Home Tech 11 Best Drone Apps To Automate , Create and Fly Missions

11 Best Drone Apps To Automate , Create and Fly Missions

All excited to fly your new drone? Of course, you should be, but first, you must be prepared with all the important tools to ensure you fly your drone safely.

These tools may include various powerful drone apps not only to effectively control your drone but to enhance the overall flight experience too.

The majority of drone manufacturing companies offer complete software assistance, but sometimes you may require installing extra applications to take your drone flying experience to a completely different level. 

There are several drone apps easily available on both the Apple Store and Google Play Store. Whether you want to improve your drone flying skills, or you are you interested in getting the best out of your drone, there are at least a couple of apps for you!

But sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to decide which one to download. That’s why I have put together this detailed list of the 11 best drone applications you can try and fly your drone safely without compromising the ultimate experience. 

Best Drone Apps – Our Top Pick👌👌

1. DroneDeploy Flight App 

If you are an operator of commercial drones, DroneDeploy is particularly designed for you! It is a leading cloud software platform developed for commercial drones and makes the power of areal data productive as well as accessible for everyone.

The free yet highly effective application offers smooth automated flight and accurate data capture, and helps you to not only explore but also share high-quality interactive maps, 3D models, as well as orthomosaics right from your smartphone!  

In the app, you can autonomously fly your DJI drone simply with two tabs on your Android or iPhone device. Additionally, the app also supports the quick processing of images to generate high-resolution maps, 3D models, and more.

Best Drone Apps

You can even analyze, annotate, and share all the maps and other data directly from the app. Extending your capabilities and enhancing the overall analysis will become a lot easier with this best-in-class drone application.  

In short, DroneDeploy can be the ultimate application for you to manage aerial imaging for various purposes including construction, agriculture, solar, mining, surveying, inspection, insurance, and more.

The app has already helped thousands of users with interactive maps and analyzers with 30 million acres in more than 160 countries!  

Features:-

  • State-of-the-art technology for DJI drones 
  • Accurately captures everything from drone 
  • Helps you to create your mission 
  • 3D models with accurate measurements 
  • Advanced manual flight 

Device – Android and iOS

Ratings on Apple Store – 4.7 / 5 | Ratings on Google Play Store – 4.1 / 5 

2. AirMap for Drones 

AirMap is among the most active drone apps as well as the leading global provider for rolls, aeronautical data, and various services to unmanned aircraft. You can use the app to maintain situational awareness, get traffic alerts, request digital authorization, and more.

If you are not sure whether you can fly your drone in a particular area or not, you can instantly get real-time feedback on all the airspace rules and conditions for drone flying. With the app, you can seamlessly toggle between multiple map styles as well. 

Best Drone Apps 1

The app supports you with air space routes and real-time feedback along with national rule sets and conditions pertaining to your drone specifications in as many as twenty countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Germany, and New Zealand.

You simply have to search for a location, and the app will show all the rules and advisories in a beautifully designed, responsive vector map. 

What more? The app also enables you to create and manage your drone flying profile. You also have the option of requesting digital authorization to operate commercial drones in the air space controlled by the United States.

Additionally, the app also enables you to connect to a nearby supported DJI drone for maximum security.  

Features:-

  • Discover, connect, flight 
  • Get authorization to fly your drone 
  • Review advisories and compliances 
  • Easily connect your DJI drone 
  • A friendly tool to fly with confidence  

Device – Android and iOS

Ratings on Apple Store – 4.7 / 5 | Ratings on Google Play Store – 4.0 / 5 

3. Drone Buddy: free drone apps

As the name suggests, drone buddy is one of the best friends for drone pilots! The app provides accurate weather information along with routing for you to safely fly your drone.

The app is beautifully designed by drone hobbyists and helps you to understand various key aspects of flying a drone safely. And, offers all the features in a very simple and friendly user interface.

11 Best Drone Apps To Automate , Create and Fly Missions

Right after opening the app, you will see the current wind speed, check out various weather information, and decide whether you should fly your drone or not.  

Worried about checking important data under the sun? You don’t have to be, as the app also features a dark color so that you can see the data clearly even in the contrast.

If you don’t know, a drone only needs to fly under a cloud ceiling according to the FAA regulation. So, the app supports you with activating cloud data as well, to ensure you don’t cross the allowed space. Guess what? You can operate the app in landscape mode as well so you have a comfortable experience. 

There are several no-fly zone map data in the app including, airports around the world, U.S. National Park, and FAA UAS flight restriction areas.

