Best Affordable Drones

Whether they’re big or small, fast or slow, commercial products, or just a hobby toy, there’s no denying the pull and allure that drones have as a modern gadgets.

Now that drones have been on the market for a couple of years, they have managed to become a part of so many different industries, from photography and filming to surveillance and surveying, and even delivery.

If there’s a field or market that can benefit from eyes and rotary blades in the sky, there’s probably a market for drones there too.

This has led to a massive increase in the number of different drone models out there too, from simple toys to near military-grade equipment and features.

All these sound great, until you often see the price tag that comes with them!

However, just because they’re difficult to find, doesn’t mean that you can’t find amazing drones on a tighter budget.

That’s what this guide is here to help with. Not only will we show you the best drones that are affordable to buy right now, but we’ll also show you what you should be looking for in your searches.

TL;DR Recommendations

There recommendations are in no particular order. They are all suitable and have their pros and cons. I wouldn’t spend too much time comparing them unless you’re really struglling at this budget.

At the end of the day, these are all crap and will be replaced rather soon on your journey. Don’t sped too much time debating which one to get, just flip a coin or pick a drone out of a hat. Get any one of these and start flying! That’s the only way to get going. See our recommendations on the best and most affordable beginner drones.

Ryze Tech Tello

We’ll start with a drone option that we feel manages to cover pretty much all the bases that you could want in an affordable package, from features to accessibility, too, of course, pricing.

Ryze Tech is a name that should be familiar to anyone with an interest in the field of drone manufacture, with them creating a whole line of incredible drone items that are perfect for both private and commercial use.

This particular model, the Tello, is their answer to the ever-increasing budget options for drones out there. And it’s a pretty good one!

With a remarkable camera, this surprisingly cheap drone is tough enough to handle plenty of the challenges that a first drone will have to face, from knocks and hits to high falls.

And since it’s a drone with a surprising amount of power to it, there’s going to be A LOT of high falls!

Flying is only half the equation with this drone, however, with the app that you can download on your phone, this drone also allows for basic programming commands, both teaching and helping you build commands for this drone.

In short, it’s a fun toy and tool, and a code-learning project, all in one model!

So, if you’re either looking for a first-time drone to help you learn the ropes, or looking to help a kid learn to code, this is a great model that we wholeheartedly recommend!

Pros

• A durable body can take a lot of punishment.
• Able to perform a ton of tricks and commands.
• Surprisingly good 720p camera for a drone in this price range.
• Great for teaching kids to code and program.

Cons

• A remote doesn’t come with this drone as standard. Buying one may take some people over their budget.

Holy Stone HS420 Mini Drone

Get used to seeing Holy Stone’s name across this list. When it comes to budget drones to buy on the market, they’ve kind of cornered it!

As we’ve already mentioned, drones come in all shapes and sizes these days, from giant industrial models to small, light, and easy-to-operate toys for the whole family.

The HS420 falls into that latter category, being the perfect toy for older kids, teens, and even grown-ups to learn how these gadgets work.

Of course, the small size, light frame, and tough body, all make for a toy that is perfect for learning the ropes of flying drones, whether you’re indoors or out.

This thing will knock into chairs, trees, and ceiling lamps, without any potential damage to it.

(Though obviously, we recommend learning the ropes in an open space!)

Plus, the small and light frame means that the battery capacity is further enhanced in this model. This little drone has a surprisingly long flight time, especially with the modular battery packs that come with this product.

That small size also makes it perfect for transporting too, easy to put in a casing, and bring with you anywhere, no extra fuss required!

The HS420 drone even has a surprising array of extra features for a drone of this size and price range.

The in-built camera comes in at a surprisingly powerful 720p resolution, and the stability features that come in this drone, such as the altitude hold, mean that you can allow this drone to hover in place, without needing to keep your foot on the pedal, so to speak.

In short, it’s the perfect starter drone and toy for the whole family to enjoy!

Pros

• Small and compact, perfect for transporting.
• Surprisingly powerful batteries keep this little drone in the air for longer.
• Able to perform all kinds of tricks.
• Powerful small camera and stability features are included.
• A tough little drone!

Cons

• The drone is quite difficult to control at times. You’ll probably get plenty of use out of that durable body!

Holy Stone HS175D

Holy stone don’t just make one quality drone model. They have plenty of different products on offer for pretty much any level of drone experience and needs.

This next one, the HS175D, is perfect for people that have graduated in front of the HS420 that we covered, and want something a little bigger and more substantial.

The things that sold us on this particular model are the collapsible rotor wings, something that we don’t see in many other drone models, especially in and around this price range.

This makes transporting a decently sized drone easier than even smaller and lighter drones. It’s barely bigger than a battery pack in its collapsed form!

And speaking of battery, you’d worry that a drone of this size would struggle to stay in the air for a long time.

But combine that with an overall weight that is well below the regulation and industry standard, and you have a lightweight drone that can stay in the air for over 45 minutes. Not bad for a mid-sized drone in this price range!

With a reasonable price tag, this product comfortably sits in the affordable range of drones, and is one that we recommend that you check out!

Pros

• Collapsible wings make this drone easy to transport.
• The lightweight design helps make this drone surprisingly nimble and has a longer battery life.
• Even comes with an automatic ‘follow-me’ mode!

Cons

• While it claims to boast a 4K camera, we’re a little skeptical of the overall quality of this part.

Cheerwing Syma X20 Mini Drone

Sometimes, you want a drone that can handle the epic, sweeping vistas that you’re looking for in your photography or filming passions.

And sometimes, you just want a little toy drone that indulges your flights of fancy, whether you’re 13 or 30.

