A dash cam with exceptional resolution and recording quality that costs under $100.
A high-resolution dash cam with excellent nighttime recording quality.
An easy-to-install dash cam that is painless to use while driving.
An unobtrusive dash cam that can disappear behind your mirror.
A lower-cost version of the Nexar Pro that’s just as easy to use but with fewer features.
A dash cam can help with insurance claims, monitor your vehicle while parked, or record video memories of a road trip. The best dash cam will capture clear video and is easy to install and operate. In this article, we’ll explain what to look for in a dash cam and recommend some of our favorite options for those in the market for a dash cam.
Our Review Standards
The dash cams in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching Amazon for top products, considering factors like customer ratings, Amazon superlatives, and prices. We also selected products that meet a range of uses and budgets.
The dash cams we selected were tested for:
- Ease of Installation: You can have a professional install your dash cam, but it is less expensive to install the dash cam yourself. We set up each dash cam in a car according to the instructions included with the product. Dash cams with clear, concise instructions and an easy setup process score best in this category. Note that while ease of installation matters, we gave this score the least weight in our overall rating since we think other categories are slightly more important.
- Video Quality: Video quality is perhaps a dash cam’s most important feature. We considered resolution, frame rate, and field of view for this category. We took each camera for a brief test drive both during the day and at night. Afterward, we uploaded and reviewed the footage to evaluate how easily (if at all) we could read license plates and make out important details.
- User Interface (UI): To get the most from a dash cam, it should be easy to operate the camera and retrieve saved video. Some dash cams have an intuitive touchscreen design, while others have clunky menus that are difficult to navigate.
- Extra Features: We considered each dash cam’s features beyond simple recording. Those with tools that can improve the utility of your dash cam such as GPS, voice control, and event detection scored well in this category.
In addition to the categories mentioned above, we also considered online customer reviews. While we were able to test all dash cams in person, our time with these products was limited. Therefore, we look to user experiences to get an idea of how well these cameras continue to function over time.
5 Best Dash Cams
- Editor’s Choice: Kingslim D5 4K Dash Cam
- Best for Night Use: Vantrue N2S
- Most User-Friendly: Nexar Pro Dual Dash Cam
- Best Small Option: Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2
- User-Friendly Budget Pick: Nexar Beam GPS Dash Cam
#1 Editor's Choice: Kingslim D5 4K Dash Cam
The Kingslim D5 is one of the highest-resolution dash cams you’ll find for under $100. It offers recording at 60 frames per second (fps) as well as an exceptionally-wide 170-degree view. This camera’s broad operating temperature (-4°F to 140°F) makes it an appropriate dash cam for almost any environment.
This dash cam is an excellent choice for those who want to record their surroundings in full 4K at a relatively low cost.
Key Features
- Cost: About $90
- Max recording resolution: 4K
- Frame rate: 60 fps
- Field of view: 170 degrees
- Operating temperature: -4°F to 140°F
- GPS: Yes
- Mounting style: Adhesive
Our Experience
The Kingslim D5 is low-profile and can easily tuck behind a rearview mirror. However, the installation system could be better. This camera uses an adhesive mount that only tilts up and down, making it more difficult to adjust than a swivel mount. It is also difficult to disconnect the camera from the mount for review.
Once installed, the camera has an easy-to-navigate interface. The D5 pairs with a free app that allows users to access footage and download files.
This camera does not easily connect to a computer. Like many newer dashcams, it seems designed primarily to be used with the accompanying app. Of course, if your PC has an SD card reader, you can still access files from the camera.
Image quality is where the Kingslim performs best, especially considering the cost. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a lower-priced camera that records at full 4K resolution. That said, the nighttime recording quality could be better. In low-light situations, the camera records well enough to make out what is happening but does not capture license plate information with much clarity.
| Overall Rating | 4.5 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Installation | 4 |
| Video Quality | 5 |
| User Interface (UI) | 4.5 |
| Extra Features | 4.5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.3 out of 5 based on over 3,000 ratings
Most are satisfied with the image quality of this camera. Reports on longevity are mostly positive, with several claiming multiple years of reliable service. There are a couple of reports of the camera failing after a year, and no longer charging. While this may occur with some cameras, note that the D5 does include a two-year warranty. We also reviewed the D4 dash cam here if you’re curious about the models that led to this amazing dash cam.
