If you're a GoPro owner, you may be wondering whether a GoPro Subscription is worth the investment. Originally known as GoPro Plus, the subscription service has been around for a few years and has over two million members as of November 2022. While you can no longer get discounted prices on the GoPro Hero11 and Hero10 Black cameras with a subscription, there are still plenty of benefits to consider.
Key Takeaways
A GoPro Subscription offers a replacement service if your camera gets damaged and a cloud-based backup service for all of your footage.
The first year's subscription is half-price for new subscribers.
Other benefits include discounts on GoPro products and the ability to live stream by private link.
GoPro Subscription Explained: How It Works and What You Get
For starters, a GoPro Subscription offers a replacement service if your camera gets damaged, as well as a cloud-based backup service for all of your footage. And if you're a new subscriber, the first year's subscription is half-price. But what else does a GoPro Subscription get you, and is it worth it? Keep reading to find out.
How much does a GoPro Subscription cost?
If you're considering a GoPro Subscription, you'll be pleased to know that it's affordable. For the first year, the cost is $24.99/£24.99/AU$34.99 with a 50% discount.
After that, the subscription will renew at $49.99/£49.99/AU$69.99 per year, which is still reasonable for the benefits it provides.
It's worth noting that you'll need to pay the full amount upfront at the start of the year. However, the subscription offers several benefits, including unlimited cloud storage, total camera replacement, up to 50% off discounts, and exclusive deals on accessories.
One of the most significant incentives to keep the subscription going after the first year is that you'll receive a $100 discount on your next GoPro camera. This benefit alone could make the subscription worthwhile if you're updating your GoPro every couple of years.
Overall, the cost of a GoPro Subscription is reasonable, and the benefits it provides make it a worthwhile investment for those who use their GoPro frequently and want to take full advantage of its features.
GoPro Subscription Benefits #1: Cloud Storage
One of the most significant advantages of the GoPro subscription is its unlimited cloud storage. You can upload all your photos and videos from your camera to the cloud in three ways: via the GoPro Quik app, the GoPro website, or the Quik for Desktop software. It's easy to use, and the service is tempting because of its unlimited and auto-upload nature. Photos and videos are stored in their original quality, so you don't have to worry about losing any quality.
However, there are a couple of caveats to keep in mind. If you have a GoPro Max, extremely high-res files will take a long time to transmit. Additionally, you won't be able to upload anything taken with your smartphone or any other action camera. This means that the GoPro cloud storage won't work if you use a hub on the cloud to store all your videos and photos. Furthermore, GoPro's Quik for Desktop software doesn't support the GoPro Fusion or GoPro Max.
With a GoPro subscription, you can also unlock premium editing tools in the Quik app, including the Speed Tool for slo-mo, fast + freeze. You can access premium filters and GoPro Originals music to enhance your videos. The Quik app also provides a private live stream link, and you can get a guaranteed camera replacement when damages occur.
In conclusion, GoPro's unlimited cloud storage, auto-upload, and original quality storage make it a great option for avid GoPro users. However, keep in mind that it may not be the best option if you use other cameras or devices to capture your photos and videos.
GoPro Subscription Benefits #2: Camera Replacement
A GoPro subscription includes a "no-questions-asked camera replacement" service that allows you to exchange up to two cameras per year for the same model (GoPro Fusion and Hero5 or later) in the event of accidental damage. This replacement service is not free, and fees apply. The cost for a Hero11 or Hero10 is $99/£115/AU$149.
While this service can be useful if you accidentally damage your GoPro camera, it is important to note that it is not insurance. Additionally, the replacement service only covers accidental damage, and not loss or theft of the camera. Furthermore, the replacement service is only available in certain countries.
It is worth noting that you may not need insurance for a waterproof and drop-proof product like a GoPro camera. However, if you are concerned about accidental damage, the replacement service can provide peace of mind.
Overall, the camera replacement service provided with a GoPro subscription can be a useful addition for those who frequently use their camera in extreme environments. However, it is important to be aware of the fees and limitations of the service.
