The 4 Best Dash Cam Apps for Android, Compared

Are you interested in a new dashcam? Whether you want an extra set of eyes in case of an accident or you’re curious about your driving habits, a dashcam can help you out.

You could buy a new purpose-built dashcam. Or to save money, you could use a free Android dashcam app. There are several excellent free dashcam apps available for Android, with a range of handy features.

Here are some of the best free Android dashcam apps you can start using right now.

Testing the Android Dashcams

To test these apps, I used a Samsung Galaxy S8 running Android 9. In my car I have a generic clamp-style suction-cup window mount smartphone holder, like the one pictured below. The phone had to be slightly offset from being centered in the holder, to avoid the clamp taking up the shot. You may notice a black object in the top right or left corner of the videos because of that.

Unfortunately, having to shift the smartphone off-center in the clamp adds some vibration to the video capture. That said, the dashcam apps and the smartphone camera itself mitigate some vibration, so the overall video capture is relatively smooth. If you’re fiddling with a smartphone car clamp, check out these tips on how you can improve the mount.

The biggest issue that Android dashcam apps face is toggling between day and night. Some dedicated dashcams will record better-quality video at night or variable light levels than a dashcam app. The quality of nighttime recording using an Android device relates to the quality of the camera in your device. The better the camera, the better the quality.

The latest Android smartphone devices are likely to cope better with filming at nighttime, though no Android smartphone will give you a perfect result.

Another consideration is battery use. Android dashcam apps use several power-draining features simultaneously, which will drain even the sturdiest of smartphone batteries. You can use an in-car charger to keep your smartphone battery topped up. However, this also runs the risk of causing your smartphone to overheat.

An overheating smartphone can cause damage to the battery and other important components, so you must balance your battery life and Android dashcam app use.

The Best Free Android Dashcam Apps

Now that you know our criteria for testing the Android dashcams, its time to take a look at which free Android dashcam app you should use.

You should also note that some of the following dashcam apps also offer a pro version. Though these premium versions of the apps offer a wider range of features, you can often find the same features for free in an alternative app.

1. AutoBoy Dash Cam

AutoBoy Dash Cam is a free Android dashcam packed with handy features. The app is simple to use and allows you to flick between different camera options, exposure levels, capture orientation, and more—all without having to wade through complicated menus.

You can choose to add GPS tracking to your video capture. Plus, the GPS also updates as you drive, showing your current location. If you get into an accident, AutoBoy Dash Cam will lock the recording video to protect the evidence.

You can also set AutoBoy to start or finish automatically. This works using a connection to a car dock, power socket, or Bluetooth to begin recording (or loss of connection to stop).