Which drone mission-planning software should you choose?
Airspace geovigilance, authorization requests, flight log, compliance: compare Waypoint360, DroneKeeper, Clearance and FlyBy on objective, sourced criteria.
What a good mission-planning tool must cover
Before every flight, a professional drone pilot must check regulatory constraints (zones, NOTAMs, SupAIPs, obstacles), obtain the required authorizations, keep a flight log and, increasingly, document compliance. Several French platforms cover all or part of this scope.
This comparison pits four solutions against each other on the criteria that matter day to day. Data was collected in July 2026 from the vendors' official websites; "not disclosed" means a feature is not publicly documented, not necessarily that it is absent.
Two families of comparison
Waypoint360 sits at the crossroads of mission-preparation software and flight-log tools. Pick the comparison that matches your need.
Drone-management software
Geo-awareness, authorisation requests, logbook, compliance — Waypoint360 vs DroneKeeper, Clearance and FlyBy.
↓Flight-log apps
Backing up and reading DJI flight logs — Waypoint360 Sync vs AirData, OpenDroneLog, Flight Reader, PhantomHelp and DroneLogbook.
See the flight-log comparisonFeature and pricing comparison
| Criterion | Waypoint360 | DroneKeeper | Clearance | FlyBy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Meridian Synergy — France | Innov'ATM — France | Hologarde — France | Air Space Drone — France |
| U-space status (USSP) | No (outside U-space) | DSAC-certified | Applicant — not certified | No (AlphaTango delegate) |
| Airspace map (NOTAM, SupAIP, obstacles) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Authorization requests (prefectures, aerodromes) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AlphaTango sync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Digital flight log | Yes | Not disclosed | Yes | Not disclosed |
| DJI flight-log ingestion | Yes | Not disclosed | No | Not disclosed |
| Multi-country compliance (beyond France) | Yes | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Waypoint flight planning (KMZ/WPML) | Yes | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Free tier | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Individual pricing | Free tier + pro plans | €29/mo or €320/yr excl. tax · €9.90 per mission | €29/mo or €290/yr excl. tax · free in partner zones | Free (base plan) |
| Target users | Drone pilots, operators, clients | Pilots, companies, civil security | Pilots, companies, airports | Pilots, companies |
Sources: official sites dronekeeper.com, clearance.aero, airspacedrone.com and waypoint360.eu, accessed July 2026. U-space (USSP) status is the vendor's (Innov'ATM for DroneKeeper). FlyBy is published by Air Space Drone, an AlphaTango delegate. Provided for information on an objective basis; check current specifications with each vendor.
Who is each solution for?
Waypoint360
Pilots and operators who want to centralize multi-country compliance (EASA, FAA, Canada), DJI flight-log ingestion and activity management — beyond French mission planning alone.
DroneKeeper
French pilots and public services looking for mission planning backed by a U-space service provider (USSP) certified in France.
Clearance
Pilots who mainly need to obtain flight clearances from airports, via the network of airports already connected to the platform.
FlyBy
Pilots looking for a free mission-planning tool, focused on French regulation and clearance requests (prefectures, airports).
Detailed comparisons
Three head-to-heads to go further, competitor by competitor.
Frequently asked questions
DroneKeeper, Clearance, FlyBy or Waypoint360: which is cheapest?
DroneKeeper and Clearance individual subscriptions are close: around €29/mo excl. tax (€320/yr and €290/yr respectively). Clearance offers a permanent free tier in partner zones, DroneKeeper a 15-day trial then pay-per-mission (€9.90 excl. tax). FlyBy is free on its base plan and Waypoint360 offers a free individual plan. Pricing collected July 2026.
Which platform is U-space (USSP) certified?
As of July 2026, DroneKeeper (published by Innov'ATM) is USSP-certified by the DSAC. Clearance (Hologarde) filed an application in early 2025 but is not certified at that date. FlyBy (Air Space Drone) is not a USSP but is an AlphaTango delegate. Waypoint360 is not a USSP: its focus is multi-country compliance and flight-data sovereignty.
Can I import my DJI flight logs?
Waypoint360 supports flight-log ingestion (import and a DJI sync gateway). For DroneKeeper, Clearance and FlyBy, DJI flight-log import is not publicly documented as of July 2026.
Do these tools handle compliance outside France?
Waypoint360 covers several regulatory frameworks (EASA, FAA, Canada). DroneKeeper, Clearance and FlyBy focus on French regulation. Always confirm geographic coverage with the vendor for your specific need.
Is FlyBy free?
Yes, FlyBy (published by Air Space Drone) offers a free base plan; no paid plan is published as of July 2026. Waypoint360 also offers a free individual plan, with pro plans beyond it.
Try Waypoint360 for free
Multi-country compliance, flight-log ingestion and activity management, in a single platform.