Dronelytics vs Litchi vs Dronelink: Waypoint Mission Planning Compared
If you fly DJI drones commercially, you have probably looked at Litchi and Dronelink for waypoint mission planning. Both have been around for years. Both have loyal users. Neither is a clear winner for every situation.
This is an honest three-way comparison. We built Dronelytics, so we are biased — but we will tell you where Litchi and Dronelink are genuinely better choices and where they fall short. The right tool depends on what you fly, what you need, and what you are willing to pay.
The Short Version
Choose Litchi if
You want a simple, reliable waypoint app for ~$22 one-time. Great for real estate orbits, panoramas, and basic waypoint flights. No subscription, no complexity.
Choose Dronelink if
You need advanced mission planning with component-based design, 3D previews, and terrain follow. Best for commercial operators who need precision and are willing to pay $20–$99/year.
Choose Dronelytics if
You want full mission planning with airspace awareness, terrain follow, and multi-platform support — all free. Best for operators who need to check airspace and plan missions in one tool.
Litchi: Simple, Affordable Waypoints
Litchi has been around since the early DJI SDK days and has a massive user base. It does one thing well: waypoint flights with a clean interface.
Strengths
- One-time purchase ($25 per platform) — no subscription
- Simple, intuitive interface — minimal learning curve
- Web-based Mission Hub for desktop planning, syncs to mobile
- Orbit, panorama, focus, and follow-me modes
- Large community with shared missions and support forums
- Virtual Litchi Mission for Google Earth previews
Limitations
- No terrain follow — fixed altitude above takeoff only
- No grid survey planning — waypoints and orbits only
- No airspace data — you need a separate app to check restrictions
- Limited camera control compared to Dronelink
- No overlap or GSD calculations for mapping missions
- DJI SDK dependency means new drones may take months to support
Litchi is the Honda Civic of drone apps — reliable, affordable, gets the job done. If all you need is waypoints and orbits, it is hard to beat $25.
Dronelink: Power User Mission Planning
Dronelink is the most feature-rich waypoint app on the market. It uses a component-based mission design system that lets you chain different flight behaviors into a single mission.
Strengths
- Component-based missions — chain grids, orbits, waypoints, and facades in one flight
- Terrain follow (AGL) on paid plans
- 3D mission preview before flight
- Advanced camera and gimbal control per waypoint
- Grid survey with overlap settings and flight line control
- Facade scan mode for building inspections
Limitations
- Subscription pricing — $20/year (Hobbyist) or $99/year (Pro) for full features
- Terrain follow only on the Pro tier ($99/year) and above
- Steep learning curve — component system is powerful but complex
- No airspace data — no LAANC, TFR, or restriction layers
- Interface can feel overwhelming for simple missions
- Primarily DJI-focused — limited support for other platforms
Dronelink is the most capable waypoint app for complex, multi-component missions. If you need to chain a grid survey, an orbit, and a facade scan into a single automated flight, it is the best tool for the job.
Dronelytics: Airspace-First Mission Planning
Dronelytics takes a different approach. Instead of starting with waypoints, it starts with the question every commercial flight should begin with: can I fly here?
Strengths
- Free — no subscription, no one-time fee, no feature gates
- 12 FAA airspace layers built into the planning map (LAANC, TFR, SUA, FRIA, stadiums, military, NSUFR)
- Terrain follow included free — no paid tier required
- All mission types: grid (rectangle, polygon, circle), orbit, spiral, panorama, corridor, waypoint
- Multi-platform: DJI, Autel, PX4, ArduPilot
- Pre-built templates for common commercial jobs
Limitations
- No component-based chaining like Dronelink — missions are single-type
- No 3D mission preview
- No cloud processing or analytics
- Newer platform — smaller community than Litchi or Dronelink
Dronelytics is purpose-built for Part 107 commercial operators who need airspace awareness baked into mission planning — not bolted on as an afterthought. For how airspace checking works, see our complete airspace guide.
Feature Comparison
The Terrain Follow Question
Terrain follow is the single biggest differentiator between these three tools. It adjusts your drone's altitude to maintain a constant height above ground — critical for mapping over hills, slopes, and uneven terrain.
Litchi
No terrain follow at all. Fixed altitude above takeoff point. If your flight path crosses a 50-foot hill, you are 50 feet closer to the ground at the top.
Dronelink
Terrain follow available on paid plans (Pro tier ($99/year) and above). Not included in the free or basic tiers.
Dronelytics
Terrain follow included free for every account. No paid tier required. Here's why we think it should be free.
If your work involves any terrain variation — construction sites, agricultural fields, hillside properties — terrain follow is not optional. It is a safety feature and a data quality feature. Charging extra for it is like charging extra for collision avoidance.
The Airspace Gap
Neither Litchi nor Dronelink shows FAA airspace data. No LAANC grids, no TFRs, no SUAs, no stadium restrictions. You plan your mission in one app, then open a separate app to check if you can legally fly there.
Dronelytics puts 12 FAA airspace layers on the same map where you plan your mission. Toggle layers on and off, see your LAANC ceiling, check for TFRs — then draw your grid or place your waypoints on top of that information. No app-switching. No missed restrictions.
For recreational flying, airspace data is nice to have. For Part 107 commercial operations, it is a legal requirement. Check your airspace.
Which Tool for Which Job
Real estate orbits and video
Litchi — simple orbit mode, $25, gets the job done
Complex multi-step inspection (grid + orbit + facade)
Dronelink — component chaining is unmatched for compound missions
Construction progress monitoring
Dronelytics — grid surveys with terrain follow and construction-specific settings
Roof inspection (nadir + orbit)
Dronelytics or Dronelink — both support grid + orbit. See our roof inspection guide
Agricultural mapping over hilly terrain
Dronelytics — free terrain follow keeps GSD consistent across elevation changes
Flying near airports (controlled airspace)
Dronelytics — only tool of the three with LAANC grid data on the planning map
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Litchi better than Dronelink?
It depends on your use case. Litchi is simpler and cheaper (~$22 one-time) — ideal for waypoint flights, real estate orbits, and panoramas. Dronelink is more powerful for commercial mapping with advanced grid surveys, terrain follow, and component-based mission design, but costs $20–$99/year. If you just need waypoints, Litchi. If you need survey-grade planning, Dronelink or Dronelytics.
Does Litchi have terrain follow?
No. Litchi does not offer terrain follow (AGL mode). Waypoints fly at fixed altitude above the takeoff point. If your flight path crosses elevation changes, your actual height above ground varies. For terrain follow, use Dronelink (paid tier) or Dronelytics (free).
Which drone apps work with DJI drones?
All three support DJI drones, but with different model coverage. Litchi supports most DJI drones from Phantom 3 through newer Mini and Air series. Dronelink supports a wide range of DJI models. Dronelytics supports DJI, Autel, PX4, and ArduPilot — the broadest hardware compatibility of the three.
Is there a free alternative to Litchi and Dronelink?
Yes. Dronelytics is free and includes grid surveys, orbit missions, waypoints, terrain follow, and 12 FAA airspace data layers. It covers the mission planning features that Litchi and Dronelink charge for, plus airspace awareness that neither of them offers. See how all free options compare in our full roundup of free mission planning software.
Can I plan missions on my computer and fly from my phone?
Litchi has a web-based Mission Hub for desktop planning that syncs to the mobile app. Dronelink supports web-based planning with mobile execution. Dronelytics is fully web-based — plan on any device with a browser, then export to your flight controller.
Try Dronelytics Free
Full mission planning with airspace awareness, terrain follow, and multi-platform support. No subscription. No feature gates.
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