Finding Automation

The Best Drones Under $200.


Find the best drones under $200!

Last Updated: March 12, 2023

Many drones cost over $500, but you can spend less to get a high-quality drone. Many lower-end affordable personal drones can do the same things as the higher-end models with many options. This article highlights more affordable drone options if you are on a budget. We will help you find the best drones that cost less than $200.

What is a drone?

In its simplest form, a drone is an unmanned aircraft. Under the law, drones are more commonly called unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). A drone is an autonomous flying robot that can fly autonomously or be remotely controlled with software-controlled flight plans embedded in the aircraft systems. This flight software works in combination with a global positioning system (GPS) and onboard sensors.



Until recently, unmanned aerial vehicles were most commonly used by the military. They were initially used as weapons for intelligence gathering and anti-aircraft target practice. Personal drones are now also used in a wide range of roles:

  • Search and Rescue
  • Photography
  • Surveillance
  • Traffic Monitoring
  • Firefighting
  • Inspection
  • Videography
  • Agriculture
  • Insurance Claims
  • Racing
  • Package Delivery Services
  • Weather Monitoring

How do drones work?

All autonomous flying drones have a mini computer system and remote control used by a ground-based pilot controlling the aerial object. As each drone is different in size and power capabilities, how each drone’s flight initiation changes from one to the next. Some drones are so small that they must be thrown into the air to start them. However, once airborne, most operate with similar methods of maintaining flight control.


Most drones are powered by lithium-polymer batteries and use four horizontal propellers, called a quadcopter, that help the drone stay in flight. Many drones have a range of sensors to relay information to the person controlling the drone. These sensors include collision sensors that help the drone from crashing into objects, people, and other drones.

young man working on drone

Why buy a drone?

With a comprehensive collection of sizes, styles, sizes, and capabilities, drones can be used for many activities. Below are some common and fun ways drone enthusiast use their drones for personal use:

  • Racing: Many civilian operators get into drones because of racing. Racing drones is a fun sport that people of all ages can get involved with. Participants wear head-mounted goggles displaying a live feed from their drone and race in a first person view (FPV) format. Like car racing, the goal is to complete the course, not go out-of-bounds, and be the first to finish the laps.
  • Surveillance: Drones are used to serve many different personal surveillance needs. Homes and properties can be safely observed using drones. While the most common drones do not have any physical attachment to the ground, some surveillance drone models have a tether to a power source, allowing them to provide 24 hours of airborne surveillance.
  • Photography & Videography: The drone videos and photos market is becoming extremely common with social media and business marketing. The average person can now capture images and videos that once only high-priced equipment could capture with a video crew and helicopter. Operators can now use this drone technology to create high-quality aerial photography and videography at a fraction of the cost while still getting the same high-quality footage as big-budget movies. With video content dominated by social media, these personal drones can capture uniquely branded shots never seen before.
  • Inspection: When damage occurs to personnel property, like land or buildings, sometimes it takes work to access these areas. Aerial drones can document property damage, making it safe for a person to view without putting themselves in harm’s way. Buildings or structures can also be inspected using drone technology. Some drones can endure extreme temperatures making them great for checking when it is too uncomfortable for a person to view.
  • Tracking: Many people have enjoyed using drones to search for animals, during events, or even to find missing persons. Using aerial videos and photography often gives a different perspective that cannot be seen from the ground. Because these unmanned drones can be deployed from anywhere, the opportunities to track and find things become much more accessible.
  • Delivery: Personal drones can even deliver small packages. They can handle small payloads that could be used to move things from one location to another.
  • Entertainment: Personal drones can put on a light show using lasers and LEDs or just the drones moving in sync throughout the sky. These drone shows light up the skies with their aerial acrobatics and light displays for people to enjoy.

Our top listed products:

Holy Stone HS110G

Best Drone Under $200

$179.00

Hiturbo S20

Best Drone For Kids

$89.00

SYMA X500

Best Drone Flight Time

$199.98

Holy Stone HS175D

Best Value Drone

$259.98

ATTOP X-PACK 18

Best Selling Drone

$109.99

EMAX Tinyhawk 2

Best Racing Drone

$414.99

Holy Stone HS420

Smallest Drone

$69.99

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRONES!

