10 Best Cheap Drones With Follow Me Mode and How They Track

You’re picking between cheap drones that all promise a follow me mode, and the real split comes down to how they fly and what they ask of you. Some follow by tracking you with a camera, some follow a GPS signal from the controller, and a few fly themselves with no controller at all. That choice shapes everything else.

Best overall: DJI Neo — it follows you, takes off from your palm, and at 135g it skips FAA registration. The catch is you must download the app from DJI’s website, not Google Play.

Best self-flying: HOVERAir X1 — pre-programmed paths like Hover, Follow and Orbit mean no controller and no phone needed for basic shots, and 32GB of built-in storage means no memory card.

Best battery life: Holy Stone HS175G — two batteries give up to 60 minutes of total flight time, and GPS auto return brings it home if the signal drops or the battery runs low.

The rest of this guide walks through all ten drones, plus three more worth a look.

How We Picked

All 10 products side by side — scroll sideways to see every column.

1. DJI Neo

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Best for: the first-time buyer who wants it simple

The listing says 135g may be lighter than your phone and keeps it out of FAA registration and Remote ID. It takes off from your palm with a button push, so there’s no launch pad and no fuss at a family BBQ. Subject tracking follows you while eight QuickShots modes handle the camera moves.

The trade-off is setup. The listing states the DJI Fly app was pulled from Google Play over a platform compatibility issue, and you have to grab it from DJI’s official website and activate the drone there before flying. That’s a real step, and it’s the kind of thing that stops a gift from working out of the box. Once past it, controller-free flight, voice control, app control and RC control all work.

Four levels of wind resistance and 4K UHD video with DJI stabilisation cover the filming side. Full-coverage propeller guards mean you can dip around tree branches without the nerves. The standard kit includes a battery and propeller guards, ready to fly controller-free or with a smartphone.

Pros

• 135g, no FAA registration or Remote ID
• Palm takeoff and landing, no controller needed
• Full propeller guards for close flying

Cons

• App must be downloaded from DJI’s website
• Activation required before first flight

2. HOVERAir X1 Drone with Camera

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Best for: the rider who wants hands-free footage

This one flies itself. The listing lists pre-programmed paths including Hover, Follow, Zoom Out, Orbit and Bird’s Eye, so you pick a mode and it does the work. Follow speed reaches up to 15 mph, which the seller frames around cycling, skateboarding and similar sports — that number is the one to check against how fast you actually move.

Battery life is where it asks something back. Each battery supports roughly 20 intelligent flight paths, about 11 minutes, so a long ride needs spare batteries and a plan for which shots matter. The listing is upfront about that, which is more than most.

Storage is 32GB internal with no SD card needed, and content stays local until you download it through the Hover X1 app. Video tops out at 2.7K at 30fps plus 1080P HDR, with a triple stabilisation system. The fully enclosed design with safety guards protects the drone and whatever’s nearby, and the listing says it isn’t intended for users under 14. It’s not for someone who wants manual stick flying as the main event — Manual Control exists in the app, but the point here is the automatic modes.

Pros

• Seven pre-programmed automatic flight paths
• Follow speed up to 15 mph
• 32GB internal storage, no SD card

Cons

• About 11 minutes per battery
• Not intended for users under 14

3. Holy Stone HS175G GPS Drone With 4K EIS Camera

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Best for: the flyer who wants long sessions

Two batteries give up to 60 minutes of total flight time, and single-battery fast charging means less waiting between them. That’s the headline, and it changes how you plan a day out — you can shoot a whole afternoon without rationing. The 4K EIS camera uses a Sony CMOS sensor with a 120° wide-angle lens and 90° adjustable tilt, and 5GHz FPV transmission keeps the live view steady in wind.

GPS auto return brings it home when it loses signal, goes out of range, or runs low on battery. That’s the feature that saves beginners from watching a drone disappear over a treeline. Beginner aids include altitude hold, optical flow, headless mode, one-key takeoff and landing, and speed adjustment.

