The best drones and drone companies to invest in as of 2022, beginner or professional
From Parrot, the French-based company that took the world by storm with its new ANAFI AI model, to the Shanghai-based powerhouse Yuneec, this list showcases the ten companies that I think will dominate the drone market in the near future.
I wanted to include companies that, from my experience, are beginner-friendly, with an excellent quality-price ratio, but also companies that are the best fit for professionals and businesses.
Without further ado, these are the ten companies that I think will be the top drone manufacturers in 2022:
1. Parrot
The giant based in Paris, France, is one of the leading companies on the market, with an estimated revenue of 166.5 million Euros in 2016. However, Parrot’s revenues had dropped massively throughout recent years, reaching the lowest sum in 2020, when Parrot SA’s revenue was estimated at 57.3 million Euros.
Through researching the topic, I found the leading causes of this massive revenue shrinkage to be linked to the lay off in personnel from 2017 when Parrot fired 290 of its 840 employees and their exit from the toy-drone market in 2019, when DJI, their contender, made up about three-quarters of the global sales in the toy-drone field.
Even though this seems like bad news for the company, their exclusive focus on commercial drone manufacturing means they are entirely focused on developing a high-quality professional type of drone that will please professional customers and fans of their ANAFI model alike, so it didn’t come as a surprise that when the ANAFI AI launched in late 2021, it made a buzz, establishing the manufacturer in the professional-drone field.
Regardless of the sale declines and staff layoffs, parrot ranked 2nd in The Drone Industry Insights’s “Top 3 Best Drone Manufacturers: Commercial” in 2021. They started offering their drones to the Governmental entities to replace their Chinese contender DJI in the U.S, which helped raise their revenue before the ANAFI AI even launched.
Their best-selling model to this day, even though discontinued, remains the classic ANAFI.
Despite some flaws such as the lack of obstacle avoidance or slight problems with the digital zoom or construction, its quality-price ratio makes it one of the most beloved drones among customers all around the web. It is a great first drone acquisition for any first-time drone photographer or just drone enthusiast.
2. Autel
Autel is an American-based company. Autel Robotic’s headquarters are located in Washington State, even though its parent company Autel Intelligent Technology is based in China.
Despite Autel being owned by Chinese nationals, most of their products are made in the US with local components. For example, their new EVO II™ Rugged Bundle is 75% sourced from USA components and solely produced in the US.
From my experience, Autel is a company catering to people concerned about privacy and data safety. For example, their new drone model, EVO II Dual, and all of the EVO II range are perfect if you are concerned about cyber security. It does not rely on LTE, nor does it connect to servers, and it can even be operated without a mobile device. A major plus for someone who does not want their data exposed is that Autel does not have access to user data. Where the footage recorded with the drone is stored is entirely within the user’s control.
Autel Robotics is great at developing products that rely on complex technology and making them user-friendly and easy to use. Their drones are a perfect option for everyone, pro or beginner.
3. Yuneec
Yuneec is a company mainly targeted at professional filmmakers, given their prices and quality are primarily classified under the higher-end drone market. Their professional machines are massive in size and battery power.
The Shanghai-based powerhouse got its start as an aircraft manufacturer. It wasn’t until 2017, when it launched the Typhoon H520 for commercial use, that it began to develop as a power player in the drone market.
In 2015 Intel Corporation and Yuneec started working together on development and future projects. It all started when Intel invested $60 million in the drone company for a 15% stake.
Yuneec raised the bar quite high for drone manufacturers in 2018 when it presented the new model, Mantis Q, the first-ever voice-controlled drone.
Yuneec is a staple company in technology and innovation, so it comes as no surprise that it is expected for Yuneec to launch a new line of drones that will breach into the military sphere.
4. Freefly
Freefly is a US company with headquarters based in Washington State, where their products are entirely designed, assembled, and tested.
Compared to the other companies on this list, Freefly is relatively new to the industry. It was founded in 2011, but has nevertheless managed to make a name for itself among industry veterans.
Despite not having so many models on the market, Freefly is recognized amongst the digital video production industry for its high-quality professional products, for example, their MōVI M10 Gimbal Stabilizer or their first product, the CineStar, a multicolor camera platform that first gained popularity among professionals due to its simplicity and adaptability.
Freefly gained a lot of publicity and media attention in 2016 when a promotional video of their drone, the ALTA 8, made waves online. (Literally!) The video showcases a surfer being pulled by their drone in an attempt to reinvent water sports. Through this video, firefly introduced the concept of Drone Surfing.
Freefly is definitely a company to keep an eye on in the near future. Their drone model, the Freefly ALTA, is so popular that people confuse Alta with the company name most of the time. The model was launched in 2015, and it is a highly professional drone that’s generally acclaimed by experienced customers. With reviews such as “Finally a drone without compromise.” you can bet you won’t go wrong if you purchase this drone model.
5. Altair
Altair is another US-based company you should take into consideration this year. It’s a small company that started and is still operating from its headquarters in Nebraska, but don’t let that fool you! Their drone quality surpasses some of the big contenders in the market. They are fully invested in their customer service, given the company’s size, so if any problem occurs, their customer support is always ready to help.
