5 Alternatives to the Nextbase 522GW Dash Cam (Including Better Value Picks)

If you’re comparing the Nextbase 522GW against other options, the main question is what matters most to you: video quality, rear camera support, app features, or outright value. The 522GW sits in the middle of the premium bracket at £165, with 1440p QHD recording, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Emergency SOS, a 3" touchscreen and a built-in polarising filter. That makes it a strong all-rounder, but not necessarily the smartest purchase for every UK driver.

VIOFO A119 V3 Dash Cam Front Camera Only – £109.99

This is the best alternative if your priority is front-facing footage quality rather than extra smart features. At £109.99, it undercuts the Nextbase 522GW by about £55, which is a meaningful saving. In practical terms, you’re giving up the touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Nextbase’s Emergency SOS system, but you gain a dash cam that has a very strong reputation for clean video capture, especially in mixed UK conditions such as dark rural roads, glare, rain, and fast-moving traffic.

The A119 V3’s key strengths are its 1440p recording, HDR, GPS, and compact design. That compact size is a real benefit if you want something discreet behind the rear-view mirror, where it’s less likely to attract attention or obstruct your view. The 140° wide angle is slightly narrower than some competitors, but that can actually help reduce edge distortion and keep number plates more readable in the centre of the frame. For motorway driving, commuting, and general insurance evidence, that matters more than having lots of extra app features.

Build quality is a step up in the areas that matter for long-term use. VIOFO cameras tend to be praised for solid hardware and dependable operation, even if the interface is less polished than Nextbase. The trade-off is convenience: there’s no touchscreen, no Bluetooth pairing, and no front-and-rear ecosystem built around the same brand. If you want a simple, high-performing front camera and don’t care about bells and whistles, this is arguably better value than the 522GW.

Verdict: choose the VIOFO A119 V3 if you want better value, excellent front video, and a discreet fit. It’s ideal for drivers who care more about evidence quality than app-led features.

Nextbase 222x Dash Cam Front and Rear Camera – £87.99

This is one of the most compelling alternatives if you want rear coverage without spending premium money. At £87.99, it is around £77 cheaper than the 522GW, which is a huge difference. For many UK drivers, the biggest practical benefit is not higher resolution on the front camera, but having footage from behind as well. Rear-end bumps, tailgating, and hit-and-run incidents are common enough that a dual-camera setup can be more useful than a slightly sharper front-only unit.

The 222x records in Full HD 1080p rather than 1440p, so the front image won’t be as detailed as the 522GW’s. That means you may lose some clarity when reading number plates at distance, especially at night. However, it still includes Intelligent Parking Mode, night vision, G-sensor, and a 2.5" IPS screen, so it covers the essentials well. The magnetic mount is also a practical upgrade for drivers who want quick removal and refitting.

In build terms, this is a more budget-oriented Nextbase product, so it doesn’t feel as premium as the 522GW. But the advantage is obvious: you get front-and-rear protection from the same brand, with a familiar interface and better overall coverage for less money. For insurance claims, that rear footage can be extremely valuable, particularly if another vehicle reverses into you in a car park or you’re struck from behind in traffic.

Verdict: choose the Nextbase 222x if you want the best lower-cost route into front-and-rear recording. It’s a smarter buy than the 522GW for drivers who value coverage over absolute video sharpness.

Nextbase 222XR Dash Cam Front and Rear Camera – £119.99

The 222XR sits neatly between the 222x and the 522GW. At £119.99, it saves you about £45 versus the 522GW while still giving you front-and-rear recording. That makes it a strong middle-ground option for drivers who want more than a basic budget dash cam, but don’t need the premium touchscreen and connected features of the 522GW.

Like the 222x, it records in 1080p Full HD, so the trade-off is again video detail rather than coverage. In real-world UK use, that means it’s perfectly adequate for everyday commuting, school runs, and town driving, but not as strong as the 522GW when you need to zoom into a distant plate or capture fine detail in poor light. It still includes night vision, Intelligent Parking Mode, G-sensor, motion detection, loop recording, and a 2.5" IPS screen, so the core usability is good.

Build quality is good rather than luxurious. The magnetic mount is useful if you regularly remove the camera from the car, and the overall package feels practical for drivers who want a dependable system without paying for features they may never use. If you’re comparing it with the 522GW, the main question is whether the extra resolution and premium extras are worth the additional money. For many buyers, they won’t be.

Verdict: choose the Nextbase 222XR if you want a sensible mid-price dual-camera setup. It’s a good compromise for drivers who want rear coverage but don’t need the 522GW’s premium extras.

Nextbase Series 2 Add-on Module Rear View Camera – £40.00

This isn’t a full alternative on its own, but it’s an important one if you already own a compatible Nextbase Series 2 model such as the 522GW. At £40, it’s far cheaper than buying a whole new dual-camera system, and it can turn your existing front camera into a more complete front-and-rear setup.

The practical impact is simple: if you already have a 522GW or are considering buying one, adding the rear module can be a better-value route than moving to a different dual-camera bundle. You keep the front camera you want, and you add rear protection for much less than the cost of replacing the whole unit. That can be especially useful for drivers who mainly want evidence in rear shunts, parking scrapes, or lane-change disputes.

In build quality terms, it matches the Nextbase ecosystem well and is designed for compatibility rather than being a standalone rival product. The main limitation is obvious: it only makes sense if you already have a compatible Nextbase Series 2 camera. If you don’t, it’s not an alternative to the 522GW so much as an upgrade path for it.

Verdict: choose the Nextbase rear module if you already own a compatible Series 2 camera or plan to buy one. It’s the cheapest way to get rear coverage within the Nextbase system.

Dash Cam Front and Rear with 32GB SD Card – £25.49

This is the budget wildcard. At just £25.49, it is dramatically cheaper than the Nextbase 522GW, costing roughly £140 less. That alone will attract a lot of buyers, but the low price comes with major compromises. If you simply want a very cheap dash cam to capture basic incidents, it can do the job. If you want reliable image quality, polished app support, or long-term confidence, it is not in the same class as the Nextbase.

It records in 1080p FHD and includes a 32GB SD card, night vision, loop recording, G-sensor, and park mode. On paper, that sounds impressive for the money, but the real-world experience is usually where budget cameras fall short. Video quality may be acceptable in daylight, but number plate clarity at night or in poor weather is often weaker than with the 522GW. Build quality is also likely to be more basic, with a less refined screen, mount, and software experience.

For UK drivers, this matters because a dash cam is only useful if it reliably captures the key moment. Cheap cameras can be fine for occasional use, but if you’re relying on footage for insurance evidence, you generally want something more dependable. That said, if your budget is extremely tight, this is still better than having no camera at all.

Verdict: choose this budget dual dash cam only if price is your main concern. It’s the cheapest option here, but it’s also the one with the biggest compromises in quality and consistency.

Which alternative is best overall?

If you want the best all-round value, the VIOFO A119 V3 is the strongest front-only alternative because it gives you excellent recording quality for less money. If you want rear coverage, the Nextbase 222x is the best low-cost dual-camera option, while the 222XR is the better mid-range pick. If you already own a compatible Nextbase camera, the Series 2 rear module is the smartest upgrade. The ultra-budget dual camera is only worth considering if you need the cheapest possible entry point.

For most UK drivers, the decision comes down to whether you want premium convenience or practical evidence. The 522GW is a polished, feature-rich dash cam, but the alternatives above can be better buys depending on how you drive, where you park, and how much you want to spend.