Looking for advice on which memory card for GoPro cameras work best? Whether you’re an owner of the GoPro Hero 9, Hero 8, or Hero 7 and earlier, confusion over which GoPro SD card you should buy is totally normal. If you’re a GoPro newbie or GoPro enthusiast looking for help with your memory cards, this post is for you! You’ll find direct links to GoPro’s recommended cards and buying advice from fellow GoPro enthusiasts.
Some product links in this post are affiliate links, and VidProMom will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking our links. Read my disclosure policy here.
What SD card do I need for a GoPro?
If you are completely new to GoPro memory cards, you need to know a couple things before you buy one. Even if you’re not new, it’s good to know what to look for in SD cards for GoPro because not all memory cards are compatible with your GoPro. So let’s sort it all out!
I’ll get straight to the point if you’re not interested in learning more about SD cards for your GoPro…
SD Cards recommended by GoPro
The official word from GoPro on the correct memory cards for their cameras is not always clear, and varies from model to model. Different SD cards work with different models of the Hero and MAX cameras.
However, these are the brands that GoPro has recommended time and time again. The following SD cards are recommended by GoPro for nearly all GoPro Hero and MAX models, so you can’t go wrong with these ones!
- SanDisk Extreme 32GB
- SanDisk Extreme 64GB
- SanDisk Extreme PLUS 32GB
- SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB
- Lexar 1000x UHS-II U30 V60 128GB
- Lexar 667xVIDEO (UHS-I V30) 64GB
- Lexar 667xVIDEO (UHS-I V30) 128GB
- SanDisk Extreme 128GB (a higher capacity card like this may cause issues in older models)
- SanDisk Extreme 256GB (a higher capacity card like this may cause issues in older models)
CAUTION:
Do not buy the SanDisk Ultra to use with your GoPro camera. It’s not the same thing, and it will likely result in recording issues!
We’ve done our best to provide accurate information here in this post, but sometimes things change. For all recommendations here on this page, check with gopro.com’s list of recommended cards to ensure compatibility.
What is the best micro SD card for GoPro?
Personally, I have had excellent luck with SanDisk Extreme, as well as the Lexar 1000x. Both cards have worked fine with my usual shooting settings, which are typically 1080 30 FPS or 60 frames per second.
I asked the friendly folks in my GoPro Enthusiasts Facebook Group what cards they are using and having success with, and the SanDisk Extreme, Lexar 1000x, and Samsung Evo cards are the answers that popped up the most.
Before Shopping for a GoPro Memory Card
When shopping in a store, you will often see memory cards’ packaging with a camera, phone, or HD symbol on it, giving you a clue that the card you’re looking at is compatible with those kinds of devices.
It may even say that it’s compatible with action cameras like a GoPro. This is helpful, but it may not be accurate as there is no way to know when the card was produced and whether it’s compatible with newer GoPro cameras.
SD Card vs Micro SD Card
Another important thing to consider with GoPro Memory cards is the size of the card itself. All GoPro cameras require a Micro SD card, not a standard SD card. The micro SD card is about the size of the fingernail on your pinky finger (really!), so make sure you look for the right one.
SD Card Speed for GoPro Memory Cards
There are a lot of acronyms and numbers flying around when you start looking at GoPro memory cards, and they make very little sense at first. There are speed classes, Ultra High-Speed classes, HDHC, HDXC, read speed, write speed, UHS-I (or U1) and UHS-II, capacity, and brand names. YIKES!
If you are confused, don’t worry… Let’s break down what you need to know about memory cards for your GoPro camera.
All GoPro cameras need a minimum Speed Class of 10. That’s the 10 with a little C that looks like a circle around it.
You should also see a U with a number in it as well, and it will probably be a 1 or a 3.
If you happen to have a U on your card, but no 10 with a circle C around it, it is likely that the card still meets the minimum requirements for GoPro, but check compatibility using the lists for GoPro models below. U1 also means the card’s minimum speed is 10 Megabytes/second, where the U3 has a minimum speed of 30MB per second.
The speed I’m referring to is the write speed of the memory card. It’s easy to imagine that recording digital video is instantaneous… and it’s really, really fast, but it’s not instantaneous. GoPros are finicky when it comes to memory card speed because the camera is capturing high-definition video, possibly at very high frame rates, so it needs a memory card that can literally keep up with itself, and with how fast the camera is taking in and saving data.
You may have a card that also tells you the maximum read speed. The read speed is essentially how fast you can transfer your files onto your computer. It’s ok if your card doesn’t say what the read speed is–for compatibility with your GoPro, the write speed is what is important.
What If you use a memory card that’s not compatible with your GoPro?
It’s possible that your camera works fine with “unapproved” memory cards. But if you’re GoPro refuses to record, records for a few seconds, and then stops, or produces footage with dropped frames, it may be due to a memory card that is not compatible with your GoPro. Unfortunately, you may not realize until after the fact that your card is not compatible.
