r/drones

Community Overview

About r/drones

/r/drones is a subreddit for aerial drone enthusiasts, focusing on consumer, commercial, and FPV drones. Topics include builds, regulations, flying tips, photography, and industry news.

The community at a glance

r/drones is a Subreddit for Hardware and Robotics Enthusiasts with roughly 284K members. It uses a forum format for communication. On the Hive Index it ranks #9 in the Robotics communities list. It is the 7th largest community in the Hardware topic page.

Roughly 37K members have joined in the past year. Popular discussion topics include Drone, Annoying, and Struggling. Common discussion themes are Advice Requests and Solution Requests. Product recommendations often mention drone.

On Reddit
284K Members

Subreddit Analysis

via GummySearch
Yearly: +37K members
Growth: +15.1% / year

Member growth over time

All time (yearly)

  • 2013: 164 members
  • 2014: 664 members
  • 2015: 4K members
  • 2016: 10K members
  • 2017: 17K members
  • 2018: 25K members
  • 2019: 22K members
  • 2020: 25K members
  • 2021: 27K members
  • 2023: 61K members
  • 2024: 39K members
  • 2025: 34K members
  • 2026: 18K members

Past year (monthly)

  • Aug: 3K members
  • Sep: 3K members
  • Oct: 3K members
  • Nov: 3K members
  • Dec: 4K members
  • Jan: 3K members
  • Feb: 3K members
  • Mar: 3K members
  • Apr: 3K members
  • May: 3K members
  • Jun: 3K members

Themes

  • Advice Requests
    8 posts in the past month
    1. I just got my first dji, the mini 4k is there anything i need to know?
    2. Is it viable to get my 107 to get a small cash flow during college?
    3. [UK] Curious how people are handling report writing after field work / inspections
    #1
    Advice Requests
    I just got my first dji, the mini 4k is there anything i need to know? · Is it viable to get my 107 to get a small cash flow during college? · [UK] Curious how people are handling report writing after field work / inspections
    8
  • Solution Requests
    7 posts in the past month
    1. Looking for workstation laptop recommendations for drone mapping / GIS / photogrammetry
    2. Is DJI 5 mini pro a good choice for beginner after crashing DJI Neo?
    3. Help with my Autel Evo Max 4N
    #2
    Solution Requests
    Looking for workstation laptop recommendations for drone mapping / GIS / photogrammetry · Is DJI 5 mini pro a good choice for beginner after crashing DJI Neo? · Help with my Autel Evo Max 4N
    7
  • Self-Promotion
    1 post in the past month
    1. [Beta Testers Wanted] I built a free app for the FPV community
    #3
    Self-Promotion
    [Beta Testers Wanted] I built a free app for the FPV community
    1
  • Pain & Anger
    1 post in the past month
    1. Someone was a bit angry with my drone
    #4
    Pain & Anger
    Someone was a bit angry with my drone
    1

Topics

  • Drone
    104 posts in the past month
    1. I just recreated the 40mm folding drone.
    2. Wroclaw Poland by drone
    3. Masterpiece by drone - Wroclaw Poland 🇵🇱
    #1
    Drone
    I just recreated the 40mm folding drone. · Wroclaw Poland by drone · Masterpiece by drone - Wroclaw Poland 🇵🇱
    104
  • Annoying
    18 posts in the past month
    #2
    Annoying
    18
  • Struggling
    16 posts in the past month
    #3
    Struggling
    16
  • Dji
    15 posts in the past month
    1. I think I can safely say I have mastered the DJI Neo and have achieved full and accurate positional control in space, becoming one with the machine. (1.5 years of weekly flying)
    #4
    Dji
    I think I can safely say I have mastered the DJI Neo and have achieved full and accurate positional control in space, becoming one with the machine. (1.5 years of weekly flying)
    15
  • Flight
    12 posts in the past month
    1. Wroclaw from 119 M
    2. Chasing the Talon with the Mavic
    3. Had an absolutely blast filming here
    #5
    Flight
    Wroclaw from 119 M · Chasing the Talon with the Mavic · Had an absolutely blast filming here
    12

