How Much Does a Drone Cost? – The Lowdown on the Best Models and Prices

 

Whether you’re a seasoned drone pilot or completely new to this flying machine, you’ll want to know how much a drone costs before you buy it. Thankfully, the amount you pay for a drone depends very little on what type of photographer you are or what kind of flying you plan on doing. In fact, the price of a drone is so low that anyone can buy one without putting too much money into it. To help make sure you understand exactly what your spending and why, we’ve compiled a list of the best drones under $200. These models offer a variety of features and each one of them will suit different needs depending on where you plan on flying them from as well as what types of environments they can withstand. If you’re looking to get started with vidéo gaming but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, we also have options for that as well.

What will a drone cost?

Drones under $200 usually cost under $100 and sometimes as little as $50. These are often amateur models that are equipped with little to no camera or GPS capabilities. Most models on this list are less than a pound in weight, have a one-inch flight all-terrain motor, and can be flown by anyone with an appropriate level of experience. These are perfect for beginner pilots who want to test drive a drone before buying one for themselves.

Most of the low-cost drones on this list are under $100, making them ideal for first-time flyers. These models often only have basic functionality and therefore, they’re best suited for indoor flying.

As you’re likely already aware, most professional photographers will use a drone that’s equipped with a camera, GPS, and a high-quality lens. It’s for these types of photographers that you’ll likely pay upwards of $200 for a model.

What are the Different Types of Drones You Can Buy?

When you’re shopping for a new drone, you’ll first want to decide whether you want to be professional or recreational. For prosumers—people who make videos for social media or who just enjoy exploring their environment—the decision isn’t as important. However, for the commercial and governmental sectors, being able to see and identify which model you use is paramount. The types of drones you’ll come across in your search will include:

Indoor/low-flight: These models are perfect for indoor flying and can stay at a set height of around waist-level. Their camera is less detailed and the maximum flight time is only 15 minutes.

These models are perfect for indoor flying and can stay at a set height of around waist-level. Their camera is less detailed and the maximum flight time is only 15 minutes. UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle): UAVs are remote-controlled aircrafts that can fly at much higher altitudes than indoor drones. With a UAV, you have the ability to see the entire environment around you and take pictures or videos at the same time.

UAVs are remote-controlled aircrafts that can fly at much higher altitudes than indoor drones. With a UAV, you have the ability to see the entire environment around you and take pictures or videos at the same time. Quadcopter: A quadcopter is the most popular type of drone and the one you’ll come across most often in the skies. Just like a helicopter, but the drone has four rotors instead of two.

The Best drones under $200: our picks and recommendations

The best drones under $200 are those that offer a good balance of price and value. They should be easy to fly, offer lots of potential uses, and be durable enough to withstand the rigors of everyday use. Here are our recommendations for the best drones under $200.

Before we get into the best drones under $200, let’s get into what makes these models the best.

Top Pick Syma X9HW-1W: This is our top pick for best drone under $200. It has everything you’d want in a drone for under $200 including a 720p camera, and it comes with a case so it can take some handling damage.

This is our top pick for best drone under $200. It has everything you’d want in a drone for under $200 including a 720p camera, and it comes with a case so it can take some handling damage. Second Pick overengINEER: OverengINEER is a bit on the pricey side, but if you’re looking for a versatile, long-lasting UAV, this model is hard to beat.

OverengINEER is a bit on the pricey side, but if you’re looking for a versatile, long-lasting UAV, this model is hard to beat. Third Pick DJI Spark: The DJI Spark is a pocketable drone that offers great value for money. With a range of features including a HD camera and GPS, this is a great option for first-time flyers.

The DJI Spark is a pocketable drone that offers great value for money. With a range of features including a HD camera and GPS, this is a great option for first-time flyers. Bottom Pick Syma X5SW: If you want to save a little money, the Syma X5SW is a great option. It’s a low-cost drone that offers excellent flight performance and offers a lot for the price.

If you want to save a little money, the Syma X5SW is a great option. It’s a low-cost drone that offers excellent flight performance and offers a lot for the price. What to look for when buying a drone

Now that you’ve got the low-down on what to look for when buying a drone, it’s time to shop around for the best deal. Here are a few things to keep in mind when buying a drone: Flight time: The length of time that your drone will stay in the air will heavily depend on a number of things such as the type of environment you’re flying in and the weather, to name a few. Camera: The camera that your drone comes with is usually the most important aspect of a drone and is what you’ll want to shop around for deals on. GPS: If your model doesn’t come with a GPS, this is a crucial feature to have. This will allow you to track down your model wherever it is. Camera and GPS combo: If you’re willing to spend a little bit more money and are looking for the best of both worlds, an integrated camera and GPS is a sweetheart deal.

The downside to buying a drone online

You might have saved a few hundred dollars by going with the best deal online, only to be let down by the delivery system. In some cases, you might even end up paying more for your purchase as shipping can be another expensive add-on.

When buying a drone online, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure that the seller is legit. Some salespeople have been known to markup their charges by as much as 50%. Furthermore, make sure that the seller responsible for your purchase is the same one that you bought the drone from. If the seller cannot match the product you received, the authorities could look into the matter and take actions against the seller.

How to Find the Best Price on a Drone

As you’re likely aware, the best deal on a drone isn’t always the low-end model. There are exceptions, but for the most part, the more expensive the drone, the better the build quality and features. Here are a couple of ways to shop around for the best deal on a drone.

Brand New: Brands new models are almost always less expensive than used models, making them a great option if you’re on a budget and want to get into the hobby first.

Brands new models are almost always less expensive than used models, making them a great option if you’re on a budget and want to get into the hobby first. Brand Old: For models that are close to being new, you can check the history of the model to see how it’s performing. This will give you a good indicator of whether to purchase the newer model or the older version.