# FlightAware Flight Tracker vs Planes Live

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FlightAware Flight Tracker at 74% against Planes Live's 34%. FlightAware Flight Tracker also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (382K vs 93K). Planes Live's advantage is chart position (#11 vs #38) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FlightAware Flight Tracker sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Planes Live sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

FlightAware Flight Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 382K and 93K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of FlightAware Flight Tracker's written reviews are positive against 34% of Planes Live's.

FlightAware Flight Tracker ships an update every 4 weeks, Planes Live every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | FlightAware Flight Tracker | Planes Live |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (382K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flightaware-flight-tracker/id316793974/reviews)** | [4.6 (93K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planes-live-flight-tracker/id1097815000/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **382K** | 93K |
| Positive reviews | **73.5% of reviews** | 34.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #38 | **#11** |
| Size | 90 MB | 262 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [FlightAware](https://appshunter.io/developer/316793977) | [Mosaic S.r.l.](https://appshunter.io/developer/570748343) |

## What reviewers say

### FlightAware Flight Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flightaware-flight-tracker/id316793974)

**Currently charting:** #38 Top Grossing · Travel, #117 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Track airplanes in real-time globally, monitor flight statuses, and receive delay notifications. Access weather radar and save favorite aircraft and airports. Offers free flight status alerts for departures, arrivals, cancellations, and gate changes.

**Highlights:** Real-time global plane tracking, Free flight status alerts, Weather radar integration, Save favorite aircraft and airports, Check flight delays, Inbound aircraft delay checks

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad Remove - Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Ad Remove - Yearly | $8.99 | per year |
| Aviator - Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Aviator+ - Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Aviator - Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| Aviator+ - Yearly | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Detailed flight information
- 👍 Accurate and up-to-date data
- 📍 Ability to track flights and aircraft
- 🔍 Useful for airport pickups and drop-offs
- ⏱️ Timely alerts and notifications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable ETA predictions
- 🔀 Confusing interface changes
- 🔍 Difficulty finding specific flights
- 🔒 Security and privacy concerns
- 💻 Compatibility issues with older devices

**Reported bugs**

- Flights disappearing from the app
- Inconsistent data between app and website
- Settings and preferences not saving properly
- Notifications not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Separate direct flights from layover flights
- Customizable color schemes and themes
- More detailed flight history and analytics
- Improved accessibility features
- Automatic updates without manual prompts


### Planes Live

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planes-live-flight-tracker/id1097815000)

**Currently charting:** #11 Top Grossing · Travel (US App Store)

Track flights globally in real-time with detailed aircraft information, schedules, and airport data. Get instant alerts for flight status changes and find planes near you. Ideal for aviation enthusiasts and travelers.

**Highlights:** Global flight tracking, Real-time flight status alerts, Detailed aircraft information, Airport departure/arrival schedules, Weather forecasts, Nearby planes and airports

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Planes Live Premium 1 Month | $1.99 | per month |
| Weekly with Free Trial | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Planes Live Premium 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Planes Live Premium | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Flight Tracker & Weather Radar | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly with Free Trial | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Sub with Free Trial | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Planes Live Premium 1 Month | $17.95 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate tracking
- 🌟 Informative and interesting
- 👍 Great app for plane enthusiasts
- ✈️ Useful for tracking family/friends' flights

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate flight information
- 🔍 Difficult to find/track specific flights
- 💰 Aggressive monetization/subscription model
- 📢 Too many ads in free version
- 🔌 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Flights disappearing from map
- Subscription issues and inability to cancel
- Crashes and freezes on launch

**Requested features**

- Improved map view with better plane tracking
- More detailed flight information (e.g. plane model, altitude, speed)
- Option to track multiple flights simultaneously
- Ability to customize notifications and alerts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FlightAware Flight Tracker free?

FlightAware Flight Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Planes Live free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FlightAware Flight Tracker or Planes Live?

FlightAware Flight Tracker is rated higher. FlightAware Flight Tracker averages 4.9 out of 5 from 382K ratings, while Planes Live averages 4.6 from 93K ratings.

### Do FlightAware Flight Tracker or Planes Live have ads?

Both FlightAware Flight Tracker and Planes Live show ads.

### Which is updated more often, FlightAware Flight Tracker or Planes Live?

FlightAware Flight Tracker ships an update every 4 weeks, and Planes Live every 3 weeks. Most recently, FlightAware Flight Tracker was updated on September 25, 2026 and Planes Live on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, FlightAware Flight Tracker or Planes Live?

FlightAware Flight Tracker currently peaks at #38 in the App Store charts, and Planes Live at #11. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*