One of the most impressive aspects of the app is, that it is a crowd-sourced platform, and any drone pilot can easily submit important descriptions with photos for the benefit of other drone flyers. 

Features:-

  • Reliable partner for drone pilots 
  • No fly zone map 
  • Accurate weather forecast 
  • Informs where to fly 
  • Latest drone news  

Device – Android and iOS

Ratings on Apple Store – 4.7 / 5 | Ratings on Google Play Store – 4.0 / 5 

4. Aloft – drone camera apps

Formerly Known as Kittyhawk, Aloft is also among the most popular app with a wide range of handy features. The app is designed especially for companies that need to fly drones for various purposes.

With the app, you can easily and successfully manage your drone program to ensure it’s safe, reliable, as well as compliant with local air space and road rules.

Whether you are a manager back in the office or a pilot out in the field, the app offers a complete range of tools to help you fly your drones safely with the actual organization of data.  It is an interconnected platform to correctly navigate airspace, manage aviators, as well as maintain aircraft.

11 Best Drone Apps To Automate , Create and Fly Missions

If you are not pretty sure about the credibility, it is an FDA-approved UAS Service Supplier, and it means that aloft has met all the FAA requirements to ensure the smooth operation of drones, secure data exchange, as well as maximum airspace safety.

The platform has already been backed by leading industry specialists like Boeing and travelers! 

With the help of aloft, you can effortlessly check your space and weather. Get access to LAANC authorizations for both recreational and commercial drones. If you want to get new accessories and hardware for your drone, you can get them at competitive prices on the app as well.

What else? The app also makes it easier for you to run all the risk assessments and safety checklists. Monitoring the performance and battery power of your drone also becomes super easy with the app. Overall, a reliable application to effectively fly and manage your drone.  

Features of Aloft:-

  • Plan missions along with log flight data 
  • Monitor performance and battery power 
  • Run risk assessments and safety checklists 
  • Automated compliance reporting 
  • Encrypted real-time video and audio streaming 

Device – Android and iOS

Ratings on Apple Store – 4.6 / 5 | Ratings on Google Play Store – 3.7 / 5 

5. Dronelink – best drone apps for android

If you have been managing and flying commercial drones for a long time, Dronelink can be your perfect partner! The powerful drone flight automation tool allows you to create and accomplish drone missions across multiple drones as well as devices only by using a single account.

You can successfully plan mapping, orbit, waypoint, inspection, 360 pano, as well as do various other jobs. Additionally, the app also supports you with the 3D mission previews before you fly your drone.  

11 Best Drone Apps To Automate , Create and Fly Missions

Whether you want to follow other models or generate drone missions in the field, you can do it all without much effort. Thanks to cross-platform integration, the app allows you to use your preferred devices and drones and works perfectly on Android, iOS, as well as web.

To your surprise, the app is perfectly compatible with multiple DJI monitors like Smart Controller, CrystalSky, and P4P+!  

With highly accurate preflight visualization, you can check out what to expect before bringing your drone. There is also a powerful mission planner that generates 3D previews of all your mission plan within a few seconds.

Verify terrain and buildings by exporting all the data from Google Earth! Overall, you can use Dronelink to confidently fly your drone, and manage all the important data across various devices and platforms. 

Features:-

  • Accurate weather information  
  • Cross-platform operation 
  • Excellent preflight visualization 
  • Makes the automation of drones super easy 
  • Simulated drone mission planning

Device – Android and iOS

Ratings on Apple Store – 4.5 / 5 | Ratings on Google Play Store – 4.0 / 5 

6. Dronecast: Weather & No Fly Zones for Drone Pilots

Never miss a decent opportunity to fly your drone simply because of bad weather! Dronecast is one of the most reliable drone apps, especially for Android users, and provides the most accurate hyperlocal weather forecast along with no-fly zones, in a very simple user interface.

The app is more than just suitable for all types of drones, including DJI, Ryze, Parrot, and many more! The app has already been trusted by more than 50,000 drone pilots around the world and is known for its accuracy and reliability. 

11 Best Drone Apps To Automate , Create and Fly Missions

You can get an accurate prediction for wind and gust speeds, and fly your drone with maximum safety. You can always check out whether it’s safe to fly in a particular area if there is any no-fly zone, and many more other details.

