polar Pattern: Shotgun
• Frequency Response: 80Hz – 16kHz
• Weight: 34.2 grams or 1.2 ounces

Similar to the previous option, the Comica CVM-VM10II Microphone comes with the microphone, shock mount, windscreen, wind muff, audio cable, and premium carrying case. It features excellent metal build quality and is super compact. The two windscreens do an excellent job of reducing wind and environmental sounds.

Although the sound quality isn’t nearly as great as the premium Rode microphone, it’s still terrific. In addition, when recording the audio source from a short distance, it provides a focused capture and reduces some of the ambient noise. 

However, when used further away (3 feet or more), it picks up more ambient sound but nothing you wouldn’t expect. All in all, this is an excellent shotgun mic for its price, and I was blown away at how much of an improvement it made for my GoPro videos.

The included case is made with a hard plastic material which is great since I travel a lot. Therefore, I can rest assured knowing I won’t damage my microphone when it’s inside the protective travel case.

In terms of drawbacks, I don’t recommend this microphone if you minted to record objects from far distances. This microphone works best when the audio source is nearby.

My Verdict: The Comica CVM-VM10II is a brilliant option if you want a compact mic with a unidirectional polar pattern that captures sound from every direction. Not only does it offer excellent sound quality, but it also has great build quality with an aluminum body. 

8. Rode Wireless Go II Microphone (Best Wireless)

• GoPro Compatibility: 3.5mm audio input adapter
• Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional
• Frequency Response: 50Hz – 20kHz
• Weight: 62 grams or 2.2 ounces

The Rode Wireless GO II Microphone is the perfect microphone for an extensive range of content creation applications. With an extended 200-meter line of sight, this mic truly puts the “wireless” in wireless microphone. This mic also comes with a handy carry pouch to keep it safe and protected while traveling. 

Furthermore, the kit includes 3 furry windshields, 3 USB-C to USB-A cables, and 1 TRS to TRS memory cable.

This mic features on-board recording. This means the mic features over 40 hours of internal memory you can use to save your recorded audio with. This makes it easier to edit and EQ your audio levels during post-production editing.

An on-board recording is also beneficial to eliminate the problem of dropouts or audio issues. Furthermore, this mic has a flexible gain control that lets you precisely tailor the output to your GoPro camera. 

In terms of battery power, the Rode Wireless GO II microphone has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides up to 7 hours of runtime. One of my favorite features about this wireless mic is its compactness. Fitting into your pockets and weighing 30 grams per receiver or transmitter, it’s easy to bring wherever you go. 

The only downside to this mic is that the travel pouch isn’t large enough to store your cable and adapter in. Furthermore, it doesn’t come with a charger, so you must supply your own USB-C cable.

My Verdict: The Rode Wireless Go II Microphone is the best wireless GoPro mic because it’s small, lightweight, and features professional sound quality. You can never go wrong with a microphone manufactured by Rode.

Final Thoughts

Microphones made for GoPros greatly enhance the cameras’ general sound quality. You don’t just want a device that gives slightly better audio, you want a multi-faceted machine that greatly improves each and every aspect of your GoPro. That is what the microphones in this guide achieve.

Above is my list of the top 8 best GoPro microphones. Not only do GoPro mics enhance the audio capture of your videos, but they also enable you to film more content since it’s more exciting to shoot videos when you have highly competent equipment.

By now, you should have narrowed in on which GoPro microphone you want to use. The Rode VideoMicro microphone is suitable for most GoPro users, but it depends on your specific needs and goals. For example, the Purple Panda microphone is the best option for GoPro users who want a clip-on microphone.

So, now it’s time to hear from you! Which GoPro microphone from today’s list will you go for? Do you have any additional questions about GoPro microphones? Are there any mics I forgot to mention? Leave a quick comment right below and let me know.