Drones have become an integral part of both personal and professional landscapes, offering unparalleled opportunities in photography, surveying, agriculture, and more. As their popularity grows, so does the variety of options available, each with its own price point and set of features. Understanding the costs associated with different types of drones is crucial for potential buyers and business owners alike. This guide breaks down the cost of drones based on their intended use, helping you make an informed decision.

Types of Drones and Their Costs

The drone market is incredibly diverse, with options available for every kind of user, from casual hobbyists to professional filmmakers and industrial inspectors. The cost of a drone can vary dramatically depending on its intended use, features, and capabilities. Understanding the different categories of drones and their associated price ranges is essential for making an informed purchase, whether you’re looking to capture stunning aerial photography, conduct detailed surveys, or streamline agricultural operations.

1. Consumer Drones:

• Overview: Consumer drones are designed for casual users and hobbyists. These drones offer a good balance between affordability and functionality, making them ideal for beginners.
• Price Range: £50 to £1000.
• Examples:
  • DJI Mini 3 Pro (around £350): A compact, lightweight drone with a 4K HDR video camera, ideal for capturing high-quality images and videos.

• • Ryze Tello (around £100): A small toy drone perfect for beginners and children, offering basic flight controls and 720p HD video capabilities.

2. Photography and Videography Drones:

• Overview: These drones are built with high-end cameras and stabilisation systems, making them perfect for professional photography and videography.
• Price Range: £600 to £2,500.
  • Examples:
  • DJI Mini 4 Pro (around £700): This advanced mini drone blends cutting-edge imaging capabilities with versatile features that cater to both professional photographers and beginners.

• • DJI Mavic 3 Pro (around £1,800): Equipped with a Hasselblad camera, offering superior image quality and advanced flight features.

3. Inspection Drones:

• Overview: Designed for industrial applications, these drones are used in inspecting infrastructure, utilities, and other critical assets.
• Price Range: £5,000 to £20,000+.
• Examples:
  • DJI Matrice 350 RTK + Zenmuse H20T (around £15,000 depending on payload): Offers robust performance with the ability to carry up to three payloads simultaneously, including thermal and LiDAR sensors.

• • DJI Mavic 3 Thermal (around £5,000): This lightweight drone supports visual data collection, including hybrid zooming, and high-resolution thermal.

4. Surveying and Mapping Drones:

• Overview: These drones are equipped with advanced GPS and mapping software, essential for survey-grade land surveys and creating 3D models.
• Price Range: £4,000 to £20,000+
• Examples:
  • DJI Matrice 350 RTK + Zenmuse P1 (around £15,000-£20,000 depending on payload): Offers robust performance with the ability to carry up to three payloads simultaneously, including thermal and LiDAR sensors.

• • DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (£3,000): Optimised for drone mapping, this lightweight drone features a 4/3 inch 20MP sensor with mechanical shutter that collects centimetre accurate mapping data when combined with an RTK module.

5. Agricultural Drones:

• Overview: Agricultural drones are used for monitoring crops, spraying pesticides, and managing large farm areas.
• Price Range: £5,000-£20,000+
• Examples:
  • DJI Matrice 350 RTK + AgEagle MicaSense Altum-PT (£15,000-£20,000): Offers robust performance with the ability to carry up to three payloads simultaneously, including multispectral and thermal payloads like the Altum-PT.

• • DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral (around £5,000): Equipped with a multispectral imaging system, this drone quickly captures crop growth information for more effective crop production.

Supporting Equipment

To fully harness a drone’s capabilities and ensure smooth operations, a range of supporting equipment may be necessary. This equipment not only enhances the functionality of your drone but also ensures its longevity and operational efficiency.

1. Extra Batteries

• Drones typically have limited flight times, often ranging between 30 to 50 minutes per battery, depending on the model and conditions. Extra batteries are crucial for extended missions or back-to-back operations, allowing you to quickly swap batteries to minimise lengthy interruptions for recharging.
• Cost: Depending on the drone model, additional batteries can cost between £100 and £200 each. High-capacity batteries, particularly for larger drones, may be more expensive.

