DJI is one of the most popular drone manufacturers.
Their drones have many amazing features and capabilities, but many people are starting to avoid buying them due to privacy concerns.
The American Security Drone Act of 2023, which was passed towards the end of 2023 (awaiting Biden’s signature), would practically ban federal agencies from using DJI drones (many agencies already banned it).
That’s because DJI drones are manufactured in China, and DJI supposedly is under the influence of the Chinese government, as it is backed by several Chinese state agencies.
In fact, DJI had already been added to the Federal Register Entity List, which lists entities that act contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the US.
Even if you aren’t concerned about this, there are other reasons to look for a DJI alternative.
The DJI Android app is not available from the official Google Play Store and is instead only available as an APK download on the DJI site, allegedly due to security concerns.
If you’re a beginner, you might also be looking for a cheaper entry-level alternative.
Whether you’re looking for an alternative due to one of the above reasons, or you are simply interested in what is out there other than DJI, this list is for you.
Today, I will be exploring the best DJI alternatives for both hobbyists and professionals.
Read it out.
Also Read: How To Install DJI Fly App On Android?
Quick Summary
- Skydio, especially the Skydio 2+, is the best American-made alternative to DJI.
- Some other drone brands that are either US based or have drones made in the US, including commercial and consumer drones, include Parrot and Freefly Systems.
- For cinematography, XDynamics and Freefly Systems are great choices.
- Those looking for a budget or entry-level drone can try Le-Idea, a European company, or Potensic.
Best DJI Drone Alternatives
1. Skydio
Skydio is one of the strongest competitors to DJI. It is an American company and based in California, so if you are looking for a DJI alternative that isn’t based in China, this is a good choice.
In fact, it was the first American drone manufacturer to exceed $1 billion in value, putting it at the forefront of the American drone market. Later, though, its value increased to well over $2 billion.
I like Skydio 2+, although Skydio has a wide range of awesome drones. In particular, if you are looking for a drone that is good for tracking, the Skydio 2+ is superior to DJI.
It comes with a motion track feature, which will track an object from a specified angle as the object moves in a certain path. For example, if the Skydio 2+ was set to capture the item from the front, it will remain at the front.
It could be great if you want to track yourself while biking or motorcycling or if you want to track some sort of vehicle that you are controlling remotely.
However, Skydio isn’t just for individuals who have a drone hobby. It is great for enterprises as well. Skydio Dock allows you to automate inspection through fleets of drones.
You can control fleets of drones in different locations around the world, and the drones will use the power of AI to inspect sites, patrol your locations, or monitor your project progress for you.
In terms of enterprise drones, you have several options, such as the Skydio X2. It is powered by Skydio Autonomy and has six cameras to give you a view in every direction for your security patrols.
2. Potensic
Potensic is a company that produces camera drones. While it is based in China, it is a smaller company that does not seem to be backed by Chinese state agencies, and it is not on the Entity List.
The main reason I am listing it here is that it provides some of the best beginner drones for people on a budget. In fact, the Potensic Atom, in particular, is probably the best budget drone you can get!
It looks a bit like the DJI Mini 2, and it has a folding, compact design and awesome features.
Features include 6 km (around 3.7 miles) video transmission, up to 3x zoom, a video quality of 4K 30 FPS, and the ability to take multiple still images at specified time intervals and turn those images into a time-lapse video.
It supports motion tracking, and it can not only follow moving objects but also orbit around them. In addition, it supports QuickShots in several modes, such as spiral and circle, for the perfect video production quality.
It can fly for up to 32 minutes at a time. It weighs less than 250 grams (around 0.55 pounds), so it is incredibly lightweight.
With Level 5 wind resistance, you can use it even on windy days, and it can both fly and hover smoothly in diverse weather conditions.
At just $299 from Potensic (price subject to change), it’s a great entry-level alternative to DJI drones. You can also buy it with the Fly More Combo, which costs an extra $100 but includes perks such as extra batteries, extra propellers, a fast charging port, and a carry bag.
3. Parrot
Parrot, particularly the Parrot ANAFI USA, is a great option if you want something made in America. It’s built for professional and enterprise use, though, so if you’re a hobbyist, it might not be the right choice.
Note that while the Parrot ANAFI USA is made in the USA, Parrot is a European company.
The Parrot ANAFI USA is NDAA & TAA compliant and Blue sUAS program approved. It boasts enterprise-level features such as a thermal camera that works from a height of 40 meters (around 131 feet) and powerful, 32x zoom capabilities that can observe people from up to 2 km (around 1.2 miles) away, which makes it perfect for surveillance.
In fact, it is used by the US army, the French armed forces, and other governmental agencies.
With highly advanced cybersecurity and encryption measures built in, any data, whether stored on the drone or sent remotely, is highly secure.
Meanwhile, Parrot ANAFI Ai is a drone that features 4G connectivity. With a 48 MP camera, it is designed for mapping and other advanced uses.
You can find ANAFI resellers here.
While those are very expensive, enterprise-drones, hobbyists can still buy consumer ANAFI drones on Amazon and other sites.
For example, the Parrot ANAFI Skycontroller 3, available on Amazon, has a battery life of two hours and a range of 4 kilometers (around 2.5 miles). It’s extremely portable, as it features a USB-C port with which you can charge it anywhere, including from a power bank or your laptop.