#2 Best For Night Use: Vantrue N2S
The Vantrue N2S is an excellent all-around dash cam with high recording resolution. The camera mounts on your front windshield and features a rear-facing camera that looks into the cabin. It even features a parking mode that can detect collisions and start recording while your car is parked.
We recommend the Vantrue N2S if you often drive at night or in dark areas. It’s especially helpful if you drive in a rural community with fewer streetlights. The camera records the highest-quality nighttime video of all the products we tested, and you can use the infrared function to get even better images in especially dark situations.
The cabin-facing camera can also be useful for Uber or Lyft drivers.
Key Features
- Cost: About $220
- Max recording resolution: 4K
- Frame rate: 30 fps
- Field of view: 155 degrees
- Operating temperature: 14°F to 158°F
- GPS: Yes
- Mounting style: Suction cup
Our Experience
There’s a lot to love about the Vantrue N2S, and we found it offers similar video quality to the Kingslim. The camera also looks great, and the horizontal design makes it easy to hide behind your rearview mirror.
The Vantrue is as easy to install as a dash cam could be. The camera attaches to your interior windshield via a suction mount, which is much easier to install and adjust than an adhesive mount.
What makes the Vantrue further stand out is the infrared night vision mode, which is extremely useful when driving at night in an area that is not well-lit.
While the Vantrue lacks an app and a touch screen, the camera’s other features make up for this. However, if smartphone integration is important to you, you may want to consider a different product.
| Overall Rating | 4.5 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Installation | 4.5 |
| Video Quality | 5 |
| User Interface (UI) | 4 |
| Extra Features | 4.5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.4 out of 5 based on over 1,300 ratings
Users of this dash cam really like the cabin recording feature, and many satisfied reviewers are rideshare drivers. There are some reports of defective units shipping, but those that work seem to hold up for several years.
You can turn off the camera’s LCD screen while driving, but there is a blinking red light that some drivers have found distracting. However, it’s easy to place this camera in such a way that this light is out of view. For more information on this dash cam, check out our dedicated review page here.
#3 Most User-Friendly: Nexar Pro Dual Dash Cam
Nexar produces a line of dash cams designed with smartphone integration in mind. The Pro is Nexar’s mid-level camera offering front and interior recording at 1080p resolution.
What makes this camera stand out is how easy it is to set up and manage. We recommend the Nexar Pro for those who want to use a dash cam with as little hassle as possible.
Key Features
- Cost: About $240
- Max recording resolution: 1080p
- Frame rate: 30 fps
- Field of view: 135 degrees
- Operating temperature: -4°F to 158°F
- GPS: Yes
- Mounting style: Suction
Our Experience
Out of the box, the Nexar stands above other dash cams. Everything is packaged and labeled for as painless a setup as possible. The instructions are the most straightforward and pared down of any dash cam that we tested. This camera even comes with a microSD card, which isn’t typically included with a dash cam.
The forward-facing camera has a suction mount, though the interior camera has an adhesive mount. The recording quality is OK. If you want to record at a higher resolution, you could upgrade to the Nexar One.
You can access the Nexar through an app that allows you to review and download footage. The camera records location and speed data as well. You can also control the camera with your voice and even use it to send video messages.
| Overall Rating | 4.4 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Installation | 5 |
| Video Quality | 3.5 |
| User Interface (UI) | 4.5 |
| Extra Features | 4.5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.2 out of 5 based on over 3,800 ratings
Most Amazon reviews for the Nexar are positive. Users appreciate that the camera works and is easy to use. Several people claim to have gotten years of reliable recording from this camera.
There are a few comments that the Nexar app doesn’t work well with Android devices. We tested the Nexar on an Android phone and it worked fine. The app is originally designed for iOS, so it may be buggier on some Android phones.
#4 Best Small Option: Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2
Garmin offers a line of dash cameras, each with different features, price points, and sizes. The Mini 2 is designed to be small and easy to use. While it doesn’t include some extra features like 60 fps recording or a GPS, it offers good video quality and an excellent interface.
We recommend the Mini 2 for those who want low-profile dash cams for multiple vehicles. The Garmin dash cam app is designed to sync across multiple cameras, meaning you can manage all of your dash cam footage from one convenient source.
Key Features
- Cost: About $130
- Max recording resolution: 1080p
- Frame rate: 30 fps
- Field of view: 140 degrees
- Operating temperature: -4°F to 140°F
- GPS: No
- Mounting style: Adhesive
Our Experience
Garmin products are very user-friendly. This camera is small and attaches to a swivel mount that makes it easy to position. However, this camera does use an adhesive mount, which can come unglued in especially hot temperatures. Given the light weight of the Mini 2, however, this isn’t especially likely.
