As we have always said that DJI is without a doubt are leading brand in the market regarding consumer drones. In many of our articles, DJI Drones have always grabbed the top spot because of their excellent features and advanced technology.
However, this doesn’t mean either that there is no other brand in the market in the competition. You will be surprised that in the market there are a lot of DJI’s competitors you must check out.
The main benefit of these drones is that as compared to DJI their price tag is way cheaper with almost similar kinds of features and specs. As we all know that DJI drones don’t come cheap and everybody is not able to either afford them or they don’t want to spend a big amount of money on a drone.
Also Read: 8 Best DJI 4K Camera Drone Under $1000
11 Best DJI Alternative Drone In 2023
There are also those consumers who have already tried DJI drones and want something different with the same kind of portability. The reason could be anything but searching for a DJI alternative in the market is not an easy task because there are too many options and anyone could get confused about which one to choose.
Don’t worry to save you time and energy we have already made a list of the 11 best DJI alternative drones in 2023 for you guys. So without further ado let’s jump into the article to find you the best alternative.
Also, you can explore DroneChest.com to find out plenty of more Drones that come from different brands.
1. Autel Robotics EVO 2 Pro
“6K HDR Video & Excellent Flying Time”
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- 6K HDR Video
- 360° Obstacle Avoidance
- Good Features
- Excellent Flying Time
- Requires App To Operate a Few Functions
- No Cable is Included For iPhone
One of the main features of the Autel Robotics EVO 2 Pro drone is that it has a color display integrated into the controller unlike other drones with a similar price tag.
Where you have to connect your smartphone in order to fly that drone. Because of the fact that the controller offers a color display, you can fly the Autel Robotics EVO 2 Pro drone to capture photos and record videos without connecting your smartphone or headset.
However one of the downsides is that to use some of the features regarding the camera you will need to use an app that requires you to connect your smartphone.
If we talk about the size and dimensions of this drone and not on the smaller side but on the other side slightly bigger size means high visibility. On top of that, the color scheme is orange on the body and black on the wings holding the propellers, which makes it easy to spot in the sky.
Autel Robotics EVO 2 Pro is equipped with all the essential features including the sensors required for safety. The maximum range of this drone is up to 9 km and the maximum flying time is around 40 minutes which in all honesty pretty decent.
2. Yuneec Typhoon H Plus Hexacopter
“Dedicated Touch Screen Android Controller”
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- High-Resolution Camera
- Intel Real Sense Technology
- Touch Screen Android Controller
- Affordable Price Tag
- Flying Range Should’ve Been More
- Flight Speed is Comparatively Low
At the first glance, you could get surprised by the comparatively bigger size Yuneec Typhoon H Plus Hexacopter especially when it is attached to its massive landing gear. It is a hexacopter means it has six propellers as well as six wings to house those propellers.
But it is a fact that in this category of hexacopter Yuneec Typhoon H Plus is one of the most compact and portable drones you can find out there. Although anyone can fly it since it is very easy to control it is specifically intended for professional photo/videographers.
The massive landing gear is therefore a purpose it helps the drone to land in places where normal drones would not be able to. The Yuneec Typhoon H Plus Hexacopter is equipped with a high-resolution camera that can capture videos at 60fps 4K quality.
You can also capture stunning aerial still this well because it is equipped with a gimble that holds the camera in place. The best thing about its controller is that it not only offers an integrated display but also that display happens to be an Android touchscreen panel.
Yuneec Typhoon H Plus Hexacopter has Intel ultrasonic sensors which enable it to detect any optical or hurdles in the way more accurately.
3. Skydio 2+ Pro Kit
“Unique Design & Good Build Quality”
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- Battery Backup Has Been Improved
- Strong Signal Strength
- All The Essential Features
- Easy To Control
- Limited Range
- Camera Should’ve Been Better
Skydio 2 has vibrant and bright colors that put it apart from other drones which come with traditionally gray and white color schemes. Another big difference in terms of the main design is that unlike other drones Skydio 2 doesn’t have foldable propeller wings although its size is pretty small.
