So, you want a drone.
That’s fine. I get it: you want to do some aerial shots and capture a new view to amaze your audience.
Plus, it would be so cool!
But, choosing the right drone can be difficult. Especially if you have never flown one and you have a limited budget.
Well, if you can’t afford a $1000 flying monster but you’re still dying to shoot from above, in this article I’ll show you 8 great drones under $200 to help you find one that fits your needs and your wallet.
First I’ll show you the entire list, but then I’d like to talk about some important stuff you need to know before choosing the best drone for you. And after that, I’ll give you more details about each one of them:
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Our Favorite Picks
Review of the Best Drones Under $200
This is a list of 8 great drones that would fit vloggers, travelers, and any drone enthusiast.
Keep in mind that these are affordable and simple options. They are awesome for the price, but you won’t get the best camera in the market, nor the sturdiest construction, or the longest flight time.
Let’s start with the fun:
Holy Stone HS120D
This is a light drone that suits all beginners for a nice price while providing good quality and useful functions… and a carrying backpack!
It only weighs 221g and has a compact body with a clean all-in-black design. It includes LED lights on each arm.
Main features
- Flight time: 18 minutes. However, it comes with two batteries so you can double the time.
- Transmission range: 300mts in normal conditions.
- Camera: the camera can record 2K video and it has a 120° FOV.
- Controller: the controller is small, simple and has two foldable handles. It includes a smartphone holder as well.
- FPV: yes! Just like all the previous models.
- GPS: yes.
- Intelligent modes: return to home, follow-me, TapFly, One Key Takeoff/Landing, headless mode, and more.
What we like about the Holy Stone HS120D
- Good flying time and comes with two batteries.
- Includes backpack.
- Easy to fly.
- Built-in GPS.
- Many intelligent modes and useful functions for beginners.
What we don’t like about the Holy Stone HS120D
- No foldable arms.
- No image stabilization system.
See price and more details on Amazon
Ryze Tech Tello
This is a mini drone equipped with many stuff that both kids and adults will enjoy. It’s powered by DJI, which is a reliable brand known for its high-quality quadcopters.
Oh, and btw, that “mini” part is no joke; it weighs only 80gr!
Main features
- Flight time: 13 minutes.
- Transmission range: 100 mts in normal conditions.
- Camera: Tello is equipped with a 5MP camera that can shoot 720p video. Although the brand says it has a powerful processor to deliver high image quality, videos don’t look that great, but they’re OK.
Remember this is a $100 toy drone, so don’t expect to shoot like a pro!
Apart from that, this device doesn’t have any memory card slots. Photos and videos are sent to your smartphone using the Tello app.
- Controller: there are three ways to control Tello. You can do it with the remote control, with your phone using the free app, or with a laptop using the Scratch programming language.
- FPV: yes! Using your smartphone with the app.
- GPS: no. It has vision positioning system that keeps the drone steady and oriented, but it’s not the same.
- Intelligent modes: auto takeoff/landing, 8D flips, and some automated flight modes. Sadly, it doesn’t have a return to home function.
What we like about the Ryze Tech Tello
- Small and inexpensive.
- Easy to fly.
- It’s a fun toy drone for all ages.
- Has some automated flight modes.
What we don’t like about the Ryze Tech Tello
- No memory card slot.
- No GPS.
- Short flight time.
Check price and more features on Amazon
Potensic D58
The last drone of the list is the Potensic D58, it’s compact and easy-to-use but still provides great performance for its price.
Main features
- Flight time: 16-18 minutes.
- Transmission range: 500 mts.
- Camera: the camera can record in 1080p resolution and it has a 1-axis gimbal to reduce some shakiness. However, this system doesn’t provide that much IS, but for a drone at this price range, it’s fine.
- Controller: it has a comfortable size with a minimalist design and includes a smartphone holder.
- FPV: yes, using the mobile app you can get real-time footage via a 5G Wi-Fi signal.
- GPS: yes.
- Intelligent modes: return to home, orbit mode, follow-me, Waypoint Mode, headless mode, and more.
What we like about the Potensic D58
- Easy to fly.
- Built-in GPS.
