Battle of the Cleaning Drones: Apellix vs. Lucid vs. DJI – Best Cleaning Drone
If you’re looking for the best cleaning drone for commercial window cleaning, exterior building washing, or pressure washing, there isn’t one platform that is automatically the right choice for every operator.
We’ve flown and worked around several of the leading platforms, and we’ve also gathered feedback from cleaning drone operators through our Facebook community and our Drone Cleaning Under Pressure discussion.
What we’ve learned is that Apellix, Lucid, and DJI each have different strengths and tradeoffs. The best fit depends on the type of work you’re doing, the height you need to reach, your cleaning payload, lift requirements, software preferences, and the support you need after the purchase.
Cleaning Drone Comparison: Apellix vs. Lucid vs. DJI
Important: The ratings below are our opinions only.
They are based on our own experience flying these platforms and feedback we’ve heard from other operators in the Drone Cleaning Under Pressure discussion and our Facebook community. They are not manufacturer specifications, controlled testing results, or factual performance measurements.
Category | Apellix | Lucid | DJI |
Weight | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
Battery Life | Average | Average | Excellent |
Stability | Good | Good | Average |
Support | Average | Average | None |
Ease of Use | Good | Good | Good |
Cleaning Payload | Average | Good | None |
Max Height | Excellent | Average | Good |
Software | Average | Good | Excellent |
Lift Capacity | Good | Good | Average |
*For DJI, we are referring specifically to first-party cleaning support and cleaning payloads, not DJI’s general customer support or broader payload ecosystem. The DJI platform discussed in this article is a Matrice 400 configured with an aftermarket cleaning payload. We are not reviewing a DJI-manufactured cleaning system.
These ratings should be treated as a starting point, not as specifications. Before purchasing any cleaning drone, refer directly to the manufacturer’s published capacity measurements and contact the manufacturer to confirm flight time, payload capacity, operating height, hose limitations, pressure capabilities, and other specifications for your specific application.
Apellix: A Strong Option for Height and Lift
Apellix is one of the more established purpose-built options for exterior drone cleaning.
From our experience, two of its most noticeable advantages are lower weight and its ability to work higher. It also uses an eight-motor configuration, compared with the six-motor configuration on Lucid’s Sherpa.
That can become important once a cleaning hose is attached. The aircraft isn’t simply carrying a payload. It also has to manage hose weight, drag, wind, water movement, and changing forces as the drone moves higher.
We’ve also received positive feedback about Apellix’s performance and support from operators using the platform. Apellix is based in the United States and specifically develops drones for power washing, soft washing, and other industrial applications.
Where we see Apellix fitting: Operators who place a high priority on weight, height, lift capability, and a purpose-built exterior cleaning platform.
Lucid Sherpa: A Strong Window Cleaning Option
Lucid Bots Sherpa is another purpose-built commercial cleaning platform and, in many ways, is very comparable to Apellix.
The Sherpa is heavier, but Lucid has an important advantage for operators focused on drone window cleaning: its optional window washing payload.
That payload allows the aircraft to carry cleaning solution onboard while receiving water from the ground, creating a workflow specifically designed around washing and rinsing glass. Lucid markets the Sherpa for soft washing, pressure washing, and window cleaning.
For a contractor cleaning large amounts of commercial glass, production speed can matter more than having the lightest aircraft.
That is why we don’t think these drones should simply be ranked from first to third. A platform that is better suited for one contractor’s work may be less suitable for another.
If you want to learn more about how professional drone window cleaning and exterior building cleaning works, see Drone Wash commercial cleaning services.
Where we see Lucid fitting: Operators focused heavily on commercial window cleaning who can benefit from its specialized payload and established cleaning workflow.
DJI Matrice 400: A Proven Flight Platform With an Important Catch
DJI Matrice 400 is different from Apellix and Lucid because DJI is not being evaluated here as a purpose-built cleaning drone manufacturer.
We’re evaluating the DJI Matrice 400 platform when it is equipped with an aftermarket cleaning payload.
At the time of writing, we are not evaluating an off-the-shelf, DJI-manufactured cleaning payload. The cleaning configuration we have experience with uses third-party equipment added to the Matrice platform.
DJI has an extremely mature flight ecosystem, strong software, advanced navigation capabilities, RTK functionality, and a platform that can support multiple applications beyond cleaning. DJI’s official Matrice 400 documentation also supports a broad third-party payload ecosystem through its enterprise platform.
The tradeoff is that a platform designed for many different commercial drone applications may not have the same cleaning-specific lift characteristics as a larger purpose-built washing drone.
That becomes especially relevant when lifting a hose to greater heights.
There is also less direct U.S. cleaning-specific support because the cleaning equipment is aftermarket. If you have a cleaning-system problem, support may come from the payload manufacturer or integrator rather than DJI itself.
Where we see DJI fitting: Operators who place a high value on software, familiar flight characteristics, battery performance, RTK, and the flexibility of a proven enterprise drone platform.
Don’t ignore AhatTek as an up-and-coming option
AhatTek is another company worth watching. It’s still up and coming compared with the better-known names, but that can sometimes be where interesting equipment and pricing show up first.
If you’re researching options, check out AhatTek. Use discount code WASPILOTACADEMY for 5% off.
That doesn’t mean it automatically beats Apellix, Lucid, or DJI. It just means it belongs on the shortlist if you’re comparing platforms, payloads, and total startup cost.
So Which Cleaning Drone Is Best?
There really isn’t one universal winner. Here's the simple way to think about it.
Choose Apellix if you care most about lower weight, stronger motors, height capability, and U.S.-based support.
Choose Lucid if window cleaning is a major part of the business and the dedicated window cleaning payload can save time.
Choose DJI if you want the most proven general drone platform and you’re comfortable with the possible lift and support tradeoffs.
Have Questions About Drone Cleaning?
Not sure which platform or cleaning setup makes sense for your operation?
The DRONEWASH+ team can help you better understand the equipment, capabilities, and opportunities involved in professional drone cleaning.
Have a question or need a quote? Visit our website or call +1 (866) 838-1555.
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