Their best-selling model is the Altair Aerial AA108 which is a great drone. It has professional quality but is easy enough to use and affordable enough to fit a beginner.
Some of the drone’s best features are its adjustable three skill levels of flight controls, its one-button take-off, and landing feature, and for me, the price is a winner! The drone costs less than 150$.
The drone has certain deficiencies, such as a limited range of speed and flying time and no camera stabilization.
This is the best drone if you want to experiment in the drone field before making a big purchase.
6. Cheerson
Cheerson is another highly beginner-friendly company due to easy-to-handle drones and pricing, no wonder their model, the Cheerson CX-10, is a top-seller on Amazon. Its size is also a big plus for a beginner who doesn’t yet need to or know how to handle a hefty drone. It’s one of the smallest drones you can find on the market.
Cheerson is a Chinese brand founded in Chenghai, Guangdong, China, in 2003. It’s quite a new brand with few employees, somewhere between 251 and 500. The company only focuses on drone development and is one of the best in business nationally and worldwide.
7. Drocon
Drocon is a Chinese company that was founded in 2017. If you are on a budget or you simply don’t want to splurge on a drone, Drocon’s toy drone variety is for you. They’re an excellent choice for any beginner, given their drones usually don’t surpass the 100$ price range. For example, the DROCON DC-65 Foldable Mini RC Drone for Kids sells for only $29.99, and their DROCON Drone for Beginners X708W Wi-Fi FPV Training Quadcopter with HD Camera is currently selling for $54.99.
Their drones usually come with a headless mode function and a one-key return alongside an altitude hold function. All of these features make it way easier for a beginner that never controlled a drone to get accustomed to flying one, but these are also great features just for an easy drone operation, no matter the user experience.
You can’t write a “Top 10 cheap drones for beginners” without mentioning one of the Drocon models. Drocon’s most popular drone models that generally end up at the top of such lists are the DROCON Spacekey Drone for Kids & Beginners or the Drocon Ninja DC-014, both retailing under 70$.
In my opinion, Drocon is the best company for a first purchase. You can choose from a wide range of drones, all available on their website, and thus make your first drone flying experience suitable for your needs, all for under 100$.
8. Eachine
Eachine is a relatively new company, established in 2013 in China. Their headquarters are currently US-based. They recently even came up with DIY drone kits that can enhance the experience for a drone-lover who wants to customize and even fully build their Eachine drone.
Their drones are similar in price and quality to the ones from Drocon, with prices ranging from 13 to 100 dollars.
A plus of Eachine compared to Drocon is the wide range of products offered on their website, from RC Parts to toys to drone DIY parts. They have it all and surely know how to market themselves.
Their Eachine E58 foldable drone is one of the best drones that cost less than $100, surpassing even DJI drones in quality. It’s a really small drone with many advanced features, such as Altitude Hold. It comes with a 2MP 720p camera and a flight time of 9 minutes.
9. Force 1
Force 1 is a US company with headquarters based in the Pacific Northwest established in 2012. Force 1 is a pretty small company that only ships nationally and in Australia and Canada through online stores.
A plus of the fact that Force 1 focuses mainly on the national shipment is their custom drone design and branding for their US customers. Another big plus is their advanced product testing. Their drones are tested on sight.
Force 1 is a great company to check out if you’re in the US. It’s one of the few companies on this list that is so highly customizable and customer service oriented regarding their drones.
But sadly, if you want to purchase their drones internationally, the customer service and the third-party shipment are not really worth the general quality of the products.
10. Holy Stone
Holy Stone is a Chinese retailer that solely sells its products on Amazon and its own website.
Holy Stone offers a wide range of drones suitable for both beginners and experts. They offer different types of drones for different needs with varying price ranges.
They are pretty popular, winning The Best Drone award at CES in 2019.
Despite positive Amazon reviews, Holy Stone doesn’t get much love from customers and reviewers online. Most reviewers call them off for selling knock-offs of other important drone brands under a different name. For example, the Holy Stone HS100 is believed to be a rebrand of their parent company model, the SJRC S70W.
After all, if you’re looking for a good drone and you’re not particularly interested in the brand that sells it, some of the Holy Stine drones might suit you regardless of the reviews is something that varies from buyer to buyer. Still, I would not recommend this company.
11. Syma
Syma is a drone manufacturing company with over ten years of experience in the industry. Its headquarters are currently located in Laimei Industrial Park, Chenghai District, Shantou City Guangdong, China. It is a large-scale enterprise that ships worldwide.
Syma’s products cater to beginners and kids, so if that’s something you’re interested in, the company has an extensive range of drones suitable for someone without experience flying them at affordable prices and minor scales for better handling.
If the other companies offer more price-focused variations, i.e., offer a beginner drone due to the affordable price and not so great quality, Syma is a brand that prides itself on the fact that its drones are specifically designed to best fit someone that needs some help when first flying a drone.