One of the top pieces of advice I give to beginners learning to fly drones is to always start with a cheap practice drone. You don’t want your first flight to end with your $2,200 DJI Mavic 3 sinking into a pool.
Crashing a toy drone from Target into a tree is far less painful—even if it’s lost for good.
Cheap practice drones are often more challenging than expensive, high-end models with automated flight features like auto takeoff and landing. And that’s a good thing.
Take something like the $340 DJI Mini 2 SE; it practically flies itself, with features like auto takeoff, auto landing, hover, and return-to-home. It can even follow pre-programmed flight paths, like flying in a circle or taking a drone (flying backward and upward while tracking you) with the press of a button.
But it’s crucial to know how to fly a drone yourself. You want to be ready for the most challenging situations.
You wouldn’t jump into a self-driving Tesla without first learning how to drive in your mom’s old Honda Civic. The same logic applies to drones. Even if a drone can fly autonomously, you need to be prepared to take control when necessary—and the best way to train is by practicing with cheaper drones.
Most of the cheap practice drones in this guide lack advanced flight features like hovering in place—and that’s intentional. We want you to learn how to fly manually without relying on software to do it for you.
The best practice drone under $40: Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone
When it comes to finding an affordable, reliable drone for practice, the Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone is a standout option. Priced at just $35, this mini drone offers incredible value for anyone looking to hone their flying skills without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a beginner pilot or just looking for a fun, low-cost drone to practice with, the A20 Mini Drone delivers a solid experience.
This drone doesn’t come with a camera or any fancy features, but it’s a solid choice as a training drone to get comfortable behind the controls.
That’s not to say it’s featureless. It offers one-key takeoff and landing and an auto-hovering function. You can also switch between three-speed modes—and start at low speed, and as you gain confidence, move up to higher speeds.
Additionally, you can toggle between flight modes like headless/compass mode, which is similar to modes found in more expensive DJI drones. This makes the Potensic A20 a great way to practice essential skills before upgrading to a more advanced drone.
Price: $34.99 (currently on sale for $29.99)
Flight time: 15-18 minutes (with all three batteries combined)
Tello: The Best Cheap Practice Drone
At $159, the Tello is the most expensive drone in this guide, but I’ve chosen it for a reason—it’s high quality and will serve you well beyond just your training days. Unlike most practice drones, which lose their value once you’ve upgraded to a more advanced model, the Tello has lasting utility.
While the Tello is manufactured by Ryze, it uses DJI’s parts—something no other toy drone can claim. This makes it a standout option for anyone serious about their drone journey.
Many drones in this guide serve primarily as training tools. Once you’ve mastered the basics and moved on to a higher-end drone, they often end up forgotten in a drawer (except for the occasional party trick). However, the Tello is different. With its 5-megapixel camera, it’s more than just a beginner’s tool. You might actually find yourself taking it to parties or gatherings to snap group selfies. While its photo quality is slightly lower than most iPhones today, it’s still a solid choice for casual shots.
Another feature that sets the Tello apart is its educational value. Learn to Code One of the most unique aspects of the Tello is its integration with Scratch, an MIT-developed coding system. This makes it an excellent STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning tool. With Scratch, you can program the drone’s flight paths, turning the Tello into more than just a flying toy—it becomes a hands-on educational experience. This feature makes the Tello an excellent choice for kids, students, or anyone interested in learning basic coding in a fun and interactive way.
The Tello is remarkably easy to fly, thanks to auto takeoff and landing and an intelligent vision positioning system that enables precise hovering. Since it uses DJI flight technology, the experience is smoother and more reliable than most toy drones. If you want to perfect precise manual flight, other drones might serve you better for training. But if you plan to move on to a DJI drone later on, the Tello offers a flight experience that closely mirrors the Mavic series, making it a great stepping stone.
Flight Features Designed for Beginners
While advanced drones have many automated features to simplify flying, the Tello strikes a perfect balance. It offers just enough automation to help beginners but still encourages learning the fundamentals of flight control.
Here’s the catch: the Tello might be discontinued. As of late 2024, the Tello was listed as sold out on DJI’s official store, and limited quantities are available on third-party sites like Amazon, primarily for used models. There was even a special edition of the Iron Man version of the Tello, but it’s also out of stock.
The Tello is an ideal drone for:
Beginner pilots who want to practice flying with a high-quality, affordable drone.
Hobbyists who are looking for a fun and portable drone with decent camera capabilities.
Students and learners interested in using drones for educational purposes, especially with the integrated Scratch coding platform.
Aspiring DJI drone owners who want a low-cost entry into the DJI ecosystem before upgrading to more expensive models.
Tomzon Mini Drone: Runner-up for the best practice drone under $40
If you find that the Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone is unavailable, the Tomzon Mini Drone is a solid runner-up. The only reason it’s not the top pick is that it’s usually slightly more expensive without offering significant upgrades over the Potensic.
Why the Tomzon Mini Drone Is a Strong Runner-up
Like the Potensic, the Tomzon Mini Drone doesn’t have a camera, making it purely a training drone for practicing your flying skills. However, Tomzon adds a fun twist by including LED-enhanced propellers, which create an excellent RGB color-changing effect while in flight. This adds a bit of flair, making it a more visually exciting option.
Like other beginner drones, the Tomzon Mini is lightweight and compact, making it easy to fly indoors or outdoors. Its small size makes it portable and convenient to carry so that you can practice anywhere. Additionally, it’s durable enough to handle minor bumps and crashes, which are bound to happen when you’re still learning.
Getting Started with Cheap Practice Drones: Other Things to Know
If you’re new to the world of drones, starting with a cheap practice drone is a great way to build confidence and skill before investing in more advanced models. While these drones are designed for beginners, there are a few key things to remember as you start flying. Below are some valuable tips and tidbits to help you get the most out of your practice drone experience.
Crashes Are Inevitable—And That’s Okay
With practice drones, you’re going to crash—probably a lot. The good news is that these drones are built to handle bumps and minor crashes. Most practice drones are made from lightweight, durable materials that can take a few hits without severe damage. The key is not to get discouraged when accidents happen. Crashing is part of learning and will help you improve over time.
Master Basic Maneuvers First
Before trying any fancy tricks or stunts, focus on mastering the basics of drone flight. This includes takeoff, landing, hovering, and simple directional movements like forward, backward, left, and right. These core skills will strengthen your foundation for more advanced flying techniques.
Once you’re comfortable with basic maneuvers, you can experiment with more challenging movements like flips, rolls, or flying patterns.
Get Familiar with Your Drone’s Controls
Each drone model has slightly different control setups, so it’s essential to read the manual and familiarize yourself with your drone’s operation. Learn how the joysticks work and understand the purpose of different buttons, such as auto takeoff, headless mode, or speed adjustment.
Most drones have a headless mode, which allows you to control the drone relative to your position, regardless of which direction the drone is facing. This is especially useful for beginners who might struggle with orientation.
Finally, remember that flying drones should be fun! Cheap practice drones are perfect for experimenting and getting the hang of piloting without worrying about expensive crashes or losses. Take your time, enjoy the process, and celebrate your progress as you improve.
