# PlaneWatcher vs Parkchive

The clearest difference is price: Parkchive at Free against PlaneWatcher's $9.99. Parkchive also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). PlaneWatcher's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and chart position (#97 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Parkchive is free to download; PlaneWatcher costs $9.99 up front. Parkchive sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. PlaneWatcher asks for nothing beyond the download.

PlaneWatcher ships an update every 6 weeks, Parkchive weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PlaneWatcher | Parkchive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[3.9 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planewatcher/id1535490559/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **23** | — |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | **#97** | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ground Effect GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1481842807) | [Lindsey Prentice](https://appshunter.io/developer/1820788529) |

## What reviewers say

### PlaneWatcher

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

**Currently charting:** #97 Top Paid · Travel (US App Store)

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


### Parkchive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parkchive/id6747786672)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stamp Pack - Battlefields | $1.99 | one-time |
| Stamp Pack - Memorials | $1.99 | one-time |
| Stamp Pack - Historic | $2.99 | one-time |
| All Stamps | $5.49 | one-time |
| Park Ranger | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PlaneWatcher free?

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

### Is Parkchive free?

Parkchive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do PlaneWatcher or Parkchive have ads?

Neither PlaneWatcher nor Parkchive shows ads.

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

PlaneWatcher ships an update every 6 weeks, and Parkchive weekly. Most recently, PlaneWatcher was updated on November 13, 2026 and Parkchive on November 5, 2026.

---

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