Litchi vs. DJI Go 4 – Which is Better?

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All pilots want a definitive app to control DJI drones. It’s pretty annoying to switch from one to another only to use some functions the other app doesn’t have or isn’t as good at.

Between Litchi and DJI Go 4, which is better?

For pilots that want to fly a drone manually, your best bet is DJI Go 4. It’s remarkably intuitive, and you can use Intelligent Flight Modes for gorgeous shots. Litchi is for pilots that want to create flight missions the drone will follow automatically.

If this information isn’t enough to decide which is better for you, read the entire article. We go further into each app and its pros and cons.

We also clarify which drones DJI Go 4 and Litchi are compatible with and future DJI drone compatibilities.

DJI Go 4 – Best for manual flights and Intelligent Flight Modes #

Flying your drone manually is very easy with DJI Go 4.

This app has intuitive on-screen buttons to take off, land, and RTH fast. Pair your devices, tap some buttons, and you are ready to fly.

This app lets you fly the drone manually at good flying distances while filming awesome videos without losing signal.

You also have collision avoidance sensors that display on the camera view that tell you how near to an object you are—an absolute necessity when flying manually in areas with obstacles.

You can control your drone with this app to perfection. But in some cases, it’s hard to maneuver the drone and the gimbal simultaneously.

This app is very responsive and is stable enough to use follow-me modes for automatic flying without losing you in crowded places.

All these features are available for free!

However, consider that DJI isn’t a company specializing in software development. As an example, its waypoints mode isn’t as polished as other software.

DJI is a business that makes money by selling drones, their components, and parts. Software is crucial when flying a drone, but other companies focus on these services to provide a meaningful experience.

That’s where Litchi enters the game.

List of compatible drones with DJI Go 4 #

Mavic Pro
Mavic 2
Mavic 2 Pro
Mavic Air
Spark
Phantom 4 Advanced
Phantom 4 Pro
Phantom 4 V2.0
Inspire 2
Matrice 200-210 RTK

✅ Pros #

It’s a free app
It’s very intuitive to use
You can use the TapFly modes for cinematic videos
You can set the battery discharge settings to preserve the battery life

❌ Cons #

This app is being replaced by the Fly app for the newest drones
The app fills your camera view with distracting prompts

Litchi – Best for flight missions #

Litchi isn’t a direct replacement for the DJI Go 4. It’s software with other helpful features for flying a programmed flight.

Litchi sells its software as the best autonomous flight app for DJI drones. So it’s the top app for programming and repeating a flight mission when needed.

Let’s say you want to check how some forest area has changed throughout the year.

With Litchi, you can program the flight path and save it. You can then load that same flight path when you wish, with the drone flying according to the same parameters.

This is helpful, as you can always check the same spots from the same angle and altitude.

You can also program a flying path of a cinematic video you want to achieve.

The drone automatically follows the route through waypoints, getting the desired sunset recording while reaching a far point of interest.

List of Compatible DJI drones with Litchi #

Mini 2
Mini SE
Air 2S
Mavic Mini 1
Spark
Mavic Air
Mavic Air 2
Mavic Pro
Mavic 2 Zoom
Mavic 2 Pro
Phantom 3 Standard
Phantom 3 4K
Phantom 3 Advanced
Phantom 3 Professional
Phantom 4 Standard
Phantom 4 Advanced
Phantom 4 Pro
Phantom 4 Pro V2
Inspire 1 X3
Inspire 1 Z3
Inspire 1 Pro
Inspire 1 RAW
Inspire 2

✅ Pros #

You can program the flight mission before going to the field in the Mission Hub
You can simulate the flight mission in the Google Earth map to understand what outcome to expect
Litchi allows you to get a higher transmission range with improved stability
You can configure voice alerts for speed and RTH warnings
You can configure the C1 and C2 buttons with 25 presets

❌ Cons #

Compatability depends on the DJI SDK release
You need to purchase the app to use it

DJI GO 4 vs. Litchi – Comparison #

Let’s compare what both apps have in common.