2. Propellers

• Propellers are among the most frequently damaged parts of a drone, whether due to collisions or regular wear and tear. Having spare propellers on hand ensures that minor mishaps don’t ground your operations.
• Cost: A set of replacement propellers typically costs between £20 and £50, though the price can vary depending on the material (e.g., plastic versus carbon fibre) and the drone model. 

3. Carrying Cases

• Drones and their accessories need to be safely transported and stored to avoid damage. High-quality carrying cases provide robust protection against impacts, weather, and other environmental factors. They also help organise your equipment, making it easier to transport and deploy quickly.
• Cost: Depending on the size, material, and features (such as waterproofing), carrying cases can range from £100 to £500.

4. Charging Stations and Hubs

• Efficiently charging multiple batteries is essential for minimising downtime. Charging hubs allow you to recharge several batteries simultaneously, which is particularly useful during extended operations or when you’re on the move.
• Cost: Charging hubs can cost between £50 and £200, depending on their capacity and compatibility with different battery types.

5. SD Cards and Storage Solutions

• High-resolution video and imagery capture require ample storage. Fast and reliable SD cards ensure that data is stored securely and can be transferred quickly when needed. In addition, external hard drives or cloud storage services may be required to manage and back up large amounts of data.
• Cost: High-capacity SD cards (e.g., 128GB to 512GB) range from £30 to £150, while external hard drives or SSDs can cost anywhere from £50 to £300.

6. Landing Pads

• Landing pads provide a clean and flat surface for takeoff and landing, reducing the risk of debris damaging the drone or interfering with its sensors. They are especially useful in rough or uneven terrain.
• Cost: Portable landing pads typically cost between £20 and £50.

7. Tablets and Controllers

• While many drones come with controllers, using a tablet or a more advanced controller can enhance the user experience by providing a larger display and additional control features. This is particularly useful for professional applications where precise control and real-time data viewing are critical.
• Cost: Tablets and advanced controllers can range from £200 to £1,000, depending on the brand, features, and compatibility with the drone.

8. Accessories

• Extra accessories like RTK modules, speakers, and spotlights significantly expand the capabilities of your drone, allowing it to perform specialised tasks in various professional fields. For instance, RTK modules enhance GPS accuracy to centimetre-level precision, making them essential for survey-grade mapping and other applications where exact location data is critical. Loudspeakers can be crucial in public safety and search and rescue operations, enabling the drone to communicate with people on the ground from the air.
• Cost: These accessories typically range from £30 to £2,000 depending on drone model and accessory.

Drone Software Costs

However, the cost of the drone itself is only part of the equation. Many drones, especially those used in professional and industrial contexts, require specialised software to unlock their full potential. This software can range from flight planning and control apps to advanced data analysis tools for mapping, inspection, or agricultural management. The cost of these software packages can vary widely, adding another layer of consideration to your investment.

Drone software and apps generally fall into two categories: operational management tools like DJI FlightHub 2 and DroneDesk, which help organisations coordinate and monitor multiple drone missions. The other category is data processing software like DJI Terra or Pix4D, which is used to analyse and create detailed maps, 3D models, and other outputs from the data captured by drones. While operational tools focus on managing drone flights and compliance, data processing software turns aerial imagery into actionable insights and deliverables for various industries.

You don’t need every single one of these softwares and apps, it all depends on your application, which drone you use, and how large your organisation is. Coptrz specialises in crafting the perfect drone solution to suit your unique needs. Consult an expert to get your free strategy plan.

Let’s explore the most popular fight apps and softwares along with the pricing.

Flight Management Apps

1. DJI Fly App

• Price: Free
• The DJI Fly App is available for free and is compatible with several DJI consumer drones. This app is tailored for both beginners and experienced pilots, offering features such as flight tutorials, intelligent flight modes, and an intuitive interface for capturing and editing aerial footage. It also provides real-time transmission of the drone’s camera feed and allows users to customise the drone’s settings easily. The app is free to download but only works with specific DJI drone models.

