As someone who has always been interested by the world of drones, I know how overwhelming it can be for beginners to find the perfect drone that won’t break the bank. That’s why I have authored this list, examining countless options to bring you the best drones under $100. Whether you’re a hobbyist, an aspiring aerial photographer, or someone who wants to have fun with friends and family, these drones will not only give you a fantastic flying experience but also provide you with a reliable introduction to this fun world. So, buckle up, as we explore the top affordable drones that will keep your wallet happy and your inner pilot soaring.
What Is The Best Drone Under $100?
There are a lot of good drones in this price range; however, my personal favourite is the DJI Tello drone. It’s a fantastic little drone that comes with a good HD camera and some very fun features; however, there are some very good models on this list that you may prefer to the Tello drone.
Best Drones Under $100
The Tello drone tops this list and for under $100, you do get your money’s worth and more. This drone is suitable for beginners, kids and even more experienced pilots, the drone is designed to be flown indoors and outdoors and has a robust build that can withstand the occasional crashes. The drone is tiny and can fit in the palm of your hand, it weighs just 80g making it a superb travel companion. It has a 5MP 720p camera that takes outstanding videos and images, the quality of which is far superior to every other drone on this list. The drone is flown via its own app, this is a break from DJI as all other DJI drones are flown via the DJI GO APP. It has a few intelligent flight modes that make taking videos and images far easier and with its electronic image stabilization software, the resulting videos and pictures are of excellent quality. This is by far the best drone under $100 and is worth every cent.
Key Features
- 720p HD camera
- 5MP images
- EZ Shots
- Acrobatic manoeuvres
- 13 minutes of flight time
- One-button take-off/landing
- One-button return home
- Program your own flight manoeuvres
2. Holy Stone HS200
Holy Stone have established itself as one of the leading manufacturers of drones for beginners and the HS200 is no different. This is an awesome camera drone that comes with some solid features like FPV, altitude hold and 4-speed modes that will be suitable for beginners and more experienced pilots. The camera shoots videos in 720p and takes still images in 2mp, both videos and images are of good quality especially for the price it’s selling for. It has a headless mode for beginners and has a flight time of 7-9 minutes.
Key Features
- 720p Camera
- 2 MP Images
- FPV
- 9 minutes flight time
- 4 Speed modes
- Gravity sensor control
- Automatic take-off/landing
3. Holy Stone F181W
Another Holy Stone drone on this list, the F181W is an upgrade to the F181 with one of the upgrades being FPV capability. The F181W comes with a 2mp 720p camera with 120° wide-angle FOV. The camera quality is pretty good considering the price you are paying and with its altitude hold function, you can take good quality images and videos with little distortion. The drone comes with FPV capability which allows you to attach your smartphone to the controller and stream live video feed from the camera. Flight time is around 7-10 minutes. Definitely a drone worth considering.
Key Features
- 720p Camera
- 2 MP Images
- 120° FOV
- 10 minutes flight time
- 4 Speed modes
- Cool design with LED lights
4. Holy Stone HS110D
This is one of the best selling drones for under $100 on Amazon, it’s small and lightweight is great for people looking for their first affordable FPV drone. The HS110D has an HD camera that takes pretty decent videos and photos and you can live stream videos to your smartphone. The drone comes with altitude for better hovering capability and has voice and gesture control modes that are fun to use especially for kids. The drone has a flight time of around 10 minutes and you get an extra battery with the package which will save you money from having to purchase one separately.
Key features
- 1080p camera with 120° FOV
- FPV
- 10 minutes of flight time
- Gravity sensor mode
- Voice control
- 100-meter control range
5. Deerc D10
A fun little drone that comes with an HD camera and some really cool features that everyone will enjoy using. The drone has a range of around 80 meters and a flight time of 10 minutes, you do get an extra battery, which is always a bonus. Some of the features include multiple speed modes, trajectory flight mode and one button take-off/landing. The drone can be controlled with just a smartphone and also has voice control for take-off and landing and gesture control to capture images.
