7 Best DJI Alternatives of 2019

1. Yuneec Breeze 4K vs. DJI Mavic Quad

View on Amazon

The first DJI alternative drone on my list is the Yuneec Breeze 4K against the DJI Mavic Quad.

• Best feature 1: 4K Ultra-HD, crisp clear 13MP photos
• Best feature 2: Five automated flight modes
• Plus points: One-touch take-off/landing, return-to-home, protected prop guards
• Minus points: Disappointing battery life, no physical gimbal

To be fair to the DJI Mavic there’s not a lot of serious competition out there for it right now. The Yuneec Breeze 4K is more of an affordable compromise rather than a serious competitor. It has a lot going for the price though. The first thing to note is that this is an easy quad to fly—at any level. You control it via a compatible Android or iOS mobile device with the Breeze Cam app.

Flying Made Easy

The 4K Ultra-HD camera is a major consideration for anyone who wants a quality camera drone. There are five automated flight modes to help you pilot the drone and record footage in a way that suits you. These are Follow Me, Journey, Orbit, Pilot, and Selfie Mode. And don’t worry if the weather outside is bad as you can practice your skills inside. The ‘Indoor Positioning System’ and auto-landing features make flying the drone in spacious indoor areas breeze (pun intended)!

Another nice touch is that you can share your amazing videos and photos to social media right away. The app will post your footage to Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc., with minimal effort.

The biggest letdown has to be the short 12-minute maximum flight time to the Mavic’s 27-minutes. And the long 2+ hours recharge time is double that of the Mavic. You will need to take spares out with you for sure. Despite these things the Yuneec Breeze 4K has a lot going on for its price tag.

The Conclusion

This is a drone with amazing video and photographic quality. It’s easy to fly, crash resistant, and a great intro to the lower end of mid-range drones. It’s not the DJI Mavic but it’s a decent compromise.

2. Geniusidea 4K Follow Drone vs. DJI Spark

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

Next up is the first of three DJI Spark alternatives. You may be surprised to see the little-known Geniusidea 4K take the top slot here but there are good reasons for this.

• Best feature 1: 4K HD angle-adjustable camera
• Best feature 2: Lightweight and portable
• Plus points: Cool little carry case, ultra-sonic sensors, cheap long-life batteries,
• Minus points: Camera not stabilized, exaggerated flight time

Flying the Geniusidea 4K

This little quad is quite different to a lot of drones out there. Flying this puppy couldn’t be easier even at the beginner level. All you need is a WiFi connection, iOS or Android smartphone, and the G-IDEA app. That’s it, you’re ready for takeoff.

It’s a slow and very stable flyer which is great for newbies. If you want something quicker take a look at some of the faster quads on this page. After a little pre-flight calibration you’ll find this craft and its controls become second nature. That leaves you to enjoy the ride and record your footage. The 4K 13MP camera with its angle-adjustable lens gives plenty of creative aerial photographic and filming opportunities. This includes those increasingly-popular aerial selfies.

The 20-minute flight time is ambitious. Most users report something nearer 15-minutes in ideal flying conditions. It still beats the Spark though—just. I wasn’t able to find an accurate battery recharge time and reports vary from 30 minutes to 2+ hours. I’ll update this guide once I have something more concrete. The 100m flight range is more than far enough for a slow-flying drone even though it’s a far cry from the Spark’s 500 meters.

The Conclusion

If you want cute, luggable, capable, and a super-easy quad to fly, this could be your alternative to the costlier DJI Spark. The Geniusidea 4K is certainly unique in many ways.

3. Parrot Bebop 2 FPV Bundle vs. DJI Spark

View on Amazon

Parrot Bebop 2 FPV is a popular drone and an established name in affordable quads. But is it a good alternative to the DJI Spark? Let’s find out.