On the other hand, we felt during our review that Skydio 2 shouldn’t have ditched the foldable design since despite being small it is not that portable and compact to carry because of those fixed wings. Another downside of this Skydio 2 drone is heavy and requires due to register in order to fly.
We were surprised by the heavy weight of the thing since it looks so small especially if you don’t count the extended propeller wings. The good thing is on purchasing this Skydio 2 drone you will also get a Pro Kit with it included in the package. This Pro kit also enables you to connect a big screen with the controller of your Skydio 2 drone.
Another important thing worth mentioning here is that you cannot disable the obstacle avoidance in Skydio 2 and it remains always on. The maximum flying time it offers you is almost 27 minutes with a rather limited range which is 3.7 km.
4. Parrot PF728000 ANAFI
“USB-C Chargeable, Very Smal & Compact“
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- Very Small Size
- USB-C Charging Optio
- HDR 4K Video
- Gimbal Can Tilt Upward
- Obstacle Detection is Not Available
- Slightly Flimsy Built
If you ask us to name one major brand that is a direct competitor of DJI then our answer definitely going to be Parrot. The main attraction of this drone is its small size, lightweight construction, and foldable propeller wings which make it one of the most compact and portable drones you can find.
However, to achieve the smaller size company has made some sacrifices and the major one is it doesn’t have an obstacle avoidance system. No matter if you are a beginner or a pro-level drone pilot the obstacle avoidance system enables your drone to detect any hurdle in the way accurately.
Anyhow like the drone the case which comes with that is also very compact and easy to carry with you while traveling. Although the controller does have a small screen it is to show the details to the pilot while flying like the battery levels, flying speed, range, etc. This means you have to connect your smartphone as a display for the drone camera in order to fly.
Parrot Anafi drone comes equipped with a gimble that holds the camera in place and one of the positives is that you can even till the camera up world. We talk about the camera which offers 4K video recording with HDR feature.
5. Holy Stone 2
“Affordable Drone Intended For Beginners”
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- The Price Tag is Minimal
- Intelligent Flying Modes
- Equipped With Essential Features
- Portable & Compact
- Unstable Wi-Fi
- Basic Camera
- Image Quality is Inconsistent
Another drone intended for beginners manufactured by Holy Stone with amazing build quality and advanced features. As a beginner buying an expensive DJI drone is not a suitable option since if you crash it while learning to fly you could have a financial loss.
That is where Holy Stone 2 drone came in, it offers all the essential features you could ask for in this price range. It also has some similarities in terms of the overall design of DJI drones which is common these days.
And every drone by all the maturity of manufacturers always look inspired by DJI in terms of aesthetics and appearance. The good thing is despite being up budget drone Holy Stone 2 offers an integrated display screen in the controller.
It also has the traditional folding propeller Wings design which makes it more compact and portable. You can easily carry it with you wherever you go in the backpack since it is a lightweight device. The controller of this Holy Stone 2 drone is also foldable but it seems like it has been billed out of very cheap plastic.
The maximum flying range it offers is only 300 meters but that is fine because while learning to fly the drone you don’t need more range than that. Flying time however on the other hand is pretty decent with maximum hours 23 minutes.
6. SYMA GPS Drone
“Well Designed & Long Flaying Time”
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- Amazing Long Battery Backup
- Brushless Motor
- Decent Build Quality
- Flying Range is Not Much
- Controller Build Quality is Average
You can consider buying SYMA GPS Drone if you are tight on the budget and you really want an affordable drone for fun or professional purposes. In comparatively cheaper price tag SYMA GPS drone offers almost all the essential features however with some downsides.
If we talk about the general design it has those traditional folding propeller wings you see on all the latest drones nowadays. One of the most attractive features SYMA GPS drone offers at this cheap price is that it comes equipped with an inbuilt GPS navigation system.
