Best Beginner Drones with Follow Me

Follow-me mode is one of the most useful autonomous features you can find in a drone.

It allows content creators and vloggers to create unique videos, as the drones will follow the pilot or another object, such as a car. 

What are the best beginner drones with follow-me?

The best beginner drones with follow-me are the DJI Mini 3 Pro, DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and the DJI Air 2. As for non-DJI drones, the Autel EVO Nano Plus and Lite Plus are great picks. These drones work seamlessly and are reliable in many scenarios.

In this guide, I’ll share the best autonomous drones with a follow-me mode suitable for beginners to help you make an informed purchasing decision.

1. DJI Mini 3 Pro – Best beginner drone with follow-me mode

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is one of the most reliable compact drones with fantastic flight performance and camera capabilities. It’s beginner-friendly and can follow a subject with ActiveTrack 4.0.

SPECS	DJI Mini 3 Pro
Weight	249 g
Dimensions	145×90×62 mm folded
Max Flight Time	– 34 mins with the Intelligent Battery – 47 mins with the Intelligent Battery Plus
Max Wind Speed Resistance	10.7 m/s Level 5 wind resistance
Transmission Distance	– FCC: 7.4 mi or 12 km – CE, SRRC, MIC: 5 mi or 8 km
Obstacle Avoidance	Frontal, backward, and downwards anti-collision sensors
Does it Have Follow-me Mode?	Yes, part of ActiveTrack 4.0 with Trace and Parallel
Camera	1/1.3-inch CMOS capable of recording in 4k at 60 frames per second and photographing at a resolution of 48 MP
Controller Compatibility	Compatible with DJI RC-N1 and DJI RC (with screen)

✅ Pros

• It can fly for a long time
• It has ActiveTrack 4.0 with a good follow-me mode
• It has three-way obstacle avoidance sensors
• The camera is excellent for photography and filming
• This drone is lightweight and falls under the 250-gram category, so it may benefit from relaxed drone laws
• It’s compatible with the DJI RC with a screen, removing the need to use a mobile phone connected to the controller to fly the drone
• This drone is suitable for long-range flights with decent wind speed resistance and good video stability due to the three-axis mechanical gimbal

❌ Cons

• It’s more than a year old
• It does not have side or upward anti-collision sensors
• It lacks the advanced ActiveTrack 5.0

The DJI Mini 3 Pro has a follow-me mode that works excellently, which makes the drone suitable for vloggers, content creators, and travelers.

» MORE: Does DJI Mini 3 Pro Have Follow Me? (Explained)

2. DJI Mavic 3 Pro – Professional drone with advanced follow-me mode

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is a professional drone with three fantastic cameras.

It includes omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and advanced intelligent features with ActiveTrack 5.0, and it can follow a subject like no other drone.

Also, this drone is beginner-friendly.

SPECS	DJI Mavic 3 Pro
Weight	958 g
Dimensions	231.1×98×95.4 mm folded without propellers
Max Flight Time	43 mins
Max Wind Speed Resistance	12 m/s
Transmission Distance	– FCC: 9.3 mi or 15 km – CE, SRRC, and MIC 5 mi or 8 km
Obstacle Avoidance	Omnidirectional binocular anti-collision sensors
Does it Have Follow-me Mode?	Yes, with Advanced ActiveTrack 5.0
Camera	– 4/3-inch Hasselblad camera capable of filming in 5.1k at 50 frames per second or 4k at 120 frames per second and photographing at a resolution of 20 MP. This camera can zoom 1-3x. – 1/1.3-inch Medium Tele camera capable of recording in 4k at 60 frames per second and photographing at a resolution of 48 MP. This camera has a zoom of 3-7x. – 1/2-inch Tele camera capable of recording in 4k at 60 frames per second and photographing at 12 MP resolution. This camera has a hybrid zoom of 7-28x.
Controller Compatibility	The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is compatible with DJI RC-N1, DJI RC, and DJI RC Pro

✅ Pros

• It has the best three cameras in consumer drones, with a fantastic Hasselblad 4/3-inch sensor with incredible dynamic range and image quality
• This drone has an omnidirectional sensing system that will allow any intelligent features, such as follow-me mode, to work seamlessly, even in areas with obstacles
• It has the ActiveTrack 5.0, which comes with the most advanced follow-me feature of any consumer DJI drone
• The drone can remain in the air for a long time and is capable of flying in strong winds
• It’s an excellent beginner drone

❌ Cons

• It’s costly compared to other recommended beginner drones with follow-me
• This drone could be intimidating to fly as a beginner knowing its value
• The drone is not very portable, weighing close to 1kg, and is quite large in size

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is the ultimate consumer drone for professional vloggers, video makers, content creators, and beginner pilots.