Kid playing with drone

The Best Drones Under $200:

Below we will describe our top picks for the best drones under $200 and why:


Best Drone Under $200:

Holy Stone HS110G

Holy Stone HS110G

List Price: $179.00

Price: $159.99


Holy Stone HS110G Specifications:

Dimensions:                       12.05"L x 7.6"W x 3.6"H

Weight:                                  176g

Flight Time:                    13 Minutes

Flight Range:                     984ft

Speed:                                    3-speed settings

Video Resolution:          1080p 110° Wide Angle Camera

Obstacle Avoidance: No

Auto Hovering:                Yes

Follow Me Mode:             Yes

Auto Return / GPS:         Yes

Drone Color:                       Black

Media Type:                        SD

Control Type:                     Remote Control with App


Holy Stone HS110G Review:

PROS

  • Can record voice and images at the same time
  • Easy to learn for beginners
  • 4.2 stars with more than 4.9k reviews
  • Headless mode
  • Upgradeable to 2 modular batteries to increase total flight time
  • Auto-takeoff and return to home
  • “Follow Me” mode
  • Create custom flight paths
  • 2 lithium metal batteries included
  • Great flight range
  • Altitude control system
  • Emergency stop

CONS

  • Only 26 minutes of flight time with 2 batteries
  • Not for children
  • No carrying case

This is our pick for the best drone under $200.The Holy Stone brand has been around for almost 10 years and has sold over 5 million drones. The new HS110G is great for beginners but not meant for children. The new Holy Stone HS110G Quadcopter is perfect for pictures and videos. If you need footage for commercial use or are a hobbyist, this drone is an excellent choice for its quality and price.


The HS110G is a simplistic yet professional-looking design. In the four corners of the drone, there are four propellers, and under each one, there is a bright LED to help the drone pilot navigate. The LEDs allow this great drone to fly at night while making it easy for the operator to see in the night sky.

View on Amazon


Best Drone For Kids:

Hiturbo S20

Hiturbo S20

List Price: $89.00

Price: $74.99


Hiturbo S20 Specifications:

Dimensions:                       14.2"L x 11.8"W x 3.2"H

Weight:                                  712g

Flight Time:                    12 Minutes

Flight Range:                     328ft

Speed:                                    3-speed settings

Video Resolution:          FHD 1080p

Obstacle Avoidance: No

Auto Hovering:                Yes

Follow Me Mode:             No

Auto Return / GPS:         Yes

Drone Color:                       Grey & Blue

Media Type:                        SD

Control Type:                     Remote Control with App


Hiturbo S20 Review:

PROS

  • 4.6 stars with almost 1,000 reviews
  • 2 lithium-ion batteries included
  • One key start/landing
  • Gravity control
  • Carrying case
  • Can add filters and music to video
  • Propeller protection
  • Gesture control
  • Voice control
  • Portable bag included
  • FPV transmission
  • 360 flip function

CONS

  • Camera is not great
  • Trim adjustments needed every time before the flight
  • Only 24 minutes of flight time with 2 batteries
  • Must be connected to Wi-Fi to capture video or images

The Hiturbo S20 is perfect for kids or adults and allows the drone pilot to fly with the remote control or their smartphone. Because this drone is easier to operate, it is excellent for people learning to fly drones. This beginner drone is a great gift idea for any girl or boy!



This a helpful tip for those looking to purchase this drone. Make sure to calibrate the gyroscope after every crash and when the drone is turned on. You can hold both joysticks in the lower left or right 45° positions. This will help with drone stability and control.

View on Amazon

Best Drone Flight Time:

SYMA X500

SYMA X500

List Price: $199.98


SYMA X500 Specifications:

Dimensions:                       9.4"L x 9.4"W x 2.8"H

Weight:                                  250g

Flight Time:                    28 Minutes

Flight Range:                     1,148ft

Speed:                                    -

Video Resolution:          4K UHD 2160p

Obstacle Avoidance: No

Auto Hovering:                Yes

Follow Me Mode:             Yes

Auto Return / GPS:         Yes

Drone Color:                       Grey

Media Type:                        SD

Control Type:                     Remote Control with App


SYMA X500 Review:

PROS

  • Carrying case included
  • 4.0 stars with 1.7K reviews
  • Gesture control
  • Circle flight mode
  • Object trace and custom path
  • One key takeoff and landing
  • Headless Mode
  • 56 minutes of flying time between 2 batteries
  • Return to home
  • Remote control uses AA batteries 

CONS

  • No obstacle avoidance technology
  • Brushed motors
  • FPV range is ½ the distance

If you are looking for the drone with the most flight time, the SYMA X500 is that drone. This compact, lightweight, and foldable drone has an excellent sleek grey design. The micro-SD card allows video recording instead of needing Wi-Fi to record at the highest resolution possible.



