GoPro was founded in 2002 and has released over 20 camera models since then. Each model has a unique price point that I will discuss below. The newest GoPro, the GoPro HERO10 Black, costs $449. The previous edition, the HERO9, costs $349. The cheapest model is the GoPro HERO3+ Black and costs $187.49.
Hi, my name’s Larry. I’ve been using GoPros since 2014 and am in love with my GoPro HERO10 Black that I got last year. I film all sorts of outdoor adventures and have had 6 different GoPro cameras over the past 8 years. So I have a great understanding of the real and hidden costs of a GoPro and know how to find excellent deals and save money.
Today, I’ll be breaking down all the costs associated with buying a GoPro. Older models cost less than newer models and are a great option if you’re on a budget.
Let’s dive right in!
Contents
How Much Does a GoPro Camera Cost?
GoPros are incredible action cameras that have captured some of my most cherished memories. Whether I’m snorkeling with the manatees in Florida or skydiving in Switzerland, my GoPro has been mounted to my body and recording.
If you’re thinking about buying a GoPro, I’m here to help you learn how much it costs and which model to purchase.
GoPro has two camera product lines: the HERO line and the 360° Camera line. HERO cameras are the more popular product line and are what I recommend buying. 360° cameras are great but have a higher learning curve in terms of filming and editing.
GoPro HERO Cameras
GoPro’s HERO product line is its flagship line with the HERO10 as the current flagship product.
- HERO10 Black: $449.99
- HERO9 Black: $349.99
- HERO8 Black: $299.99
- HERO7 Black: $239.99
- HERO (2018): $229.95
- HERO6 Black: $239.99
- HERO5 Black: $249.99
- HERO5 Session: $299.99
- HERO+LCD: $299.99
- HERO4 Silver: $199.99
- HERO4 Black: $209.99
- HERO3+ Black: $187.49
Note: These prices are from Amazon.com as of March 2022 and are subject to change.
As you can see, the most expensive camera, the GoPro HERO 10, costs $449.99. Some older models like the HERO5 Session and HERO+LCD are more expensive than newer models because they are harder to find.
Check out this 5K cinematic video shot with the HERO10:
GoPro 360° Cameras
There are four total 360° cameras with the MAX and Fusion being the two latest models.
- MAX: $499.99
- Fusion: $278.95
Note: These are the prices of these two cameras as of March 2022 on Amazon.com and are subject to change.
The MAX was released in 2019 and the Fusion came out in 2017. The older models of the 360° camera line are difficult to find and I don’t recommend buying them because they are outdated.
How Much do GoPro Accessories Cost?
Next, let’s discuss some add-ons that will increase the total price of your GoPro.
There are dozens and dozens of different GoPro accessories you can purchase in addition to the camera.
Here are a few:
- Helmet mounts
- Body mounts
- Handlebar mounts
- Water accessories
- Selfie sticks
- Battery chargers
- SD cards
- And much more
The one accessory you HAVE to buy is an SD card. Unless you buy a GoPro bundle, GoPros do not come with an SD card. And you need an SD card to take videos and pictures with your camera.
I recommend buying a few 64 GB micro SD cards instead of one larger micro SD in case your data gets corrupted. I also recommend buying a few extra batteries if you plan on bringing your GoPro on day trips.
In terms of additional accessories, the world is your oyster. Depending on what you plan to record and how free your hands will be, you can take advantage of the many camera mounts and straps.
To give you an idea of how much accessories cost, a GoPro chest mount costs around $35, and a waterproof selfie stick is only $13.
What’s the Total Cost of a GoPro?
The total cost of your GoPro depends on which model camera you buy and which extra accessories you want.
It can cost as little as $200 if you buy an older secondhand camera or as much as $700 if you get the GoPro HERO10 and a mountain of additional accessories.
Which GoPro Should I Buy? (No Budget Restriction)
If you’re interested in purchasing a new GoPro and don’t have a budget restriction, you should only consider the four latest models.