It weighs under 250g, so no FAA registration, and the foldable body plus carrying case make it travel-friendly. Brushless motors handle the power, with two speed modes. The listing says the HS Fly app keeps functions improving and Holy Stone offers ongoing support.

4. Holy Stone HS175D GPS Drone with 4K Camera

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Best for: the traveler packing light

Foldable, under 249g, and it ships with a carrying case — this is the one that goes in a bag without a second thought. Two batteries give up to 46 minutes of flight time depending on conditions, which is enough for practice plus a decent filming session. The 4K camera has a 110° wide-angle lens and a 90° adjustable angle, so you can frame a landscape or a top-down shot without repositioning the drone.

GPS auto return covers lost signal, out of range, and low battery. Beginner controls include altitude hold, optical flow, headless mode, one-key takeoff and landing, and speed adjustment. Smart modes cover Follow Me, Waypoint Flight, Point of Interest, and gesture control for quick photos.

The gap against the HS175G is flight time: 46 minutes versus 60. That’s the honest difference between the two Holy Stone models, and it matters if long sessions are your priority.

Pros

• Under 249g with a carrying case
• Up to 46 minutes with two batteries
• Follow Me, Waypoint and Point of Interest modes

Cons

• 46 minutes versus the 60 minutes of the HS175G
• No EIS or Sony sensor named in the listing

5. Potensic ATOM SE GPS Drone with 4K EIS Camera

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Best for: the flyer who wants range

The control range reaches far through PixSync 2.0, and that’s the number that separates this from most of the list. It means you can send it out over a field and still hold a stable feed. Two 2500mAh batteries give 62 minutes total, 31 minutes each, and the listing notes the batteries are intelligent.

The camera is a 1/3″ CMOS Sony sensor shooting 12MP photos and 4K at 30fps, with ShakeVanish stabilisation across a 118° field of view and a vertical +20° to -90° camera. Under 249g, no FAA or Remote ID registration, and the fold-up design fits a jacket pocket. Level-5 wind resistance comes from the brushless motors.

SurgeFly control offers Beginner Mode plus Video, Normal and Sport modes, with Sport hitting up to 16m/s in 2.8 seconds. Follow Me, Waypoint Flight and Circle Flight are all listed. One thing to know: the listing says a micro SD card must be inserted for camera-related firmware updates, and the card isn’t included.

Pros

• Up to 4km control range
• 62 minutes total across two batteries
• Under 249g, no FAA registration

Cons

• Micro SD card not included
• Card required for camera firmware updates

6. GPS Drone 2K Follow Me

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Best for: the total beginner on a first flight

Everything here is aimed at someone who has never flown. Takeoff and landing happen at the press of a single button, and with headless mode plus two speed settings you can get airborne without learning stick work first. GPS plus optical flow hover keeps it steady in the sky, and GPS auto return kicks in on lost signal, out of range, or low battery — the listing also says the app can locate the drone on a map.

The camera is 2K with a 90° electrically adjustable lens, shock absorption, and 5GHz FPV transmission. Photos and videos save straight to your phone through the app, which skips the card-and-computer step. Two modular batteries give 32 minutes of flight time, and brushless motors keep it smoother and quieter than brushed ones.

Follow Me, Waypoint Flight, Point of Interest and Gesture Selfie cover the creative modes. It’s under 250g with a foldable body and a storage case. The catch is the camera — 2K, not 4K, so it’s not for anyone chasing the sharpest footage on this list.

Pros

• One-button takeoff and landing
• 2K footage saved straight to your phone
• 32 minutes across two batteries

Cons

• 2K camera, not 4K
• 32 minutes is shorter than several picks here

7. CHUBORY 4K Drone with Camera

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Best for: the flyer who hates charging breaks

Three batteries give up to 84 minutes of flight time, the longest total on this list, and that changes a full day out. The control range is 2,650 feet, which the listing contrasts with drones limited to around 250 feet — worth knowing if you fly in open country rather than a backyard. Alloy brushless motors add wind resistance and quieter flight.