Key features
- HD camera
- FPV capability
- 10 minutes of flight time
- Gesture control for images/videos
- Voice control
- Gravity sensor control
- 80-meter range
6. Holy Stone HS260
A stunning drone that comes with some impressive features and looks amazing. The Holy Stone HS260 is a nice foldable drone that is equipped with an HD camera that can capture some cool images and videos. The drone has a flight time of around 12 minutes and comes with 2 batteries. The drone comes with voice and gesture control and can also be controlled with just your smartphone. It has one button take-off/landing and also has a couple of hands-free flight modes.
Key features
- HD camera
- Compact foldable design
- 12 minutes of flight time
- 80-meter range
- Voice & gesture control
- Hands-free flight modes
- 2 Speed modes
7. Deerc D20
A small foldable drone that is fun to fly and perfect for kids and beginners, the Deerc D20 is one of the best drones under $100. This is a great drone to fly indoors and comes with some cool features such as an HD camera, 3-speed modes, altitude hold, one-button take-off/landing and 3D flips. The drone comes with two batteries, with each battery providing around 8 minutes of flight time. Other features include voice control, gravity sensor control and FPV capability.
Key features
- HD camera
- FPV capability
- Great for indoors
- 8 minutes of flight time
- 40-meter range
- Gravity sensor control
- Voice & gesture control
8. Syma X300
The SYMA X300 is an excellent beginner-friendly drone that comes fitted with a 1080p camera that captures very good photos and videos. Powered by a rechargeable battery, this quadcopter offers up to 15 minutes of exhilarating flight time. Additionally, smartphone compatibility lets users take charge of the drone and access its camera feed through a dedicated app. The X300 boasts user-friendly features such as headless mode, altitude hold mode, one-button takeoff and landing, and it comes with a foldable design. The drone supports trajectory flight, allowing users to draw a custom flight path on the app, and the drone flies along that route autonomously.
Key Features
- HD camera with a wide-angle view
- FPV capability
- Custom flight path
- Gravity control
- 12 minutes of flight time
- 80-meter control range
9. Potensic P5
The Potensic P5 drone features an HD 5G WiFi camera with a wide-angle view and can be adjusted for better angles. The drone has a total flight time of 30 minutes thanks to its two modular batteries. The user-friendly PotensicFly app offers a range of convenient features, including trajectory flight and gravity control. The drone is designed for beginners with altitude hold, headless mode, three-speed modes, and 3D flips. Lightweight and portable, it comes with a carrying bag for easy storage and transport.
Key Features
- HD camera
- 2.7k photos
- 1080p videos
- One-button 3D flips
- Custom flight paths
- 15 minutes of flight time
10. DEERC D50
The DEERC D50 is a user-friendly drone that comes with a useful backpack for storage, and you get two batteries for a combined 24 minutes of flight time. This drone features a built-in 2K Ultra HD camera with a 120-degree field of view, allowing for high-definition footage and HD images. The drone has altitude hold mode, one-button takeoff/landing, and three-speed modes. It can perform 360° flips and has intelligent features such as waypoint flight mode, voice control and gesture control for taking photos.
Key Features
- HD camera with 120º FOV
- 2k photos
- HD videos
- One-button 360º flips
- Custom flight paths
- 12 minutes of flight time
Do You Need To Register These Drones?
This will depend on where you live, if you are in the USA, you will not need to register the drone if it weighs under 250g, however, you will need to pass the new TRUST exam from the FAA. This will test your knowledge of basic safety and regulatory information on operating drones.
If the drone weighs over 250g, you will need to register the drone with the FAA and make sure that the drone is marked with your registration details and carry proof of your registration details.
For those of you residing in the UK, you will need to register your drone, even if it weighs less than 250g, however, if it does not come with a camera and it weighs less than 250g, there is no need to register it.
You will need to obtain a Flyer ID, which will require you to pass an online theory test and you will also need to obtain an Operator ID, which has a £10 annual fee. You will also need clearly label your drone with your Operator ID.