• Best feature 1: Excellent flight range up to 1.2 miles
• Best feature 2: 3-axis digital stabilization helps to steady aerial footage
• Plus points: Smart design, smooth flyer, inbuilt wide-angle camera, long battery life
• Minus points: 8GB memory restriction, fisheye lens (too wide for some enthusiasts)

This version of the Bebop 2 includes a couple of extras that take the flying experience to a whole new level. Enjoy a truly immersive flight with the Parrot Skycontroller 2 and Parrot Cockpitglasses. 4K video resolution would have been the icing on the cake. Still, we can’t expect the earth when you consider what’s already included in this impressive Base Pack. The DJI Spark doesn’t have 4K either.

Want even more accessories to support your Bebop 2 quadcopter? Well, there are other options. There’s the Adventurer Pack, Fly Longer Pack, and the full Parrot Bebop 2 Power FPV Pack.

The Bebop 2 beats the DJI Spark on flight time by almost 10 minutes and that’s huge. And at 55 minutes its battery recharge time is faster by over 30 minutes. Both of these things are major considerations for a lot of drone pilots. But with a 500-meter control range the Bebop 2 falls short on the Spark by a whopping 200 meters.

The Conclusion

If the super-wide-angle lens is too wide for your purpose then consider other options in this review guide. The BASE product is similar in price to the DJI Spark BASE deal. The Spark ranks slightly higher on Amazon than the Parrot Bebop 2, but not by much. For a full comparison and current price check follow the link below the table. Your choice will come down to your personal preferences.

4. Hubsan H501S X4 Quadcopter vs. DJI Spark

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5

The last of my DJI Spark alterative drones is the Hubsan H501S X4 Quadcopter.

• Best feature 1: Powerful brushless motors
• Best feature 2: Integrated 4.3″ LCD screen on controller
• Plus points: Durable lightweight airframe with elegant design, GPS functions, smooth flyer
• Minus points: No protection for the propellers, long charging time

At 410g the Hubsan H501S X4 is heavier than the DJI Spark. Don’t let the extra weight put you off. This capable little craft still beats the Spark’s maximum flight time by 5+ minutes. It does lose out on flight range by 200 meters though. Still, the Spark’s 500m is probably too far for a small craft anyway.

There’s a lot to consider with the X4 including its range of smart flight modes:

• Headless Mode
• Follow Me Mode
• Return to Home
• GPS Position Hold
• Barometer Altitude Hold

What About the Camera?

The Hubsan H501S X4 shoots 1080P FHD video at 30fps. That’s comparable to the Spark. The camera produces pretty decent results but it’s not 4K Ultra-HD. But then there’s nothing “ultra-high” about the price of the Hubsan H501S X4 either. And let’s face it; cost is another major consideration for folks on a budget or just dipping their toe into the consumer drone world for the first time.

The Conclusion

The Hubsan H501S X4 has a lot going for it at around half the cost of the DJI Spark’s base package. There’s also a 4-channel 2.4GHz RC with a 4.3″ color screen. It might not be an exact comparison for the Spark but it’s a worthy compromise for anyone who doesn’t want the $400+ price tag.

5. Autel X Star Premium vs. DJI Phantom 3 Pro

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5

Can the Autel Robotics X-Star Premium be a serious alternative to the popular DJI Phantom 3 Pro?

• Best feature 1: Starpoint Positioning System
• Best feature 2: 4K U-HD camera w/ detachable gimbal
• Plus points: Decent flight time fast recharging time, long flight range, good for entry-level
• Minus points: Doesn’t have collision avoidance, below average landing equipment

The first thing you’ll notice about these two quadcopters is how similar they are in design. As far as video quality is concerned they’re pretty much on a par with one another. The Autel Robotics X-Star has a removable gimbal whereas the Phantom 3 Pro is fixed. The flight times and battery recharging times of these two crafts are just about neck and neck (see specs table below).

I would say the X-Star Premium is bigger and sturdier than the Phantom 3 Pro. Users have reported crashing this thing and surprised at how crash resistant it was for a larger craft. The plastic certainly feels harder to the touch which has to help. In the air, there’s less chance of seeing the rotor arms in the shot with the X-Star Premium which will be a major selling feature for some users.

Excellent US-Based Support

It’s nice to have first-rate support when something goes wrong with a product or the pilot just needs to talk to an expert for some reason. The Autel Robotics X-Star Premium has US-based, 7-day support, and that’s a major plus point for this craft.