The camera is a 120° wide-angle 4K unit with a switchable front camera and bottom optical flow camera, so you can flip between sky views and what’s underneath. Modes cover optical flow positioning, altitude hold, FPV, single-button launch and landing, one-key flip and roll, Follow Me, trajectory flight, headless mode, speed adjustment and gesture selfie.

It weighs under 249g, so no registration, and the foldable design plus carrying case make it portable. The listing states a one-year warranty and a permanent support guarantee. It’s not for someone who wants GPS auto return — that isn’t named here, and the positioning system listed is optical flow.

Pros

• Up to 84 minutes with three batteries
• 2,650 ft control range
• One-year warranty stated

Cons

• GPS auto return not named in the listing

8. Bwine F7GIM 4K Video 6K Photo Drones with Camera

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Best for: the shooter who wants steady footage

A 3-axis brushless gimbal is the reason this one is here. The listing says it raises stability accuracy by 300% and holds steady in strong winds and at speed, which is the difference between usable footage and footage you delete. The camera captures 6K photos and 4K at 30fps from an 18MP sensor.

Flight time runs 70 minutes total at 35 minutes per flight, with 4K real-time transmission up to 10,000ft and 5X digital zoom. GPS smart modes cover follow, orbit, cruise control and waypoint planning, and the listing says smart return home cuts flyaway risk by 97%. Beginner support includes single-button launch, auto return, beginner mode and a built-in height limit.

Setup has rules. The listing says to download the Bwine Mini app, that the drone uses wired digital transmission rather than Wi-Fi, and that a micro SD card under a certain capacity is recommended — Mac users need to format it to MS-DOS (FAT). It has a built-in FAA-compliant Remote ID module, so it isn’t for someone set on a drone with no registration gear at all.

Pros

• 3-axis brushless gimbal stabilisation
• 6K photos and 4K 30fps video
• Lifetime warranty and 24/7 support stated

Cons

• Wired transmission, not Wi-Fi
• Micro SD card not included

9. Contixo F23 GPS Drone With Camera

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Best for: the flyer who doesn’t want a phone involved

The controller has a built-in 4.5″ screen showing live camera feed, flight path and telemetry, so you fly without mounting a smartphone. That’s a genuinely different experience — no cable, no app juggling, no battery drain on your phone. GPS modes cover Follow Me, Waypoint Flight, Orbit Mode and Return to Home.

Two 7.4V 1600mAh batteries give up to 46 minutes total, 23 minutes each, with a 600-ft video transmission range over 5GHz WiFi. The camera is 720P at 1280×720 with a 60° field of view and an adjustable angle from -90° to 0°. It weighs 8.3 oz, under the FAA registration threshold.

The camera is the catch. 720P is well below the 4K on most of this list, so it’s not for anyone who wants sharp aerial footage — it’s for someone who wants a self-contained controller and simple flying. If video quality is the priority, look elsewhere on this page.

Pros

• 4.5″ screen built into the controller
• 46 minutes across two batteries
• No smartphone needed for live video

Cons

• 720P camera resolution
• 600-ft transmission range is short here

10. GPS Drone 4K Follow Me

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Best for: the beginner who wants a screen and 4K

This one pairs a remote with a display screen showing battery level, distance, speed, status and enabled functions, with a 4K UHD camera behind a 120° wide-angle, 90° adjustable lens shooting 4096 x 3072 images. Two 2200mAh UL-certified intelligent batteries give 45 minutes of flight time, and brushless motors add speed and wind resistance.

GPS auto return handles lost signal, out of range and low battery, while GPS plus optical flow keeps the hover precise. Headless mode, single-button startup and speed adjustment lower the entry bar. Follow Me, path flight and point-of-interest circling cover the smart modes.

It comes with a storage bag, folds down, and weighs under 250g so no FAA registration. The listing says it supports an SD card, which isn’t included.