It is foldable, so it’s easy to store and transport, and it comes with a handy case that will protect it when you are traveling.
You don’t have to worry about losing it, either. You can take it traveling with no worries, as it has a Smart Return to Home feature that will cause it to return to its starting point if it loses connectivity or starts getting low on battery.
Besides, you can always find it with the Find My Drone feature.
You can create videos with 4k quality and take 21 MP photos. Unfold it within just three seconds and get it up to 55 km/h (around 34 miles per hour) in no time.
With 25 minutes of flight time and the ability to withstand temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit, this is a solid drone that offers excellent value for money.
4. XDynamics
XDynamics is a somewhat smaller company that focuses on creating drone technology. However, it’s a great company; in particular, its Evolve 2 has become pretty popular.
It will run you a few thousand dollars, but if you want to take next-level cinematic videos and pictures, the Evolve 2 is worth the price.
With a range of five miles and a flight time of up to 33 minutes, it’s one of the best cinematic drones out there. It is pretty lightweight but still incredibly durable even in tough weather conditions.
In fact, it is made of carbon fiber, something that sets it apart from the numerous plastic drones out there, including many of those made by DJI. The underbody, on the other hand, is made of magnesium alloy.
Magnesium alloy, according to XDynamics, is 76% lighter than steel. At the same time, it is 20 times stiffer than the types of plastics used on other popular drones.
The drone reaches speeds of 55 miles per hour, and in times of high usage, its heat sink helps dissipate heat and keep it cool.
The m4/3 camera has swappable lenses, so you can support all kinds of third-party lenses, and you can shoot 4k video at 120 FPS. It has a very large sensor, improving video quality.
You can slow the footage to 29.9 FPS if you want to create slow-motion videos, allowing you to recreate the Hollywood effect and create amazing reels for Instagram or outstanding videos for YouTube. You can also use it for professional productions.
It also supports ProRes from Apple, allowing you to edit your videos to create masterpieces.
It’s just a pleasure to use overall, and you can get it in one of two kits, depending on your needs.
XDynamics is based in Hong Kong, not mainland China.
5. Freefly Systems
Freefly Systems is an American company, so there’s no need to worry about spying by the Chinese government. Founded in 2011 and based in Washington, Freefly Systems focuses on producing drones for cinematography.
The Alta X, in particular, is an all out high quality drone, with a flight time of up to 41.7 minutes. It weighs just five pounds and folds in half, and it is designed, assembled, and tested in the United States.
A lot of testing went into the Alta X to ensure it works smoothly. Five hundred hours of flight simulation over 69 tests were performed, and for commercial customers, Alta X provides on-site training and a team of professionals, based in the US, to offer support.
The drones made by Freefly are designed for professional cinematography. However, if you can afford them, they can be great for your YouTube channel as well.
6. FIMI
FIMI is a drone company that is part of Xiaomi. While based in China, a US court found that Xiaomi is functionally independent of the Chinese government and not state owned.
FIMI offers high-quality drones at affordable prices.
The FIMI X8 Pro, for example, features a 48 MP camera with F1.7 aperture and a three-axis gimbal, making it a good choice if you are looking for a DJI alternative but don’t want to give up on the gimbal.
It particularly excels in low-light environments, so it’s excellent if you do a lot of nighttime shooting.
Equipped with a RokLink 15 km (around 9.3 miles) video transmission system, you can record videos even from large distances. You won’t have to worry about collisions, as it comes with a three-way camera for obstacle detection, which can detect obstacles up to 15 meters (around 49 feet) away.
It even comes with a megaphone, which supports text to audio, allowing you to transmit sounds over 50-100 meters (approximately 164-328 feet), making it great for rescue missions too.
The remote controller, which comes with detachable joysticks, allows you to easily control the drone during flight. You can use it with a smartphone or tablet.
Alternatively, you can get its remote controller with a built-in screen at an additional cost.
7. Le-Idea
Le-Idea is a European manufacturer of affordable drones.
The IDEA16P from Le-Idea is a great entry-level drone, but still very cheap. It has 2k video quality, can fly up to 40 km/h (around 25 miles per hour), and has a flight time of up to 30 minutes (or 15 minutes on a single battery), which are all great for such an affordable drone.
It comes with a remote control that lets you adjust the camera range up to 45 degrees, and with a Level 4 wind resistance and a brushless motor, it works well in diverse weather conditions.
With two removable 1200mAh batteries and Wi-Fi connectivity, I think this one of the best drones you can get at that price.
The IDEA16P is also available on Amazon.
8. DEERC Drone D70
Of course, if you are looking for the cheapest possible entry-level drones to play around with, there are some good options for $50-100 on Amazon, including this DEERC Drone.
It comes with basic features such as hover mode, emergency stop, and headless mode. You can use the app, voice control, and gestures to control its flight, and it comes with a 1080P camera, offering decent quality video.
With Wi-Fi transmission and a foldable design, it’s a nice little drone to have fun with.
Wrapping It Up
While DJI has some of the best drones on the market, it also comes with certain privacy concerns. Its Android app is also not available on the Google Play Store.
There are some great alternatives, though, which are made in the US. Skydio is the best option for US-made consumer drones, although various commercial options exist as well.
If you’re looking for a cheap, entry-level zone, consider the Potensic Atom or the Le-Idea IDEA16P.
