<p>While drone remote sensing has rapidly expanded in forestry applications, its cost-effectiveness remains largely unexplored. This systematic literature review examines the economic viability of drone-based forest management practices from 2014 to 2024, aiming to identify areas of potential cost savings. Analyzing 86 peer-reviewed articles reveals a striking gap: only seven (8%) provided rigorous cost-effectiveness assessments, raising questions about the widespread assumption of this technology's economic benefits. These seven studies suggest that drones can outperform traditional methods in specific forest management activities. However, inconsistent methodologies and a lack of analyses for common drone configurations (e.g., multispectral/LiDAR sensors, fixed-wing platforms) hinder direct comparisons and broader conclusions. Thematic analysis of the remaining 79 articles, which discussed cost-effectiveness without formal analysis, revealed common postulations about drones' potential, often relative to field-based measurements. This SLR identifies critical knowledge gaps, including the need for standardized cost-effectiveness frameworks, focused research on high-interest topics (like forest structure and biomass), and quantification of pilot training and data post-processing costs. We offer five specific recommendations for future research to establish a clearer understanding of the economic benefits and limitations of drone technology in diverse forestry contexts.</p>