Note: Fly safely and responsibly, folks. Never flown before? Learn to fly for free over here. Need to get your FAA commercial drone certificate? Start studying over here.
In this post, I’m going to walk you through 5 inexpensive drones for beginner pilots.
At UAV Coach, we often suggest starting off with a less expensive system. This is so you can hone your skills before moving on to the bigger guns (like the Mavic 2 Pro or the Flyability Elios 2).
The models in our list below don’t have all the bells and whistles of higher-end drones for sale, but you’ll be surprised at how advanced their features can get.
Also, you may want to consider learning to fly using a drone simulator. We’re pro-simulator over here and recommend trying this free trial of the DJI Flight Simulator if you’re interested in learning how to fly with real-life training 🙂
Note: If you live in the U.S. and want to earn money as a professional drone pilot, check out our step-by-step guide to getting certified. And here are our latest course promo codes.
The Best Cheap Drones for Beginners
For Hobbyists ![]() Scoot Mini Drone Flight Time | 8 Minutes Flight Time | 8 Minutes |
For Hobbyists, FPV Racing ![]() UFO 4000 LED Mini Drone Flight Time | 18 Minutes Flight Time | 18 Minutes |
For Hobbyists ![]() Ruko B7 4K Drone Camera | 4K, 1080p Flight Time | 36 Minutes Camera | 4K, 1080p Flight Time | 36 Minutes |
For Hobbyists ![]() DJI Tello Camera | 720p HD, 5 MP Flight Time | 13 Minutes Camera | 720p HD, 5 MP Flight Time | 13 Minutes |
For Hobbyists ![]() U49WF FPV Camera Drone Camera | 720p HD Flight Time | 30 Minutes Camera | 720p HD Flight Time | 30 Minutes |
Drone technology has come a long way, which means we’ve been able to pack more capabilities into smaller, less expensive packages.
These are some of the most affordable (and popular) UAVs on the market today, and they’re great for anyone looking to get some flight practice under their belt. They’re also great gifts for both adults and kids.
Don’t want to scroll down and read all the specs and just want to see the full list?
Here ya go:
Check out the full specs of our list of 5 cheap drones for beginner pilots below:
Note #1: All specs/features are obtained from the manufacturer or retailer.
Note #2: On this list, we’ve included models available for sale on Amazon and DJI — as Amazon and DJI Associate partners, we earn a small commission for qualifying purchases. Please know that we’ve tested many of the models on this list, and we wouldn’t recommend anything we wouldn’t fly ourselves!
8 Minutes
Hobbyists
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.
18 Minutes
Hobbyists, FPV Racing
The UFO 4000 LED Mini Drone, is a small drone that will be hard to miss with it’s bright red, white, and blue LED lighting system as it zips through the sky.
Propeller guards increase the durability of the drone and make this affordable drone great for beginners. The simple remote controller makes this drone compatiable for all ages with 1-Key Start/Stop and easy joystick directional controls.
Looking for a beginner stunt drone? Look no further, with 4 channels, 2 speeds, Altitude Hold, and Headless Mode; this beginner drone also performs 360° mini flips.
4K, 1080p
36 Minutes
Hobbyists
The Ruko B7 drone proves that you do not have to drop thousands of dollars for a great drone. It features a unique dual-camera system with a 4K front camera and a 1080p camera on the bottom of the drone which is unheard of at this price point. The included follow me modes and gesture control allows you to capture cinematic footage or even capture a selfie.
Enjoy up to 36 minutes of flight time with two intelligent flight batteries. The rugged design of the Ruko B7 and its optical flow 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.
720P, 5 Megapixels
13 Min
Hobbyists
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.
720P
30 Min
Hobbyists
The U49WF FPV Camera Drone boasts altitude-hold and a first-person-view (FPV) screen with Camera Live Video, so you can see exactly what the HD camera of your drone sees in real-time.
It also comes with an extra battery to help you fly for even longer before having to charge, and an outstanding 720p camera for clear HD pictures and live video.
Add to that it’s impressively long flight time of 30 minutes, and you’re looking at a great drone for beginners (or intermediate pilots, for that matter) at an inexpensive price.
Features & Specs