10 Cheap Drones for Beginners

The DJI Neo features advanced hands-free operation which makes it a great drone for vloggers and hobbyists. Soar through breathtaking scenery, indoors and out, and be sure to include everybody in a group photo. Enjoy a fresh perspective on everyday life with DJI Neo.

With 18 minutes of flight time, Neo keeps pace as your personal photographer and ensures you are always in the spotlight.

Note: The Neo 2 launched globally on DJI’s site but not in the U.S. Currently, there is availability on Amazon and some third-party resellers.

Features & Specs

• PALM TAKEOFF & LANDING: Capture cinematic footage with YOU in focus.
• EASY EDITING WITH QUICKSHOTS: With just a flick of your finger, let DJI Neo automatically film for you. DJI Neo offers a wide range of intelligent shooting modes, providing dynamic angles to elevate your creative footage.
• MULTIPLE CONTROL OPTIONS: Compact yet capable, DJI Neo flies with style and captures hassle-free when paired with the DJI Fly app.
• LIGHT AND PORTABLE: Weighing only 135 g you can easily take this drone anywhere.

The DJI Flip is a sub-250 g beginner-friendly camera drone that pairs ease of use with respectable imaging for vlogging and everyday aerial photography. Its innovative foldable design with integrated propeller guards makes indoor and outdoor flying safer, and the 1/1.3″ sensor captures detailed 48 MP photos and smooth 4K video — useful for social posts or learning fundamentals without the complexity of pro-level drones. Intelligent flight modes and DJI’s reliable control systems help new pilots build confidence fast.

Features & Specs

• Camera: 48 MP stills, up to 4K/60 fps video on a 1/1.3″ sensor
• Flight time: Up to ~31 minutes
• Transmission range: ~8 miles (FCC) / ~5 miles (CE)
• Notable Attributes: Built-in propeller guards, multiple shooting modes (Cine/Normal/Sport), palm launch capability, lightweight sub-250 g design

The Scoot Mini Drone features advanced hands-free operation which makes it a great drone for all ages. With an enclosed frame and infrared obstacle sensors, it is also safe for use in any indoor space.

It comes with a USB charging cord making it easy to charge anywhere and it gets a full charge within an hour.

With 8 minutes of nonstop flight time, playing fun interactive games with your friends at a very affordable price has never been easier.

Features & Specs

• HAND OPERATED DRONE FOR EASY, HANDS-FREE FUN: This hand-controlled drone is ideal for all ages due to its ease of use. It features up w/ 1-Key Take Off/Landing and Altitude Hold
• MULTIPLAYER GAMES: Join in on the fun and play different games with Scoot’s simple and intuitive hand gesture flight modes.
• ADVANCED SENSOR TECHNOLOGY: Scoot hand-controlled drones use infrared motion sensors to detect obstacles and improve safety
• FLY YOUR DRONE ANYWHERE: Scoot’s small size, hand-free controls, and it’s enclosed design make it easy to fly in any room in your home, office, or other indoor spaces.

The Holy Stone HS420 Mini Drone, is a small drone that that is perfect for taking it on the go.

Propeller guards increase the durability of the drone and make this affordable drone great for beginners. The simple remote controller makes this drone compatible for all ages with 1-Key Start/Stop and easy joystick directional controls.

Looking for a beginner stunt drone? This drone can be tossed to launch, it can perform stunts like 3D flip, Circle Fly and High-Speed Rotation. You can customize a flight path through the app and the drone’s flight path will follow the one you draw. High and low-speed modes make the drone fit with both experienced and novice pilots. The joy of flight is endless.

Features & Specs

• SIMPLE REMOTE CONTROLLER: A remote controller with 1-Key Start/Stop and easy joystick directional controls
• 720P HD FPV CAMERA: The mini drone is equipped with a 720P HD FPV camera including adjustable angle, which captures high-quality video and clear photos by specific gestures, as well.
• STUNT FLIGHTS: Featuring 3D flip, Circle Fly and High-Speed Rotation; this beginner drone also performs 360° mini flips
• FLIGHT TIME: Enjoy up to 12 minutes of flight time and the 2 included rechargeable batteries that get you flying again in no time.

The Holy Stone HS320 isn’t just a beginner drone — it’s a flying bubble maker! Designed for kids and first-time flyers, it merges basic aerial flight with whimsical bubble fun. As it soars, the HS320 produces rainbow tunnels and courtyard bubble showers, bringing magic to outdoor play while teaching children the fundamentals of drone flight. Lightweight, foldable, and easy to control, it’s perfect for backyard adventures, learning, and imaginative play.

Features & Specs

• Camera: 1080p HD camera (wide-angle)
• Flight time: ~18–20 minutes
• Special Feature: Bubble-making system — creates aerial rainbow tunnels and bubble showers for magical outdoor play
• Notable Attributes: Foldable and lightweight design, semi-enclosed propeller guards, beginner-friendly controls, two-battery support for extended flying

The Holy Stone HS440 drone proves that you do not have to drop hundreds of dollars for a great starter drone. It features a 1080P WiFi camera system ensuring crisp pictures every time.  The included gravity sensor, tap fly, and gesture control modes allow you to capture cinematic footage or even capture a selfie.