It is amazing how such a tiny little thing can cause a bunch of problems, isn’t it? The topic of memory cards for GoPro cameras comes up a TON in my GoPro Enthusiasts Facebook group, and in my inbox. On this page, you’ll find a list of compatible SD cards for GoPro models with direct links to purchase them!
Related: How to Use a GoPro Camera
Hero 9 Black Memory Cards
The following SD cards are recommended by GoPro for the Hero9 Black, according to gopro.com. These memory cards can be used with the Hero 9 Black:
- SanDisk Extreme (UHS-1 U3 / V30)
- SanDisk Extreme PLUS (UHS-1 U3 / V30)
- SanDisk Extreme PRO (UHS-1 U3 / V30)
- Lexar 663x UHS-1 High-Performance
- Lexar 1000x UHS-II U3
- Lexar 1800x UHS-II Class 10 U3 V90
- Lexar 667x UHS-I U30 A2
- Lexar 667xVIDEO (UHS-I V30)
- Samsung Pro Endurance UHS-1 32GB MB-MJ32GA/AM
- Samsung Pro Endurance UHS-1 64GB MB-MJ64GA/AM
- Samsung Pro Endurance UHS-1 128GB MB-MJ128GA/AM
- Samsung EVO Plus UHS-1 128GB MB-MC128GA/AM
- Samsung EVO Select UHS-1 128GB MB-ME128GA/AM
- PNY PRO Elite UHS-I 64GB P-SDUX64U395PROE-GE
- PNY PRO Elite UHS-I 128GB P-SDUX128U395PRO-GE
- PNY PRO Elite UHS-I 256GB P-SDUX256U395PRO-GE
- PNY Elite-X UHS-I 32GB P-SDU32U3WX-GE
- PNY Elite-X UHS-I 64GB P-SDU64U33100EX-GE
- PNY Elite-X UHS-I 128GB P-SDU128U3WX-GE
- PNY Elite-X UHS-I 256GB P-SDU256U3100EX-GE
- HP MX330 UHS-1 U3 64GB HFUD064-1U3PA
- Sony SR-UZA series UHS-3 64GB SR-64UZA/T
- Sony SR-UZA series UHS-3 128GB SR-128UZA/T
- ADATA HIGH ENDURANCE UHS-I U3 Class 10 32GB AUSDH32GUI3V30SHA2-RA1
- ADATA HIGH ENDURANCE UHS-I U3 Class 10 64GB AUSDH64GUI3V30SHA2-RA1
- ADATA HIGH ENDURANCE UHS-I U3 Class 10 128GB AUSDH128GUI3V30SHA2-RA1
- ADATA HIGH ENDURANCE UHS-I U3 Class 10 256GB AUSDH256GUI3V30SHA2-RA1
Hero 8 Black Memory Cards
| Card Name | Capacity | HERO8 Black | MAX |
|---|---|---|---|
| SanDisk Extreme (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A1 | 32GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 | 64GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 | 128GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 | 256GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PLUS (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A1 | 32GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PLUS (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 | 64GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PLUS (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 | 128GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PLUS (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 | 256GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PRO (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A1 | 32GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PRO (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 | 64GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PRO (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 | 128GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PRO (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 | 256GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch UHS-1 | 64GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch UHS-1 | 128GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Pixtor (UHS-1 U3) | 32GB | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Pixtor (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A1 | 64GB | Y | Y |
| Lexar 1000x UHS-II Class 10 | 64GB | Y | Y |
| Lexar 1000x UHS-II Class 10 | 128GB | Y | Y |
| Lexar 1000x UHS-II Class 10 | 256GB | Y | Y |
| Lexar 667x UHS-III V30 | 128GB | Y | Y |
| Lexar 667x UHS-III V30 | 256GB | Y | Y |
| Lexar 1800x UHS-III V90 | 64GB | Y | Y |
| Lexar 1800x UHS-III V90 | 128GB | Y | Y |
| Lexar 667xVIDEO (UHS-I V30) | 64GB | Y | Y |
| Lexar 667xVIDEO (UHS-I V30) | 128GB | Y | Y |
| PNY Elite-X (UHS-I U3) | 32GB | Y | Y |
| PNY Elite-X (UHS-I U3) | 64GB | Y | Y |
| PNY Elite-X (UHS-I U3 / V30) A1 | 128GB | Y | Y |
| PNY Elite-X (UHS-I U3 / V30) A1 | 256GB | Y | Y |
| PNY PRO Elite (UHS-1 U3) | 64GB | Y | Y |
| PNY PRO Elite (UHS-1 U3) | 128GB | Y | Y |
| PNY PRO Elite (UHS-1 U3) | 256GB | Y | Y |
| Samsung Evo Select (UHS-1 U3) | 128GB | Y | Y |
| Samsung Evo Select (UHS-1 U3) | 256GB | Y | Y |
