The drones aren’t just flown for beginners and hobbyists who want to enjoy piloting them. These top 5 best professional and commercial drones are used by all remote pilots for real business. They are used in several top industries such as construction, real estate marketing, and even security. Simple and compact drones such as the Mavic Air are perfect for jump-starting your photography career.
Powerful and incredible flying beasts like the Inspire 2 drone are amazingly capable of performing a wide array of tasks that compact drones cannot do. They can stay up in the air for a longer time and withstand harsh cold weather like it is nothing. In a remote world like the arctic bases where geologists need a powerful drone that can do the job to analyze the melting ice caps.
If you are still reading this, then we have caught your attention. In this article, we are going to show you the top 9 best professional and commercial drones that will make you good money. Photography, construction, marketing, inspection and selling data, anything that you name it. These top 9 best professional and commercial drones are capable of doing this kind of money-making methods. Click here to start browsing the list.
How Do You Make Money Flying Your Drones?
There are a lot of ways you can make money flying your drones. If you are a photographer and already have an existing gallery, expanding your collection with the capability to capture aerial shots is a smart idea. It brings an entirely new perspective and excites your potential buyers to get some of your digital prints. Famous aerial photographers sell their pictures for at least several tens and into the hundreds. So, it is a great way to make your name into the list while being able to enjoy flying your drones.
You also can get into the marketing and asking locals around if they are interested in having your drone services. I recommend you to check out my 7 powerful ways to grow your drone business. It contains all the important tips that you need to know how to run a successful drone business. After all, running a drone business is one of the easiest ways to make money by catering to what your clients need the most. Believe it or not, I had made over $6,000 from a single client already in 2018.
There is a lot of potentials to make money flying your drones. However, if you want to have an easy time making money with your drones. Then you want to buy the best of best professional and commercial drones. Which would be the Inspire 2 drone because it can record videos at a mouthwatering 6K resolution setting at 60 frames per second. Yet, they are very expensive. Phantom 4 Pro is a better choice for entry-level to professional aerial photographers.
Are There Any Requirements to Fly Your Drones Commercially?
Yes, there are two requirements before you can fly your drones commercially. You will need to register your quadcopter with the Federal Aviation Administration under the Part 107 section. Once you get the number, label that on your drone. You also will need to study and pass the part 107 exam to get the remote pilot certification. The process will take approximately one to two months depending on how much workload the government has.
If you are caught flying the drones without a legal certification, you could be fined and these punitive measures are quite heavy. There have been reports of drone pilots being fined for flying their drones illegally for commercial purposes without Part 107 certification. My advice to you is to register your drone, take the exam, and pass them. Then you can make money with your drones any ways you want to.
Top 5 Best Professional and Commercial Drones
DJI Mavic 2 Pro Drone Review: Intelligent, Portable, and Compact DroneBest Seller
DJI Phantom 4 Review: Smart Camera Drone for BeginnersBest Seller
Parrot Anafi Review: The Next DJI Mavic Air Killer Under $600?Best Value
DJI Mavic Pro Review: The Best Prosumer Drone Under $1000?Best Price
DJI Mavic Air Review: Is It Worth The Price For Beginners?Editor Choice
Mavic 2 Pro
Amazon.com | Price history for DJI Mavic 2 Pro Drone Quadcopter with Hasselblad Camera HDR Video UAV Adjustable Aperture 20MP 1" CMOS Sensor (US Version) | |
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At the very top list of our best professional and commercial drones for businesses is the DJI Mavic 2 Pro. This compact and foldable quadcopter is packed with an impressive flight time up to 31 minutes. The Mavic 2 Pro’s main body is rectangular and tight. The camera and gimbal are positioned low at the frontal part of the drone. This is good for an elevated position, especially when the drone is on the ground because it means you will have the ground clearance for taking off or landing. However, since it doesn’t have enough space, so during taking off or landing on wet grass, provide a landing mat to avoid the camera’s lens from getting wet. This is because the gimbal calibrates at once when the drone is powered on.
Plus, it has a massive remote control distance that lets you fly up to 5 miles away. Image-wise, DJI Mavic 2 Pro is equipped with a Hasselblad camera that features 20MP and a 1-inch CMOS sensor. Which gives you the ability to masterfully capture images and footage in vibrant and highly-detailed quality that surely will capture your audience’s attention.
Performance-wise, this drone has a maximum flying speed of 45 miles per hour when in Sports Mode. That makes it an incredibly formidable quadcopter when it comes to handling moderate wind. Professional remote pilots who are looking to make money off flying their drones will love DJI Mavic 2 Pro due to its superior flexibility and great imaging quality.