For more information, please visit the FAA or CAA website, as drone registration requirements are subject to frequent change.
Follow The Rules
Always read the instruction manual before you fly and if you are a complete beginner, make sure to fly in a wide open area with no one else around.
Rules for recreational use of drones are similar around the world, if you observe the following, you should be safe:
- Keep the drone in your visual line of sight
- Fly under 400ft
- Don’t fly close to people
- Don’t fly in residential, commercial, and industrial areas
- Don’t fly near airports, airfields and aircrafts
- Don’t fly under the influence of drugs & alcohol
- Obey local laws if they restrict drone operations
- Respect people’s privacy
As an added precaution, you should consider installing a mobile app that will let you know where you can fly and if the weather forecast is suitable for drone flights.
Many of you may want to fly at night, I suggest you read this article so that you are familiar with what is required of drone pilots for night flying. The rules are more or less similar to day flying, but one exception is that you will need to purchase an anti-collision beacon/light that can be seen from 3 miles and has a flashing feature.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, drones have become increasingly accessible, with numerous high-quality options available for under $100. These affordable drones offer an excellent introduction to FPV experiences and recreational flying for beginners and experienced pilots alike. With features such as HD cameras, user-friendly controls, and various flight modes, these budget-friendly drones prove that you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy the thrill of flying. As you explore the options and choose the drone that best suits your needs, always remember to adhere to local regulations and prioritize safety while taking to the skies. Happy flying!
Wow….
Great review. I never realized you could get such great drones for less than 100 bucks.
I always thought that a decent drone with a camera would be 300 or more.
What would be a good drone in the next price bracket?
Definitely will be looking closer at your recommendations.
Paul.
Hey, I really enjoyed reading your review about the best drones under $100. I’m a huge DJI fan and I own a Mavic air myself and I’m super happy with it. However, I never knew that DJI had a super small drone like Tello Quadcopter I think I really have to test that out. 🙂 since it is only $106. I also must say I think I have a bit mixed feelings about the EACHINE E58 since it looks like Mavic ripoff. How well does it perform?
Hey Aaron
As huge DJI fan myself,I say you should try out the Tello drone. It is in my opinion the best drone under $100. As for the Eachine E58 ,yeah it does seem like a complete copy cat of the Mavic,and it has nowehere near any of the cool features and flying capability of the Mavic. It is more targeted to those who do not want to spend to much on a drone like the Mavic but are attracted to its small.compact and foldable design. For undwer $100 it is still a god drones.
All the best
Great site guys, I’ve bookmaked your pages as I’ll be back to keep an eye on drone progress. Love that you’ve even thrown in some UK drone LAW. This is not only common sense but encourages safe use.
Love the lists of price ranges, this helps a lot and the beginner’s advice is invaluable.
Cheers nOrm
Hi Norm
Thanks for the comment,really appreciate it.
All the best
I think your list is really good and it gave me a much needed lesson on drones. I am just at the beginning stage of deciding what type is best.
I think the one thing I noticed for each drone under a $100 is the flying time is under 10 minutes. Did I read that correctly?
You mentioned extra batteries to solve the short flight life. What are the costs for extra batteries?
Also, if I wanted more flight time, how much does the cost go up?
Thanks for your post!
Hi
Thanks for your comment,these drones will be perfect for beginners but their fight times are short and that is why I recommend purchasing extra batteries. As for their cost that will depend on what type of battery your drone takes. If you want a drone with more flight time,you will be looking at paying much more than $100. However, as a beginner I suggest you stick with the ones on this list or something similar so that you can practice your flying skills for something a bit more sophisticated later on.
All the best
Wow a drome including camera for under $100 that is an unbelievable price!!
I remember when drones first came out and they were like $1000 or maybe more. If you lost a propeller they were really annoying to replace.
It sounds amazing that it comes with a 5MP camera as well. 13 mins flying time sounds OK? (ish) My question is how long does it take to recharge?