The remote is also very simplistic and easy to use. This factored in with the FPV capabilities, will give drone pilots almost an hour of fun between two batteries. This drone has many advanced features with its long flight time, making it one of our top picks for drones under $200.

View on Amazon

Best Value Drone:

Holy Stone GPS

Holy Stone HS175D

List Price: $259.98

Price: $169.98


Holy Stone HS175D Specifications:

Dimensions:                   14.2"L x 11.8"W x 2.8"H

Weight:                                  214g

Flight Time:                    23 Minutes

Flight Range:                     984ft

Speed:                                    -

Video Resolution:          4K with 110° wide-angle

Obstacle Avoidance: No

Auto Hovering:                Yes

Follow Me Mode:             Yes

Auto Return / GPS:         Yes

Drone Color:                       Black

Media Type:                        SD

Control Type:                     Remote Control with App


Holy Stone HS175D Review:

PROS

  • 4096 x 3072p photo resolution stored on the phone
  • 4.0 stars with 3.7k reviews
  • “Fly circles around me” mode
  • Altitude hold mode
  • Waypoint fly mode
  • Carrying case included
  • 46 minutes of flight time with 2 batteries
  • 2 lithium polymer batteries included
  • Adjustable camera to 90°
  • Easy for beginners to use
  • VR mode
  • Brushless motor

CONS

  • 64GB TF card not included

The best value drone for your dollar is the Holy Stone HS175D. The drone is lightweight because of the brushless motors, while this foldable drone has a lot of intelligent functions. This drone’s list price is over the $200 mark; however, most places have it listed for well under that. This is why it makes our best value drone for your dollar.


This drone has excellent video quality and a great flight time compared to others in this drone category. This also has a VR mode if operators want a more immersed flying experience. The drone trace function can follow you automatically and fly around a point in circles.

View on Amazon

Best Selling Drone:

ATTOP X-PACK 18

ATTOP X-PACK 18

List Price: $109.99

Price: $79.99


ATTOP X-PACK 18 Specifications:

Dimensions:                   8.9"L x 7.5"W x 2.8"H

Weight:                                  148g

Flight Time:                    10 Minutes

Flight Range:                     260ft

Speed:                                    3-speed modes

Video Resolution:          1080p with 120° wide-angle

Obstacle Avoidance: No

Auto Hovering:                Yes

Follow Me Mode:             No

Auto Return / GPS:         Yes

Drone Color:                       Black or Black and White

Media Type:                        SD

Control Type:                     Remote Control with App


ATTOP X-PACK 18 Review:

PROS

  • Gravity control
  • VR Mode
  • Flight route mode
  • 360° 3D flip
  • Headless mode
  • 3.9 stars with 2.0K reviews
  • One key takeoff and landing
  • Gesture control
  • Voice control
  • Emergency stop
  • Low battery life warning
  • 12-month warranty
  • Carrying case

CONS

  • 2 batteries only get 20 minutes of flight time
  • No TF card support
  • Not for children under 14

The ATTOP X-PACK 18 is the #1 selling drone on Amazon for under $200. For its listed price of just over $100, you can see why this drone for beginners is the best-selling drone on Amazon. Plus, it comes in two color options, black and black and white, allowing drone pilots to choose a color that fits their liking.


This budget drone has some great features that include; one key takeoff/landing, headless mode function, flight path mode, 3-speed mode, voice control, 360° flip function, gravity control, emergency stop, VR mode, and one key return. The advanced App control lets you control anything from your remote or smartphone.


View the newer model ATTOP X-PACK 3, which is cheaper and comes in black, blue, or white. 

