Choosing the right user-friendly drone for beginners is essential to create a professional-looking video. From flight time to cost, camera quality, and control range, the best drone can help you meet your goals. In this guide, I ranked and reviewed the best drones and my top choices so that you can pick the best one for you.
Want to get right to the best drone for beginners right now? My favourite choices are the Oviliee 1080p and the Hiturbo S20 Aircraft.
Choosing the best drone within a budget is the key to producing a video like a Hollywood director or a complete rookie.
With the proper drone footage, people generate income on YouTube, stream content on Twitch, and even create their own Plex-type subscription companies like Hulu or Netflix.
In the mid-80s, when camcorders came out when I was 10 years old, I started recording video, and it’s been a passion of mine ever since. I still vividly remember the first time I recorded a clip of jumping an RC car off a piece of plywood on my parent’s driveway.
I was hooked.
I continued creating (sometimes embarrassing) videos and became more skilled at recording video and audio production.
In this guide, I include the best drones under $100 for beginners to use this year when it comes to:
- The best for photography.
- The best for hobbyists.
- The best for kids.
- The best for video.
- The best for real estate.
- The best for backpacking.
- The best for beginners.
- The best for small businesses.
- And more.
Let’s get started.
What is the Best Drone under $100 For Beginners?
When choosing the best drone to start with, you must consider many things as a beginner.
For example, are you close to an airport? Are there any air restrictions you need to be aware of? How portable should your drone be?
Here are my picks for the best drones under $100 for beginners:
1. Hiturbo S20 Aircraft
Best for Adults and Kids
Mike’s Take
My #1 recommendation for excellent video capture and easy flight control is the Hiturbo S20. There is a reason why Amazon has selected it as their Amazon Choice! This drone is for you if you want to create high-quality videos fast with simple flight controls. It’s difficult to beat this drone with many use cases and features, including two batteries!
Hiturbo S20 is a very forgiving, high-quality drone for beginners. It has many easy-to-use features you would typically find in a higher-priced drone.
It comes out of the box with HD 1080p ready and two batteries to double your flight time. You can fly it via remote control or an app on your smartphone.
Key Features:
With a 1080p HD camera, this drone can be manually adjusted to see what’s in front of it while it’s flying, or it can be aimed down to see what’s directly below it. This flexibility allows you to take gorgeous photos and videos or even use it to inspect the roof of a house or other hard-to-reach areas.
You get double the enjoyment with two rechargeable batteries, each providing approximately 12 minutes of flight time. Two batteries that can be swapped and charged in rotation greatly extend the enjoyment time. Note that more flips and faster speeds will reduce the flight time per battery.
Other impressive features include 360-degree flip, hand-gesture control, intelligent voice control, stable hovering, headless mode, propeller protection, and more!
User Experience:
Perfect for Adults and Kids, this drone is more straightforward to operate than other drones. It has fewer steps to fly and no manual pairing required, so it’s perfect for drone beginners of any age. If you’re anxious about learning how to fly a drone, make this drone your first one. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is with this affordable beginner drone!
What I Like/Dislike About Hiturbo S20:
Like:
- The remote control range is ~300 feet or ~90 meters—more than enough for the beginner drone pilot.
- Batteries are included, not always the case when purchasing a drone.
Dislike:
- Would have liked to have seen battery life longer than 12 minutes.
Get started with the Hiturbo S20 today.
2. Oviliee 1080p
Best For Hobbyists
Mike’s Take
The Oviliee 1080p drone is the best entry-level drone for those not wanting to be overwhelmed with too many features.
This drone has no more than the essential features any beginner would need to get comfortable flying a remote-controlled aircraft. With features like auto-hover, flight-path mode, and emergency stop, you will feel like a professional pilot in no time!
Key Features:
VR Mode. Yes, Virtual Reality Mode! With VR glasses (not included), you can enjoy real-time 1080p HD live video. This impressive feature gives you an excellent first-person 3D experience while flying.
Trajectory Flight capability lets you draw out the flight path before going airborne. Then, once in the air, sit back and watch the drone fly the route you mapped out.