2. DJI FlightHub 2

• Price: Starts around £1,500 annually, or £100 a month
• DJI FlightHub 2 is an enterprise-level drone fleet management software. It allows organisations to manage multiple drone flights simultaneously, offering features such as live streaming of missions, real-time data syncing, and integration with DJI’s drones and payloads, and much more. This cloud-based solution supports mission planning, pilot management, and flight data analysis, making it ideal for industries like public safety, construction, and energy. FlightHub 2 comes with a subscription model, with costs varying depending on the number of drones and users.

3. DroneDesk

• Price: Starts at around £20 per month (£240 annually), with higher-tier plans available based on the number of users and missions.
• DroneDesk is a UK-based cloud software platform tailored for professional drone operators. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for managing all aspects of drone operations, including mission planning, risk assessments, compliance tracking, and client management. DroneDesk is designed to streamline the administrative side of drone operations, helping operators to ensure they meet regulatory requirements while optimising their workflow. It is particularly beneficial for freelance operators and small to medium-sized drone service businesses. The platform operates on a subscription model with various pricing tiers based on the number of missions and users.

4. DJI LightCut App

• Price: Free, with in-app purchases for premium features.
• DJI LightCut is a mobile video editing app designed to seamlessly integrate with DJI drones. The app allows users to quickly edit and produce high-quality videos using footage captured by their drones. It offers a range of templates, music tracks, and editing tools that make it easy for users to create professional-looking videos with minimal effort. LightCut is ideal for content creators who want to enhance their aerial footage without needing advanced editing skills or software. The app is available for free, with some premium features that may require in-app purchases.

Post-Processing Software

5. DJI Terra

• Price: Starts at approximately £1,250 per year for the basic licence, with a perpetual licence costing around £3,400 as a one time purchase. DJI Agriculture is under £300.
• DJI Terra is a powerful mapping and 3D modelling software designed for use with DJI drones. It enables users to capture, visualise, and analyse aerial data to create detailed maps, 3D models, and reconstructions of various terrains and structures. DJI Terra is used extensively in industries like construction, agriculture, and mining for tasks such as site surveying, crop monitoring, and volumetric measurements. The software is available through different licensing plans, including a basic plan for simpler mapping needs and more advanced options for complex projects.

6. Pix4Dmatic / Pix4Dmapper

• Price: Approximately £3,000 annually, or £300 monthly.
• Pix4Dmatic and Pix4Dmapper are both part of the Pix4D suite, with each serving distinct purposes. Pix4Dmatic is optimised for processing large datasets and generating highly accurate 3D models and maps, making it ideal for large-scale projects. Pix4Dmapper, on the other hand, is a versatile photogrammetry software widely used for creating georeferenced maps, 3D models, and orthomosaics from images captured by drones. Pix4Dmapper is suitable for a range of industries including construction, agriculture, and surveying. Both software options come with a subscription model, with prices varying based on the required features and scale of use.

7. Pix4Dfields

• Price: Approximately £1,300 per year, or £270 monthly.
• Pix4Dfields is tailored specifically for agricultural applications, allowing farmers and agronomists to process multispectral imagery captured by drones. This software provides insights into crop health, yield estimation, and field management through detailed maps that can guide precision farming decisions. Pix4Dfields is essential for monitoring crop conditions in real-time, optimising inputs like water and fertiliser, and improving overall farm productivity.

8. Pix4Dreact

• Price: Approximately £400 per year, or £40 monthly.
• Pix4Dreact is designed for emergency response and public safety operations, offering rapid mapping capabilities that enable responders to generate 2D maps quickly from drone imagery. This is crucial in disaster management, where time-sensitive decisions are required. The software is known for its speed and simplicity, allowing non-specialist users to create maps within minutes of a drone flight. Pix4Dreact is particularly useful in scenarios like search and rescue, natural disasters, and accident scene reconstruction. It is available on a subscription basis, making it accessible to public safety organisations.

Training and Certification

We’re nearly there – but before you fly, you need to make sure you have the right permissions. 

