Overpriced Features
I was going to buy the $25 package but I noticed I couldn't use the mapping feature, that is the only feature I am interested in, and paying $100 for the Elite plan is too much. That feature was in the basic plan and that's why I was intersested in it. Not buying and not recommending.
Comments
14 comments
What are you mapping?
Want to try with my property
Saying that Dronelink is overpriced is subjective, and you have the right to maintain that opinion. We have many happy customers that feel like the exact opposite way, but we understand that Dronelink may not be for everyone, and that is okay.
If you don't find value in our product, or you can find another product that offers a better value proposition, then you should definitely not buy Dronelink.
The fact is that before with the $25 Basic Plan you could use the mapping feature but they moved that feature to the Elite Plan so now the same feature costs 4x its price
Pointing out that we regularly change our pricing and plans does not invalidate my previous comments.
We have made significant improvements and additions to the mapping features in Dronelink since we originally offered the Mapper plan at the introductory pricing for early adopters, and we are confident in the value proposition of these powerful features relative to the competing products on the market.
I agree with Jim about what DL offers. They have added so much more than they already offered and it’s an amazing app. I’ve use DL for just over a year and I have seen them add so many more functions/ features since I purchased it.
If you only want to do mapping you can search for other apps which only do mapping for your spark. I’ve seen a few which I believe are free which will work but I don’t have a Spark so I can’t speak for which ones do and work well. I don’t like suggesting other developers apps on this forum and especially since I don’t use them. Good luck.
Mike…..
It seems you are upset not at the price, but that it once cost something and now costs more. But...all of the people that bought it at the lower price still have that functionality - it wasn't taken away from them.
Personally, I use DL regularly. The amount of functionality built into it is crazy, and miles ahead of anything else on the market. All that functionality and the maintenance of that (keeping up with software upgrades to iOS/Android, new SDKs from DJI, new hardware, etc.) doesn't just magically happen. People have to spend time doing that, while still continuing to add new features regularly. Those people (rightly) expect to be paid for their efforts.
At the end of the day, everyone has to make a choice about where they spend their money. If you are just using it to play around and map your backyard for fun, I can see why you might not want to spend $99. That is your choice.
But, there are many other people that are happy to pay for the value they perceive. That is their choice.
I had a similar initial sentiment regarding the price of DL, and the rearrangement of features within tiers, as I've been watching year-old YouTube videos explaining certain things. I have since found value in details, especially the Mission Preview, and separating markers from waypoints.
For comparison, Litchi uses a Facebook group as a forum and "support", which I don't like. It is sold on Amazon, Apple, and Google. For each platform, each must be purchased separately.($73 for all)
I'm more concerned with the longevity of the support behind the software.
Dronelink does have an Official Facebook Group too. Much more activity in this Forum but it may be helpful too.
I'm not personally concerned about the long-term support - that's what the business plans are for and why they are on a monthly subscription. There are a LOT of companies using this software - including many well-known names.
While no software lasts forever, I expect it to be around for a long time. It just has too many people with a vested interest to keep it going.
I have to say that I was a little unhappy about the pricing and the plans until I used DL (I bought the Elite Hobby package) , I am converted, DroneLink is absolutely brilliant right out of the box. For me in Australia it costs a lot more than for the folks in the USA but even then it's worth it by a country mile.
Here's an example: I am building a new house and had to work out 'cut and fill' for making a level pad to build on, now this may seem like a bit of nothing but by working out my own cut and fill I didn't have to pay the earth mover an additional $200 to calculate it for me so I can put it (the amount of cut and fill) on my construction certificate for my local council approval.
I could have done it manually, lots of walking, measuring and math and some basic surveying tools ($100 to rent them) and a bunch of hours in the hot sun trampling through weeds and scrub. But instead I asked a question on these forums prior to purchase and got a very clear and true answer, so I spent $145 AUD on the software and got exactly the result I was after.
Since then I have had a small tornado run through our farm and take out endless trees that end up breaking fences, and there goes my livestock. I made a quick waypoint mission plan to run my boundary fences and film them (the Air 2s doesn't support waypoints so can't do that without 3rd party software). So off it went, came back a few times to change batteries, and then it was done. Normally this task would take me hours and hours on the quad bike in pretty rough country, and some fence runs can only be gotten to by foot.
An hour passes and the drone finishes it's job and lands, 10 minutes reviewing the footage and I find a few trees on bits of fence, I go out and fix what's needed. I also now run a regular automated mission over my fruit trees (about 1klm away from the house) so I can get the fruit just before ripe, and before the birds get the lot. Sure I can fly it manually for the same thing, except that I now get a picture taken from the exact same spot every time for comparison, not something that I can easily do by hand
I bought it to do a single task, it performed that task perfectly, every future mission I run is cream, it costs half the price of a single decent tyre for my quad bike (and they don't last long).
My Air 2s Fly More cost me $2,100 AUD so the software is roughly 7% the value of the UAV.
My laptop cost me $900 and the software on it is roughly 100% the value of the laptop
A case of beer costs $70 AUD and a pack of smokes $50, for the price of 50 smokes and 24 cans of beer I'd say it's bloody good value for a one time license cost, I have to pay for beer and smokes every week!!
I am talking about my own experience and am not trying to convince anyone.
I might be more understanding of Suamy Erazo situation.
The pricing model and so many options had made me confused.
It is more like a niche market but not a supermarket. Is it necessary to have so many options? I don't know and it's not my business.
I only know my own part clearly.
I will never use all of Elite's functions. I just purchased Elite a few days ago and I am very happy about the decision.
I think a lot of other Dronelink users are also happily using the software as well.
Also writing to Suamy Erazo, do what makes you happy, do what you will never regret.
All the best.
Great comments. You can’t buy a Mercedes for the price of a Camry. Both are great cars but you get what you pay for overall. Enjoy eneryone…
I don't quite agree with the Mercedes-Toyota analogy.
Dronelink is not a luxury.
Why I choose Elite is because I really need pre-flight planning. Because of my own needs, whether it is Mercedes or Toyota does not matter, I will definitely choose the most complete option.
I continue to share my real use, in the first picture below, take a look first, do you see anything?
There are ultra high voltage (UAV) wires going through.
Their voltage exceeds 340,000 volts.
There are many beautiful landscapes in the environment where I live. But there are often similar situations everywhere.
Now I can set my own no-fly zone very quickly on Dronelink, which makes me feel more comfortable and safer to fly.
I'm not even sure which version of the feature this includes.
But it's worth the Elite price for this feature alone.
I just choose the best option and am lucky there it is the feature.
So, it is not just about the items / pricing (whatever) in the comparison chart or a luxury-cheap concept.
It is more about personal needs.
Be happy and be safe.
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