- Many intelligent modes and useful functions for beginners.
What we don’t like about the Potensic D58
- No foldable arms.
- No travel case.
Check price and more features on Amazon
Snaptain SP700
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This drone has a solid construction, it’s easy to use and includes a bunch of useful functions that will help you get amazing shots for your vlogs.
Also, it looks super cute. It has a camouflage print all over its body and a funny face with sharp teeth on the front.
It weighs 500grs (1.1 lb) and it’s made of ABS plastic. A very cool thing about its physical design is that it includes LED lights in each of the rotors.
Main features
- Flight time: 18 minutes.
- Transmission range: 500 mts in normal conditions.
- Brushless motor: this powerful motor provides great performance with low noise, more stability, and durability. Additionally, as the brand states, drones with this kind of motor have good wind resistance.
- Camera: the camera has a wide-angle lens and it’s capable of recording in 2K resolution. There is no image stabilization system but you can still shoot great footage with it.
For storage, the Snaptain SP700 has one slot for microSD cards up to 32 GB.
- Controller: the controller is big but seems ergonomic and easy to use. It includes an LCD screen that shows basic information about the drone (battery, distance, height, etc).
- FPV: the Snaptain SP700 comes with a smartphone attachment that you can clip onto the controller, and with the Snaptain Eco app, you can activate FPV.
FPV uses the built-in Wi-Fi (5G) of the drone to send the image to your smartphone. However, this will reduce the transmission range.
- GPS: yes.
- Intelligent modes: it includes headless mode, return to home, follow-me, circle fly (the drone will orbit a point of interest that you set), tap fly, and many more.
What we like about the Snaptain SP700
- Solid construction.
- Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.
- Many intelligent modes and useful functions for beginners.
- Good remote control with a great transmission range.
What we don’t like about the Snaptain SP700
- No foldable design for easy carriage.
- No image stabilization.
See price and more details on Amazon
Eachine E520S
No products found.
This one is small and portable but includes a lot of advanced functions for a very low price. It’s a dream drone for beginners!
The Eachine E520S weighs only 280gr and it has a modern, foldable design. The body is made of high-quality plastic and it has LED lights in each rotor.
Main features
- Flight time: 16 minutes.
- Transmission range: 300mts in normal conditions.
- Camera: the brand says it has a 4K camera but this is not the case. It can shoot 4K stills but video is limited to 1080, which is what you might expect from a drone in this price range.
Truth be told, the quality of the camera is not the best but it can capture nice footage in very bright conditions. However, there is no image stabilization system.
And for storage, it has one slot for microSD cards up to 32 GB.
- Controller: the controller is simple and easy to understand for beginners. It includes a smartphone attachment.
- FPV: the Eachine E520S has built-in Wi-Fi (5G) so you can activate FPV in your smartphone using the Eachine app.
Note that when using FPV, the transmission range goes down to 250 mts.
- GPS: yes.
- Intelligent modes: return to home function, follow-me, waypoint (set a route and the drone will automatically follow it), altitude hold (keeps the drone stable), orbit mode, headless mode, and many more.
What we like about the Eachine E520S
- Small, lightweight, and modern design with foldable arms for easy carriage.
- Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.
- Many intelligent modes and useful functions for beginners.
What we don’t like about the Eachine E520S
- Misleading information about the camera. It can’t shoot 4K video, just stills. For video, the maximum resolution is 1080p.
- No image stabilization system.
Check price and more features on Amazon
Simrex X11
The Simrex X11 is a mid-sized drone equipped with all the basics to please enthusiasts… and even a little bit more.
It has a solid construction but it’s kind of heavy, weighing 2.8 pounds. Sadly, as it doesn’t have foldable arms, it’s not very portable.
However, it has a nice physical design all in black with LED lights in each rotor.
Main features
- Flight time: 22 minutes.
- Transmission range: 500 mts in normal conditions.
- Brushless motor: provides good performance and stability.
- Camera: the camera can record 1080p video and, although image quality is not extraordinary, you can get nice-looking videos.
Unlike many of its competitors, the Simrex X11 has image stabilization! It has a 2-axis gimbal that will make the image stay horizontal even when the drone slants.