It also comes equipped with an optical sensor to help you control it easily when you are flying it in indoor locations. The maximum flying time SYMA GPS drone offers is almost an hour which is exceptional, especially in this price range. Considering the price tag and specifications the flying range is acceptable which is just 1km.
The controller that comes with the SYMA GPS drone doesn’t include an integrated display and you have to connect your smartphone via an app. Speaking of the controller it is decent but the built quality doesn’t feel very good. Another feature you get with the SYMA GPS drone is that it offers level 7 wind resistance.
7. Ruko F11 Pro
“Strong Build & Exceptionally Long Flying Time”
Expand Your Gaming Horizons.
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- Longer Flying Time
- The camera is 4K Ultra HD
- Level 6 Wind Resistance
- Easy To Fly
- Gimbal Stabilization is Not Available
- No Obstacle Avoidance
Although Ruko F11 Pro looks identical to any modern drone with four propellers on each wing which can be folded to increase portability. But during our review, we found money advanced features in Ruko F11 Pro however with one huge drawback which we will discuss in a moment.
But first, let’s share with you the positives of the Ruko F11 Pro drone. It comes with two battery bags and in total, they increase the flying time to almost an hour which is the exceptionally longest flying time for any drone. Applying range on the other hand is not that amazing with just a 1.2 km maximum.
We were pleased to see the great build quality of this Ruko f11 Pro drone, it feels strong and rugged. Which makes it one of the best options for beginners since it can survive crashes in falls without breaking down as compared to other similar drones.
Speaking of crashes we were pretty disappointed to find that it does not offer an obstacle avoidance system which is considered to be one of the most essential features of a drone. Anyhow camera on the other hand is high resolution and it can record videos at the resolution of 4K Ultra HD.
Thankfully Ruko f11 Pro drone is equipped with all other necessary features like it and to home, navigation, and follow me.
8. FIMI X8 Mini
“Excellent Entry Level 4K Drone”
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- Cheaper Than DJI
- Easy To Fly
- The camera is 4K
- Comparatively Lightweight
- Overall Build Should Be Improved
- The collusion Sensor is Not At The Front
The first thing which impresses us the most about Fimi X8 Mini is its compact design accompanied by lightweight aesthetics. You can consider this one of the best entry-level drones for beginners which offers almost DJI-like features at a cheaper price.
To make it portable and compact company has equipped it with the traditional folding propeller wings design you see in the majority of drones these days. However, we also noticed some similarities did the DJI such as a gimbal-mounted camera, and removable battery.
On the other hand build quality of the Fimi X8 Mini drone needs improvements. We have found it to be flimsy and the plastic used in the body doesn’t feel very strong. We were pleased to find that you can charge the battery with the USB-C cable and the best part is no matter if you have taken out the battery or it is inside you can charge it in both situations since the port is integrated into the battery.
It is surprising that the controller of the Fimi X8 Mini drone feels constructed strongly and with better material than the drone itself. To make the controller easy to carry you can remove the thumbs sticks and store them on the mounts carved at the front of the controller.
9. Holy Stone HS720E
“Long Flying Time With Dual Batteries”
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- Dual Batteries
- 4K Video Capable
- Robust Quality
- Long Flight Time
- Slightly Above The Weight Limit
- Batteries Take Long To Charge
- Frequent Collaboration Required
From the main design, looks, and appearance you will find Holy Stone HS720E pretty similar and identical to most other consumer drones. However, the weight of this drone is slightly on the heavier side but not that much that you have to register it.
There are two landing lights at the base of the drone so you can easily spot it it in the dark and also there is an optical flow sensor here as well. What this sensor do is it prevents your drone from gifting out in case of GPS encounters any issue.
A motorized camera is placed on the front side of the drone which you can also control and tilt from the RC controller. To reduce the overall vibrations gimble is equipped with a damping mount. The controller of the Holy Stone HS720E houses a backlit LCD and Innova all design has some similarities with DLJ’s Mavic drone controller.
