When building or upgrading your FPV drone, choosing the right receiver is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Without a reliable receiver, even the best motors, cameras, and flight controllers won’t matter—your drone simply won’t respond.
In this guide, we’ll cover what FPV receivers are, the most popular protocols (Crossfire, ExpressLRS, Tracer, Ghost, FrSky), and how to pick the best option depending on your flying style in 2025. By the end, you’ll know exactly which receiver to buy for your setup.
What Is a FPV Receiver?
First, we need to discuss what FPV receivers are and what their job is on a drone. Receivers are like ears on a drone that listen for your radio transmitter commands, process them, and send them further to the flight controller, which then converts them back into the commands and executes them.
Some FPV receivers have better range and penetration than others, but we will get to that in a moment.
Do I Need Receiver On My Drone?
Receiver is crucial component for your drone as without one you have no way of telling your drone what to do, some recent digital systems like DJI Air unit, DJI O3 and Caddx vista(smaller version of DJI original air unit made by Caddx) have built in receivers that can be used only with DJI transmitters, but you can still use regular external receivers.
Receiver Telemetry: What Is It?
Another feature on receivers is telemetry, but what does it do?
In short, receiver telemetry is data that is transferred between TX and RX, for example:
- Battery voltage
- Current draw
- Stick positions
- Flight mode
- RSSI
- Link quality
- Transmitting power
- GPS coordinates
- GPS altitude
- GPS satellites acquired
- Magnetic orientation and much more.
What Are the Key Features Of FPV Receivers?
When comparing receivers, pay attention to:
- Frequency: 900MHz for long range & penetration; 2.4GHz for lighter weight and faster response.
- Latency: Crucial for racing and freestyle (lower is better).
- Telemetry: Sends data like battery voltage, RSSI, GPS, and link quality back to the radio.
- Size & Weight: Important for micro drones vs. 5-inch builds.
- Channels: More channels = more flexibility for flight modes and accessories. You can assign your desired controls to your drone.
Some of those controls can be mandatory, like: Arm (arming motors), Pre-arm (a safety feature used so you don’t arm motors by accident, but it is optional, and everyone should use it if you ask me)
Or some of your own choice, some I personally use on all of my drones: Fly mode, Flip after a crash, Beeper, Air mode (I use it on the switch instead of always on)
Popular FPV Receiver Protocols
Some of the most popular RX protocols are:
- Frsky
- Frsky R9
- Flysky
- Tracer
- Ghost
- Crossfire
- ExpressLRS
| Protocol | Frequency | Latency | Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FrSky / FlySky | 2.4GHz | Medium | Short | Beginners on budget |
| TBS Crossfire | 868/915MHz | Low | Very Long | Long-range & freestyle pilots |
| TBS Tracer | 2.4GHz | Ultra-low | Medium | Racing (speed-focused) |
| ImmersionRC Ghost | 2.4GHz | Flexible | Medium-long | Competitive FPV racing |
| ExpressLRS (ELRS) | 2.4GHz / 900MHz | Ultra-low | Ultra-long | All-round pilots, open-source community |
2025 update: FrSky and FlySky are now considered outdated. Crossfire and ELRS dominate the market, with ELRS leading thanks to open-source development and record-breaking performance.
FrSky and FlySky
While FrSky and FlySky are now pretty outdated, they still can be a solid budget option for close-range flights.
ImmersionRC
ImmersionRC made one of the best analogue diversity modules for video systems, and they also made Ghost protocol and receivers that operate at 2.4GHz and can switch between lower refresh rates all the way to 15Hz for achieving much longer range, or increasing refresh rate all the way up to 222Hz to get super responsive feedback, and are used a lot for FPV drone racing.
TBS Crossfire and Tracer
Crossfire and Tracer protocols were made by trusty TBS (Team Blacksheep) and are some of the most popular and used receivers to date.
Crossfire operates on 868/915Mhz 50-150hz while tracer operates on 2.4Ghz and is 250hz refresh rate
ExpressLRS
ExpressLRS operates on 915Mhz or 2.4 GHz, depending on which one you pick, and goes up to 1000Hz. ELRS is the most recent receiver protocol, and it is an open-source project. ELRS has shocked the industry with its performance, and if I recall correctly, it holds the record for the largest range of all receivers at over 100km, not that a FPV pilot would carry the gear necessary for such a range. I just thought it was amazing information to know.
Binding Process
One key factor when choosing a receiver is how easy it is to bind it with your transmitter:
- Crossfire – Plug, power, bind once, and it stays paired forever.
- Tracer – Similar ease with ultra-low latency.
- ELRS – Initially complex, but now WiFi-based. Set your binding phrase once, and it works seamlessly every time.
- Ghost – Requires firmware sync, but reliable once set up.
- FrSky/FlySky – Often requires firmware flashing, making it inconvenient for beginners.
Crossfire Binding
The reason why Crossfire has so much going for it is not just its amazing performance, but also its binding process and reliability as well! To bind Crossfire all you have to do is put the transmitter and receiver into binding modes, and once it’s bound it is bound forever unless you reset it, you plug in your battery and it is connected before you look at your transmitter, its just so simple.