Let’s take a closer look at how they compare against each other:
HERO10 Black | HERO9 Black | HERO8 Black | MAX | |
Price | $449.99 | $349.99 | $299.99 | $499.99 |
Processor | GP2 | GP1 | GP1 | GP1 |
Photo | 23MP + SuperPhoto, HDR, RAW | 20MP + SuperPhoto, HDR, RAW | 12MP + SuperPhoto, HDR, RAW | 16.6MP 360 / 5.5MP HERO |
Video | 5.3K60 / 4K120 | 5K30 / 4K60 | 4K60 | 360: 5.6K30 HERO: 1440/1080p60 |
Video Stabilization | HyperSmooth 4.0 | HyperSmooth 3.0 | HyperSmooth 2.0 | Max HyperSmooth |
Slo-Mo | 8x at 2.7K | 8x at 1080p | 8x at 1080p | 2x at 3K + 1080p (HERO mode) |
Screens | Preview Front and Rear Touch | Preview Front and Rear Touch | Status Front and Rear Touch | Touch can be Front or Rear |
Since you don’t have a budget restriction I assume you want the best quality camera. This means you should unquestionably get the GoPro HERO10 Black.
Released in September 2021, the HERO10 offers a better camera, video recording, video stabilization, and slow-mo than every other model.
The 4K/120 video recording on the HERO10 is incredible on a camera that is so small. The video stabilization with HyperSmooth 4.0 is also noticeably more effective than HyperSmooth 3.0.
In addition, the HERO10’s new processor, the GP2, makes the camera significantly faster than GoPros with GP1. I can turn on my HERO10 and take a picture in less than half the time it takes with the HERO9.
After owning the HERO4, HERO7, HERO8, and HERO9, it’s easy for me to choose the HERO10 as the winner.
Which GoPro Should I Buy? (Best Bang for Buck)
If you’re on a tighter budget and don’t want to dish out top dollar for the GoPro HERO10, don’t worry. You’ll have just as fun using an older model GoPro camera.
In this case, I recommend buying a GoPro HERO7 or GoPro HERO8, whichever one you can find for a better price.
The GoPro HERO7 was when HyperSmooth was first released, so there is a big jump in recording quality from the HERO6 to the HERO7.
In terms of differences between the HERO7 and HERO8, they are hardly noticeable if you are a casual user. Unless you’re part of a studio or doing extensive content production, the differences are actually negligible.
However, HERO8 does have TimeWarp, which is a feature that applies HyperSmooth to time-lapse videos. It allows you to capture extremely stabilized time-lapse videos while you move about a scene.
If this is a feature you’re interested in, you should get the GoPro HERO8.
FAQs
Now let’s discuss a few questions that might be on your mind after reading through this article.
How much does the cheapest GoPro cost?
Although there are ‘technically’ cheaper GoPro cameras, the older model I recommend is the GoPro HERO7 which costs $249.99. However, you can find older second-hand models at prices lower than $200.
How much is a GoPro Camera at Walmart?
Walmart offers several versions of GoPro cameras from the GoPro HERO10 for $449.99 down to the GoPro HERO3 White for $298.51. You can also find various bundle packages that include a GoPro along with multiple accessories. The GoPro HERO10 Black Power Bundle costs $795 and includes a dual charger, three extra batteries, a 128 GB microSD card, and a cleaning kit.
How Much is GoPro Waterproof Camera?
All current GoPro models: HERO10, HERO9, HERO8, Max, HERO7, HERO6, and HERO5 are waterproof. These cameras don’t require an additional case for depths up to 33 feet or 10 meters. The GoPro HERO10, the latest model, costs $449.99. The other models cost less and can be found for inexpensive prices on secondhand markets.
How Much do GoPro Competitors Cost?
Although GoPro is the gold standard of action cameras, a few brands can now compete with GoPro’s technology. The DJI Action 2 is the best GoPro rival and costs $439. Another solid competitor is the Insta360 One R Twin Edition which costs $479.
How to Get a Free GoPro Camera?
The only way to get a completely free GoPro camera is to get sponsored. You can apply to get sponsored by GoPro by sharing your story and explaining how GoPro can take your dreams to new heights.
Closing Thoughts
I hope this guide helped you decide if a GoPro is worth your money and which one you want to buy. My goal was to completely break down the cost of a GoPro camera, so there weren’t any surprises if you went shopping for one.
Now I’d love to hear from you: Which GoPro model are you going to purchase? Do you have any more questions concerning GoPros?
Either way, let me know by dropping a quick comment down below.