It can be a bit tricky to fly a drone if you are in unfamiliar territory. Don’t worry, as the app also supports you with local flying advisories provided by AirMap! It doesn’t matter where you are, as Dronecast provides actual data in most of the major locations around the world, including, the USA, Europe, UK, Asia, and more. 

Want to be 100% sure before flying your drone? You can get all the preflight reports, potential hazards on the way, along with current weather conditions.

Thanks to a wide range of customization options, you can configure the app based on your preferences and drone model, and flying ability. Yes, advertisements can be very annoying at times, and that’s why, the app is completely ad-free, and is going to remain so, always! 

Features:-

  • Real-time weather and flying conditions 
  • Important advisories and no flying zones 
  • Wind and gusts along with altitudes 
  • Seven-day hourly forecast 
  • Customizable according to your drone and flying ability 

Device – Android

Ratings on Google Play Store – 4.5 / 5 | 50,000+ Downloads 

7. Litchi for DJI Drones

If you have a DJI drone, here is a wonderful drone app to help you unlock the full potential of your drone. With more than 5000 daily successful flights, Litchi is one of the most trusted apps you can rely on to fly your drone safely and in the most accurate flying conditions.

The app is more than just compatible with various types of drones, and you can get complete control and offer your drone a complete range of features. Thanks to a waypoint mode, the app is just perfect whether you are a professional or a beginner. 

Panorama mode allows you to shoot easily in horizontal, vertical as well as 360-degree modes. With an innovative track mode, your drone is going to understand what it sees on its way.

The app keeps your selection accurately framed with the help of state-of-the-art computer vision algorithms. If you don’t want to fly manually, you don’t have to do so, As the app will help you with an autonomous orbit. All you have to do is to sit back, relax, and see the magic of technology and innovation!   

Litchi for DJI Drones

Features:-

  • Different types of mods for accurate drone flying 
  • Perfectly tracks your drone 
  • Immersive FPV experience with VR mode 
  • Both automatic and manual fly options are available 
  • Easy to plan advanced waypoint missions

Device – Android and iOS

Ratings on Apple Store – 4.4 / 5 | Ratings on Google Play Store – 4.0 / 5 

8. Drone Harmony for DJI Drones 

How about having all your drone data acquisition in one place? Drone Harmony is designed especially for DJI drones and is your one-stop destination for all the drone data you require.

The app is fully synchronized with your mobile, supports cloud tracking, and ensures easy communication between all the stakeholders.

If you are involved in commercial drone operations, this app can be proved more than just a blessing for you! You can easily enable smooth integration in the app and enter into enterprise data systems without much fuss. 

Drone harmony allows you to focus on goal setting instead of outlining flight plans thanks to automated mission planning. It follows unique data-driven planning along with a 3D environment to help you get the best out of your existing asset data and to increase automation.

If you want to get guaranteed good results, you can surely rely on this app! Smooth flights, stunning videos, scenic orbits, dramatic reveals, and a lot more, are all at your fingertips! 

Drone Harmony - Leading Cloud Software For DJI Drones (Mavic, Matrice, Phantom, Inspire, Spark)

Features:-

  • Quality results with data-driven analysis 
  • Accurate automated mission planning 
  • Captures imagery faster with accuracy 
  • Fully functional, 3D work environment 
  • Advanced obstacle avoidance algorithms

Device – Android

Ratings on Google Play Store – 4.4 / 5 | 100,000+ Downloads 

9. Rainbow for DJI Drones

Yet another decent drone app supporting a wide range of modern drones like DJI Mavic 2 Zoom, Phantom 4 Normal, Advanced, Pro, Phantom 3, Standard, Advanced, Professional, and more! Rainbow for DJI drones can be a perfect drone flying partner to unlock all the potential of your drone.

Best Drone Apps 6

The smart application fully supports a waypoint as well as an orbit to give you accurate results all the time. As it also gives you advanced waypoint support, you can customize your drone flying experience the way you want!  

There are as many as up to 99 waypoints supported by the app! What else? It also supports high-quality panorama shooting and makes it easy for you with crystal clear viewing.

As far as the stability of the view is concerned, the app comes with incredible stability and ensures your drone is always under your control.

Not satisfied enough? Rainbow for DJI drones also supports track mode, and you can easily track various objects when you are drone is flying. With the rich camera and accurate drone settings, you get the best possible assessment of the weather forecast. 

