Betaflight is an open-source software (firmware) specifically developed for controlling FPV racing and freestyle drones. It runs on so-called flight controllers—the “brains” of the drone—which process sensor data and translate control inputs into motor movements.

Since its introduction, Betaflight has established itself as one of the most popular firmwares in the FPV world. It stands out due to frequent updates, a very active community, and a wide range of configuration options. While getting started requires some basic technical understanding, pilots of all experience levels benefit from its precise control, customizable flight modes, and extensive tools for optimizing flight performance.

The term firmware refers to software that is installed directly on a device—in this case, the flight controller. It ensures that the hardware operates correctly and behaves according to the pilot’s commands from the radio transmitter. Unlike regular software (such as programs on a PC or smartphone), firmware operates much closer to the hardware and is designed for maximum efficiency and real-time performance.

Betaflight offers a wide variety of features that influence a drone’s flight behavior:

• Flight modes: Such as Angle, Horizon, or Acro (covering everything from beginners to experts).
• Adjustable PID control loops: For fine-tuning flight characteristics and improving flight stability and safety.
• Filtering: Electronic smoothing of sensor signals to reduce vibrations and electrical noise.
• Failsafe: A safety feature that defines how the drone behaves if the radio link is lost.
• OSD (On-Screen Display): Displays important information such as battery voltage or flight time directly in the FPV camera feed.

A central part of working with Betaflight is the Betaflight Configurator. This software is used on a computer to configure the flight controller, perform firmware updates, and read data from the drone. Its graphical user interface makes even complex functions accessible to beginners. In addition, it is no longer strictly necessary to install the Configurator locally—you can now use it conveniently as a Chrome app or directly in the web browser.