This is an awesome feature to have in a cheap, entry-level quadcopter.
- Controller: the controller includes an LCD screen that shows basic information about the drone (battery, distance, height, etc). Additionally, it has a smartphone holder.
You can control the drone using the Simrex app too. It’s available for Android and iOS devices.
- FPV: using the Simrex app, you can activate FPV so you can see exactly what the drone is recording.
- GPS: yes.
- Intelligent modes: it includes headless mode, return to home, follow me, orbit mode, altitude hold mode, trajectory flight, and a lot more!
What we like about the Simrex X11
- Long flight time.
- Image stabilization system.
- Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.
- Many intelligent flight modes and useful functions for beginners.
- Solid construction.
What we don’t like about the Simrex X11
- No foldable arms.
- It’s kind of heavy to carry around.
Check price and more features on Amazon
Hobbytiger H301S Ranger
No products found.
This one is small but powerful. The Hobbytiger H301S Ranger is an affordable choice with a solid construction (made of ABS plastic) and a compact design.
This is an awesome choice for teenagers and unexperienced adults because it’s simple and user-friendly but has many cool functions.
Nevertheless, it’s not very suitable for videographers that need high image quality.
Main features
- Flight time: 10-11 minutes.
- Transmission range: 180 mts in normal conditions.
- Camera: the camera can record 720p video. Of course, since this is an inexpensive drone, the camera quality it’s not great, but it’s pretty decent in bright conditions.
For storage, it has one slot for a MicroSD 4GB card.
- Controller: the controller is easy to use, small and it includes a smartphone/tablet holder.
In contrast to previous models, this one doesn’t need batteries; it supports USB charging!
- FPV: using the app you can activate FPV. Btw, the app is very easy to understand and works very smoothly.
- GPS: yes.
- Intelligent modes: it includes headless mode, return to home, follow me, altitude hold mode, and more.
What we like about the Hobbytiger H301S Ranger
- Small but rock-solid.
- Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.
- The battery charges in 30 minutes.
- The controller doesn’t need batteries; it’s USB powered.
- Intelligent flight modes and useful functions for beginners.
What we don’t like about the Hobbytiger H301S Ranger
- No foldable arms.
- Short flight time.
- The camera quality is not great.
Check price and more features on Amazon
Altair Falcon AHP
This drone is super light, weighing only 147gr. This means you don’t even have to register it before you fly it.
The Altair Falcon AHP is an awesome choice for kids. And, because it’s an entry-level drone, it has a strong body made of ABS plastic so it can handle some minor crashes.
Main features
- Flight time: 10 minutes, BUT, it comes with two batteries so you can double the flight time.
- Transmission range: 50-125 mts.
- Ready to fly: there’s no assembly required. It’s ready to start flying right after opening the box.
- Camera: the camera can record 720p video but it’s not mind-blowing. And, as you might expect, there’s no image stabilization system. For that reason, this camera is better for stills.
As for the storage options, it has one slot for SD cards up to 32 GB.
- Controller: the controller is small and easy to use, and it includes a smartphone holder.
- FPV: using the FlyingSee app, you can activate FPV to have a video live view on your smartphone.
- GPS: no.
- Autonomous Hover & Positioning System (AHP): this feature will keep the drone steady in the air when you take your hands off the control. It’s a more advanced system than the common altitude hold.
- Intelligent modes: it includes headless mode, custom flight routing mode, altitude hold, and more.
What we like about the Altair Falcon AHP
- Easy to fly. Great for kids and teenagers.
- AHP system.
- Intelligent modes and useful functions for beginners.
What we don’t like about the Altair Falcon AHP
- Short flight time.
- No image stabilization.
- No GPS.
Check price and more features on Amazon
What to look for when buying a drone
Since drones are still unfamiliar to most people, I made a quick guide for those who don’t know anything about them. I included a few things that you should consider before you buy one.
If you already know what to look for when buying one of these babies, you can skip this part and jump right into the list of recommended drones.
Now, let’s talk about basic stuff you should care about:
Flight time and batteries
There’s one simple rule here: the cheaper and smaller the drone, the less flight time it has.