It’s the best of its kind with the most advanced features you can find.

From follow-me mode to omnidirectional (complete coverage) anti-collision sensors, this drone is fantastic if you want to create professional footage, even as a beginner.

Moreover, this drone can live stream on most streaming channels with the DJI RC Pro.

3. DJI Air 2S – The most balanced drone for beginners with a follow-me mode

The DJI Air 2S is one well-balanced drone capable of superb photography and filming, with four-way obstacle avoidance and an incredible follow-me feature that proves reliable in many scenarios.

SPECS	DJI Air 2S
Weight	595 g
Dimensions	180×97×77 mm
Max Flight Time	31 mins
Max Wind Speed Resistance	10.7 m/s
Transmission Distance	– 7.4 mi or 12 km FCC – 5 mi or 8 km on CE, SRRC, and MIC zones
Obstacle Avoidance	Forward, backward, downward, and upward anti-collision sensors
Does it Have Follow-me Mode?	Yes, with ActiveTrack 4.0
Camera	1-inch CMOS capable of recording in 5.4k at 30 frames per second or 4k at 60 frames per second and photographing at 20 MP resolution
Controller Compatibility	DJI RC-N1, DJI RC, and DJI RC Pro

✅ Pros

• It has a 1-inch camera sensor to film and takes photographs
• It has four-way anti-collision sensors
• It comes with ActiveTrack 4.0 with a follow-me mode
• It can remain in the air for a decent amount of time with good wind resistance
• It’s the only drone outside of the Mavic 3 series compatible with the DJI RC Pro
• The flight performance of this drone is fantastic

❌ Cons

• It’s an older drone
• It does not have side sensors

The DJI Air 2S is the answer if you’re looking for a simple drone to fly. It’s beginner-friendly with excellent follow-me features and anti-collision sensors.

This drone’s price is quite reasonable for what it can offer, and the drone has very smooth flights.

Also, the videos captured with the 1-inch camera sensors are stabilized due to the three-axis mechanical gimbal.

» MORE: DJI Air 2S – Tips, Tricks & Settings (From a Professional)

4. Autel EVO Nano Plus – Best portable bundle with follow-me mode for beginners

The Autel EVO Nano Plus comes in a bundle to help you fly longer and enjoy the follow-me feature while capable of superb photography and filming.

SPECS	Autel EVO Nano Plus
Weight	249 g
Dimensions	142×94×55mm folded
Max Flight Time	28 mins per battery pack
Max Wind Speed Resistance	Level 5 wind resistance
Transmission Distance	10-km tri-band transmission
Obstacle Avoidance	Forward, backward, and downward anti-collision sensors
Does it Have Follow-me Mode?	Yes, with Dynamic Track 2.1
Camera	1/1.28-inch CMOS capable of recording in 4k at 30 frames per second and photographing at a whopping resolution of 50 MP
Controller Compatibility	Compatible with the standard Autel EVO Nano controller provided

✅ Pros

• It’s portable and beginner-friendly
• It has great flight performance
• This drone has three-direction obstacle avoidance sensors
• It comes with the follow-me mode part of Dynamic Track 2.1
• The drone can remain in the air for a decent amount of time
• It comes in a bundle with three batteries and many accessories
• The drone is fantastic at photography and recording
• The camera has a large f/1.9 aperture, suitable for low-light filming and photography
• It weighs under 250 grams

❌ Cons

• This drone cannot film in 4k at 60 frames per second
• It lacks upward and side avoidance sensors
• In some situations, the follow-me feature proved unreliable, with some strange errors requesting “more space to use this feature,” although it was flown in an open field (probably solved with firmware updates)

I was amazed by the performance and camera quality of the Autel EVO Nano Plus.

The fact that it comes in a bundle with multiple batteries and accessories makes it one of the lowest-cost drones with follow-me mode and obstacle avoidance.

Moreover, the drone is beginner-friendly and has good transmission coverage for flying long-range.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Autel Evo Nano+ (Here’s my Choice)

5. Autel EVO Lite Plus – Fantastic drone bundle with advanced follow-me mode

The EVO Lite Plus from Autel Robotics is an advanced professional drone capable of great filming and photography.

It has many valuable features, including obstacle avoidance sensors and an advanced follow-me mode. It’s available in a bundle while remaining reasonably priced.