It’s very easy to mount and unmount the camera from the sticky base – simply pull it off.
Image quality is decent, but the recording resolution is only 1080p, which can sometimes fail to capture clear license plate information, especially at night. We found the app easy to use, though you’ll need to create an account if you want to sync multiple dash cams to the same smartphone.
| Overall Rating | 4.0 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Installation | 4.5 |
| Video Quality | 3.5 |
| User Interface (UI) | 4.5 |
| Extra Features | 3.5 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.3 out of 5 based on over 3,900 ratings
Happy Garmin customers appreciate that while this dash cam doesn’t have a lot of extra features, it reliably performs a dash cam’s most vital function – records and stores videos of your drive. We also reviewed another Garmin dash cam here, if you’re looking for other offerings from this great brand.
#5 User-Friendly Budget Pick: Nexar Beam GPS Dash Cam
The Nexar Beam is a (slightly) stripped-down version of the Nexar Pro. While it does not have a rear-facing camera, the Beam shares many of the same strengths as the Pro but at a lower price. This dash cam is user-friendly, offers workable video quality, and footage is easily managed through the Nexar app.
Key Features
- Cost: About $180
- Max recording resolution: 1080p
- Frame rate: 30 fps
- Field of view: 135 degrees
- Operating temperature: 14°F to 140°F
- GPS: Yes
- Mounting style: Suction
Our Experience
As mentioned, the Nexar Beam shares many of the same advantages and drawbacks of the Nexar Pro. The main difference is that the Beam doesn’t have an interior-facing camera. If such a camera is not useful to you, the Beam is an attractive, less-expensive alternative to the Pro.
Everything about this camera is designed for ease of use. It has a suction mount, very few buttons, and comes with a microSD card included.
The Nexar app is sleek and well-designed when it works. Footage is automatically saved as well as location data. The app allows you to create and export clips for easy insurance reporting. However, some users report issues with the app, and we encountered these ourselves. It doesn’t appear to work on older-model Android phones. One of our test phones, a Galaxy S7 (2016), was not able to run the Nexar app. Another test phone, a LG V50 ThinQ (2019) was able to run the app just fine.
| Overall | 4.0 out of 5.0 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Installation | 5 |
| Video Quality | 3.5 |
| User Interface (UI) | 4.5 |
| Extra Features | 3 |
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.2 out of 5 based on over 5,200 ratings
What reviewers most appreciate about the Nexar is its plug-and-play features. The camera automatically starts recording when you drive and downloading footage is very easy through the app.
Some users report app issues. The app doesn’t always work on older Android phones. Another issue has to do with the self-record function. Some claim that automatic recording only works occasionally, so it may be worth checking that the camera is recording before you head out.
Dash Cam Buyers Guide
Most dash cams are designed to continuously record your surroundings while driving. This is useful if you get into an accident or if your car is damaged or burgled in a parking lot. Many insurers offer lower rates for dash cam users or will accept dash cam footage as evidence during a claim. It is important to know your state’s video consent laws in the event of a personal injury lawsuit. Which dash cam is best for you will depend on your needs and your budget, which is why we’ve also compiled a review of the best budget dash cams. Generally, you’ll want to consider:
- Recording quality
- Temperature range
- Accessibility
- Usage
Recording Quality
These days, even relatively inexpensive cameras can record in ultra-high definition. A clear image is crucial for identifying important details when reviewing dash cam footage. When shopping for a dash cam, consider the following:
- Camera resolution: The highest-quality dash cams can record in full HD 4K resolution. 4K is ideal, but not always necessary. At the very least, you’ll want a camera that records at 1080p minimum. Anything below 1080p can be very grainy. Reviewing low-resolution footage can still be useful for insurance claims, but it can be difficult to identify plate information from 1080p footage.
- Frame rate: Most dash cams record at 30 frames per second (fps) or more. Anything below 30 fps is not advisable. If you’re trying to shoot professional-looking video, you may want something that can shoot 60 fps. For the majority of dash cam users, 30 fps is enough.
- Night vision: How well the camera performs in the dark can be important, especially if you frequently drive at night or in the countryside where there is less light. A camera that has infrared or night vision may be desirable in these cases.
