Comparison

OpenADSB vs ADSB Tracker Live

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

OpenADSB

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
Currently charting
Read full description

If you enjoy tracking aircraft using dump1090, tar1090 or Virtual Radar Server, then you'll enjoy OpenADSB. OpenADSB is a full featured high performance flight tracker display app that connects to a variety of backend air traffic sources. Enjoy OpenADSB's smooth native iOS experience instead of using the web interface. PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING: You purchasing a general purpose air traffic display app that connects to a variety of servers types. New traffic sources can be added under Settings (gear button) - Track Source. As a convenience, OpenADSB comes preconfigured to use ADS-B Exchange. Air traffic from ADS-B Exchange is the sole responsibility of ADSBexchange.com, LLC. Frequent users are encouraged to support ADS-B Exchange through donations (adsbexchange.com/donate). Features: • Connects to dump1090, tar1090 and Virtual Radar Server. • Comes preconfigured using ADS-B Exchange (adsbexchange.com). Note that OpenADSB is not affiliated with ADSBexchange.com, LLC • Smoothly displays thousands of aircraft • Shows aircraft history trails • Various aircraft and history trail color schemes and optional legend • Fully configurable filtering, display only the aircrafts you want to see • Configurable military, VFR and emergency highlights • Long-press on an aircraft to perform a browser search engine search of its callsign and registration • Tap on an aircraft to show more details • Details are fully configurable and includes callsign, registration, ICAO hex code, altitude, speed, vertical speed, heading, aircraft type, squawk code, MLAT, latitude/longitude and more • Display values in imperial or metric units • Bookmark up to 5 favorite locations • Mail track details feature, send an email containing an aircraft's details along with a map snapshot, fully configurable • Optimized data fetching logic minimizes network, battery usage and server load • Highly configurable • Supports Dark Mode • Supports Split View, Slide Over and multitasking on iPad • Keyboard shortcuts for external keyboards Limitations and Disclaimer OpenADSB is a general air traffic visualizer for dump1090, tar1090 and Virtual Radar Server data sources. OpenADSB is not affiliated with ADSBexchange.com, LLC. As a convenience, OpenADSB comes preconfigured using ADSBexchange.com as the default data source. Air traffic data, its accuracy, and its validity, is the sole responsibility of the data provider. OpenADSB is for entertainment use only, and not for operational, flight, navigation, traffic avoidance or any mission critical use.

About

ADSB Tracker Live

Track live air traffic worldwide with real-time aircraft data. See callsigns, types, altitude, speed, and more. Includes military aircraft and emergency squawks, with customizable filters and notifications.

Highlights
  • Live worldwide flight map
  • Detailed aircraft information
  • Military aircraft tracking
  • Emergency squawk alerts
  • Customizable filters
  • Tail number tracking and notifications
  • Aircraft type silhouettes
Features
Read full description

Plane spotting, live. ADSB Tracker Live shows every aircraft in the sky above you in real time — built for plane spotters and aviation enthusiasts. See live air traffic worldwide using the same unfiltered ADS-B data the spotting community trusts. No subscription required to start. No commercial-flight-only censorship. Just the sky, live. WATCH EVERY AIRCRAFT - Live worldwide map, updated every 2 seconds - See callsign, tail number, aircraft type, altitude, speed, heading, and vertical speed for any plane on screen - 130+ airlines decoded — see "Delta 2547" instead of "DAL2547" - 160+ aircraft types — "Boeing 737-800" instead of just "B738" - Pinch-to-zoom from continent view down to airport detail SEE WHAT OTHER APPS HIDE - Military aircraft highlighting — uncensored. See KC-135 tankers, C-17 transports, F-22 fighters - Emergency squawks (7500 hijack, 7600 lost-comm, 7700 emergency) flash on the map - VFR traffic (squawk 1200) on uncontrolled approaches - Track specific tail numbers and get notified when they appear nearby - Filter by aircraft type, operator, altitude band, or squawk code BUILT FOR PILOTS AND SPOTTERS - 25 aircraft-type silhouettes — a Cessna doesn't look like a 747 anymore - Adjustable altitude color bands (10 bands in Pro) - Save filter presets like "Military within 50nm" or "Heavies over 30k" - Native dark mode, iPad split view, and Apple Vision Pro support WORKS OUT OF THE BOX No SDR receiver required. No server to set up. Just install and watch. ONE WEEK OF PRO, FREE Every Pro feature unlocked for your first 7 days — no purchase, no signup. After that, keep Pro with a small subscription, or stay on the free tier with the live radar. Data sourced from open community feeds (adsb.fi, airplanes.live, adsb.lol). For entertainment and educational use only. Not for navigation, traffic avoidance, or operational flight use. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

OpenADSB4 screens
ADSB Tracker Live3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ADSB Tracker Live at Free against OpenADSB's $10.99. ADSB Tracker Live also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). OpenADSB's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#12 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

ADSB Tracker Live is free to download; OpenADSB costs $10.99 up front. ADSB Tracker Live sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. OpenADSB asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ADSB Tracker Live holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 108 and 100 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of OpenADSB's written reviews are positive against 75% of ADSB Tracker Live's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenADSB ships an update every 2 weeks, ADSB Tracker Live every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
OpenADSB versus ADSB Tracker Live: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenADSBADSB Tracker Live
Price$10.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (108 ratings)4.8 (100 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.6% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings108 — better100
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
Best chart rank#12 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteve KuoVikorus, LLC

Customer experience

OpenADSB

All ratings108 ratings
Positive82.4%
Neutral5.6%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews102 reviews
Positive68.6%
Neutral9.8%
Negative21.6%

ADSB Tracker Live

All ratings100 ratings
Positive98.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

OpenADSB

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • 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
Show 6 more
  • VRS data source disappears from settings
  • App crashes 5 seconds after opening
  • Military filter causes all aircraft to disappear
  • Photos not loading or displaying
  • Incorrect routing information for flights
  • Selected altitude data showing wrong values

Requested features

18 requests
  • 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
Show 13 more
  • Track single aircraft with auto-panning
  • Full flight history tracking
  • iCloud sync for filter settings
  • Ability to toggle ground vehicles on/off
  • Adjustable range rings on map
  • Historic aircraft lookup
  • Different icons for helicopters vs planes
  • Departure/arrival boards display
  • Filter by operator name instead of codes
  • Radar ID display and filtering
  • iOS 16 dark icon support
  • Improved settings organization
  • German localization

ADSB Tracker Live

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

OpenADSB

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

ADSB Tracker Live

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Annual3 Days trial$7.991 Year

Questions

Is OpenADSB free?
OpenADSB costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ADSB Tracker Live free?
ADSB Tracker Live is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, OpenADSB or ADSB Tracker Live?
ADSB Tracker Live is rated higher. OpenADSB averages 4.4 out of 5 from 108 ratings, while ADSB Tracker Live averages 4.8 from 100 ratings.
Do OpenADSB or ADSB Tracker Live have ads?
Neither OpenADSB nor ADSB Tracker Live shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenADSB or ADSB Tracker Live?
OpenADSB ships an update every 2 weeks, and ADSB Tracker Live every 4 days. Most recently, OpenADSB was updated on September 25, 2026 and ADSB Tracker Live on September 24, 2026.

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