Palm gestures are recognized to snap pictures or take videos after a 3-second countdown. By holding out one hand, the drone will recognize simple commands from the air.
User Experience:
Paired with 24-hour technical support, simplicity makes for a fantastic first-time experience for beginners. Three-speed modes also make learning to fly very simply. Start slowly to get the hang of things, and then introduce faster speeds when ready.
Amazon is very particular about what products receive their “Amazon Choice” designation, and the Oviliee 1080p has earned it!
What I Like/Dislike About Oviliee 1080p
Like:
- One-touch button for Take-Off/Landing.
- 24-hour-a-day technical support
Dislike:
- Remote Control batteries are not rechargeable (but the drone’s batteries are.)
Check out the Oviliee 1080p on Amazon today.
3. Holy Stone HS110D
Ultra Light-Weight Drone
Mike’s Take
The Holy Stone HS110D drone is the best for those seeking an ultra-light-weight flying aircraft, measuring only 5.3 ounces or 150 grams!
Holy Stone has boasted over 5 million units sold since 2014, showing longevity in their products. This feature-rich lightweight drone is a fantastic unit for beginners just starting and learning how to control a drone aircraft.
Key Features:
1080p 120-degree HD Camera provides distortion-free images, or video beamed directly to your phone. Accompanied by their app, you can easily share your new media on social media.
Trajectory Flight capability lets you draw out the flight path before going airborne. Then, once in the air, sit back and watch the drone fly the route you mapped out.
Palm gestures are recognized as snapping pictures with a ‘scissor’ gesture or taking videos showing ‘paper’ with your hand. Paper, rock, scissors take on an entirely new meaning!
User Experience:
The Holy Stone HS110D comes equipped with the standard beginner features you would expect, such as altitude hold, 3D flip, and headless mode.
Equipped with two lithium polymer batteries, these rechargeable batteries will provide 10-minute flights with each.
Finally, their customer service has received over 39,000 ratings on Amazon, giving them over a 4.9-star rating, proving they back up their product.
What I Like/Dislike About Holy Stone HS110D
Like:
- 120-degree camera provides better viewing angles.
- Many features are available via an easy-to-use smartphone app.
Dislike:
- 10 minutes per battery flight time. Would like to see at least 12 minutes, preferably 15 minutes or more.
Check out the Holy Stone HS110D today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need a license to fly a drone?
It depends on the country and the weight of the drone. You need a Part 107 remote pilot certificate to fly a drone commercially in the United States. In Canada, flying a drone for non-recreational purposes requires a Basic or Advanced RPAS Pilot Certificate, depending on the weight of the drone and the airspace you intend on flying in.
What is FPV flying?
FPV (first-person view) flying is a type of drone flying where you wear a headset or use a monitor to see the drone’s live video feed from a camera mounted on the drone. This allows you to experience flying the drone as if you were inside it and can be used for racing or aerial photography.
Can drones fly in bad weather?
It depends on the drone’s specifications. Some drones are designed to withstand rain and wind, but most cannot fly in severe weather conditions.
Can drones be used for surveillance?
Yes, drones can be used for surveillance, but laws and regulations are in place to protect privacy. Always consult your local restrictions before flying your drone.
Can drones be hacked?
Yes, drones can be hacked if they have security vulnerabilities or if the operator is not using secure communications.
What is the difference between a quadcopter and a drone?
A quadcopter is a type of drone with four rotors, while a drone is a more general term that can refer to any unmanned aerial vehicle. Most consumer drones are quadcopters, but other types of drones, such as hexacopters and octocopters, have more rotors and can carry heavier payloads.
Summary
So there you have it, the best drones under $100 for beginners to create video magic.
I recommend the Hiturbo S20 Aircraft if you’re looking for the best beginner drone under $100 with plenty of features.
Which drone do you recommend? Are there other units I should review and add to the list? Let me know in the comment section below.
Disclosure: I may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links in the article at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a product. You can read my affiliate disclosure in my privacy policy. This site is not intending to provide financial advice. This is for entertainment only.
