Comparison

DJI Pilot vs Drone Scanner (gen.2)

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DJI Pilot

Control and monitor DJI drones with real-time HD image transmission. This app allows for aircraft and camera control, firmware updates, and flight record management. It offers a user-friendly interface for professional drone operation.

Highlights
  • Real-time HD image transmission
  • Aircraft control
  • Camera control and playback
  • Firmware updates
  • Flight record synchronization
  • User-friendly UI
Features
Read full description

Concise yet professional, here comes the new version of DJI Pilot. The brand new DJI Pilot app supports the latest DJI drones. The new DJI Pilot app can assist the DJI drones to transmit pictures in real time smoothly, control the aircraft, as well as control the camera and its playback. You can also update the firmware and check flight records using DJI Pilot. New Features: Provides a new and user-friendly UI. Supports the feature where you can check the HD image transmission in real-time. Adjusts the camera parameters to provide better and more professional camera control. Improves camera playback. Supports real-time flight records sync. Improves firmware update.

About

Drone Scanner (gen.2)

Transform your iPhone into a real-time drone detection tool. See nearby drones, monitor their activity, and gain visibility into the skies. Enhance detection range with an optional dedicated hardware detector.

Highlights
  • Real-time drone detection
  • Monitor drone activity
  • Display pilot location
  • Map and list view
  • Supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi scanning
  • Compatible with Remote ID regulations
Features
Read full description

Drone Scanner by Dronetag transforms your iPhone into a real-time drone detection tool, allowing you to see what’s flying nearby, monitor drone activity, and gain visibility into the skies from your pocket. You can scan drones using your mobile device or connect to a Dronetag RIDER, our dedicated drone detector with significantly greater range. RIDER can detect drones up to 5 km (3 mi) away with its default antenna and up to 10 km (6 mi) with a directional antenna. New in the next-generation Drone Scanner: 
- A completely redesigned interface and an intuitive scans list - Recent scans are stored locally on your phone and can be exported to open formats - Scan using Dronetag RIDER for enhanced range and Wi-Fi scanning support on iPhones
 
Core Features: 
 - Detect drones using Bluetooth 4, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi Beacon, and Wi-Fi NAN 
 - Display pilot location (if available) 
 - Monitor height, direction, and operation type 
 - Browse nearby drones on a map or in list view 
 - Compatible with EU, US, and Japanese Remote ID regulations 
 - Developed by Dronetag, a global leader in drone Remote ID solutions  Feature availability depends on your device and OS limitations. iOS restricts access to certain Wi-Fi channels - only Bluetooth-based scanning may work. If you're using Drone Scanner on an iOS device, some drones that transmit their identification data via Wi-Fi may not be visible to you. This is a system-level restriction, not a bug in the app.    How It Works:  Remote ID is a feature that transmits identification and flight data from drones using wireless signals like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Manufacturers implement this in different ways, using various technologies. Drone Scanner captures these signals using your phone’s built-in hardware - or via the Dronetag RIDER for extended detection range and higher reliability.

Screenshots

DJI Pilot3 screens
Drone Scanner (gen.2)3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Drone Scanner (gen.2) at every 5 weeks against DJI Pilot's every 5 months. Drone Scanner (gen.2) also leads on review sentiment (25% vs 9%) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). DJI Pilot's advantage is rating (2.1 vs 1.9) and ratings volume (174 vs 11). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DJI Pilot holds the better App Store score, 2.1 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DJI Pilot has 174 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 9% of DJI Pilot's written reviews are positive against 25% of Drone Scanner (gen.2)'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DJI Pilot ships an update every 5 months, Drone Scanner (gen.2) every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
DJI Pilot versus Drone Scanner (gen.2): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDJI PilotDrone Scanner (gen.2)
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.1 (174 ratings) — better1.9 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews9.0% of reviews25.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings174 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS10.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size374 MB52 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperDJIDronetag

Customer experience

DJI Pilot

All ratings173 ratings
Positive24.9%
Neutral5.8%
Negative69.4%
Written reviews244 reviews
Positive9.0%
Neutral9.0%
Negative82.0%

Drone Scanner (gen.2)

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Bugs and requests

DJI Pilot

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • App crashes on launch or during flight
  • Login verification code field unresponsive due to keyboard overlay
  • Flight records screen zoomed in with no scroll capability
  • Sync button cut off screen on iPhone devices
  • External speaker connection causes immediate crash
Show 15 more
  • Device compatibility detection fails despite meeting requirements
  • Screen jumps during login process preventing verification entry
  • App freezes on verification screen
  • MSX thermal mode reverts to low-resolution after firmware update
  • Auto-focus not working in video mode
  • Downloaded videos appear out of focus during live view
  • No-fly zone unlock confirmations not populating
  • Drone controller linking shows success but doesn't actually connect
  • App crashes when syncing flight records on iPad Pro
  • Constant disconnections from drone during operation
  • Firmware upload fails repeatedly
  • GPS timestamping not copying to clipboard on iOS
  • App not supporting advertised iOS versions
  • Crashes on iOS 13+ versions
  • Incompatible with iPhone 6S despite listed support

Requested features

15 requests
  • Waypoint programming and autonomous flight modes
  • Intelligent Flight Modes (IFM) support
  • Thermal camera radiometric data and FLIR tools integration
  • Live streaming to Facebook and other social media platforms
  • Flight record sync functionality on iOS
Show 10 more
  • iPad Pro full-screen optimization and resolution support
  • MSX thermal mode functionality
  • Parity with DJI Go 4 app features
  • Proper keyboard handling for login screens
  • Landing protection toggle option
  • Support for all enterprise drone models
  • iOS 13+ compatibility
  • iPhone XS/XR/11 Pro Max support
  • Multi-gimbal support on iOS
  • Firmware update functionality

Drone Scanner (gen.2)

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

DJI Pilot

No in-app purchases

None

Drone Scanner (gen.2)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DJI Pilot free?
DJI Pilot is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Drone Scanner (gen.2) free?
Drone Scanner (gen.2) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DJI Pilot or Drone Scanner (gen.2)?
DJI Pilot is rated higher. DJI Pilot averages 2.1 out of 5 from 174 ratings, while Drone Scanner (gen.2) averages 1.9 from 11 ratings.
Do DJI Pilot or Drone Scanner (gen.2) have ads?
Neither DJI Pilot nor Drone Scanner (gen.2) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DJI Pilot or Drone Scanner (gen.2)?
DJI Pilot ships an update every 5 months, and Drone Scanner (gen.2) every 5 weeks. Most recently, DJI Pilot was updated on October 24, 2026 and Drone Scanner (gen.2) on October 24, 2026.

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