Drone purchase guide: Should I buy or rent?
To buy or rent a drone? heliguy™’s guide helps you decide. heliguy™ offers quick purchases and flexible rentals for Mini, Pro, and Enterprise models.
Are you unsure about your drone purchase or rental options? With so many choices, finding the right drone can be challenging.
heliguy™ offers a wide range of drones and flexible buy or rent options, from mini drones for photography to enterprise models for commercial operations.
To buy or to rent? Factors you should consider
Buying is best for those seeking long-term ownership, offering flexibility for use at any time, customisation, and upgrades. It ensures convenience and availability for regular operations.
Renting, on the other hand, suits short-term projects, occasional use, dynamic scaling, or testing before purchase. It provides access to the latest models without significant upfront costs and ensures you are not left with redundant kit, making it a cost-effective solution for infrequent or trial-based needs.
Buying vs renting: Key benefits at a glance
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When to choose a drone purchase
Buying a drone is ideal for frequent use, providing unrestricted access and flexibility. It’s the better choice for business tasks like inspections or filming and spontaneous personal use.
Buying a drone is a great option if you:
- Frequent use: Buying eliminates rental fees, offering long-term cost savings for regular operations.
- Immediate availability: Ownership ensures a drone is always ready for time-sensitive tasks.
- Rapid inspections: Ideal for industries like construction, enabling quick responses to frequent inspection needs.
- Unlimited use: No time limits, providing flexibility for extended projects or unexpected overruns.
When renting a drone makes sense
Renting a drone with heliguy™ is an affordable, flexible way to access high-quality equipment without ownership. Available in weekly instalments, heliguy™ rental caters to commercial and recreational users with customisable packages, including drones, payloads, and accessories.
Renting is ideal if you:
- Lower costs: Avoid large upfront investments, making renting budget-friendly for individuals and businesses.
- On-demand flexibility: Rent as needed for short-term projects or scaling operations.
- Access latest tech: Use cutting-edge drones and accessories without upgrade concerns.
- Customisable packages: Add payloads, batteries, or specialised equipment for specific tasks.
- Try before you buy: Test equipment performance before committing to purchase.
- No maintenance: heliguy™ handles repairs through its DJI-approved repair centre.
- Short-term use: Ideal for one-off or seasonal projects and infrequent usage.
- Scalable fleet: Temporarily expand for large operations without long-term costs.
Exploring drone options: Mini, pro, and enterprise
Mini drones: Compact and affordable
Mini drones are cost-effective, portable, and regulation-friendly. They are ideal for beginners and for certain commercial work. They capture personal moments like holidays and weddings with creative modes and serve as versatile tools for photography, filming, and inspections.
Top choice:
- DJI Mini 4 Pro: Advanced flight modes and obstacle sensing, offering professional-grade performance in a compact package.
Consumer & FPV drones: Upgrade your photography & filmmaking
Consumer and FPV drones are ideal for photographers, filmmakers, and hobbyists. They deliver high-quality content on every flight.
Suitable for both business and personal use, they combine creativity with advanced technology, making them perfect for filmmaking, creative hobbies, and enhancing business operations.
Top picks:
- DJI Air 3: Dual-camera system with wide-angle and telephoto lenses, offering 48MP stills and 4K HDR video. Its 46-minute flight time and intelligent shooting modes make it ideal for professional-grade content creation.
- DJI Avata 2: Compact FPV drone with 4K/60fps HDR video and a 155° ultra-wide FOV. Perfect for immersive, action-packed filming with precise controls via DJI Goggles 3 and RC Motion 3.
Professional drones: Balancing performance and cost
Professional drones deliver superior camera quality and advanced flight capabilities, making them ideal for filmmakers and content creators. They provide a significant upgrade from mini and consumer drones while avoiding the complexity of enterprise models.
Top options:
- DJI Mavic 3 Pro: Perfect for both filmmaking and inspections, it features a high-end Hasselblad camera and extended flight time, delivering exceptional image quality and versatility.
- DJI Inspire 3: A cinematic powerhouse for professional filmmaking, it reduces reliance on vehicles or helicopters for action and establishing shots, offering 8K full-frame resolution, precise RTK positioning, and advanced flight modes.
Enterprise drones & payloads: Built for industry
Enterprise drones are engineered for demanding industrial operations, offering unmatched performance, durability, and the flexibility to support multiple payload options, including thermal cameras.
Ideal for mapping, surveying, and inspections, these drones excel in complex environments.
Top picks:
- DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise*: Dual-camera drone designed for precision surveying and inspections, featuring a 4/3 CMOS wide camera with a mechanical shutter, 56x zoom tele camera, and up to 45 minutes of flight time.
- DJI Matrice 30T: Portable design with an IP55 rating and -20°C to 50°C operating range, featuring thermal imaging for reliable performance and ideal for search and rescue missions.
- DJI Matrice 350 RTK: All-weather durability aircraft with multi-payload support, an IP55 rating and payload swapping for versatile mission adaptability.
- DJI Zenmuse H30 Series: Flagship multi-sensor payload for the DJI M350 RTK/M300 RTK, featuring visual, thermal, and night vision capabilities, ideal for public safety, security, and inspection applications.
*Thermal or multispectral options are also available.
Why choose heliguy™ for your drone needs?
Comprehensive drone purchase support
- Expert advice: heliguy™ helps you choose the perfect drone for your needs.
- Flexible options: Whether you buy or rent, heliguy™ tailors solutions to fit your requirements.
- Training: Learn from an in-house team of 11 instructors to become a qualified drone pilot and expand your skillsets through a progressive training pathway.
- Repairs: Crash support from DJI-certified technicians at heliguy™’s in-house UK-based drone repair centre .
- In-house surveying team: Leverage the support of heliguy™’s dedicated geospatial experts, including consultancy, industry-specific training, and data-processing support.
Summary
Deciding whether to buy or rent a drone depends on your specific needs and goals.
Purchasing is often the best option for frequent use, customisation, and long-term value. However, renting can be an excellent choice for short-term projects, one-off applications, or proving the concept of a particular piece of technology.
Explore heliguy™’s range of Mini, Pro, and Enterprise drones today, and let the team help you find the perfect solution.