SPECS	Autel EVO Lite Plus
Weight	820 g
Dimensions	210×104×85mm folded
Max Flight Time	40 mins
Max Wind Speed Resistance	Level 7
Transmission Distance	7.4 mi or 12 km (FCC)
Obstacle Avoidance	3-way obstacle avoidance
Does it Have Follow-me Mode?	Yes, with Dynamic Track 2.1
Camera	1-inch CMOS capable of recording in 6k at 30 frames per second or 4k at 60 frames per second and can photograph at 20 MP resolution
Controller Compatibility	Compatible with the Standard Autel Robotics EVO Remote Controller

✅ Pros

• It has a fantastic camera that can record in 6k
• This drone is capable of remaining in the air for a long time
• It’s a suitable beginner-friendly drone with a follow-me feature
• It has three-direction anti-collision sensors and excellent wind resistance
• It also comes in a bundle with multiple batteries and accessories

❌ Cons

• This drone doesn’t come with upward and side avoidance sensors
• It can get pricy 

The Autel EVO Lite Plus is yet another great Autel drone capable of extraordinary flight performance with a stunning camera. Its follow-me feature is courtesy of Dynamic Track 2.1.

Although quite heavy, this drone can stay in the air for a long time and fly long-range without issues, and it has a significant Level 7 wind resistance.

» MORE: Autel Evo Lite+ Review

Note: We also recommend you check out the DJI Mavic 3 or Mavic 3 Classic, two unique drones capable of long-range flights with ActiveTrack 5.0, excellent performance, and an omnidirectional sensing system.

How does follow-me work in drones?

DJI drones have a feature called ActiveTrack with two options for follow-me mode: Trace and Parallel.

Trace will follow the subject from behind, while Parallel will follow from the side. 

The advantage of Trace in DJI drones is that the frontal obstacle avoidance will work amazingly and help the drone avoid obstacles while following you.

With Parallel, if the drone doesn’t have side anti-collision sensors (such as DJI Mini 3 Pro), you risk crashing the drone.

Moving away from what DJI has, let’s look at how the follow-me mode generally works based on vision recognition or GPS lock.

Vision Recognition Software: As with many DJI drones with ActiveTrack, the follow-me mode will use sensors and AI vision recognition software with the camera drone to lock on and follow a specific person, car, boat, animal, etc.

The ActiveTrack will also enable obstacle avoidance sensors when using the follow-me mode, whereas the drone will autonomously stop in front of the obstacle or avoid it while following you.

GPS Position: This is an older but reliable type of follow-me mode based on GPS position, whereas the remote controller will act like a ground station, and the drone will follow the remote controller if there are enough satellites.

» MORE: Long Range Drones: Ultimate Guide

Follow-me mode based on vision recognition software

Pros	Cons
– It may work poorly or not in low-light situations or at night. – There’s a lot of technological advancement behind this process, which may need improvement. – The follow-me mode based on visual recognition tech may stop working if the subject goes behind an obstacle. – It may not work well if the drone is too far from the subject.	– It may work poorly or not at all in low-light situations or at night. – There’s a lot of technological advancement behind this process, which may need improvement. – The follow-me mode based on visual recognition tech may stop working if the subject goes behind an obstacle. – It may not work well if the drone is too far from the subject.

Follow-me mode based on GPS lock

Pros	Cons
– It’s not dependent on lighting conditions and may work even at night. – It can work even when the drone is far from the pilot, which is fantastic for following cars. If the GPS signal is strong, it could work seamlessly without any issues. – The price range of drones with a follow-me mode based on a GPS signal is much cheaper.	– It depends on GPS satellites; the feature can stop working if not enough. – It will follow only the remote controller and not a subject, so it won’t work if you plan to use it to follow a friend (e.g., snowboarding) – Not many DJI drones support direct follow-me mode based on GPS positioning, and this feature is just an addition to ActiveTrack.

» MORE: Follow Me and ActiveTrack on DJI Drones (Explained for Beginners)

What to consider when looking for beginner drones with follow-me mode?

• Beginner-friendly status: Nowadays, many drones require little setup and are ready to fly. You just need to get through the activation process and update the firmware to the latest version.
• What type of follow-me mode it has: Wherever Active Track is based on vision recognition software, with DJI ActiveTrack or Autel’s Dynamic Track, or based on GPS lock, we must look into this before choosing a drone with a follow-me feature.
• Cost: Cheaper drones may work poorly with follow-me features and lack avoidance sensors that may not offer you the experience you’re looking for.
• Obstacle avoidance sensors: Because the drone will autonomously fly and follow you, it should have at least frontal avoidance sensors to prevent unwanted collisions.
• Drone flight time: Depending on what you’re looking to do with the follow-me mode, experiment with different takes and enjoy the longevity of the drone battery, which should remain in the air for as long as possible.
• Portability: If you travel a lot, look for lightweight beginner drones with follow-me mode.