Before you fly, all drone operators must register with the CAA and obtain both an operator ID and a flyer ID. You don’t need to register if your drone or model aircraft weighs less than 250g, and is also either a toy or has no camera.

Operator ID: To register as a drone operator, you must be over 18. As of August 2024, an operator ID costs £11.13 per year. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must register for the operator ID on your behalf. This ID must be clearly labelled on every drone or model aircraft you own. You can use the same operator ID for all your drones and model aircraft.

Flyer ID: The flyer ID shows you’ve passed a basic flying test and know how to fly safely and legally, this is free and valid for 5 years before you need to re-register.

Insurance: If you fly a drone or model aircraft for recreation, sport, or as a hobby, you can choose whether or not to have insurance. If you fly for any other reason, you must have third-party insurance.

For example, you must have insurance if you:

• get paid to take pictures or record video
• get paid to carry out surveys
• provide delivery services
• use your drone for work, such as on a farm, park, or estate
• use a drone in an educational setting, such as a school, college, or university
• If you fly a drone or model aircraft for recreation, sport, or as a hobby, you can choose whether or not to have insurance.
• If you fly for any other reason, you must have third-party insurance.
• For example, you must have insurance if you:
• get paid to take pictures or record video
• get paid to carry out surveys
• provide delivery services
• use your drone for work, such as on a farm, park, or estate
• use a drone in an educational setting, such as a school, college, or university

The price of insurance is dependent on the tier and duration of cover, but is expected to be around £30 per year at a basic level.

When considering the purchase and operation of drones, especially for commercial use, it’s essential to factor in the cost of obtaining the necessary certifications. In the UK, two key certifications are commonly required: the General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC) or the A2 Certificate of Competency (A2CofC).

A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC)

Price: £97 (2024)

The A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC) allows pilots to fly small drones up to 2kg “close to people”, maintaining a 50m horizontal separation distance from uninvolved people. 

This certification involves online theoretical training and an online test, making it essential for operating in more restricted environments.

With the A2 CofC, you can fly small drones, such as those in the DJI Mavic series and the Parrot Anafi, under those permissions without needing extensive and expensive training or CAA Authorisation. In summary, the A2 CofC is for those who want to fly ‘small drones’ or fly in ‘low risk’ environments.

General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC)

Price: Online – £599, Classroom – £999 (2024)

The GVC is a necessary certification to apply to do operations in the Specific Category, enabling you to legally and safely operate drones up to 25 kg in built-up areas.

Passing the GVC course earns you the General Visual Line of Sight Certificate, which enables you to apply for an Operational Authorisation from the CAA.

The Operational Authorisation application fee is £290, payable directly to the CAA, for issuing your Authorisation. Please remember that you must apply for Operational Authorisation after you receive your certificate.

Passing the GVC does not automatically grant you this authorisation; you must complete the application process with the CAA to be legally permitted to perform more complex drone operations.

In summary, the GVC is for those who want to fly ‘large drones’ or who want to fly more complex and ‘high-risk’ flights.

The GVC is valid for 5 years, and costs £217 (as of 2024) to renew. 

Overall

Investing in drones for personal or commercial use involves more than just the initial purchase price. From equipment and software to training and ongoing operational costs, thorough financial planning is key to making a successful investment. However, it’s important to note that despite these upfront and ongoing costs, drones can lead to significant cost savings in the long run by being faster, safer, and more efficient compared to traditional methods.

For example, Pathfinder Optics used the Flyability Elios 3 drone to save approximately $1 million by quickly identifying faults in wind turbines, minimising replacement costs, and reducing downtime. Drones can access areas that are difficult or dangerous for humans, perform inspections without the need for costly scaffolding or shutdowns, and provide high-quality data more efficiently. This not only reduces operational costs but also enhances safety by minimising human exposure to hazardous conditions.

Whether you’re a hobbyist or a business owner, understanding these expenses—and the potential savings—will help you make informed decisions. For expert guidance on choosing the right drone and managing associated costs, reach out to Coptrz today.