Fortunately, there are a few useful apps that can be obtained for free, and by putting together a selection that complements each other, you can come away with a suite of software that will cover your pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight data in one fell swoop. Even if you have purchased one of the cheap but reliable drones available on Amazon, there is no reason not to keep the costs as low as possible.
So if you’re a drone enthusiast who maybe earns a few pennies but also doesn’t want to compromise on software quality, we’ve used our technical expertise to hand-pick the best free apps for your next drone flight. Whether you want to check reviews, need clear skies, or want to keep your logs, these three apps have you covered.
They are not only popular with drone enthusiasts on app stores and social media for being free, but also for their quality design that eases the burden of flying safely and legally. That’s why you’ll find countless user testimonials praising it.
By taking advantage of these free drone apps available on Android and iOS, you’ll have the tools you need to fly with confidence. They can help ensure you’re complying with regulations, identify other people flying in the area so you can avoid them, and record data that can be viewed later – which is handy for accident tracking and diagnostics. You can easily improve your experience with these free apps for drone enthusiasts.
High-altitude air traffic control
If you choose only one app from today’s roundup, start with Aloft Air Control. One of its primary functions is to automate FAA Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) authorizations, ensuring you are flying below 400 feet in controlled airspace. You can also check for TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions) and use the app to request permission up to 90 days in advance. Ultimately, permission is often granted automatically, so you don’t have to pre-apply if you don’t want to. But this application is useful for both recreational and commercial use: it is a professional tool capable of managing an entire fleet.
In addition to authorizing your flights, you can check airspace and weather data, with the app offering real-time guidance to keep you in the know. You can also save your flight logs in Aloft and explore pre-flight checklists to make sure you’re following procedure, making it a solid all-in-one tool if you prefer a single app over several. That’s not to say there aren’t better options for flight recording (see AirData UAV below). However, there are still enough features to meet the basic needs of a drone pilot, making Aloft Air Control one of those free apps that’s actually better than premium alternatives.
Consumers agree on Android and iOS, with social media users calling for its robust data that lays out the grid lines in controllers’ airspaces, even going so far as to offer commercial user data (which you won’t find in competing apps like B4UFLY). So, before you take your next flight, give Aloft Air Control a spin to plan it like a pro.
Drone Scanner
Now that Aloft Air Control handles your pre-flight preparation, it’s time to open another app to search for drones in the immediate area. Drone Scanner, available on Android and iOS as an overlooked free app worth installing, is ready to be your flying companion. As the name suggests, it is an app designed to search for Remote ID-equipped drones, which can be integrated with or attached to uncrewed aircraft to stream identification and location data, revealing whether any are flying nearby.
Of course, a smartphone’s ability to scan for radio signals will only have a limited range, as the app detects Wi-Fi Beacon and Bluetooth signals through your phone’s radios, so these signals will need to be within range for detection to work. If you need more coverage and visibility, we recommend getting a Dronetag RIDER remote receiver that works with the Drone Scanner app. But since this useful piece of hardware costs $1,099, it’s only something we can recommend to the most die-hard enthusiasts and professionals. For hobbyists and those new to flying drones, Drone Scanner is efficient enough to search your immediate area for drones containing ID modules to avoid during flight.
User reviews are a bit mixed, as this mobile app only works as well as detecting your phone’s signal, which the app’s website even points out. But it’s worth noting that Bluetooth range averages only 33 feet, while Wi-Fi reaches at least 10 times further, so plan your scanning accordingly.
Drone AirData
Finally, we have AirData UAV, a free app on Android and iOS that stores both your drone and pilot data, and you can even sync this information to access it later. In short, the app provides a window into your drone’s health to ensure optimal performance for your next flight, eliminating the need to manually record a separate flight log. Best of all, multiple drone applications are supported (even outside the DJI family), including support for saving flight logs from companion software like Autel Explorer, DJI GO 4, and Pix4D, ensuring the AirData drone is perfect for post-flight reflection.
While the app is free and technically doesn’t contain any in-app purchases on Android or iOS, if you go to AirData’s website, you’ll see that there are a few subscription plans available for the service, starting at $3 per month, which can be useful if you need more than the 100 flight logs offered by the free plan. Ultimately, user reviews were positive, mentioning that the free features were so worth it that relying on additional features like battery management and in-flight wind data wasn’t an issue. Of course, if you want free weather data, Aloft Air Control offers it (see above). That’s why we recommend using these three apps in tandem: to save you from spending a dime.
Ultimately, AirData UAV comes in handy for automatically backing up your flight logs for free, serving as a black box stored in the cloud. It also provides easy access to useful diagnostic data, ensuring your equipment is operating in tip-top condition before your next flight – and, as a range of drones and their associated software are supported, AirData UAV can record your entire fleet.
Why we chose these free drone apps
There is no shortage of drone apps available on mobile app stores, from B4UFLY to AutoPylot. Although many offer a wide range of features, sometimes in-app subscriptions are required. That’s why we’ve created a list of three free drone apps with free features that complement each other in function, allowing everyone to avoid extra fees while still accessing the features they need – whether that’s automating permission to fly, ensuring the skies are clear, or creating log backups to help stay on top of maintenance.
Beyond the free criterion, we reviewed user reviews and ratings on mobile app stores and also considered user opinions on hobbyist forums and social networks. By combining this approach with our years of technological expertise, we believe we have obtained three of the best free apps for drone enthusiasts.