Enjoy up to 20 minutes of flight time with the intelligent flight battery system. The rugged design of the HS440  and its altitude positioning system ensures a stable and safe flight experience. The ease of operation and the number of robust features make this the perfect drone for beginner drone pilots.

Features & Specs

• 1080P HD DRONE WITH CAMERA: Experience high-resolution images and videos with a 90° adjustable angle that enables broader views.
• FOLDABLE DRONE QUADCOPTER: The easy-to-fold drone arms are ideal for traveling.
• FPV TRANSMISSION: Real-time transmission can simultaneously record and show the beautiful scenery allowing you to enjoy the visual feast anytime, anywhere.
• EASY TO FLY: A must-have for beginners with its intelligent functions and user-friendly features.

The Holy Stone HS790 steps up the beginner experience with GPS-assisted flight, a 3-axis gimbal, and stabilized 4K/30 fps video — rare at this price point. Dual intelligent batteries extend total flight time and a fast-charging hub is included, while smart modes like Follow Me and Waypoint Flight make creative shooting easier for new pilots. It’s a compelling bridge between toy-level drones and more serious aerial cameras, ideal for beginners who want more capability without a premium price tag.

This drone is Standard Remote ID Compliant. Review Declaration of Compliance here.

Features & Specs

• Camera: 4K/30 fps video, 6K photo capability, 3-axis gimbal stabilization
• Flight time: ~30 minutes per battery (~60 minutes total with two)
• Transmission range: Up to ~9 km / ~5.5 mi HD FPV
• Notable Attributes: GPS navigation (Follow Me, Waypoints, RTH), dual intelligent batteries + fast hub, night flying mode, foldable design

The DJI Tello may be a small drone but it is full of advanced features that we have come to expect from DJI. Low battery protection, vision positioning system, and auto takeoff and landing are just a few of the advanced features that make this an excellent beginner drone.

Capture stunning 5-megapixel pictures and 720p videos with the Tellos onboard camera system.

13-minutes of flight time, DJI technology, and FPV headset compatibility at such an affordable price ($100!), make this a very compelling option for an inexpensive drone.

Features & Specs

• HD DRONE WITH CAMERA: The Tello captures 5-megapixel photos and 720p MP4 videos, it can also fly up to 10m vertically and up to 100m away
• FLY LONGER: Enjoy up to 13 minutes of flight time per charge
• EASY TO FLY DRONE FOR BEGINNERS: DJI technology and intelligent flight modes improve safety, it’s rare to find so many features at this price point
• VR HEADSET COMPATIBILITY: Fly with a breathtaking first-person view with an 82.6º FOV
• CONTROLLER COMPATIBILITY: Use a smartphone to fly or purchase the available remote controller from DJI.
• TELLO EDU: Easily learn about drones with easy to learn programming languages like Scratch, Python, and Swift.

The Holy Stone HS175D Drone boasts a 4K camera allowing for smooth and stable videos in high-speed or strong-wind conditions.

It also features GPS assisted flight which means it can automatically return home when the drone loses signal or has a low battery.

Two batteries are included which give you up to 46 minutes of flight experience. And functions like Altitude Hold, Optical Flow, Headless Mode, One Key Take Off/Landing and Speed Adjust make it so easy to beginners or newbies.

Features & Specs

• 4K ULTRA CLEAR CAMERA: 4K camera with 110° wide-angle and 90° adjustable provides a high resolution picture, enable to capture a perfect shot; 5GHz FPV transmission delivery a smooth and stable videos even in high-speed or strong-wind conditions
• GPS AUTO RETURN: GPS assisted flight, it can perform automatically return home when the drone lost signal, out of range or low power, never have to worry about flying it away
• MORE INTELLIGENT FUNCTIONS: This drone can trace and follow you automatically, flying along a path you set, or fly around a point in circles, and when you pose to the camera it will take a photo or video, let you enjoy the wonderful flight experience.

The Ruko U11S Drone includes a 90° adjustable 4K camera providing a broader vision.

It also features GPS assisted flight giving you a more free and stabilized flight to take better photos and videos.

An intelligent battery provides a maximum flight time of 20 minutes. An extra battery extends the flight time to 40 mins.

This drone is Standard Remote ID Compliant. Review Declaration of Compliance here.

Features & Specs

• 4K ULTRA CLEAR CAMERA: 90° adjustable 4K camera providing a broader vision, enable to capture perfect UHD pictures and save to your phone directly to better record your precious moments.
• BEGINNER FRIENDLY TRANSMITTER: The transmitter can be charged directly, which saves you more time by not having to replace the battery like others. The one-key functions on it are also super easy to operate.
• FLY INDOORS AND OUTDOORS: Optical flow positioning provides you a safer indoor flight while GPS positioning gives a more free and stabilized outdoor flight. They also help the drone lock the height precisely and hover stably to take better photos or videos.