Key Specifications:
- 31 Minutes Maximum Flight Time
- Control Distance up to 8,000 meters (4.9 Miles)
- 45 MPH (72 KPH) Maximum Flying Speed
- Anti-Vibration Gimbal System
- Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing
- Hasselblad Camera 20MP 1″ CMOS Sensor (Pro Only)
- Dolly Zoom Effect (Zoom Only)
- x4 Digital Lossless Technology (Zoom Only)
Phantom 4
Amazon.com | Price history for DJI Phantom 4 PRO Professional Drone, Hobby RC Quadcopter & Multirotor, White, CP.PT.000488 | |
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In the next part of our top 5 best commercial and professional drones for making money is DJI Phantom 4 drone. This is by far one of the longest and most popular choices among beginners and professional remote pilots. It is the brand’s flagship that encompasses all of the technology breakthroughs like improved signal range, reliability, flight time, controls, and more.
Like other drones made DJI, the Phantom 4 has a very polished design and feel. The drone’s newest feature, Sport Mode, will let the user get to the intended location faster. The Obstacle Sensing System help avoid head-on collision and track subjects. The slow-motion video mode is also a nice addition to a camera with already excellent quality. However, keep in mind that the Sports Mode can be dangerous for newbies. With a flip of the switch, the drone can speed through the air for up to 45mph. Not only will it be faster when flying forward and back, but it can also ascend to 6 meters per second. This gives the user a bit of a racing drone experience.
Best of all, DJI Phantom 4 drone is outfitted with an impressive 20MP camera featuring a 1-inch CMOS sensor. That makes this drone a popular choice for Real Estate marketing, aerial inspections, photography, and event videography. With its all-powerful camera mounted on a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer, it is capable of delivering lighting smooth footage that keeps your audience coming back for more.
While the price of the Phantom 4 drone has plummeted recently due to the age of the market. It offers an affordable option for those who prefer professional-grade camera drones with long flight time and stellar remote control distance. Not to forget to mention that you can easily purchase a 128GB microSD card to go with it. Plus, this drone is capable of recording videos at 4K/60 FPS up to 100 bitrates. An ultimate choice for beginners and professionals.
Key Specifications:
- 30 Minutes Maximum Flight Time
- Control Distance up to 7,000 meters (4.3 Miles)
- 45 MPH (72 KPH) Maximum Flying Speed
- Anti-Vibration Gimbal System
- Obstacle Avoidance Detection Systems
- 4K Videos at 60 Frames Per Second
- 20 Megapixel and 1-inch CMOS Sensor
Mavic Air
Amazon.com | Price history for DJI Mavic Air (Onyx Black) | |
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Another popular foldable drone that is worth checking out for professionals. The Mavic Air is a compact and portable drone featuring 12 megapixels 1-inch CMOS sensor camera mounted on a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer system. While cheaper and smaller compared to these top 9 best drones for professional and commercial purposes. The Mavic Air drone is a strong competitor because it is one of the best choices for traveling around the world.
Thanks to its lightweight, the Mavic Air drone possesses an amazing maximum flying speed of 42.5 miles per hour. In addition to that, it has a flight time of 21 minutes. We highly recommended that you purchase at least three to four more batteries to extend your flight sessions. And not to mention the fact that the Mavic Air drone is faster than Mavic Pro. Its small size makes this drone an easy choice for exploring close quarters.
Mavic Air’s design and style is an excellent example of modern engineering. With its 4k camera, HDR and slow-motion video capability, and a selection of photo modes, this drone has earned its spot as one of the favorites of casual drone fliers. The drone is undeniably high quality, fun, and easy to fly.
Professionals and beginners who are always on the move will see a lot of golden opportunities to capture aerial shots. What makes the Mavic Air drone a great choice is that it comes with a lot of features. Plus its capability to capture 32MP panoramic sphere shots and the ability to command drone via gesture mode. This drone is the ultimate choice for exploring around the world and discovering new places from the skies.
Key Specifications:
- 21 Minutes Maximum Flight Time
- Control Distance up to 4,000 meters (2.5 Miles)
- 42.5 MPH (68 KPH) Maximum Flying Speed
- Anti-Vibration Gimbal System
- Front, Rear and Bottom Collision Avoidance Sensors
- 4K Videos at 30 Frames Per Second
- Enhanced Wi-Fi Signals
Mavic Pro
Amazon.com | Price history for DJI Mavic Pro 4K Quadcopter with Remote Controller, 2 Batteries, with 1-Year Warranty - Gray | |
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DJI Mavic Pro is one of my personal favorite in our top 5 best professional and commercial drones for everyone. Believe it or not, this flying beast is packed with heavy armor made of metal that provides its exceptional durability. In addition to that, it comes with an intelligent flight battery that provides up to 27 minutes of flight time. Plus, it uses a high-quality remote control distance that gives a maximum remote control distance up to 4.3 miles.
When it comes to capturing aerial pictures and videos, this foldable camera drone is outfitted with a 12MP camera and a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor. Which lets you beautifully capture aerial shots with ease. Furthermore, the DJI Mavic Pro foldable motor arms make it easy to store and to travel around with. Its design encompasses professionalism that makes you look like a professional drone pilot.
With its fully stabilized 3-axis gimbal, the Mavic Pro’s capture capabilities and camera specifications are brought to a higher notch. The user can control the camera’s angle manually, while some options can be automatically handled to help keep the image flat even as the drone tilts. The drone’s gimbal can tilt, turn, and pin from up to down, and half a right angle to the sides and a full 90-degree rotation to capture shots.
