Which action cameras have GPS and telemetry in 2026?

If you’ve ever watched an MTB edit with a speed overlay, a route trace, or elevation data on screen, you’ve seen action camera GPS in its best form. But not every action camera records GPS the same way.

Some cameras have GPS built in. Some require an app. Others need an extra remote. And a few don’t support GPS at all (even if the marketing makes it sound like they do).

So if you’re trying to choose the right action camera in 2026 (especially for mountain biking, skiing, hiking, or motorsports), this guide will help you understand what to look for, what to avoid, and which brands do GPS best.

GoPro: the easiest GPS workflow

If you’re choosing GoPro specifically for GPS and telemetry overlays, the good news is that most GoPro models include built-in GPS, which makes them one of the simplest options. The main exceptions are the GoPro 12 Black, the GoPro 11 Mini, and GoPro’s entry-level HERO models, which don’t record GPS data. So if GPS is a must-have for you, just avoid those, and with most other GoPro models, you’re good to go.

Because GPS is built in, you don’t need to buy any extra accessories, but it’s worth noting that GPS isn’t always enabled by default, so you may need to switch it on in the settings the first time.

Once enabled, GoPro records telemetry directly alongside your footage, which makes it much easier to work with later, especially if you plan to extract speed, route, or elevation overlays using telemetry tools.

Insta360: GPS is possible, but not always built in

Insta360 cameras are brilliant for storytelling, especially if you want 360 footage or a camera that makes reframing easy.

But these cameras don’t have built-in GPS, so any speed or route data needs to come from a paired device, usually a bluetooth Remote Controller. GPS overlays are supported on X4, X3, X2, ONE X2, and ONE RS. Other models may connect to the app, but they don’t always support GPS telemetry in the same way, so if GPS is a must-have, it’s safest to stick to the models above.

This is completely fine if you already know you want Insta360 for other reasons (like 360 capture). But if GPS is your main priority, it’s important to realise that Insta360 is not always the “turn it on and forget it” option.

DJI Osmo Action: GPS depends on the setup

DJI Osmo Action cameras are often compared directly with GoPro because they’re strong competitors on stabilisation, image quality, and overall value, but GPS is one area where things can feel less clear.

Most Osmo Action models don’t record GPS directly inside the camera in as GoPro. Instead, GPS is typically captured through a connected setup, you will need to buy and connect a GPS Bluetooth Remote Controller (or similar paired device). DJI is compatible with Osmo Action 4 , Osmo Action 5, Osmo Action 6 and DJI Osmo 360

That means DJI can absolutely work if your goal is speed and route overlays, but you will need this extra accessory to make it work.

How to add GPS overlays to your action camera footage

Once your camera has recorded GPS data, adding speed, route, and elevation overlays is usually straightforward, but the exact workflow depends on the brand.

With GoPro, you can typically extract telemetry through GoPro’s own tools or third-party telemetry software, because the GPS data is stored directly alongside the footage (as long as GPS was enabled when recording). With Insta360 and DJI, GPS is usually captured through a paired workflow, either via the phone app, or an external GPS remote, and then synced back into the footage inside their ecosystem before you export.

The challenge is that even when GPS is supported, it often becomes a multi-step process: pairing devices, making sure GPS is actually recorded, syncing it correctly, and then figuring out how to reuse that data later.

This is one of the reasons we’re building Classer. Instead of treating GPS as something you have to “deal with” during editing, Classer automatically reads and organises your footage (including location and telemetry data where available), so you can find your best moments faster, without turning every adventure into a technical workflow.

Final thoughts: best action cameras with GPS in 2026

If GPS is a key part of your footage, the safest option is still a GoPro with built-in GPS.

Insta360 and DJI can both be great choices, but they require accessories.