| Samsung Evo Plus (UHS-1 U3) | 128GB | Y | Y |
| Samsung Evo Plus (UHS-1 U3) | 256GB | Y | Y |
| Sony SR-UZA series (UHS-1 Class 10 U3) | 64GB | Y | Y |
| Sony SR-UZA series (UHS-1 Class 10 U3) | 128GB | Y | Y |
Hero MAX Memory Cards
Hero 7 Memory Cards
| Card Name | Capacity | Hero7 Black | Hero7 Silver | Hero7 White |
| SanDisk Extreme | 64GB | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SanDisk Extreme | 32GB | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SanDisk Extreme Plus | 64GB | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SanDisk Extreme Pro | 64GB | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SanDisk Pixtor Advanced | 64GB | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Card Name | Model # | HERO8 Black | MAX |
|---|---|---|---|
| SanDisk Extreme (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A1 32GB | SDSQXVF-32G-AN6MA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 64GB | SDDQXA2-064G-AN6MA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 128GB | SDSQXA1-128G-GN6MA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 256GB | SDSQXA1-256-GN6MA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PLUS (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A1 32GB | SDSQXWG-032G-ANCMA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PLUS (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 64GB | SDSQXWG-064G-ANCMA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PLUS (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 128GB | SDSQXBZ-128G-GN6MA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PLUS (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 256GB | SDSQXBZ-256G-GNGMA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PRO (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A1 32GB | SDSQXCG-032G-GN6MA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PRO (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 64GB | SDSQXPJ-064G-ANCM3 | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PRO (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 128GB | SDSQXCY-128G-GN6MA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Extreme PRO (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 256GB | SDQXCZ-256G-GN6MA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch UHS-1 64GB | SDQXBO-64G-ANCZA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch UHS-1 128GB | SDQXBO-128G-ANCZA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Pixtor (UHS-1 U3) 32GB | SDSQXSG-032G-ABCCA | Y | Y |
| SanDisk Pixtor (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A1 64GB | SDSQXWG-064G-ABCCA | Y | Y |
| Lexar 1000x UHS-II Class 10 64GB | LSDMI064CBNL1000R or LSDMI64GCBNA1000A | Y | Y |
| Lexar 1000x UHS-II Class 10 128GB | LSDMI128CBNL1000R or LSDMI128CBNA1000A | Y | Y |
| Lexar 1000x UHS-II Class 10 256GB | LSDMI256CBNL1000R or LSDMI256CBNA1000A | Y | Y |
| Lexar 667x UHS-III V30 128GB | LSDMI128BNA667A | Y | Y |
| Lexar 667x UHS-III V30 256GB | LSDMI256BNA667A | Y | Y |
| Lexar 1800x UHS-III V90 64GB | LSDMI64GCBNA1800A | Y | Y |
| Lexar 1800x UHS-III V90 128GB | LSDMI128CBNA1800A | Y | Y |
| Lexar 667xVIDEO (UHS-I V30) 64GB | LSDMI64GVBNA667A | Y | Y |
| Lexar 667xVIDEO (UHS-I V30) 128GB | LSDMI128GVBNA667A | Y | Y |
| PNY Elite-X (UHS-I U3) 32GB | P-SDU32U3WX-GE | Y | Y |
| PNY Elite-X (UHS-I U3) 64GB | P-SDU64GU3100EX-GE | Y | Y |
| PNY Elite-X (UHS-I U3 / V30) A1 128GB | P-SDU128U3WX-GE | Y | Y |
| PNY Elite-X (UHS-I U3 / V30) A1 256GB | P-SDU256U3100EX-GE | Y | Y |
| PNY PRO Elite 64GB (UHS-1 U3) | P-SDUX64U395PROE-GE | Y | Y |
| PNY PRO Elite 128GB (UHS-1 U3) | P-SDUX128U395PRO-GE | Y | Y |
| PNY PRO Elite 256GB (UHS-1 U3) | P-SDUX256U395PRO-GE | Y | Y |
| Samsung Evo Select (UHS-1 U3) 128GB | MB-ME128GA/AM | Y | Y |
| Samsung Evo Select (UHS-1 U3) 256GB | MB-ME256GA/AM | Y | Y |
| Samsung Evo Plus (UHS-1 U3) 128GB | MB-MC128GA/AM | Y | Y |
| Samsung Evo Plus (UHS-1 U3) 256GB | MB-MC256GA/AM | Y | Y |
| Sony SR-UZA series (UHS-1 Class 10 U3) 64GB | SR-64UZA/T | Y | Y |
| Sony SR-UZA series (UHS-1 Class 10 U3) 128GB | SR-128UZA/T | Y | Y |
Related: 5 Accessories EVERY GoPro Newbie Needs
Hero 6 Memory Cards
