3 Of The Best Free Apps For Drone Enthusiasts

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As a drone enthusiast, you’re well aware of how expensive the hobby can be. Hardware is one thing, but since drone operation can greatly rely on mobile apps, the trend in the app industry to push users toward subscriptions can add insult to injury after plunking down your cash on a drone. Thankfully, there are a few helpful apps out there that can be had free, and by collecting a selection that complements each other, you can come away with a suite of software that’ll cover your pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight data in one fell swoop. Even if you snagged one of the cheap but reliable drones available on Amazon, there’s no reason not to keep costs as low as possible.

So if you’re a drone enthusiast who’s perhaps pinching pennies, but also doesn’t wish to compromise on software quality, we’ve used our tech expertise to hand-select the best free apps for your next drone flight. Whether you’re interested in checking advisories, require clear skies, or would like to preserve your logs, these three apps have you covered. They aren’t only popular with drone enthusiasts across app stores and social media for being free, but also for offering quality designs that ease the burden of flying safely and legally, which is why you’ll find countless user testimonials singing their praises.

By taking advantage of these free drone apps available across Android and iOS, you’ll be equipped with the tools to fly with confidence. They can help ensure you’re compliant with regulations, identify other people flying in the area so you can avoid them, and record data that can be perused at a later date — handy for accident tracking as well as diagnostics. You can easily elevate your experience with these free apps for drone enthusiasts.

If you’re only going to choose one app from today’s roundup, you’ll want to start with Aloft Air Control. One of its primary functions is to automate authorizations from the FAA’s LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) to ensure you’re flying below 400 feet when in controlled airspace. You can also check on TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions), and you can even use the app to apply for permission up to 90 days in advance. At the end of the day, authorization is often granted automatically, so it’s not like you have to pre-apply if you don’t want to. But this app is useful for both recreational and commercial use — it’s a professional tool that can manage an entire fleet.

Beyond authorizing your flights, you can check airspace and weather data, with the app offering real-time advisories to ensure you’re always in the loop. You can also record your flight logs in Aloft and even drill down into pre-flight checklists to ensure you’re following procedure, making it a solid all-in-one tool should you prefer using one app rather than several. That’s not to say there aren’t better options for flight logging (see AirData UAV below), but there’s still enough functionality to cover a drone pilot’s basic needs, ensuring Aloft Air Control is one of those free apps actually better than premium alternatives.

Consumers agree across Android and iOS, with social media users calling out its robust data that showcases grid lines in controller air spaces, even going so far as to offer data from commercial users (which you won’t find in competing apps like B4UFLY). So, before you take your next flight, give Aloft Air Control a whirl to plan it out like a pro.

Now that your pre-flight preparation is covered with Aloft Air Control, it’s time to open a different app so that you can scan for drones in the immediate area. Drone Scanner, which is available on Android and iOS as an overlooked free app actually worth installing, is ready to be your in-flight companion. As you can tell by the name, this is an application designed to scan for drones equipped with Remote ID functionality, which can be built in or attached to the unmanned aircraft to continuously broadcast identification and location data, thus revealing if there are any Remote ID-equipped drones flying anywhere close.

Of course, a smartphone’s ability to scan for radio signals will only reach so far, as Wi-Fi Beacon and Bluetooth signals are what’s being detected by the app through your phone’s radios, so these signals will have to be in range for detection to work. This is why, if you require more coverage and discoverability, it’s recommended to pick up a Dronetag RIDER remote receiver that works in combination with the Drone Scanner app. But since this helpful hardware costs $1,099, it’s only something we can recommend for the most diehard enthusiasts and professionals. For hobbyists and those new to flying drones, Drone Scanner is good enough to search your immediate area for drones that contain ID modules to avoid while flying.

User reviews are a little mixed, thanks to the fact that this mobile app only works as well as your phone’s signal detection, which the app’s website even points out. But it’s worth noting that Bluetooth range only averages 33 feet, whereas Wi-Fi reaches a minimum of 10 times further, so plan your scanning accordingly.

Last, we have AirData UAV, a free app on both Android and iOS that stores both your drone and pilot data, and you can even sync this info to access it later. In short, the app offers a window into your drone’s health to ensure optimal performance for your next flight, eliminating the need to manually record another flight log. Best of all, several drone apps are supported (even outside the DJI family), including support for backing up flight logs from companion software like Autel Explorer, DJI GO 4, and Pix4D, ensuring AirData UAV is perfect for post-flight ponderation.

While the app is free and technically doesn’t contain any in-app purchases on Android or iOS, if you jump over to the AirData website, you’ll see that there are a few subscription plans available for the service, starting at $3 a month, that may be helpful if you need more than the 100 flight logs offered by the free plan. At the end of the day, user reviews are positive, mentioning the free features were so worthwhile that springing for extra features like battery management and in-flight wind data wasn’t a problem. Of course, if you want free weather data, Aloft Air Control brings that function to the table at no cost (above). This is why we recommend using all three of these apps in tandem: to keep you from spending a dime.

Ultimately, AirData UAV is handy for automatically backing up your flight logs for free, serving as a black box that’s stored in the cloud. It also allows for easy access to data that is beneficial for diagnostics, ensuring your equipment is running in top shape before your next flight — and since a range of drones and their companion software is supported, AirData UAV can log your entire fleet.

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There is no shortage of drone apps available across mobile storefronts, from B4UFLY to AutoPylot. While many offer a wide range of features, sometimes in-app subscriptions are required. This is why we created a list of three free drone apps with free features that complement each other in function, allowing everyone to avoid extra fees while gaining access to the functionality they need — whether that’s automating the authorization to fly, ensuring the skies are clear, or creating backups of logs to help stay on top of maintenance. 

Beyond the free criterion, we combed through user reviews and scores across mobile stores while also considering user opinions on hobbyist forums and social media. By combining that approach with our years of tech expertise, we feel we’ve come away with three of the best free apps for drone enthusiasts to enjoy.