Temperature Range
Because they are mounted on your windshield, dash cams can get very hot. Not all cameras work well in the heat. If you live somewhere with extreme temperatures, make sure to look for a camera that is rated to operate in that range.
Accessibility
Even the best dash cam is not useful if you can’t figure out how to operate it. These days, many dash cams are integrated into apps that allow users to easily review and download dash cam footage.
The downside to modern dash cams is that some don’t have an easy way to interact with a computer. Downloading high-quality video files through Wi-Fi or a Bluetooth® connection can take a long time. The fastest way to collect and review dash cam footage is often to attach your dash cam to a computer. However, if you don’t have a computer or are uninterested in certain advanced features, this won’t be a useful feature for you.
Usage
Before choosing a dash cam, consider how you will use it. Most people use a dash cam for surveillance while parked, insurance purposes, personal videos, or trips as a rideshare driver. Your needs may be different.
Rideshare drivers may want a camera like the Vantrue N2S because it features a cabin camera. If you are recording your trip for insurance, you may want a cheaper model that is low profile. If you want to put cameras in multiple vehicles, consider the Garmin 56, as several Garmins can be connected and managed in the same app.
If you’re recording a video for personal or creative reasons, you may want a camera with a higher resolution and frame rate.
There are also dash cam accessories – such as car chargers and various types of mounts – that you might consider with your purchase.
Dash Cam Installation Tips
Dash cams should not obstruct your view of the road. For this reason, it is best to install them behind your rearview mirror and to tuck the cables into the upholstery. Many dash cams then plug into your car’s 12.0-volt lighter socket, though some can be wired directly to your car battery.
Tucking dash cam cables into the upholstery is a fairly easy, if time-consuming process. Attaching your dash cam to your car battery is much more involved and best left to a professional.
There are two common means to mount a dash cam to your vehicle: adhesive mounts and suction mounts.
- Adhesive mounts attach to your windshield using some sort of glue. These are easy to attach but can detach in extreme heat. Cameras mounted this way will eventually need to be remounted with new adhesive applied.
- Suction mounts are easier to apply and remove and less likely to fall off during operation. Generally, this is a superior (though less common) method for mounting a dash cam.
Dash Cam Testing Process
To thoroughly test each dash cam, we installed each camera into a 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid and took it for a test drive. We repeated this process both during the day and at night. We also tested each dash cam’s additional features, including motion detection and smartphone app functionality. Using the dash cams in this way gave us a feel for how easy the cameras are to operate.
By handling each dash cam in person, we are able to get a better understanding and feel for the cameras we recommend than product specs alone can tell us. By testing each dash cam, we were able to ensure that the cameras work as intended. We are also able to get a sense of how easy or difficult it is to access dash cam footage.
We recorded our test drives with several dash cams and then accessed and examined the resulting videos, paying attention to details such as license plate legibility. Based on our experiences, we assigned each dash cam a rating for ease of installation, video quality, user interface, and extra features.
Ease Of Installation
Our ease of installation score is based on the time and hassle it takes to install each dash cam. Those that require little setup out of the box and include easy-to-follow instructions scored highest in this category. Our ease of installation score also considers how hard or difficult it is to adjust (and readjust) the position and angle of the dash cam.
Video Quality
Our video quality score is based on the clarity of the dashcam footage. This is partially related to video recording quality, but that isn’t the only factor that makes dash cam footage legible. How a dash cam processes video and the dynamic range (difference between light and dark values) can make a big difference when it comes to dash cam footage quality.
Dash cams that provided the clearest view to read license plates (both during the day and at night) scored highest in this category.
User Interface
Our user interface score is based on how easy the dash cam menu is to navigate. Dash cams with simple, intuitive menus scored best here. Also important is how easy it is to access dash cam footage. Dash cams with multiple methods for reviewing footage (such as downloading to your phone, connecting to computer, viewing directly on the dash cam screen) score highest in this category.
Extra Features
The dash cams with the most extra features scored best in this category. We also considered how well these extra features work. For instance, many dash cams include event detection, but some have a more sensitive motion detector than others.
Bottom Line: Dash Cams
Those in need of a reliable, affordable dash cam for insurance purposes should consider the Kingslim D5. It is priced under $100, records in 4K video, and is easy to use. Those looking for a dash cam with better night vision might consider the Vantrue N2S, which has an infrared recording mode. Garmin makes the most compact dash cams, while the Nexar Pro Dual dash cam is one of the most user-friendly.
Dash Cams: FAQ
*Data accurate at time of publication.