Every DJI pilot needs two apps: the flight app for their drone, and an FAA-approved airspace app. Consumer DJI drones, including the Mini series, Air 3S, Mavic, Neo, Flip and Avata 2, fly with DJI Fly. Enterprise drones such as the Matrice series fly with DJI Pilot 2. Add an airspace app like Aloft for B4UFLY checks and LAANC authorization, a weather app, and an editor, and you're covered.
1. Your flight app
DJI Fly is the app for DJI's consumer drones. It handles activation, camera settings, QuickShots and MasterShots on supported models, waypoints, firmware updates and QuickTransfer of clips to your phone. The DJI Neo uses DJI Fly too, including phone control and voice or gesture features on supported models. On iPhone it's in the App Store; on Android you download it from DJI's website, not Google Play. Tour it in our DJI Fly app guide, and check your phone in DJI Fly compatible phones.
DJI Pilot 2 runs on enterprise controllers for Matrice and Mavic 3 Enterprise drones, with mapping, inspection and thermal tools.
Agriculture drones like the Agras series are planned and flown from DJI's agriculture software on their own controllers, not DJI Fly.
Third-party flight apps such as Litchi rely on DJI's mobile SDK, and many newer consumer drones don't support it. DJI says the Mini 4 Pro, for example, works only with DJI Fly. See DJI Fly vs Litchi.
2. FPV drones
The Avata 2 is flown through DJI Goggles 3 with the RC Motion 3 or FPV Remote Controller 3; DJI Fly is used for activation, updates and file management. Custom FPV builds are configured with tools like Betaflight Configurator on a computer. To learn FPV safely first, see best drone simulator.
3. An airspace and LAANC app
Before every flight, check airspace and TFRs in an FAA-approved B4UFLY app. Several companies provide it, including Aloft, Airspace Link and AutoPylot, and they also offer LAANC authorization for controlled airspace. Compared in best drone airspace apps.
4. A weather app
Wind at 400 ft is often much stronger than at ground level. A drone-focused weather app or aviation forecast that shows wind at altitude, gusts, precipitation and the Kp index helps you decide whether to fly. Your drone's own warnings, like DJI's strong wind alert, are the final check.
5. An editing app
- DJI Fly has a built-in editor for quick clips. See how to edit in the DJI Fly app.
- CapCut on a phone for social edits.
- DaVinci Resolve on a computer, free for most drone footage.
Note that DJI ended updates for its LightCut app in September 2026. More in best drone video editing software.
What about "drone app" searches for other brands?
Toy and non-DJI drones, such as MJX Bugs models, use their maker's own app. DJI Fly won't connect to them. Check the drone's manual or box for the correct app.
Tip: keep apps current
Update DJI Fly and your drone's firmware together. Mismatched versions cause many connection problems; see DJI firmware update failed if an update gets stuck.
Related guides
- Best drone video editing software and apps (free and paid)
- Best drone airspace map apps: B4UFLY, Aloft and DJI Fly compared
- Flying a drone indoors: tips, rules and the best small drones
- Best drone for boating, kayaking and water sports
- Best drone for indoor real estate fly-throughs
- Best drone simulators (and what happened to DJI Virtual Flight)
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