In the latter’s cases, we wholeheartedly recommend the Syma X20 mini drone as the perfect indoor toy for all ages!

With plenty of tricks at its disposal, from 360-flips, and tight turning circles, there are a ton of maneuvers that you can learn with this model.

Combine that with a decent battery capacity for a toy, and you have the perfect stocking filler or birthday present on your hands.

It’s not just fun, either. The low price tag and surprising durability of this model also make it a perfect drone to learn how to fly with.

Arguably, it’s THE best palace to start, especially when it comes to controlling drones with just the naked eye. 

Pros

• Incredible maneuverability makes this the perfect drone to learn to fly these tools with.
• Surprisingly tough design for this price range.
• Able to be flown indoors and out!

Cons

• Being a lower-budget toy, this drone has few other features besides its flight tricks.

Drocon Ninja DC-014

If you’re looking for a toy drone that is a little up-market from the last option that we covered, then you’ll want to check out Drocon’s Ninja Dc-014, the perfect middle ground between indoor toy, and outdoor flying and camera device.

Like the last Holy Stone drone that we covered, this model can fold its rotary wings to make it easier to transport and helps protect them while it’s being transported.

There’s no chance of finding this drone in pieces after a rough journey to your destination.

Then again, you probably wouldn’t have to worry about it getting damaged in the first place, considering just how well-built this drone is.

Thai allows it to pull off many of the classic drone tricks that kids and grown-ups will probably want to try out for themselves, like a 360 flip, or headless mode.

Plus, this little drone manages to fit a camera into its compact body too. One that can be adjusted for the perfect angle to capture great footage.

Through some excellent quality-of-life features, such as a loud and clear low battery notification, three-speed settings, and one-key takeoff, you have an excellent little drone on your hands. And, more importantly, in the air!

Pros

• Excellent range of controls, perfect for tricks.
• Collapsible rotary arms, easy to transport.
• An in-built camera that can record through your phone.

Cons

• This drone has a habit of being buffeted by strong winds. Make sure to correct for it when using, if you don’t want your drone to blow away at high altitudes!

Buyer’s Guide

As you can see, there are a surprisingly large number of affordable drones out there. There are so many to check out, that we couldn’t possibly cover and review every single model out there.

Understandably, you may want to continue searching for other potential options for drones, even outside these excellent models.

If that is the case, then make sure to keep these factors in mind. Try to figure out which factors are the most important to your needs, and how your options try to answer these issues.

Budget/Pricing

Obviously, in a guide on products that are targeted towards a smaller budget, we would recommend keeping budget in mind as a big priority!

More specifically, however, it’s important to understand what budget you are prepared to have for your drone price.

Even within this collection of ‘budget’ drones, you have quite the variety, from $30 to $50 toy drones such as the Cheerwing Syma X20 Mini Drone, to the more substantial and robust products like the Holy Stone HS175D and Ryze Tech Tello.

These latter options are often best for use as amateur photography and filming tools, and even programming exercises in the latter.

For these options, it’s important to establish why exactly you are buying a drone in the first place. If it’s to help encourage aerial photography or other hobbies in some way, consider upping the size of your overall budget.

If it’s just for fun, you probably don’t need to spend more than $100 to get a well-put-together and fun-to-use drone.

Camera

Many drones on the market today will come with a camera built into the device as standard, with only the cheapest and smallest drones not having them.

The video feed quality on many of these is also surprisingly good, with 720p being an industry standard for even smaller and more affordable models.

We generally wouldn’t recommend getting a drone with a camera with less than 480p, and not even this if you need a particularly clear picture for camera shots

This again comes down to the reason that you are buying a drone in the first place.

If you’re planning on simply having a camera that allows you to drive and pilot the drone through it, overall video quality won’t be as much of an issue, especially in open areas.

However, if you are planning on using the camera on your drone for some type of filming or photography, we recommend going with 720p or higher.

Stability Features

Learning to fly a drone can be one heck of a tall order. Some drones have such powerful rotors, that even the slightest amount of extra power in one direction can send it spinning.

So, many drones will often come with some extra features that allow for greater control and stability over them.

One-key takeoff is a must-have feature if you have never flown drowns before, as it allows drones to automatically apply enough thrust to lift them from the ground.

You can also find similar controls for one-key return, where the drone will return to its remote control 

If you’re a more experienced drone pilot, sensitive control will likely not e as much of an issue for you, so this may be low on your overall priorities. However, for new drone owners, these are essentials.

Battery Capacity

This will determine how long your drone can realistically stay in the air. So, having a good battery life is essential.

Try and find drones that have upwards of 15 minutes of air time, which is currently the average for drones. 20 minutes is considered a good amount of air time, and anything above 30 is excellent!

Indoor/Outdoor Use

Generally speaking, we wouldn’t recommend flying drones indoors, especially in the home. Even the smallest ones can destroy household items or damage themselves if they hit something.

Unsurprisingly, smaller drones are more appropriate for indoor spaces. Make sure to avoid trying to fly larger drones inside, for the reasons we’ve mentioned!

Durability

Seeing as so many drones are expensive pieces of equipment, you don’t want to buy a model that will be destroyed with a light tap or slightly rough landing. So, having a tough chassis is important for your drones.

One of the most important parts of measuring a drone’s durability is to check how much coverage and protection it gives to its rotary blades.

A single knock or damage to the blade can ground the whole drone, so having these protected or covered in some way is vital if you’re planning on flying it indoors or in other enclosed spaces.

Final Notes

So, as you can see, just because you’re on a tight budget, doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice quality in your drone purchase. If anything, some of the best starter drones on the market are found in this price range.

So, whether it’s just as a toy, or your first dip into this market, this list will serve you well!

Frequently Asked Questions