The Conclusion

The Autel Robotics X-Star Premium hasn’t been around for as long as the DJI Phantom 3 Pro but it’s gaining in popularity fast. It has fewer reviews on Amazon but it’s ahead of the 3 Pro on the rating front at the time of writing. Overall, I think you get more bang for your buck with the X-Star Premium.

6. UPair One Plus 4K vs. DJI Phantom 3 Standard

View on Amazon

My next pick looks at the UPair One Plus 4K against the DJI Phantom 3 Standard model.

• Best feature 1: Innovative U-shaped anhedral design enhances shooting and GPS function
• Best feature 2: Special PVC combined materials used in construction
• Plus points: Android, iPhone compatible, flight route planning, follow-me mode, auto-landing
• Minus points: Overall build quality still not as good as DJI,

Some call the UPair One Plus 4K a DJI copycat but it’s not. It just looks that way because of its competing features and similar design. It also has similar camera quality and footage to the DJI Phantom 3 Professional—and Phantom 4 come to that. I think it’s better to compare it against the DJI Phantom 3 Standard, though, as their price tags are a lot closer.

Points to Consider

This craft does everything it claims to and provides a stable flying experience. At 18 minutes flight time if falls short on the Phantom 3 Standard by as much as seven minutes. That’s quite a difference for a drone. The battery takes an extra 30 minutes to charge too. And the 800-meter control range is 200m shy on the Phantom 3. You still get more for less with the UPair One Plus 4K despite these differences.

The Phantom three costs more, has a 2.7K HD camera, and produces 12MP stills. The UPair One Plus has a 4K camera and 16MP photos (you can also get a cheaper 2.7K version). It also includes a remote controller with an adjustable smartphone grip. The DJI Standard does not.

The UPair One Plus 4K seems like a no-brainer on the face of it. But then every drone pilot has different wishes and expectations. This is why you need a checklist handy as you read my reviews.

The Conclusion

If the UPair One Plus 4K checks enough of your boxes this could be your ideal craft. You save around $150 at the time of writing and get more in the box. The downside is that the company is not as well-known as the DJI series of consumer drones and therefore lacks the same reputation.

7. GoPro Karma vs. DJI Phantom 4

View on Amazon

The GoPro Karma really an alternative to DJI’s Phantom 4 quadcopter?

• Best feature 1: Aerial, handheld, or body-mounted photography and filming
• Best feature 2: Simple for first-time flyers
• Plus points: High-quality touch display, GPS follow Me (new), virtual tutorials
• Minus points: Have to bring your own camera to the party, no obstacle avoidance

I know that looks are subjective. But I think the GoPro Karma with Harness for HERO5 is one of the best looking quads around. It’s not just the drone but the entire package. Look at that purpose made lightweight case that it all packs into. It’s true that this drone got off to a shaky start but things have moved on since then. So is it a worthy alternative to the DJI’s Phantom 4?

Well, the Phantom 4 costs an extra $100+ and that’s just for the drone. Now look at the new Karma:

• Karma harness for HERO5 Black
• Karma controller
• Karma stabilizer
• Karma grip (with case)
• Karma charger (US-style)
• Flight battery for karma
• 6 x Propellers
• Karma mounting ring
• Karma carry case

The spec sheet is not as good for the Karma but it might be good enough for some. For example, the Phantom 4 has a flight time of 28 minutes to the karma’s 20 minutes. The Phantom 4’s flight range is off the chart at 5km against the Karmas 3km. The Karma’s battery recharge time is just 60 minutes though, and that beats the Phantom 4 by an incredible two hours and 30 minutes per charge.

The Karma is more portable and fun to fly and has lots of valuable features. You also get to enjoy flexible, high-quality video and stills from the famous GoPro action cameras. And let’s not forget the ability of the Karma for shooting footage on the ground as well as in the air with its accessories.

The Conclusion

I wouldn’t say one is better over the other as they both have a lot to offer. The karma is more fun and a better travel quad. The Phantom is better suited to the more serious filmmaker. If you want the extras with the DJI Phantom 4, though, prepare for a steep price increase.