Best drone under $500?

Best Drone Under $500: A Comprehensive Guide for 2025
If you're in the market for a new drone but don't want to break the bank, look no further. This guide will help you find the best drone under $500 that suits your needs whether you're a beginner or an experienced pilot.
Top Drone Under $500 for Beginners
For those new to drones, choosing the right model can be overwhelming. A top choice is the DJI Mini 2, which offers excellent value and features such as a foldable design, obstacle avoidance technology, and a high-resolution camera capable of capturing stunning aerial footage.
Key Features
- Foldable Design for Easy Transport
- Obstacle Avoidance Technology
- 4K Camera with 1080p Video Recording
- Up to 31 Minutes of Flight Time
Best RC Quadcopter Under $500
The Hubsan X4 H107D is an excellent choice for those looking for a high-quality quadcopter under $500. It offers impressive flight stability, a built-in camera with real-time video transmission, and a range of up to 300 meters.
Key Features
- Stable Flight Performance
- Included Camera for Real-Time Video Transmission
- Up to 15 Minutes of Flight Time
- Range of Up to 300 Meters
Budget-Friendly RC Helicopter Under $500
The Tello Drone by Ryze Tech is a budget-friendly option that offers impressive features for its price point. It's easy to control, has a built-in camera with 720p video recording, and supports FPV flight.
Key Features
- Easy-to-Control Design
- Included Camera with 720p Video Recording
- FPV Flight Capability
- Up to 13 Minutes of Flight Time
Ultimate RC Airplane Under $500
The Walkera Voyager V2 is a high-performance RC airplane that offers excellent flight stability and maneuverability. It's perfect for those who want to experience the thrill of flying an airplane without breaking the bank.
Key Features
- High-Performance Flight Stability
- Maneuverable Design
- Included Camera with 1080p Video Recording
- Up to 25 Minutes of Flight Time
Affordable FPV Racing Drone Under $500
The Runcam Sparrow is an affordable yet high-performance FPV racing drone that offers excellent speed and agility. It's perfect for those who want to experience the excitement of FPV racing without spending a fortune.
Key Features
- High-Speed Performance
- Agile Maneuverability
- Included Camera with 720p Video Recording
- Up to 15 Minutes of Flight Time
High-Performance Drone for $500 or Less
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is a high-performance drone that offers exceptional features such as a 48MP camera, advanced obstacle avoidance technology, and up to 34 minutes of flight time. It's perfect for those who want top-of-the-line performance without breaking the bank.
Key Features
- 48MP Camera with Advanced Image Quality
- Obstacle Avoidance Technology
- Up to 34 Minutes of Flight Time
- Range of Up to 10 km (6.2 miles)
Best FPV Drone Under 500 Bucks
The TBS Discovery 2 is an excellent choice for those looking for a high-quality FPV drone under $500. It offers impressive flight performance, a built-in camera with real-time video transmission, and supports advanced features such as telemetry data.
Key Features
- High-Performance Flight Capability
- Included Camera for Real-Time Video Transmission
- Telemetry Data Support
- Up to 15 Minutes of Flight Time
Top Choice: RC Helicopter Under $500
The Heli-Max FC-360 is a top choice for those looking for an affordable yet high-quality RC helicopter under $500. It offers excellent flight stability, easy-to-use controls, and supports FPV flight.
Key Features
- Stable Flight Performance
- Easy-to-Control Design
- Included Camera with 720p Video Recording
- FPV Flight Capability
Best Budget Drone Under $500
The Tello EDU by Ryze Tech is an excellent budget-friendly option that offers impressive features such as a built-in camera, real-time video transmission, and supports advanced programming for educational purposes.
Key Features
- Built-In Camera with 720p Video Recording
- Real-Time Video Transmission
- Educational Programming Support
- Up to 13 Minutes of Flight Time
Affordable Quadcopter with HD Camera Under $500
The Hubsan X4 H107D is an affordable quadcopter that offers a high-resolution camera capable of capturing stunning aerial footage. It's perfect for those who want to capture beautiful images and videos without spending too much.
Key Features
- Included HD Camera with 1080p Video Recording
- Real-Time Video Transmission
- Up to 15 Minutes of Flight Time
Affordable Quadcopter for $500 or Less
The DJI Mavic Mini is an affordable yet high-quality quadcopter that offers exceptional features such as a 12MP camera, advanced obstacle avoidance technology, and up to 30 minutes of flight time. It's perfect for those who want top-of-the-line performance without breaking the bank.
Key Features
- 12MP Camera with Advanced Image Quality
- Obstacle Avoidance Technology
- Up to 30 Minutes of Flight Time
- Range of Up to 4 km (2.5 miles)
Affordable Quadcopter with FPV Under $500
The Runcam Sparrow is an affordable yet high-performance quadcopter that offers excellent speed and agility, a built-in camera with real-time video transmission, and supports advanced features such as telemetry data.
Key Features
- High-Speed Performance
- Included Camera for Real-Time Video Transmission
- Telemetry Data Support
- Up to 15 Minutes of Flight Time
Affordable Quadcopter with HD Camera Under $500
The Hubsan X4 H107D is an affordable quadcopter that offers a high-resolution camera capable of capturing stunning aerial footage. It's perfect for those who want to capture beautiful images and videos without spending too much.
Key Features
- Included HD Camera with 1080p Video Recording
- Real-Time Video Transmission
- Up to 15 Minutes of Flight Time
Affordable Quadcopter for $500 or Less
The DJI Mavic Mini is an affordable yet high-quality quadcopter that offers exceptional features such as a 12MP camera, advanced obstacle avoidance technology, and up to 30 minutes of flight time. It's perfect for those who want top-of-the-line performance without breaking the bank.
Key Features
- 12MP Camera with Advanced Image Quality
- Obstacle Avoidance Technology
- Up to 30 Minutes of Flight Time
- Range of Up to 4 km (2.5 miles)