Pros

• Remote with a display screen
• 4K UHD camera, 90° adjustable lens
• 45 minutes across two batteries

Cons

• SD card not included

Also Worth Considering

Three more listings that didn’t make the main picks but are worth a look. Drones Camera is a 4K GPS quadcopter under 250g with auto return, Follow Me, circle fly, waypoint fly, optical flow and brushless motors over 5G transmission. GPS Drone Camera is a 2K foldable with GPS auto return, Follow Me, circle fly, waypoint fly, gesture selfie, brushless motors and two batteries. 3-Axis Gimbal GPS Drone Camera stands out for its 90-minute flight time, 3,280 ft control range, 4K camera, auto return and Follow Me, all under 249g.

How to Choose a Cheap Drone with Follow Me Mode in Sixty Seconds

Does follow mode work by camera or by GPS?

They’re different systems and they behave differently. Camera tracking, like the DJI Neo’s subject tracking, watches you visually and keeps you framed — good for close work, and it can lose you if something blocks the view. GPS follow, used by the Holy Stone HS175G, Potensic ATOM SE and most others here, uses GPS positioning for its return and follow functions. The HOVERAir X1 sits closest to true self-flying, with pre-programmed paths you trigger and no controller in your hand. Decide which one matches how you’ll actually shoot before anything else.

How much flight time do I really need?

The CHUBORY 4K Drone lists up to 84 minutes across three batteries, the Bwine F7GIM 70 minutes, the Potensic ATOM SE 62, and the Holy Stone HS175G 60. The HOVERAir X1 lists about 11 minutes per battery, which suits short bursts rather than a long session. Wind, cold and how hard you fly all cut into those numbers. If you’re filming an event, two batteries minimum. If you’re grabbing a quick clip, one is fine.

What should I check before I order?

Four things. First, weight — anything under 250g skips FAA registration, which covers most of this list, but the Bwine F7GIM has a built-in Remote ID module instead. Second, what’s in the box: several listings here state the micro SD card isn’t included, and the Potensic ATOM SE needs one for camera firmware updates. Third, app availability — the DJI Neo’s app isn’t on Google Play, so you download it from DJI’s site. Fourth, the controller: some have screens, some need your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do these drones actually need to work?

Most need a charged battery and a smartphone or the included controller. The HOVERAir X1 stores footage on 32GB of internal memory, so it needs no card, and the Contixo F23 flies from its own screen controller without a phone. The DJI Neo needs its app downloaded from DJI’s website and activation before the first flight. Check the box contents on each listing.

What tends to go wrong first?

Battery time and signal, in that order. Flight times fall in wind and cold, and the numbers here are seller-stated best cases — 84 minutes on the CHUBORY 4K Drone is across three batteries, not one. Signal loss is the other one, and that’s why GPS auto return matters: the Holy Stone HS175G, Holy Stone HS175D, Potensic ATOM SE, GPS Drone 2K Follow Me and GPS Drone 4K Follow Me all list automatic return on lost signal, out of range or low battery.

Is the simplest drone here enough for me?

Probably, if you’re filming yourself. The GPS Drone 2K Follow Me covers one-button takeoff and landing, headless mode, GPS hover and auto return, with 2K footage saved straight to your phone — that’s a complete first drone. The trade-off is resolution, since most of this list shoots 4K. If you want the fewest parts to go wrong, the HOVERAir X1 has no controller and no SD card, but roughly 11 minutes per battery.

Closing

If you want the simplest path into follow-mode flying, the DJI Neo is the pick — palm takeoff, subject tracking, and 135g that skips registration, as long as you’re fine downloading the app from DJI’s site. If you’d rather the drone fly itself and you just ride, cycle or walk, the HOVERAir X1 does that with seven automatic paths and no controller in your hand. Next step: check the weight and registration rules for where you fly, then confirm what ships in the box before you order, because cards and cables are the things most often missing.