Comparison

PlaneWatcher vs Flight Metrics

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

Head to head
About

PlaneWatcher

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Flight Tracking for the Apple Watch • Visualize aircraft around you, without having to reach for your phone • Worldwide, real-time, unfiltered flight data by ADSBExchange • Explore all the aircraft details like flight name, registration, type, operator, altitude, speeds and more (depending on data availability) • Aircraft following • Filter by multiple criteria • Customizable view options • Complications to match your watch faces Requires WatchOS 10.0 or higher. Built for the Apple Watch PlaneWatcher was designed specifically for the Apple Watch, providing the best possible experience on this small device. The map rotates to align with the direction you're facing, so you can easily identify aircraft that you see around you. Use the digital crown to zoom in/out and touch & drag on the screen to move around the map. Unfiltered Flight Data PlaneWatcher shows you all aircraft, unfiltered, unlike most major flight tracking apps. Made possible by ADSBExchange, the world's largest source of unfiltered flight data. If you're a frequent user, please support them (adsbexchange.com/donate) or become a volunteer feeder to help expand the service. Local & Worldwide View aircraft around your current location or jump to any airport in the world. Use the digital crown to zoom in on a busy LAX or watch aircraft taking off and landing at JFK. Aircraft Details Simply tap on an aircraft to see all its details: flight name, registration, type, category, operator, altitude, speeds and more (depending on data availability). Aircraft Following Interested in a single aircraft? Follow it as it proceeds among the other traffic. Just tap the small blue dot to exit follow mode and return to the main map. Multiple Filters Just want to see aircraft below 10'000 feet, Boeing 747s or only planes from a certain airline? You can filter by altitude, type, callsign or registration. Filters can be combined, too. Customizability Customize the display using many options. You only want to see helicopters and hide all small airports? You can do that and much more... Complications Support With many different complications available, designed to fit into all color schemes, PlaneWatcher is always just a tap away. Privacy Policy: https://www.planewatcher.app/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.planewatcher.app/terms.html

About

Flight Metrics

Features
Read full description

Flight Metrics records your flights from a passenger perspective. Track real-time speed, altitude, G-force, and route using your phone's built-in GPS and sensors. WHAT FLIGHT METRICS CAPTURES: - Real-time ground speed in knots, km/h, or mph - GPS altitude and barometric altitude - G-force during takeoff, turbulence, and landing - Full flight route on an interactive map - Distance traveled, flight duration, and heading FLIGHT PHASE DETECTION: The app automatically detects each phase of flight, from gate departure to taxi, takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, landing, and taxi to gate. WORKS IN AIRPLANE MODE: Flight Metrics uses GPS, so no internet connection is needed during your flight. Record your data even at 35,000 feet. POST-FLIGHT SUMMARY: After landing, review detailed stats, your route map, and performance data. FREEMIUM: Your first 3 flights are free. Unlock unlimited flights with a Pro subscription. Made in Switzerland. Privacy Policy: https://studiovolt.dev/flight-metrics/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://studiovolt.dev/flight-metrics/terms

Screenshots

Flight Metrics4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Flight Metrics at Free against PlaneWatcher's $9.99. Flight Metrics also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 6 weeks). PlaneWatcher's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#70 vs unranked). On 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

Flight Metrics is free to download; PlaneWatcher costs $9.99 up front. Flight Metrics sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. PlaneWatcher asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlaneWatcher ships an update every 6 weeks, Flight Metrics every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
PlaneWatcher versus Flight Metrics: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlaneWatcherFlight Metrics
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (22 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings22 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#70 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGround Effect GmbHJoanna Bednarczyk

In-app purchases

None

PlaneWatcher

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Flight Metrics

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Pro Annual$29.991 Year

Questions

Is PlaneWatcher free?
PlaneWatcher costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Flight Metrics free?
Flight Metrics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PlaneWatcher or Flight Metrics have ads?
Neither PlaneWatcher nor Flight Metrics shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlaneWatcher or Flight Metrics?
PlaneWatcher ships an update every 6 weeks, and Flight Metrics every 10 days. Most recently, PlaneWatcher was updated on September 25, 2026 and Flight Metrics on September 18, 2026.

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