An unusual thing regarding the controller is that it is not equipped with a chargeable battery instead AA batteries powers it up. The maximum flight time Holy Stone HS720E GPS Drone offers with the help of two batteries is up to 46 minutes. On the other hand flying range feels rather limited because it is just 1 km maximum.
10. PowerEgg X Wizard
“WaterProof & Excellent Flyer”
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- Water Proof
- It Can Float On Water
- Stable Flying
- Easy To Control
- Not Very Portable
- The camera is Good But Not Great
PowerEgg X Wizard is one of the most versatile and unique-looking drones you can find out there in the market currently. Instead of being a direct competitor to the DJI PowerEgg decided to pursue a completely different direction. No other drone manufacturer including DJI has ever offered anything like it.
PowerEgg X Wizard definitely offers all the essential features which most drones offer such as an obstacle avoidance system, follow me, return to home, etc. But there are a few features you can only find in this PowerEgg X Wizard you can not only use it as a drone but also it can be converted into a tripod-mounted video recorder and handheld stabilized camera, it also offers motion tracking.
When you fly other drones you always don’t want to fly them near water like a lake. Because there’s something went wrong and it somehow crashes into water it will be completely destroyed. However when you are flying PowerEgg X Wizard you don’t have to worry about water because not only it is waterproof but it can also land on the water and float.
The maximum flying time PowerEgg X Wizard drone offers is up to half an hour and the maximum range is almost 5.9 km.
11. Tucok 011RTS Drone
“Exceptional Flying Time & 4K Camera”
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- Flytime is Long
- Dual Batteries
- 4K Camera
- Travel Bag is Included
- Takes a Long To Fully Recharge
- Not Suitable For The Beginners
Unlike many other drones basically, Tucok 011RTS Drone is intended for consumers who have experience in flying and has developed advanced flying skills. The main specifications this drone offers include an integrated LCD display in the controller, wind resistance of level 5, and brushless motors.
Despite being an advanced level drone as compared to the popular DJI, Tucok 011RTS is almost half of the price with almost equipped with the same kind of features. One thing we noticed during a review is that the Tucok 011RTS Drone weight is on the higher side and the drones which are allowed to be flown without registration have a weight limit.
That is why in some states you will need to register it and only then will be officially allowed to fly this drone. On the other hand, a good thing is that the Tucok 011RTS office has foldable propeller arms which makes it easier to carry with you in a backpack.
The brushless motors this Tucok 011RTS Drone is equipped with have two main benefits. First these motors aa battery efficient and don’t drain too much battery, secondly they improve the overall flight performance of the drone by providing more power. Apart from that Tucok 011RTS Drone packs all the essential features and sensors a consumer could ask for.
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Here you go with our list of 11 best DJI alternative drones in 2023 with their detailed reviews and real-life scenario testing results. While choosing a drone regardless of the brand you must have some idea about a few essential features a drone must offer.
First of all, it depends on the purpose of which kind of drone you should buy. Especially if you’re buying a drone for a professional or amateur photo/videography requirement then first of all the drone should offer a high-resolution camera and sensor.
It will enable you to capture stunning aerial shots. Also, the weight and size of the drone matter are well sensor lightweight drone is easy to carry with and portable. Apart from that flying time and range matters the most for a drone.
If you are a beginner and you don’t have any experience in flying a drone then you should go for the one which offers strong build quality. There are many drones that even offer propeller guards to ensure the safety of the drone and also so the people In almost all the latest drones safety features like return to home, obstacle avoidance, Automotive flight, and inbuilt GPS Navigation system come standard.
If you are still not sure which of the above drone you should select then we will recommend you read our detailed Drone buying guide. Also for even more drones and their related accessories visit dronechest.com.
In my leisure time, I love to read books, fly my drones and have a cup of coffee.
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