# OpenADSB vs PlaneWatcher

The clearest difference is rating: OpenADSB at 4.4 against PlaneWatcher's 3.8. OpenADSB also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and chart position (#13 vs unranked). PlaneWatcher's advantage is review sentiment (78% vs 69%) and price ($9.99 vs $10.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

OpenADSB costs $10.99 and PlaneWatcher $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

OpenADSB holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 108 and 22 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of OpenADSB's written reviews are positive against 78% of PlaneWatcher's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

OpenADSB ships an update every 2 weeks, PlaneWatcher every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenADSB | PlaneWatcher |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $10.99 | **$9.99** |
| Rating | **[4.4 (108 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openadsb/id1178703539/reviews)** | [3.8 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planewatcher/id1535490559/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **108** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | 68.6% of reviews | **77.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#13** | — |
| Size | 13 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Steve Kuo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1178703538) | [Ground Effect GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1481842807) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenADSB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openadsb/id1178703539)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Paid · Travel (US App Store)

This app provides a high-performance, native iOS interface for tracking aircraft. It connects to various air traffic data sources like dump1090 and Virtual Radar Server, offering detailed aircraft information and customizable display options for an enhanced user experience over web interfaces.

**Highlights:** Connects to dump1090, tar1090, and Virtual Radar Server, Preconfigured with ADS-B Exchange, Displays thousands of aircraft with history trails, Configurable filtering and highlights, Detailed aircraft information, Imperial or metric unit display, Supports Dark Mode and multitasking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive performance
- 💰 One-time purchase with no subscription fees
- 🎖️ Displays military and blocked aircraft other apps censor
- 🔧 Highly customizable filters and settings
- 📊 Comprehensive ADS-B data from ADS-B Exchange

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎨 Generic plane icon for all aircraft types
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- ❌ App stops showing aircraft after updates
- 📉 Missing 'from-to' flight information display
- 🔍 Search functionality not easily accessible

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when moving map or accessing settings
- App refuses to update, requiring reinstallation
- App freezes and locks up iPhone
- No aircraft display despite proper configuration
- JSON response errors after iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Aircraft-specific icons (like Flightradar24)
- Search button on main screen for N-number lookup
- Dark mode for nighttime use
- Notifications/alerts for tracked aircraft
- 3D map view like Google Earth


### PlaneWatcher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planewatcher/id1535490559)

Visualize aircraft around you in real-time, worldwide, without needing your phone. Explore detailed flight information and customize your view with various filters and complications. Designed specifically for the Apple Watch.

**Highlights:** Real-time worldwide flight data, Visualize aircraft on watch, Detailed aircraft information, Aircraft following, Multiple filter options, Customizable view, Watch face complications

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenADSB free?

OpenADSB costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PlaneWatcher free?

PlaneWatcher costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OpenADSB or PlaneWatcher?

OpenADSB is rated higher. OpenADSB averages 4.4 out of 5 from 108 ratings, while PlaneWatcher averages 3.8 from 22 ratings.

### Do OpenADSB or PlaneWatcher have ads?

Neither OpenADSB nor PlaneWatcher shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenADSB or PlaneWatcher?

OpenADSB ships an update every 2 weeks, and PlaneWatcher every 6 weeks. Most recently, OpenADSB was updated on September 25, 2026 and PlaneWatcher on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*