The Best Dash Cams in 2026
Wirecutter’s best dash cam is the Viofo A229 Pro ($280 for the front-and-rear kit), with sharp 4K video day and night, GPS, parking mode and a heat-friendly supercapacitor. The Miofive S1 ($90) is the pick under $100.
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How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec pages, official prices and published lab measurements from the outlets we name and link. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.
Quick answer
Wirecutter’s best dash cam is the Viofo A229 Pro ($280 for the front-and-rear kit), with sharp 4K video day and night, GPS, parking mode and a heat-friendly supercapacitor. The Miofive S1 ($90) is the pick under $100. Best overall: Viofo A229 Pro, $280. Best under $100: Miofive S1, $90. Best budget with rear camera: Miofive S1 Ultra, $130.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Viofo A229 Pro | most drivers | $280 |
| Best under $100 | Miofive S1 | spending under $100 | $90 |
| Best budget with rear camera | Miofive S1 Ultra | a budget front-and-rear setup | $130 |
| Best small | Vantrue E1 Pro | small windshields | Check price |
| Best connected | Garmin Dash Cam Live | remote live view over LTE | $379.99 |
| Best 4K value | Rove R2-4K Pro | affordable 4K | $159.99 |
Most dash cams need a microSD card, so budget for one unless the camera includes it.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Dash cam | Price seen | Who picks it | Video | Notes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viofo A229 Pro (2-channel) | $280 | Wirecutter top pick | 4K front | No microSD card included | Most drivers |
| Miofive S1 | $90 | Wirecutter under $100 | 4K | No extra cameras | Spending under $100 |
| Miofive S1 Ultra | $130 | Wirecutter budget with rear | 4K front and rear | Card included | A budget front-and-rear setup |
| Vantrue E1 Pro | — | Wirecutter also worth considering | 4K | Tiny 1.54-in. screen | Small windshields |
| Garmin Dash Cam Live | $379.99 | PCMag best for driver assists | 1440p | Some features need a subscription | Remote live view over LTE |
| Nextbase 622GW | $199.99 | PCMag best for Alexa | 4K | Alexa built in | Alexa and crash features |
| Rove R2-4K Pro | $159.99 | PCMag best for 4K video | 4K | No touch screen | Affordable 4K |
The picks in detail
1. Viofo A229 Pro
Best for: most driversWirecutter’s[1] top pick records crisp 4K video day and night, has 24-hour parked-car monitoring and GPS, and uses a heat-friendly supercapacitor instead of a battery. It doesn’t come with a microSD card, and the rear camera can struggle with tinted windows. $280 for the 2-channel kit at Amazon and Walmart.
Price (Oct 2026): $280 Source
Pros
- Sharp 4K day and night
- Parking mode, GPS
- Supercapacitor
Cons
- No microSD card included
- Dim rear footage through tint
2. Miofive S1
Best for: spending under $100Wirecutter’s[1] pick under $100 combines 4K resolution with other features of its top pick and comes with a microSD card. It doesn’t support extra cameras, and the build quality could be better. $90.
Price (Oct 2026): $90 Source
Pros
- 4K for $90
- microSD card included
Cons
- No rear camera option
- Cheap-feeling mount
3. Miofive S1 Ultra
Best for: a budget front-and-rear setupEverything Wirecutter[1] likes about the S1, plus a 4K rear camera, for almost double the money but still less than the Viofo. Includes a microSD card. $130.
Price (Oct 2026): $130 Source
Pros
- 4K rear camera
- Card included
Cons
- Build quality could be better
4. Vantrue E1 Pro
Best for: small windshieldsWirecutter’s[1] pick if you want a really small camera: less than 2 inches square, with a screen, a supercapacitor and 4K video from the same image sensor as the Viofo. The 1.54-inch screen is harder to use.
Price (Oct 2026): Check price Source
Pros
- Tiny
- Same sensor as the Viofo
Cons
- Small screen
5. Garmin Dash Cam Live
Best for: remote live view over LTEPCMag’s[2] best for driver assists. It has a 1440p camera, remote live view, driver-assist features, voice controls, cellular and Wi-Fi, cloud and local storage, and ships with a microSD card. It’s pricey and some features require a subscription. $379.99.
Price (Oct 2026): $379.99 Source
Pros
- LTE live view
- Driver assists
- Card included
Cons
- Pricey
- Subscription for some features
6. Nextbase 622GW
Best for: Alexa and crash featuresPCMag’s[2] best for Alexa support: sharp 4K video, dual-band Wi-Fi, free cloud storage and a 3-inch touch screen. Its Emergency SOS feature is subscription-based. PCMag says it’s pricey and the touch screen could be more responsive. $199.99 at Amazon.
Price (Oct 2026): $199.99 Source
Pros
- Sharp 4K
- Alexa built in
Cons
- Laggy touch screen
- SOS needs a subscription
7. Rove R2-4K Pro
Best for: affordable 4KPCMag’s[2] best for 4K video. It’s affordable, with sharp 4K video, GPS and dual-band Wi-Fi, and it’s easy to install. It lacks driver-assist features and a touch screen. $159.99.
Price (Oct 2026): $159.99 Source
Pros
- Affordable 4K
- GPS, dual-band Wi-Fi
Cons
- No driver assists
- No touch screen
Also considered
Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3: A 1080p ultracompact camera PCMag’s[2] deals list showed at $99.
Vantrue N4 Pro S: Uses the same sensor as the Viofo; Wirecutter[1] plans to test it.
Get the right microSD card
Dash cams loop-record over the oldest footage, so a reliable card matters. Viofo recommends at least a Class 10 or UHS-I card for 4K video, per Wirecutter[1]. See our microSD card guide and, for recording rides and trips, our best action cameras.
Mounting tips
Wirecutter[1] recommends mounting a dash cam high in the center of the windshield, near the rearview mirror and out of your eyeline.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best dash cam?
What is the best cheap dash cam?
Do dash cams need a subscription?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
Related
The Best Action Cameras in 2026
WIRED’s best action camera is now the GoPro Mission 1 Pro ($700), thanks to its 1-inch sensor. The DJI Osmo Action 6 ($426) is the best traditional action camera, the Hero 13 Black ($430) is the cheaper GoPro, and the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 ($390) is best for vlogging.
best ofBest microSD Cards for Switch 2 and Action Cameras
The Switch 2 only takes microSD Express cards. GoPro cameras want regular V30 UHS-I cards. Don’t mix them up.
best ofThe Best Home Security Cameras in 2026
Wirecutter’s best outdoor camera is the wire-free TP-Link Tapo MagCam C425 ($115 for two), and its indoor pick is the Tapo C120 ($44.99 list; $35.99 on the Tapo store as of Nov 9, 2026). Both record to a microSD card for free, so a subscription is optional. If you own a Tapo camera, install TP-Link’s latest firmware: Tapo posted a security notice in October 2026.