View on Amazon

Best Racing Drone:

EMAX Tinyhawk 2

EMAX Tinyhawk 2

List Price: $141.99


EMAX Tinyhawk 2 Specifications:

Dimensions:                   8.64L x 6.35"W x 2.4"H

Weight:                                  43.5g

Flight Time:                    4 Minutes

Flight Range:                     400ft

Speed:                                    75 mph

Video Resolution:          Runcam Nano 2

Obstacle Avoidance: No

Auto Hovering:                No

Follow Me Mode:             No

Auto Return / GPS:         No

Drone Color:                       White

Media Type:                        SD

Control Type:                     Remote Control


EMAX Tinyhawk 2 Review:

PROS

  •  Great for racing
  • Camera angle adjustment
  • Carrying case
  • 4.3-star rating
  • Very durable
  • First person view (FPV) mode
  • 1 lithium polymer battery included
  • Throttle response LED system
  • Fast

CONS

  • Short flight time
  • FAA may require this drone to be registered
  • Not ideal for use outdoors

If you are interested in racing drones, the EMAX Tinyhawk 2 is the drone for you. With a top speed of 75mph, the Tinyhawk 2 is a quick quadcopter built for indoor racing or outdoors with minimal wind. It also has adequate protection around its propeller blades if it crashes during racing.



This little drone is fast, durable, and a great racing drone for anyone 12 and older. This drone is priced so anyone can get into racing, but the one major knock on this drone is the battery life. This affects the flight time because the battery life constrains the power the drone can exert. 

View on Amazon

Smallest Drone:

Holy Stone HS420

Holy Stone HS420

List Price: $69.99

Price: $44.99


Holy Stone HS420 Specifications:

Dimensions:                   3.54L x 3.31"W x 1.34"H

Weight:                                  31g

Flight Time:                    6 Minutes

Flight Range:                     330ft

Speed:                                    High and low speed

Video Resolution:          HD 720p

Obstacle Avoidance: No

Auto Hovering:                Yes

Follow Me Mode:             No

Auto Return / GPS:         No

Drone Color:                       Red

Media Type:                        SD

Control Type:                     Remote Control with App


Holy Stone HS420 Review:

PROS

  • Fits in your pocket
  • 3D Flip
  • 1 lithium polymer battery included
  • Headless mode
  • Gesture control
  • 4.1 stars with 1.2k reviews
  • Tap fly
  • Kid safe
  • Real-time transmission
  • Toss and launch
  • Circle fly
  • Customize flight path
  • Hard to break

CONS

  • HD camera resolution
  • Flight time
  • No carrying case

This mini drone is the smallest and most compact drone on our list. The Holy Stone HS420 is a kid-safe toy drone with more features than you'd expect for the price. With its tiny frame, this pocket-sized drone can be easily stored and taken where ever you want.



This drone features a very well-designed micro-battery pack that snaps on and off the drone's underside, making changing the batteries incredibly easy. They are the best-designed swappable batteries we have seen on a drone this tiny, but the battery life is very short, allowing for only 6 minutes of flight time.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT PERSONAL DRONES:

What are the common drone components and features?

Drones have a lot of components that include the following:

  • Accelerometer
  • Altimeter
  • Antenna
  • Battery
  • Camera
  • Electronic Speed Controllers
  • Flight Controller
  • GPS Module
  • Receiver
  • Sensor

Drones also have a lot of features that include the following:

  • Augmented reality to overlay virtual objects in the camera feed
  • Artificial intelligence to help the drone move around objects
  • Flight logs
  • Flight time
  • Flight modes
  • High-performance cameras that use a gimbal steady-cam and can zoom and tilt
  • Hovering and altitude hold capabilities
  • Live video feed
  • Maximum ascent and descending speeds
  • Memory storage
  • Obstacle sensors
Red Drone With App Control

What types of drones are available for civilians?

There are two main personal drone platform types:

  1. Rotor: This type of drone uses a single-rotor or multi-rotor, such as tricopters, quadcopters, hexacopters, and octocopters.
  2. Fixed-Wing: These types of drones use hybrid vertical takeoff and landing or VTOL for short, and they may require a runway.

What are personal drones?

There are lots of options for personal drones for people to buy. As drone technology advances, they are becoming cheaper, and now many personal drones sell for less than $200. Personal drones usually weigh less than 10 pounds or can be as light as 250 grams. Many people use them for racing, recreational videography, or aerial photography. Generally, you can find discounts on drones around the holidays, making owning a drone more affordable.

Drone vs. UAS vs. UAV:

What is the difference between aerial drones?

  • Drone: Typically, this term is used for an aircraft without a pilot driven autonomously with a remote control by someone on the ground.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS): This term refers to all parts of the drone vehicle, controller, data, and operator as a system.
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): This term is generally used by the FAA or military regardless of the size of the unmanned aerial vehicle. 

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