What is drone mission planning software?

Drone mission planning software lets commercial drone operators design automated flight paths before takeoff. You define survey areas, set altitude and camera parameters, and the software generates optimized waypoint routes. Dronelytics adds real-time FAA airspace data so you can plan compliant missions with LAANC zones, TFRs, and restricted areas visible on the map.

Yes. Dronelytics is free during open beta with no credit card required. All mission types, airspace layers, and features including terrain follow are included at no cost. Founding members will receive locked-in pricing when paid plans launch.

What airspace data does Dronelytics show?

Dronelytics displays 7 FAA airspace data layers: LAANC authorization ceilings, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), Special Use Airspace (SUAs), military operation areas, stadium flight restrictions, FRIA boundaries for recreational flyers, and National Security UAS Flight Restriction areas (NSUFR).

What drones are compatible with Dronelytics?

Dronelytics supports DJI, Autel Robotics, PX4 Autopilot, and ArduPilot platforms. Mission plans can be exported for use with these drone systems.

What is terrain follow in drone mission planning?

Terrain follow (also called AGL or above-ground-level mode) automatically adjusts waypoint altitudes to maintain a constant height above the ground across hilly or uneven terrain. Without terrain follow, a drone flying at a fixed altitude gets closer to the ground on upslopes and farther away on downslopes, degrading photo quality and risking collision. Dronelytics includes terrain follow for free — competitors like Dronelink charge $18/month extra for this feature.

What mission types can I plan with Dronelytics?

Dronelytics supports rectangle grid, polygon grid, and circle grid surveys for area mapping; orbit, spiral, and panorama missions for point-of-interest inspection; and corridor and waypoint paths for linear features like roads and pipelines. Pre-built templates are available for real estate aerial photography, roof inspection, construction progress, agricultural surveys, property boundaries, tower inspection, stockpile volume measurement, and linear corridor mapping.

Best B4UFLY Alternative: Free Drone Airspace Map

B4UFLY is the FAA's official app for checking where you can fly a drone. It covers the basics, but many pilots find it slow, limited, or unreliable.

If you've searched for a better way to check airspace, this comparison breaks down exactly where B4UFLY falls short and what alternatives exist. We built the Dronelytics airspace map, so we're biased - but we'll be honest about what B4UFLY does well too.

The Quick Version

B4UFLY is fine if

You just need a quick yes/no on basic airspace, you're comfortable with an app install, and you don't need detailed LAANC ceilings or military airspace data.

Try Dronelytics if

You want more data layers, prefer a web-based tool (no app install), want to see LAANC altitude ceilings, or need to check military zones, stadium restrictions, and national park boundaries.

Feature Comparison

Feature	B4UFLY	Dronelytics Map
Price	Free	Free
Platform	iOS / Android app	Web (any browser)
Account required	No	No
Airspace classes	Yes	Yes
TFRs (temporary restrictions)	Basic	Real-time with details
LAANC grid ceilings	No	Yes - color-coded by altitude
Special use airspace (SUAs)	Limited	Full - restricted, prohibited, MOAs, warning areas
Military training routes	No	Yes
Stadium restrictions	No	Yes - 3 NM zones
National park boundaries	No	Yes
FRIA boundaries	No	Yes
NOTAMs	No	Yes
Live aircraft (ADS-B)	No	Yes - color-coded by altitude
Shareable location links	No	Yes - URL with coordinates
LAANC authorization submission	No	No
Works offline	Partial	No

What B4UFLY Does Well

Credit where it's due. B4UFLY has real advantages:

It's the FAA's official app. For recreational pilots who want to use the "approved" tool, B4UFLY carries institutional trust.
Simple interface. It answers "can I fly here" with a color-coded status. If all you need is a basic yes/no, B4UFLY keeps it simple.
Partial offline support. The app caches some data, which helps in areas with poor cell service. A web-based tool requires an internet connection.

Where B4UFLY Falls Short

These are the most common complaints from drone pilots who look for alternatives:

No LAANC ceiling data

B4UFLY tells you that you're in controlled airspace, but it doesn't show the LAANC grid with specific altitude ceilings. You can't see whether your grid square allows flights up to 200 feet or is a 0-foot no-fly zone. That's critical information for planning.

Missing restriction layers

No stadium restrictions, no military training routes, no national park boundaries, no FRIA zones. These are all things that affect where you can fly, and B4UFLY doesn't show them.

Reliability issues

Search drone forums and Reddit and you'll find consistent complaints about crashes, slow loading, and TFR data that's not always current. When you're checking airspace before a flight, reliability matters.

App-only

B4UFLY requires downloading an app. If you're planning from a laptop or want to share a location check with someone, there's no web version. A link to a specific map location is often more useful than telling someone to "download B4UFLY and search for this address."

What About Aloft and AirMap?

Two other tools come up in the B4UFLY alternative conversation:

Aloft (formerly Kittyhawk)

Aloft is primarily a LAANC authorization tool. It's excellent if you need to submit LAANC requests, but it requires an account and is designed for commercial operations. If you just want to check whether a spot is clear to fly, Aloft adds friction you don't need.

AirMap

AirMap was an early leader in drone airspace tools but has shifted toward enterprise and UTM (unmanned traffic management). Their consumer-facing tools have been deprioritized. Not recommended as a primary airspace check tool in 2026.

How the Dronelytics Airspace Map Works

Open the map, navigate to your location, and toggle the layers you care about. No download, no account, no sign-up form.

Go to the map

Open dronelytics.io/map in any browser. Works on phone, tablet, or desktop.

Navigate to your location

Pan and zoom to where you want to fly, or use the geolocation button to center on your current position.

Check the layers

Toggle on LAANC ceilings, TFRs, national parks, and other layers using the buttons in the top right. Click any feature for details.

Share the link

The URL updates with your coordinates. Copy it to share the exact location with a friend or save it for your records.

See the difference for yourself.

Check Your Airspace

No app to install. No account required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a web-based alternative to B4UFLY?

Yes. The Dronelytics airspace map is a free, web-based alternative that works in any browser without installing an app. It shows LAANC ceilings, TFRs, SUAs, military zones, stadiums, national parks, and FRIA boundaries on one map.

Why do people look for B4UFLY alternatives?

Common complaints include app crashes, slow loading, missing data layers (no LAANC ceilings, no military training routes, no stadium restrictions), and requiring an app install. Web-based alternatives solve the reliability and accessibility issues.

Does the Dronelytics map show more data than B4UFLY?

Yes. The Dronelytics airspace map shows 12 data layers compared to B4UFLY's basic airspace and TFR display. Additional layers include LAANC grid ceilings with altitude limits, military training routes, stadium restrictions, FRIA boundaries, NOTAMs, and live ADS-B aircraft positions.

Can I submit LAANC authorization through the Dronelytics map?

No. The Dronelytics airspace map shows LAANC ceiling data so you can see what altitude limits apply, but authorization submissions still need to go through Aloft, DroneZone, or another LAANC-approved app. B4UFLY also does not submit LAANC authorizations.

Know Before You Go.

See every restriction, LAANC ceiling, and no-fly zone on one map. 12 layers, under a minute.