Features:-

  • Supports panorama shooting 
  • Camera pointing with waypoint mode 
  • High-quality, rich drone and camera settings  
  • Gives maximum control to the user 
  • Easy to load and save local waypoint mission  

Device – Android

Ratings on Google Play Store – 4.3 / 5 | 100,000+ Downloads 

10. FreeFlight Pro – ar drone apps

If you own one or more parrot drones, FreeFlight Pro is more than just perfect for you! With the app, you can successfully pilot your drone why are your Android smartphone or tablet.

The free application allows you to get access to advanced drone flight settings so that you can easily pilot your Parrot Disco, Bebop, and Bebop 2 drones. Thanks to advanced touch controls, the app makes drones flying easy for all types of pilots, beginners and advanced.

You can even customize the entire user interface according to your preferences and drone handling skills. 

11 Best Drone Apps To Automate , Create and Fly Missions

Get on board with the brand-new first-person view technology to have an immersive drone piloting experience. The app even features a unique piloting mode that perfectly works with all types of parrot cockpit glasses for amazing sensation and high thrills.

To activate this feature, all you have to do is to put your smartphone into the glasses, take off, and you are more than ready to enjoy a thrilling experience! 

Features:-

  • Advanced flight settings 
  • Customizable user interface 
  • Precise drone piloting experience 
  • High-quality photo and video capturing 
  • Acrobatics, loops, and turns  

Device – Android

Ratings on Google Play Store – 4.2 / 5 | 1,000,000+ Downloads 

11. OpenSky – App for Drone Flyers

Sometimes it can be complex to know where it’s legal to fly your drone. But, OpenSky is one of the fastest and simplest drone apps to check out all the rules and regulations related to drone flying in the United States.

Powered by Google Maps, you can easily find out with the app where to fly your drone, check out airspace rules, plan a flight with only a few clicks, as well as get automated access to controlled airspace. The application also supports you with a detailed guide for drone flying and can be immensely helpful if you are a beginner.  

11 Best Drone Apps To Automate , Create and Fly Missions

There is a complete range of compliance maps right from aviation authorities, and the app ensures you get all the airspace rules tailored according to your drone and its operation.

Whether you have to fly a drone for commercial purposes or you are a recreational drone operator, you can get all the help from the app. OpenSky also makes it super easy for you to identify possible risks and hazards in your area including temporary flight restrictions.

As a drone operator, you can automatically request authorization to safely fly in controlled airspace. Lastly, the app also allows you to track all your drone missions, and manage your past and upcoming flights. 

Features:- 

  • Empowers you to safely access the sky 
  • Easy to check out no-fly zones 
  • Multiple tools to plan your flight 
  • Get quick airspace authorizations 
  • Manage your drone pilot portfolio  

Devices – iOS Devices Including iPhone and iPad

Ratings on Apple Store – 4.0 / 5 

✅FAQ

Which drone app is best?

DroneDeploy Flight App is the best one with amazing features like accurate capturing of surroundings, easy creation of mission, accurate measurements, and advanced manual flight.

Is there a better app than DJI fly?

Yes, there are multiple better apps than DJI fly. DroneDeploy Flight, AirMap for Drones, Drone Buddy, etc. are a few names to mention.

What app can fly a drone?

An app cannot fly your drone itself. However, you can get some much-needed help to fly your drones accurately from apps like Drone Buddy, AirMap for Drones, Aloft, etc.

Can you control a drone with your phone?

Yes, you can easily control your drone with various drone apps easily available for both Android and iOS.

Do drones use WiFi or Bluetooth?

Some of them use Bluetooth, some rely on Wi-Fi, and on the other hand, a few offer both connectivity options.

How can I fly my drone without WiFi?

You can easily connect your drone with Bluetooth using an app like Drone Buddy to fly your drone with Bluetooth and without Wi-Fi.

How far can a WIFI drone go?

The range of a drone depends heavily on the entire structure, design, and brand by which it is manufactured.

How do I connect my drone to my phone?

Most of the stop drone manufacturing companies offer both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity options.

How much data does a drone use?

It purely depends on the model and design of a drone, and of course the overall usage.

Conclusion 

That’s all about the top drone apps available on the Apple Store and Google Play Store! I hope you have found at least one or two new apps to enhance your drone flying experience or get more out of your aerial footages.

Whether you want to manage your commercial drones more effectively, or you want to get better at controlling your drones, you can do it all with these amazing applications.

Just like the drone market, there are still a lot of scopes to grow and mature in this list as well. Your valuable suggestions and feedback are of course very welcome in the comments section! Don’t forget to mention if you have used any other application with some success, and not listed here.