Along with these features, DJI Mavic Pro is capable of performing intelligent flight modes like Orbit, ActiveTrack, Course Lock, Tripod Mode, and more. It is constantly being updated via firmware to enhance its flying capabilities as well as making it safe. It is smart, innovative, and easy to use for everyone. Not to forget it is the second most popular professional and commercial-type drone among beginners and experienced remote pilots.
Key Specifications:
- 27 Minutes Maximum Flight Time
- Control Distance up to 7,000 meters (4.3 Miles)
- 40 MPH (65 KPH) Maximum Flying Speed
- Anti-Vibration Gimbal System
- Front and Bottom Obstacle Avoidance System
- OcuSync Transmission System
Parrot Anafi Drone
Amazon.com | Price history for Parrot PF728000 Anafi Drone, Foldable Quadcopter Drone with 4K HDR Camera, Compact, Silent & Autonomous, Realize Your shots with A 180° Vertical Swivel Camera, Dark Grey | |
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If you are an avid traveler and travel frequently. Chance are that you want a drone that is sleeker and lightweight compared to Mavic Pro and Mavic Air. Then look no further because, in our top 5 best professional and commercial drones that make money for you, we are introducing Parrot Anafi drone.
The Parrot Anafi drone has a range of smart filming and flight modes. Most of these are standard features from drones since 2018, like the waypoint flying, orbit, and auto-follow. Though it also has some unique options like the Dolly Zoom, Hyperlapse, and Slow Motion. The Anafi also has some seemingly small yet thoughtful design elements like the launch-from-hand function, 3D mapping, the ability to fly the drone without a remote, and a USB-C battery that can be used as a smartphone charger.
This advanced sleek designed drone is the perfect match for photographers, travelers, and even beginners. It comes with a ton of new features including a built-in swiveling 3-axis camera gimbal stabilizer. Thanks to its large sensor, it can absorb in an impressive amount of lighting to create vibrant shots. Not to forget to mention that the Parrot Anafi drone is outfitted with digital lossless zoom technology that retains the quality of images.
Compared to other professional-grade camera drones, Parrot Anafi only weighs 320 grams and has a maximum flight time of up to 25 minutes. Additionally, you can remote control the camera upwards and downward with relative ease. Making it one of the most flexible, portable, and compact quadcopters for photographers, travelers, and professionals. It is also the cheapest choice packed with serious punches.
Key Specifications:
- 25 Minutes Maximum Flight Time
- Control Distance up to 4,000 meters
- 33 MPH Maximum Flying Speed
- Anti-Vibration Gimbal System
- Obstacle Avoidance Detection Systems
- 4K Videos at 30 Frames Per Second
- Swiveling 3-Axis Gimbal Systems
- 180-degree Rotation
- Digital Lossless Image Zoom Technology up to 2.8 times
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Qs)
We hope you found our top 5 best professional and commercial drones that make money for you. Out of these popular drones, we think they are great choices. Of course, flying your drones professionally is an expensive job. Therefore, these drones should be treated with care and great attention.
When it comes to shopping for the best professional and commercial drones, there are always questions. Before you ask a question, be sure to check out our F.A.Qs and see if it answers your question. We try to keep the answers to any questions that you may have short and simple enough to understand. If you have a question that isn’t listed in our F.A.Qs section. Please feel free to drop a comment below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Often of the time, you will see that high end drones are equipped with collision avoidance (obstacle detection system) feature. They are small black glass circles located around the drone’s body frames. These sensors act as the eyes for the drone by reading the objects and mapping them in the real-time that gets uploaded to the motherboard during the flight session.
The purpose of collision avoidance is to provide an additional layer of protection that keeps the pilot from crashing the drone. A nice feature to have for advanced drones such as Phantom 4 Pro and especially the DJI Inspire 2.
For beginners who wants to buy professional drones for commercial purposes. I recommend either Mavic Pro or Mavic Air since both are easy to fly and quite affordable. However, if you have never flown a drone before and have no prior flying experience.
I suggest you start with a cheap training drone first before spending on expensive models. You can read my article about the top 10 best cheap drones for beginners to locate your first training quadcopter.
A Smart Return to Home feature is an important function that gives the order to the drone to fly back to the landing point where it took off. By default, the drone will fly at least 50 meters up into the sky and fly in a direct line. While it is en-route to its landing point, its obstacle detection systems will automatically detect objects and adjust the drone’s flight path accordingly.
It depends on how you plan to use the drone for. It is always a good idea to plan to envision what you want to capture. Then use the first battery to scout out the area. Once you identify the features, you can focus on capturing them with your second and third batteries.
If you do want to make videos, then I recommend you to get an extra or two batteries. But generally, the longer you can fly a drone without having to recharge is a pretty good factor to consider. I also highly recommend you to check out my article about the best travel cases to go with your drones for batteries and accessories.
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