Waypoints – Litchi wins #

Both apps allow you to use waypoints.

The waypoints in DJI Go 4 will work depending on the drone you use. For the Mavic 2, it only lets you set five waypoints to take a timelapse video.

For Phantom 4, it allows you to set waypoints and save that mission if you want to repeat it.

So you can’t tell how the waypoint mission will perform until you use it.

With Litchi, it works the same for all its compatible drones. You can program multiple waypoints with a point of interest the drone will focus on with the camera.

The drone will follow the waypoints with predefined telemetry parameters you fix on the app.

So with Litchi, you have more room to exploit waypoints by configuring the flight mission as you wish.

Intelligent Flight Modes – DJI Go 4 wins #

Intelligent Flight Modes are features that DJI has and continues to master. ActiveTrack, Hyperlapse, Cinematic mode, and QuikShots work smoothly, recording crisp videos that look natural.

On Litchi, those modes work fluidly too, and you’ll get the same output in quality compared to the DJI Go 4.

But remember, the DJI Go 4 app is free.

If you only plan to use these Intelligent Flight Modes and casually use waypoints, go with the DJI app.

Another reason DJI Go 4 is better in this category is the TapFly mode. It’s only available in DJI Go 4 as a response to the course lock they removed for the Mavic 2, Air 2, and on.

The idea of this mode is to concentrate your efforts by only moving the gimbal to get the desired recording outcome.

So you get the same Intelligent Flight Modes from both apps and one or another mode in DJI Go 4.

Only consider the Intelligent Flight Modes change between drones, so not all drones have all of them.

C1 and C2 – Litchi wins #

C1 and C2 are customizable buttons that are worth using every time.

These shortcut buttons permit you to access functions such as advanced camera settings, battery info, and toggling between the map and camera view with one press.

However, DJI Go 4 only lets you customize up to five or six functions. Litchi allows you to customize up to 25 with honorable mentions, like toggling between VR and Tripod modes.

Litchi is the clear winner on C1 and C2 customization as its range of functions is wider than the DJI Go 4.

Should you pay for Litchi? All the included features #

Litchi is a service you must pay to use, so it must have other features that facilitate the decision to buy it.

Simulator Mode #

Unlike DJI software, you can program the mission in advance in Litchi by setting waypoints, speed, altitude, points of interest, etc., on the Mission Hub in this link.

And you can save that template directly on your mobile app to access it anytime.

You can simulate the waypoint flight mission on Google Earth Pro, so you experience with anticipation the results you’ll get. This is particularly useful to better plan your mission and adjust as needed.

Immersive view with goggles #

Flying on bright days or in sunny environments is tricky while looking at the camera view due to the light reflecting on the screen.

Litchi allows you to use goggles by connecting them to your mobile device and tapping the option on the camera view.

The best part is you can use most VR goggles on the market!

Compatibility with old devices #

The last reason Litchi is worth buying is its mobile device compatibility.

Although you might think the DJI app runs on almost all medium-range devices, you’ll have difficulty with glitchy camera views. In fact, they only support the devices here.

Litchi solved that issue by being compatible with almost all medium-range devices, whether an old iPad or no recognizable smartphone brand. It will certainly run smoothly.

Will DJI Go 4 work with newer DJI drones? #

Not likely, as DJI bets hard on the Fly app, with all the newest consumer DJI drones coming with it.

The Fly app lacks some of the DJI Go 4 features, but the company is constantly updating it to increase its usability and compatibility with DJI Go 4.

Will Litchi work with newer DJI drones? #

Litchi is at the mercy of DJI. Litchi can’t update its app if DJI doesn’t release the appropriate SDK for the newer consumer drones.

Besides, DJI isn’t prioritizing SDK for the newest drones that aren’t enterprise, and Litchi works with consumer-oriented drones.

However, DJI released the awaited SDK for the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro, so Litchi can work on those. But for Mavic 3 series, there isn’t a final response until now, as discussed in this link.