Serious drone pilots end up sinking hundreds, if not thousands of dollars into their rigs, building their own from parts or just picking up a ready-to-fly drone. We may look at building a custom rig one day ourselves, but for now, we’ll focus on off-the-shelf devices, the kind that keep the budget fairly low while you get the hang of things.
We have smaller budget lists as well, but let’s bump it up to half a grand today: This is our list of the best drones under $500.
Jonathan FeistWhy trust Drone Rush?
I’ve been a fan of flight since a young age; while I’ve had few opportunities at the helm of manned aircraft, the hours on my fleet of drones continue to grow. I enjoy putting cameras into the sky, silky smooth aerial imagery makes me happy. My goal is to help all pilots enjoy flight legally and safely.
Drone Laws – That’s right, no matter what you fly, you have to follow the rules of the sky.
Best drones under $500
DJI Mini 2: Best camera drone under $500
The DJI Mini 2 is the drone we most want in our arsenal, never mind that it’s the best drone under $500, and the only viable 4K camera drone in the price bracket, it’s also one of the most portable machines to haul with you on the go. There are better camera drones out there, and there are more affordable basic airframes for learning the how to fly, but as a simple craft for some hobby camera work, it’s hard to beat the Mini 2.
Under the hood, the Mini 2 packs a 4K camera on a 3-axis gimbal, it has up to half hour of flight time, great range, and is reasonably fast.
Why we fly the DJI Mini 2
If you are content with the photos and video that your phone can produce, but want wings, the Mini 2 is a superb option. The ease of flight, compact size, and portability make the Mini 2 our first choice for a drone to throw in the backpack and hit the trail.
What we like
- 4K camera
- Fun and easy to fly
- Under 250 grams
- Very portable
- Best GPS and camera for under $500
What we don’t like
- Not a big camera drone
DJI Mavic Mini: Value GPS drone
The DJI Mavic Mini was the first DJI drone to rock a good camera and weigh less than 250 grams, meaning it does not need to be registered with the FAA before you fly. It may not be the first DJI drone in this price bracket, but it’s almost laughable to compare the old Spark to the capabilities of the later Mavic series drones.
The Mavic Mini has a solid 2.7K camera, and only about 1 mile of connectivity, making it one of the least capable DJI drones still on store shelves, but the value is there.
Why we fly the DJI Mavic Mini
We really enjoy the Mavic Mini. It’s not the best drone around, but it’s certainly the best drone at this price point, making it a fun, safe, and reliable option for new pilots, and for those that risk carelessly tossing the drone into a backpack.
What we like
- Fun and easy to fly
- Very portable
- Good 2.7K camera
- Under 250 grams
What we don’t like
- Limited range
- Only 2.7K camera
Hubsan Zino Pro: When a toy-maker goes pro
The Hubsan Zino Pro appears to be inspired by the Mavic series of drones. It offers a similar overall shape and folding design, while hanging a decent camera from the nose. The result is something comparable to an older Mavic drone, or the new Mini drones. Hubsan makes fun toys, it’s great to see them produce a competitor in the GPS-enabled camera drone segment.
Why we fly the Hubsan Zino Pro
We respect Hubsan and the Zino Pro, we think it’s a solid drone that’s perfectly capable for the price. We hesitate to purchase it for ourselves with the DJI Minis on the market, but Zino is still worth it, if you go that route.
What we like
- Competitive small camera drone
- Interchangeable lens filters
- Easy to fly
- 4K camera
What we don’t like
- Low quality camera
Ryze Tello: Great beginner drone, fun and educational
The Ryze Tello is the kind of drone that most people should expect to get as their first drone. It’s a simple craft that has more fun features than you might expect. Fly by phone, grab the optional remote, or code your own navigation. That’s right, Tello is a great choice for the educational space, as a safe indoor drone with tools to help you learn about flight and flight controls.
Why we fly the Ryze Tello
Make no mistake, the Ryze Tello is not a camera drone, nor will it keep up on the race track, but as a simple beginner’s drone, it’s fun to fly, safe for indoor flight, and educational.
What we like
- Easy to fly
- Lots of flight options
- Safe for indoor
- Educational
What we don’t like
- Limited range
- Simple camera
- Remote is optional add-on
Hubsan H501S: Powerful GPS-enabled toy drone
The Hubsan H501S is an older drone, but is one of the best GPS drones from Hubsan. It’s powerful, reliable, and easy to fly. The camera is not amazing, but can give you a nice view from the sky at least. This is a great option for newer pilots that want to just bounce around the park.
Why we fly the Hubsan H501S
As a simple drone for park flying, this is a solid option, but please don’t expect the H501S to produce amazing aerial imagery. Still fun and fast.
What we like
- Easy to fly
- Great toy-class drone
What we don’t like
- Older drone
- Limited range
- Limited battery life
Bonus budget drones
Further Reading: When budget is of no concern, here are the best drones
Frequently Asked Questions
Your needs should dictate your budget. For $500, you should be able to get a solid racing drone setup, with all the extra parts to handle a crash or two, but at this price, you’re only getting an entry-level camera drone. Drones equipped with the best smartphone-caliber cameras will run from $800 – $1500 or so, and expect to spend more than that if you want a drone that has a camera sensor that is better than what a smartphone offers.
Don’t get us wrong, drones benefit from putting those smartphone sensors behind larger and better lenses than your phone can handle, producing much better results, but DSLR-level results should only be expected for high-end DSLR prices.
It is not fair of us to say that $500 is too much for your first drone, but we do recommend you start flying with a $30 unit. Learn how drones operate, how to control the sticks, with a drone that won’t break the bank when you crash – and yes, you will crash. A $500 drone with GPS and a reliable self-hover makes flight a lot easier and safer for beginner pilots, so don’t be afraid to give it a go. Fly safe!
Not long ago, the answer to this question was no. Then came the DJI Mini 2 in November 2020. The rules still apply for the caliber of camera here, this budget produces images similar to higher-end smartphones, but, indeed, there is now a 4K drone for under $500 that we can safely recommend.
Yes, the FAA requires that all hobby pilots acquire their TRUST Certificate, and that all paid operations be conducted by Part 107 Certified pilots.
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Excellent write-up, I am in agreement that the Phantom 3 is one of the best drones under 500 dollars. The Syma X5C is a great bang for the buck drone, great for the beginner. They have an upgraded version of the X5C called the X5C-1 that fixed some of the stability issues with the original. So it might be worth giving this new version a shot.
Thank you Carter. I need to give Syma’s entire line another look over. I must admit that I have been flying the X5C-1 version you are talking about, didn’t realize it was an upgrade from a previous model. So many drones, I’m slowly getting away from the mainstream and exploring the more rare units out there.
That Phantom 3, the price keeps coming down, the value going up. We’ll see the 4K models under $500 soon enough.