Drones have to be lightweight so they can fly, which means they use small batteries that don’t last long. Of course, this will always depend on the kind of drone you’re buying.
On average, a “video drone” can last up to 20 or 30 minutes in flight, and the more advanced ones can last up to 40 minutes aloft.
However, toy drones and other small models can stay in the air for only 5-10 minutes.
So, always try to look for the drone with the longest flying time your pocket can afford. And remember to buy extra batteries too!
GPS and other useful features to look for
Flying a drone it’s not easy. It takes time to do it well.
Therefore, if you’re a beginner, you might want to look for some useful features that will help you understand your machine better.
-GPS: I think this is pretty obvious, but having a flying robot that doesn’t know where it’s going can be dangerous.
To fly safely and without losing your drone, always look for a model equipped with GPS. Especially if you’re going to be recording from long distances.
Btw, having GPS opens up a new world of features like the ones I’ll talk about next.
-Return to home: sometimes, you’ll find some things on the way that can interfere with your drone’s signal and make you lose control (trees, cellphone towers, mountains, etc.).
That’s why some quadcopters have a “return to home” function that will send the device right to the spot it began to fly from. It’s a life-savior for emergencies!
-Headless mode: controlling a drone can be “easy” when it is facing the same way as you. Left means left and right means right, for example.
But, when you start having fun in the air, the drone can turn around or you can just lose track of it, and now left means right and vice versa. It’s a recipe for disaster.
Headless mode helps beginners to never lose control of their machine by setting an orientation for the drone to go along with. This way, the drone will go the direction YOU want it to go.
-FPV (First Person View): having the possibility to see exactly what you’re recording is super useful. This feature may add some costs but it’s worth it.
Whether you are a vlogger or an experienced videographer, this function will let you see what the drone is capturing. With this, you ensure you get the shots you want for your videos.
However, you still need to see your drone in the air. It’s much safer to keep an eye on the drone flying than just looking at the video live view.
-Follow-me function: with this function, you can make the drone follow you from distance. It’s a very fun feature for vloggers and travelers.
Durability and availability of spare parts
Here’s the thing: you will crash your drone several times while you’re learning how to use it properly. That’s just part of life.
So, you need to take a closer look at the quality of the drone and the availability of spare parts in case you need to replace something. Spoiler alert: eventually you’ll have to do so.
Try to look for materials such as carbon fiber, fiberglass or ABS plastic. Avoid aluminum if possible because it’s not very resistant.
Additionally, keep in mind that if you buy a popular drone and you buy it directly from the brand instead of a random store, there are a lot more chances that you can find spare parts easily whenever you need them.
In other words, invest in reliable and good quality brands.
Before you fly your drone…
We’re almost getting to the list of recommended drones, but since I’m making this guide, I wanted to give you some extra tips to fly safely and have fun:
- Consider wind speed. If there’s too much wind and you have a cheap, lightweight drone that’s not built to handle those conditions, you could lose control and crash it… and nobody wants that!
- Some drones have lights so you can see them in the night, but it’s always best to fly during the day. It’s safer and you can keep track of it easily.
- Wear sunglasses! Since you have to keep an eye on the drone flying, you must protect your eyes from direct sunlight.
- Avoid big metal structures; they can interfere with the communication between your quadcopter and your controller.
- Check the transmission range. Make sure how far you can fly your drone without losing control, but try not to push it to its limits because the signal may be weakened.
Make sure you fly legally
Flying a drone responsibly not only means to be careful and staying away from people and private property. You have to be sure that you are legally allowed to fly your device.
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates the use of drones. Any drone weighing more than 0.55 lbs should be registered.
The registration process is not complicated, but you have to read carefully the rules and guidelines set by the FAA. You can check that out on their website.
If you live in another country or you’re going to be flying outside the U.S., you should check their laws on drones to avoid any trouble.
For example, in Canada and the U.K., drones that weigh more than 0.55 should be registered as well.
Each country has different laws, and you must keep up to date because they can change anytime.
Will has been a full-time content creator since 2014. He’s an audio, video, and tech hobbyist dedicated to reviewing products and giving you the best tips he knows to grow your audience.