I Tested 20 GPS Modules to Find the Best for FPV Drones (Betaflight Rescue & iNav Return to Home)

GPS, or GNSS in general, has become an invaluable component for FPV drones thanks to major advancements in features like Rescue Mode and Position Hold in Betaflight, as well as Return to Home in iNav. Today, I’ll be testing some of the most popular GPS modules on the market from BZGNSS, Flywoo, HGLRC, Beitian, GEPRC, Flyfish, and many more, comparing their performance and offering my recommendations.

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. I receive a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these affiliate links. This helps support the free content for the community on this website. Please read our Affiliate Link Policy for more information.

Why You Need GPS on Your FPV Drone

The latest versions of Betaflight have revolutionized GPS Rescue Mode, making it far more reliable and user-friendly. This makes adding a GPS module to almost all of your quad builds a no-brainer. However, the challenge is finding a reliable GPS module that balances cost, size, and weight without compromising accuracy.

• Check out this post to learn more about Rescue Mode in Betaflight: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/
• You can also set up Position Hold, which requires GPS: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-position-hold/

In this roundup, we’ll explore various options to find the cheapest, smallest, and best-performing GPS modules available.

Performance Testing

Here are the GPS modules I’ve tested:

• All of these modules support the u-blox protocol
• I wrote down the price (lowest found on AliExpress), the width of each module, and tagged it “Mag” if it has a built-in magnetometer (compass)

GPS Modules	Acquire 8 sats (Cold Start)	5 Minutes (No. of sats)	PDOP (5min)
AxisFlying Axis M10 (Manta5) $30, 20mm, Mag	0:45	22	1.29
Beitian BN-180 $19, 18.2mm	1:30	15	1.36
Beitian BN-220 $19, 20mm	0:53	17	1.18
Beitian BE-122 (Seeker3) $19, 12mm	2:07	11	2.05
BZGNSS BZ-121 (Seeker35) $18, 12.2mm	1:02	14	1.37
BZGNSS BZ-181 $19, 18mm	0:41	21	1.26
BZGNSS BZ-251 $20, 25.2mm, Mag	0:38	23	1.13
BZGNSS P18 Pro $20, 20.5mm	0:36	33	0.82
Cyclone M1012 $9.5, 12.5mm, Mag	0:45	17	1.44
FlyfishRC M10 Mini $19, 12.3mm	0:42	19	1.46
** FlyfishRC M8QMC $25, 20mm	2:02	11	N/A
Flywoo GM10 Nano V3 $21, 12.5mm, Mag	0:54	18	1.42
Flywoo GM10 Mini V3 $18, 18.3mm	0:42	20	1.25
Flywoo GM10 Pro V3 $20, 25mm, Mag	0:46	24	1.13
GEPRC GEP-M10 $20, 22mm	0:41	24	1.06
GEPRC GEP-M1025 (MOZ7 V2) $22, 29mm	0:42	25	0.96
GEPRC M1025Q $24, 29mm, Mag	0:41	23	1.22
HGLRC M100 Mini $16, 15.2mm	1:10	22	1.21
HGLRC M100 5883 $17, 21mm, Mag	0:33	22	1.14
HGLRC M80 Pro $19, 25mm, Mag	1:43	13	1.51
NewBeeDrone M10Q Micro (LionBee) $20, 12.4mm, Mag	0:41	23	1.23
** VK GPS $4, 30mm	4:04	8	N/A

Let me explain what these results mean:

The 2nd column shows the time it takes to lock onto 8 satellites from a cold start. Acquiring at least 8 satellites before takeoff is recommended by Betaflight for reliable Rescue Mode and Position Hold.

What’s Cold Start and Hot Start?

• A cold start refers to the GPS module initializing with no recognized location, time, or satellite data, forcing it to search from scratch. This is the slowest startup mode and usually takes anywhere from over 30 seconds to several minutes. This typically happens when the module is powered on for the first time after a long period of inactivity.
• A hot start refers to a GPS module reconnecting to satellites after a brief power cycle or reset, for example when you swap batteries. Since it retains previous satellite data, acquisition is much faster, typically within 10 to 20 seconds.

In the 3rd and 4th columns, I also recorded the maximum number of satellites acquired after being powered on for 5 minutes, as well as the Position DOP (PDOP), which is an indicator of position precision. Basically, the lower the better.

• Low PDOP (1–2): Excellent satellite geometry. Satellites are spread out well, leading to higher precision.
• High PDOP (>6): Poor satellite geometry. Satellites are clustered together, increasing the chance of larger position errors.

