The FAA has two drone tests, and people constantly mix them up. Here's the difference, who needs which, and how to decide in under a minute.
Fly for fun → take TRUST (free, online, can't fail). Fly for money or business → get Part 107 (a real certificate, earned by passing a $175 FAA exam). They are not two versions of the same thing — they're for two different kinds of flying.
Search "do I need TRUST or Part 107" and you'll find a lot of confusion. It clears up fast once you realize the FAA isn't asking which test you'd prefer — it's asking why you fly. One test is for hobbyists; the other is for anyone making money.
TRUST — The Recreational UAS Safety Test — is a free online safety test for people who fly drones purely for fun. It takes a few minutes, walks you through basic safety rules, and you literally cannot fail it: miss a question and it re-teaches the answer before letting you continue. When you finish you get a completion certificate to carry when you fly. TRUST is not a pilot license — it's a knowledge check for hobbyists.
Part 107 is the real deal: the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate that lets you fly a drone for any commercial or non-recreational purpose. You earn it by being at least 16, passing a $175 in-person knowledge test (60 questions, 70% to pass), and clearing a TSA background check. It covers regulations, airspace, weather, loading, and operations — real aeronautical knowledge. See how to get your Part 107 for the full process.
Ask yourself one question: is there any business purpose to this flight? Paid work, footage you'll sell, content that promotes a business, or building a portfolio to get hired — all of that is commercial, and you need Part 107. If it's genuinely just for fun, TRUST is all you need. When you're on the fence, default to Part 107 — it's the broader authority and being certified never hurts. Not sure where your flight falls? Our guide on whether you need a license to fly a drone breaks down the gray areas.
When you operate under Part 107, you don't need TRUST. But here's the nuance: if a certificated pilot decides to fly purely for fun under the recreational exception, those specific flights follow the recreational rules — which include TRUST. Many Part 107 holders simply fly everything under Part 107 and skip the question entirely. It's a quick, free test, so plenty of pilots take it anyway just to have it.
No. TRUST is a free recreational safety test for flying for fun. Part 107 is the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate required for any commercial purpose, earned by passing a $175 knowledge test.
Not when you're operating commercially under Part 107. But if you choose to fly purely recreationally under the recreational exception, those flights fall under recreational rules, which require TRUST.
TRUST is completely free and taken online through an FAA-approved test administrator. You can't fail it, and you keep a completion certificate as proof.
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