6 Affordable Action Camera Drones

1. DROCAN Blue Bugs 3 Camera Drone | Best Budget

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

The Best Budget action camera drone goes to the popular Blue Bugs 3. It’s a good-looking bird and easy for novice pilots to control even in the wind. The quad comes with two speed modes, high & low.

• Best feature 1: Supports GoPros, Xiaomi, Xiaoyi 4K cameras
• Best feature 2: Excellent beginner drone
• Plus points: Two speed modes, brushless motors, wind resistant, 3D rolls & flips, decent range
• Minus points: Insane charging time, potential flyaways

Action Camera Compatibility & Features

The DROCON Blue Bugs 3 is an incredible flying robot for the money. It’s a great deal if you already own an action camera thanks to the included 4K camera mount. The camera holder can accommodate GoPros, Xiaomi, Xiaoyi 4K, and others. Be sure to check your camera dimensions before you buy, though. Or, consider the Bugs 6 quadcopter if you want to upgrade to First Person View or FPV.

The drone has a powerful brushless motor and weighs 3.09 lbs. or just over with a camera. That means it can fly quite well in winds—not something all beginner drones can do. Impressive full-throttle 3D flips and rolls are possible for pilots with more experience. And the 985 ft. (300 M) control range is remarkable for a training quadcopter. The flight time is about average at 15 minutes max.

The Not So Good

The biggest letdown with the DROCON Blue Bugs 3 is the insane 6+ hour charging time. Most new buyers order extra batteries at the same time they get the drone. There are also a few reports of flyaways. These most likely happen when pilots try to push past the maximum range. The quad does have low-power and weak signal alarms, so it’s vital that pilots heed the warnings.

2. Altair Aerial Blackhawk GoPro Quad | Best Value

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

Our Best Value action camera drone is the Altair Aerial Blackhawk. It’s a superb, heavy-duty quadcopter for the money. This model is ideal for drone enthusiasts at the intermediate level.

• Best feature 1: Action camera mount for GoPro and similar
• Best feature 2: Sturdy metal body
• Plus points: Two speed modes, fast flier, wind-resistant, long range, automatic lock protection
• Minus points: Flimsy prop guards, long charging time

Action Camera Compatibility & Features

They call the Altair Aerial Blackhawk the GoPro quad. It accommodates HERO 3 and 4 cameras (41mm x 59mm x 30 mm). It can also carry other brands of similar size but check the dimensions first. The drone has some unique features for a model in its category like the sturdy metal body. Most quads still use plastic molded shells. The heavy-duty build makes it more crash-resistant and stable in winds.

Altair’s Aerial Blackhawk has two speed options, and it’s a quick flier in the fastest mode. Speed is especially useful for long-range drones as it gets them to their destination—and back— quicker. This puppy has a maximum control range up to 1640 ft. (500 M). Another standout feature is its built-in Automatic Lock Protection. Auto-lock protection exists to save the motor from burnout.

The Not So Good

The Aerial Blackhawk comes with prop guards, but they’re quite flimsy and next to useless. Another con is the charging time that can take several hours with a flat battery. The max flight time is just 15–18 minutes. Spare batteries are essential for those who don’t want to wait between charges.

3. Holy Stone HS700 Hero 2/3/4 Compatible | Top Pick

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

Holy Stone makes the Top Pick with their incredible HS700 FPV Drone. This quadcopter comes with an advanced 5G 1080P FHD camera that has a 110-degree field of view (FOV).

• Best feature 1: Advanced 5G 1080P FHD Camera
• Best feature 2: Mount compatible with GoPros
• Plus points: Headless mode, brushless motor, follow me, GPS assisted flight, custom flight path
• Minus points: No prop guards, long charging

Action Camera Compatibility & Features

There’s so much to appreciate with the Holy Stone HS700 quadcopter. It comes with a camera, but you can also swap it for a GoPro if you have one. The mount is compatible with higher quality GoPros Hero 2, 3, and 4 models. The camera gives pilots real-time video transmission directly onto a smartphone screen. Best of all is that filming while flying is a cinch.

The headless mode is ideal for novices as they don’t have to consider the orientation of the craft. Less focus on the orientation lets pilots concentrate more on capturing spectacular aerial footage.

Powerful Functions Aplenty

The HS700 uses a powerful, reliable, and super-quiet brushless motor. Its GPS ‘Follow Me’ mode is especially popular for filming moving subjects. Editing and sharing recorded footage to social media sites while on the go is also a breeze. GPS assisted flight provides many beneficial functions. There’s stable automatic hovering, return to home (RTH), and GPS custom flight paths.

This drone boasts safeguards that help to prevent loss and damage. They include low power alert and weak/lost signal warnings. The simple 1-key return-to-home feature brings the quad back to base before it runs into problems. That’s providing the pilot heeds the warnings of course.