Ghost Binding
To bind Ghost, you need to update external module to latest firmware to be sure it will support receiver firmware it came with, set correct settings on external module to match ones you want to use and press bind. After external module enters bind mode, you have to press button on ghost receiver within 30 seconds of starting bind mode on external module. After this, it should bind and if receiver needs update, it will prompt you on external modules screen, where you can confirm or deny update
FrSky and FlySky Binding
Frsky and Flysky HAVE to be on the exact same firmware (TX and RX), otherwise it won’t bind, and since it’s so old, they will almost never be the same firmware when you get them, and flashing is gimmicky at best.
ELRS Binding
ELRS got a lot of hate at the beginning as it was super complicated to get it working, which included flashing, setting the binding phrase, and so on, but by now they have made it so much better; a simpler experience it is for me, on par with the TBS ones.
Since it is still so fresh most receivers you buy will come with newer firmware which is easy to set up as plugging in your battery with receiver wired on flight controller, waiting a minute for it to open wifi connection, entering “expresslrs” for password and going to 10.0.0.1 in your browser to type your binding phrase and clicking save, that is it and it sounds much longer process than it actually is. After that, it will bind every time, just like TBS receivers, and simply work.
Which FPV receiver To Pick?
Choosing the right receiver largely depends on your transmitter. If you already have a transmitter, check which protocols it supports. If you’re buying a transmitter, consider a few key points before deciding.
Personal Recommendation
Honestly, there’s little reason to look beyond TBS (Crossfire/Tracer) and ExpressLRS today. They offer exceptional performance without being significantly more expensive than older systems like FrSky.
- TBS Crossfire offers the easiest setup and rock-solid reliability.
- ExpressLRS performs even better in many cases and, being open-source, is continuously improving thanks to a strong community.
Popular Radios
- The TBS Tango 2 is a fantastic controller with built-in Crossfire, and it’s the one I personally started with (though I did later mod it with an internal 1W ELRS module — not recommended, as it involves heavily modifying the housing).
- The TBS Mambo comes with a built-in Tracer, offering a seamless experience at 2.4GHz. (The Ethix Mambo is similar, with mainly cosmetic differences.)
- ImmersionRC Ghost is technically great, but hasn’t gained as much traction. It requires an external module since there are no radios with built-in Ghost support, making it less convenient for pilots who prefer integrated solutions.
ExpressLRS Options
Since ELRS is newer, not many transmitters come with it built-in — but you can add external modules to many radios to enable ELRS compatibility.
Some excellent radios with built-in ELRS include:
- Radiomaster Pocket (ELRS version)
- Radiomaster Boxer (ELRS version — be careful, as there are non-ELRS versions too)
One more worth mentioning is the Radiomaster TX16S, a long-time favorite in the FPV community for its excellent build quality, flexibility, and reliability.
Best FPV Receiver by Scenario
- For Beginners: FrSky R-XSR (cheap, easy, but outdated tech)
- For Racing: TBS Tracer Nano RX or ImmersionRC Ghost (low latency is key)
- For Freestyle: TBS Crossfire Nano RX (penetration + reliability)
- For Long Range: ExpressLRS 900MHz (record-breaking distance)
- For Tiny Whoops / Micros: Built-in ELRS AIO flight controllers
Recommended Radios and Receivers
Radios:
- Radiomaster TX16S
- Radiomaster Boxer ELRS
- TBS Tango 2 (Crossfire)
- TBS Mambo (Tracer built-in)
Receivers:
- TBS Crossfire Nano RX pro
- TBS Tracer Nano RX
- ELRS Happymodel EP1/EP2
- ELRS BetaFPV Nano RX
FAQ: FPV Receiver Selection
Which is better: Crossfire or ELRS?
ELRS now outperforms Crossfire in pure specs (range, latency), but Crossfire is still easier to set up initially.
Can I use the DJI FPV system with regular receivers?
Yes, you can. But if you only use the DJI controller, you are locked into DJI’s system.
What frequency is better: 900MHz or 2.4GHz?
- 900MHz = better penetration and long-range (thicker obstacles)
- 2.4GHz = slightly less penetration, but lighter, smaller gear, faster response
Is it hard to update firmware on receivers?
On Crossfire, it’s automatic. On ELRS, it’s WiFi-based now, super easy.
What is the best FPV receiver for beginners in 2025?
ExpressLRS 2.4GHz Nano receivers—they are cheap, reliable, and future-proof.
Conclusion
Based on the transmitter you have or have chosen to get, you need to decide if you want to use native or if you don’t mind adding a module to make your radio compatible with the receiver protocol. This lies in personal choice, but external modules cost extra; don’t forget that, and add to the overall weight and size.
Did I mention most new tinywhoop drones come with ELRS built into all-in-one boards? Yes, ELRS has some miniature receivers; it is actually hard to believe.
And if you already have Frsky or any Taranis transmitter, you can either add an external module or check which protocol runs in that specific transmitter, as ACCST and ACCESS, for example, won’t work with one on another; it has to be the correct one, and get a receiver with the same protocol.
In 2025, FPV pilots mainly choose between TBS Crossfire and ExpressLRS.
- Crossfire: Rock-solid reliability, hassle-free binding.
- ExpressLRS: Open-source, faster, longer range, and rapidly evolving.
When picking your FPV receiver, consider:
- Your flying style (racing, freestyle, long range)
- Transmitter compatibility
- Budget and upgrade path
Ready to upgrade your drone’s performance? Explore our full range of FPV receivers and find the perfect match for your next flight.