GoPro Subscription Benefits #3: Live Stream by Private Link
If you own a Hero7 Black or later, or a GoPro Max, you can live stream in 1080p quality to YouTube, Facebook Profiles, Facebook Pages, and Twitch. However, the process can be a bit complicated and requires pairing your camera with a smartphone via the GoPro app. This is not the case for GoPro Subscription members, who can live stream from their GoPro camera to their account at GoPro.com and then send a private live stream link to anyone they want.
This feature is particularly useful for sharing live events, sports, or any other activity with friends and family in real-time. The private link ensures that only the intended audience can access the live stream.
To access this feature, you need to be a GoPro Subscription member. In addition to live streaming, the subscription also comes with other benefits, such as unlimited cloud storage, camera replacement, full access to GoPro Quik, and discounts on GoPro products.
GoPro Quik is a free app that makes it easy to produce auto-generated highlight videos and works well as a content feed. As a GoPro Subscription member, you get unlimited cloud storage in Quik, which is useful for backing up all your videos and photos.
Quik is hardware-agnostic, which means you can use it for videos taken on your smartphone as well as your GoPro or any other footage transferred to your phone from another action camera, mirrorless camera, or DSLR camera. All your videos and photos are stored in Quik's "ural feature," which is a kind of 'best of' area that's backed up to the cloud automatically at full capture resolution.
A standalone subscription to Quik costs US$9.99/£9.49 per year or US$1.99/£1.79 per month.
However, as a GoPro subscriber, you get everything for free, including 25 filters and 18 royalty-free music tracks, a suite of editing tools, and tools for slo-mo, fast and freeze. You will need to log back into your account to access content on the cloud.
In summary, GoPro Subscription members can easily live stream their adventures to their friends and family with a private link. This feature eliminates the need for complicated pairing with smartphones, making it easy to share live events in real-time. Additionally, GoPro Subscription members get unlimited cloud storage in Quik, which is useful for backing up all their videos and photos.
GoPro subscription benefits #5: Discounts
With a GoPro Subscription, you can enjoy up to 50% off on select accessories, batteries, cases, mods, and lifestyle gear sold via GoPro.com. The discounts on accessories are not applicable to all items; however, you can find a full list of eligible products on the GoPro website.
Some of the products with the full 50% discount include protective housings, roll cages, replacement parts such as doors, fingers, and lens caps, and mounts like the Hand & Wrist Strap, Suction Cup, and Surfboard Mounts. Meanwhile, spare batteries, bags, and cases come with a 20% discount, and mods get either a 30% or 20% discount.
Apart from accessories, GoPro Subscription also offers a 20% discount on lifestyle products, such as Mezcal floating sunglasses, Weekender 30-litre backpacks, and all clothing. You can avail of discounts on a maximum of ten items per subscription anniversary year.
The most significant discount you can get with a GoPro Subscription is $100 off on a new GoPro camera after your first year. This discount is applicable to current models and can be availed of if purchased directly from GoPro.
In summary, GoPro Subscription offers substantial discounts on eligible accessories, batteries, cases, mods, and lifestyle gear sold via GoPro.com. You can save up to 50% on select items, with spare batteries, bags, and cases carrying a 20% discount, and mods getting either a 30% or 20% discount. Plus, you can get $100 off on a new GoPro camera after your first year.
GoPro Subscription: Verdict
If you are a heavy user of your GoPro camera, a GoPro Subscription can be a valuable investment. The service offers cloud storage for all of your videos, which takes away the hassle of transferring and storing your videos on your computer or external hard drive. Additionally, the no-fuss replacement policy offered by GoPro for subscribers is a big plus. If you break your camera, GoPro will replace it without asking any questions, which can save you a lot of time and money.
The 50% discount in the first year makes it a service that is worth trying out to see how much you actually use the features. However, whether you should renew it after the first year really depends on your first-year experience. If you are thinking of getting a second GoPro or upgrading your first, the $100 discount on a new camera in your second year is a big incentive to renew.
To cancel your subscription, you can follow detailed instructions provided by GoPro on their website. It is important to put the date for renewal in your calendar right away, so you don't forget to cancel if you decide to do so.
In summary, the benefits of a GoPro Subscription include cloud storage and no-fuss replacement policy, while the discount on a new camera in your second year is a big incentive to renew. However, whether it is worth renewing after the first year really depends on your experience.
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