The Not So Good

Prop guards should be a standard safety feature on all drones, but they’re not. The HS700 doesn’t even have an option to buy them as extra accessories. That means no protection for fingers or the propellers, so extra caution is necessary. Battery charging times are painful at 4+ hours for 20 minutes of flight time. Those who get this drone most likely invest in a couple of extra batteries.

4. Force1 F100 GoPro Compatible Quadcopter

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

This is the F100 quadcopter by Force1, and it’s another drone for under 100 dollars (at the time of writing). The flight time is average, so the bonus battery with the F100 is a welcome extra.

• Best feature 1: GoPro compatible quadcopter
• Best feature 2: High/Low-speed modes
• Plus points: Bonus battery, easy to fly, brushless motors, stunt capable, decent flight range
• Minus points: No GPS, short flight time

Action Camera Compatibility & Features

Force1’s F100 comes equipped with a mount that takes any GoPro Hero 3 or 4. Attaching an action camera takes a few seconds, then you’re ready for takeoff. The mount’s position ensures perfect camera balance to optimize flight and footage. The F100 controller has High/Low-speed modes that cater to beginner and advanced pilots.

The quad’s four brushless motors provide the craft with smooth, reliable flights. They’re quieter and longer-lasting than brushed alternatives too. And the motors have plenty of oomph to perform crazy stunts like 360° flips and impressive rolls. The range of the F100 is a decent 1640 ft. (500 M).

This quad comes with high landing gear. That’s useful as it gives plenty of ground clearance and keeps the precious GoPro safe. The drone comes with four protective prop guards as well.

The Not So Good

The Force1 F100 GoPro compatible drone is a capable quadcopter but lacks some features. It doesn’t have GPS for one, and that means no return-to-home (RTH). Nor does it have altitude hold, headless mode and a few other flight features found on some models. The flight time is also disappointing at 12+ minutes per battery. It’s still an excellent quad, though, albeit short of a few bells and whistles.

5. Contixo F17+ RC Quadcopter for GoPros

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Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

Meet the Contixo F17+, an app capable camera drone. This quad is a step up from the previous pick, and it’s easy to see why once we look at what it offers. It also comes with its own action camera.

• Best feature 1: Includes Contixo 4k Ultra HD Action Camera
• Best feature 2: GoPro compatible mount
• Plus points: App control, easy to pilot, one-key start/stop, brushless motors, hard case
• Minus points: No GPS assisted flight features, exaggerated flight time

Action Camera Compatibility & Features

Contixo F17+ comes equipped with a 4k Ultra HD detachable action camera. That means you can use it off the drone as well. Pilots can view the camera’s live stream on their smartphone using the 4K camera app. The app also lets users take aerial photos, record video, and even shoot time-lapse video. The mount can accommodate most GoPro HERO action cameras.

This drone is easy to fly for advanced beginners and above (see below). It has a simple 1-key start/stop button on its comfortable, ergonomic controller. The powerful MT1806 1800KV brushless motors are highly efficient and last longer than brushed alternatives. The quad has a low battery warning alarm. Contixo’s F17+ quadcopter comes with a smart aluminum hard case.

The Not So Good

This drone isn’t ideal for the raw novice as it lacks some beginner-friendly features. There’s no GPS, so that means no emergency return to home (RTH). Nor does it feature altitude hold or a headless mode. It’s easy to fly for those with a little experience, but not ideal for first-time pilots. And the 18 minute flight time is an exaggeration even in perfect conditions. I’d say 15 minutes is a more realistic figure.

6. DJI Phantom 2 V2.0 GoPro Compatible

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

The Phantom 2 quadcopter is an older DJI drone but it still an exceptional model. It’s an easy-to-fly drone that has the option to add GoPro action cameras.

• Best feature 1: GoPro compatible
• Best feature 2: Supports Zenmuse H3-2D Gimbal
• Plus points: Easy to control, long flight time, return-to-home (RTH), self-tightening propellers
• Minus points: Mount not included, cannot live stream with GoPros

Action Camera Compatibility & Features

Anyone who’s new to flying drones should consider a DJI Phantom 2. Try not to let the age of these quadcopters put you off. This model is stable, reliable, and incredibly easy to fly—at any level. It’s also compatible for use with GoPro HERO 2, HERO 3/3+, and HERO 4 action cameras. DJI’s Phantom 2 supports Zenmuse H3-2D gimbal to provide the ultimate camera stabilization.

The Phantom 2 has an incredible 28 minute flight time which is the longest of all drones on this page. Charging time is equally impressive at around 1 hour. Its control range is 3281 ft. (1000 M). The drone also has a return-to-home (RTR) and landing feature. The self-tightening propellers are a nice touch. They prevent the accidental loss of small prop nuts when pilots dismantle the quad for storage.

The Not So Good

DJI’s Phantom 2 is no longer in production, but it still costs a few hundred dollars. It’s worth it too, but its value would increase further with a camera mount and gimbal included. Be sure to factor those into the cost if this quad makes your shortlist. The other downside is that Wi-Fi streaming is not possible with any GoPro camera.