However, while a better PDOP (lower) is likely to indicate higher-quality and more accurate position data, it is not a direct measure of how good a GPS module is. It is useful here when comparing GPS modules at the same location and at the same time, to see which one might be more accurate under those specific conditions.

All of the GPS modules were tested at the same location on a sunny day. Testing conditions were ideal, with no WiFi routers or VTX/Air Unit signals causing interference. So you may find that it takes longer to get a 3D fix when using these GPS modules in your quad. That is completely normal.

Ranking and Recommendations

Based on how quickly they get a 3D fix from a cold start, here’s the ranking. The maximum number of satellites they acquire is also important considerations.

Notes

• From the results, you can see that you can hardly go wrong with most M10 GPS modules, although there are still small variations in performance between them.
• Bigger GPS modules generally perform better than smaller ones because of their larger antenna.
• The average price is around $18 to $20, even for the best ones, so there is not much reason to pay extra.
• All of the recommended GPS modules here are plug-and-play in Betaflight. They only require 4 wires: power (5V), ground, and a spare UART TX/RX on your flight controller. For setup instructions, refer to my guide: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/

Best Performance

BZGNSS P18 Pro completely blew the others out of the water. It got a 3D lock in just 36 seconds, acquired up to 33 satellites in 5 minutes, and achieved the lowest PDOP score of 0.82 of all the GPS modules tested in this roundup. It is also very affordable at only $20. It comes in a plastic case, which improves water resistance.

Get the BZ P18 Pro from AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c40xa4sV.

The BZ251 and BZ181 from BZGNSS are also excellent choices. The BZ251 is larger and has an onboard compass, while the BZ181 is a smaller 18mm module the same size as the BN-180.

• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3bq0lFJ
• Amazon: https://amzn.to/4c4AepI

The HGLRC M100 5883 probably offers the best performance-to-price ratio. Not only was it the fastest to get a 3D fix in this roundup, it also comes with a magnetometer, and it costs only $17 on AliExpress.

• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DlLhgFd
• GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-bf3p
• RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-0yby
• Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tpVjRP

As an honorable mention, GEPRC also makes excellent GPS modules. You won’t be disappointed.

GEP-M10

• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3cCFrh3
• GEPRC: https://oscarliang.com/product-czfe
• Amazon: https://amzn.to/48JUQ4i

GEPRC M1025Q

• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCihHmP
• GEPRC: https://oscarliang.com/product-db6q
• GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-zixk

For Compact Micro Builds

Larger GPS modules are generally better than smaller ones because the larger antenna allows them to get a 3D fix faster, and they usually locks onto more satellites, resulting in lower PDOP and better position precision. That said, some tiny GPS modules still perform well enough and should be more than adequate for the average pilot.

The smallest GPS modules have a width of around 12mm, and in this size category, the best performers are the NewBeeDrone M10Q Micro and FlyFishRC M10 Mini. The NewBeeDrone has a slight edge over the FlyFish in terms of accuracy, and it also comes with an onboard compass, making it my favorite compact choice. However, the PVC wires are a slight letdown because they are quite stiff, and there are no solder pads on the GPS, which makes wiring less flexible.

NewBeeDrone M10Q Micro

• NBD: https://oscarliang.com/product-rk7m
• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3ShxTXP

FlyFishRC M10 Mini:

• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkCU7qr
• Amazon: https://amzn.to/4sznyw3

If you prioritize value, you should also consider the Cyclone M1012 in this category. For only $14, it offers incredible value. It even comes with a magnetometer, which is a great bonus.

• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c41RgqZP

Cheapest Worth Having

For budget builds, the cheapest GPS I would recommend is the Cyclone M10 again, at only $14. Cyclone also offers larger variants for a similar price.

• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c41RgqZP

If you need an alternative, the HGLRC M100 Mini is also an excellent budget option, priced at only $16.

HGLRC M100 Mini:

• GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-knfl
• RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-6zvg
• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCXKBFj
• Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dIFVuO

I also tested the VK GPS when building the $150 7-inch long-range quad. It might be the cheapest option at only $4 back in 2024, and around $6 in 2026, but while it did work, it is not reliable enough for me to recommend.

Conclusion

Now is the perfect time to add a GPS module to your FPV drone if you have not done so already.

GPS modules have become more affordable and user-friendly. For as little as $14 to $20, you can get a high-performing GPS module. It is a small investment that could potentially save your drone in the event of signal loss.

Equip your FPV drone with a GPS module and enjoy the peace of mind it brings every time you take to the skies.

Edit History

• 2023 – Review posted.
• 2024 – Re-ran testing and added more GPS module options in the round-up.
• Apr 2026 – Re-ran all testing and added more GPS modules to the roundup