Flair

  • Photo & Video
    52 posts in the past month
    1. DJI Matrice 3td in the rain.
    2. [IE] Discovered how to do tilt shift with my DJI 4k, enjoy a 5 minute time lapse of our local fire station intersection.
    3. Snapped a nice photo of my truck today in Colorado
    #1
    Photo & Video
    DJI Matrice 3td in the rain. · [IE] Discovered how to do tilt shift with my DJI 4k, enjoy a 5 minute time lapse of our local fire station intersection. · Snapped a nice photo of my truck today in Colorado
    52
  • Question
    20 posts in the past month
    1. I just got my first dji, the mini 4k is there anything i need to know?
    2. Saw a drone with a parachute attached to it around dusk. What the heck was this about?
    3. GOV UAS jobs
    #2
    Question
    I just got my first dji, the mini 4k is there anything i need to know? · Saw a drone with a parachute attached to it around dusk. What the heck was this about? · GOV UAS jobs
    20
  • Discussion
    18 posts in the past month
    1. I just recreated the 40mm folding drone.
    2. I feel like a criminal every time I fly my drone
    3. PSA for new pilots: the gimbal lens is the first thing you scratch, protect it before flight one not after
    #3
    Discussion
    I just recreated the 40mm folding drone. · I feel like a criminal every time I fly my drone · PSA for new pilots: the gimbal lens is the first thing you scratch, protect it before flight one not after
    18
  • Tech Support
    11 posts in the past month
    1. Model ID?
    2. 350 QX3 help
    3. Firmware update instructions for BetaFPV Aquila 20 HD kit
    #4
    Tech Support
    Model ID? · 350 QX3 help · Firmware update instructions for BetaFPV Aquila 20 HD kit
    11
  • Question: Rules, Regulations, Law, Policy, Certificates
    10 posts in the past month
    1. [United States] If I am flying 100 feet on edge of hillside and go over 300 drop off .. am I at 400 feet ?
    2. [United States] #Indiana May I fly over the Indy 500 track during non-event and no TFR?
    3. [Japan] bringing a drone as a tourist
    #5
    Question: Rules, Regulations, Law, Policy, Certificates
    [United States] If I am flying 100 feet on edge of hillside and go over 300 drop off .. am I at 400 feet ? · [United States] #Indiana May I fly over the Indy 500 track during non-event and no TFR? · [Japan] bringing a drone as a tourist
    10

Product recommendations

  • drone
    22 posts in the past month
    1. Best beginner drone (and controller)?
    2. What is the best drone I can get with a $30 dollar budget?
    3. Best drone for $300?
    #1
    drone
    Best beginner drone (and controller)? · What is the best drone I can get with a $30 dollar budget? · Best drone for $300?
    22

Frequently asked questions

Who is r/drones for?
Best for Hardware and Robotics Enthusiasts enthusiasts looking for a Reddit-based community with forum discussion.
Is r/drones free to join?
This listing is not marked as paid-only. Access rules and any fees are decided by the community.
How many members does r/drones have?
Roughly 284K members, based on figures reported by the community or its host. Member counts are approximate and change over time.
What platform is r/drones on?
r/drones runs on Reddit. Reddit communities (or "subreddits") are forum-based groups on the popular social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website Reddit. Reddit is commonly known as "the front page of the internet". Users submit content to the site such as links, text posts, and images, which are then voted up or down and discussed by other members. From investing Reddit communities, to professional ones, to ones just for laughs, you're likely to find a community for you on Reddit.
What topics does r/drones cover?
On the Hive Index, r/drones is organized under Hardware, Robotics Enthusiasts.
How do I join r/drones?
You can join r/drones by clicking this link, or pressing the "Go to community" button above.
What are the Hardware communities like?
Communities for hardware engineers, electronics hobbyists, and embedded systems developers. Discord and Reddit host communities for Arduino, Raspberry Pi, PCB design, and DIY electronics, alongside more professional spaces for engineers working on commercial hardware products.