Start from the mission
Before comparing products, write down what you want the aircraft to do and where it will fly. Photography over open land, indoor practice, racing, mapping a job site, and teaching a class all point at different aircraft. Buying first and finding a use later is how most drones end up in a closet.
Also check the rules that apply where you plan to fly. Weight thresholds, registration requirements, and airspace restrictions can make one aircraft far more practical than another.
Where to buy
Authorized retailers and established hobby shops are worth the small premium: you get warranty support, returns, and access to spare parts. Well-known online hobby retailers are the standard source for FPV components and frames. Manufacturer stores are reliable for consumer camera drones.
Be cautious with marketplace listings far below market price, listings with vague or borrowed photos, and sellers with no return policy. Counterfeit batteries and non-functional clones are common. Used aircraft can be excellent value, but only when you can inspect the airframe, ask about crash history, and see it power up and hover.
The real total cost
Budget for the whole system, not the aircraft. A realistic first setup includes the aircraft, a radio, two or more batteries, a balance charger, a pile of spare propellers, basic tools, and a case. For FPV, add goggles and a simulator. Accessories often cost as much as the aircraft.
The single best value purchase for a new pilot is a simulator plus an inexpensive trainer. Crashing is part of learning, and it is much cheaper in software.
Parts availability and repairability
Prefer aircraft and frames built around standard part sizes: common stack mounting patterns, common motor bolt patterns, common prop sizes, and common battery connectors. When you break something, and you will, standard parts mean a next-day fix instead of a three-week wait.
For classroom use, documentation and repairability outrank raw performance. A well-documented, repairable kit can run a program for years; a sealed proprietary aircraft cannot.