Comparison

FlightAware Flight Tracker vs Flight Buddy

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

Head to head
About

FlightAware Flight Tracker

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
Read full description

Where’s that plane headed? Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, a frequent traveler, a pilot, or part of a flight crew, FlightAware is a must-have app. Track planes in real-time above your head, or all over the world. Easily track the status of your flight, check for any delays on the inbound aircraft, see weather radar, and set up alerts to be notified of any changes – all for free! Free features: ▶ Track any plane around the world in real-time ▶ Get free flight status alerts: Departure, Arrival, Cancellations, Gate changes, Delays, Diversions ▶ See weather radar ▶ Save your favorite aircraft and airports ▶ Check for flight delays (with “Where is my plane?”) FlightAware is the leader in providing advanced, accurate, actionable intelligence and insights that inform every aviation decision. We believe that flying opens up the world around you. It makes distances shorter, the world more accessible and satisfies one of the core aspirations of mankind. Upgrade options: ▶ Ad Remove - Removes all advertisements from the app ▶ FlightAware Aviator - Register and enable advanced features for your piston-engine GA aircraft Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Flight Buddy

This app helps alleviate fear of flying by providing detailed flight information, professional insights, and educational content. It offers a comprehensive assessment, answers common anxieties, and includes a video course to build confidence and overcome aerophobia.

Highlights
  • Full assessment test for triggers
  • Answers to common 'what if' flight questions
  • Detailed flight information and turbulence tracker
  • Fear of flying video course
  • Insights from pilots and mental health professionals
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Experience a strong sense of fear and panic when you fly, or anticipate flying? Does a tiny thought of getting onboard make your hands cold and shaking? Bad news is that you probably have an aerophobia. GOOD NEWS is that you can be cured once and forever! Flight Buddy app is what you need when it’s high time to say NO to your fear of flying. We know that crowded space, turbulence, taking off and landing can certainly be unpleasant. That’s why Flight Buddy app is developed by professional pilots and mental health professionals to help you manage alarm symptoms before and during a flight. HOW THE APP WORKS: Flight Buddy can become your personal assistant, a real friend, who is always there when you need him. It's like sitting next to a pilot with access to complete flight data! Flight Buddy is an expert. He knows everything about flight stages, aircraft details, turbulence, as well as the root of your fear and the ways to overcome it! Flight Buddy gives you more than you can expect: - FULL ASSESSMENT TEST. Take the first step towards knowing yourself and your triggers with the help of a detailed professional test with 30+ questions. Be honest and remember that phobias affect many people, so you are not alone. Find out more about yourself and the reasons of your aerophobia. Remember, that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - ANSWERS TO “WHAT IF” QUESTIONS. Step onto the airplane with knowledge. Turbulence, panic attack, something will go wrong, malfunction and other common “what if’s” will be explained to you in details. Tune into audio guide or start reading while you are onboard. Knowledge is a power when it comes to conquering your fear of flying. Thus, eventually all you will get is confidence, calm and a great deal of knowledge. - FLIGHT INFORMATION. Make sure, that everything goes according to plan. Flight stages, turbulence tracker, weather conditions, aircraft details, aviation facts, flight speed and altitude, departure and arrival … all this information will help you challenge any irrational fears. - FEAR OF FLYING VIDEO COURSE. Take a real action towards conquering your fear of flying. Flight Buddy video course offers an easy-to-understand video explanations of how planes stay in the air, what causes turbulence, and what’s behind those scary sounds during takeoff and landing. Understanding how a plane can continue to fly even if an engine fails can help you feel less concerned about aircraft malfunctioning. Learning about safety regulations and pilot training can also present you with facts that challenge irrational fears. Aerophobia is nothing to be embarrassed about, but it is something to be honest about. Flying is essential to the modern lifestyle. Do not deprive yourself of the joy of traveling, meeting friends and family, discovering new places and career building. Download the Flight Buddy and let big changes come to your life right away! IN-APP PURCHASES: You can be a premium user through an auto-renewing subscription: 1 Year: $34.99 without trial period. Access to Audio, Exercise,Turbulence Forecast 1 Year: $95.00 without trial period. Full Access to All features - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during an active subscription period. LEGAL: Terms of Service: https://phobia.aero/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://phobia.aero/privacy/

Screenshots

FlightAware Flight Tracker4 screens
Flight Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Flight Buddy at none against FlightAware Flight Tracker's shown. Flight Buddy also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly). FlightAware Flight Tracker's advantage is ratings volume (386K vs 123) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Both are free to download. FlightAware Flight Tracker sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Flight Buddy sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FlightAware Flight Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FlightAware Flight Tracker has 386K ratings behind it against 123, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of FlightAware Flight Tracker's written reviews are positive against 64% of Flight Buddy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FlightAware Flight Tracker ships an update monthly, Flight Buddy weekly. Both last shipped on September 27, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
FlightAware Flight Tracker versus Flight Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFlightAware Flight TrackerFlight Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (386K ratings) — better4.6 (123 ratings)
Positive reviews73.6% of reviews — better64.5% of reviews
Number of ratings386K — better123
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#27 — better#127
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB235 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperFlightAwareSergey Laptenok

Customer experience

FlightAware Flight Tracker

All ratings386,428 ratings
Positive97.7%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews2,044 reviews
Positive73.6%
Neutral5.9%
Negative20.5%

Flight Buddy

All ratings123 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral4.1%
Negative7.3%
Written reviews76 reviews
Positive64.5%
Neutral7.9%
Negative27.6%

Bugs and requests

FlightAware Flight Tracker

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Flight Buddy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

FlightAware Flight Tracker

Subscriptions6
  • Ad Remove - Monthly$1.491 Month
  • Ad Remove - Yearly$8.991 Year
  • Aviator - Monthly$9.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Aviator+ - Monthly$19.991 Month
  • Aviator - Yearly$99.991 Year
  • Aviator+ - Yearly$199.991 Year
6 purchases

Flight Buddy

Subscriptions6
  • Silver Plan - Monthly3 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Bronze Plan - Annual$25.001 Year
  • Silver Plan - Annual3 Days trial$34.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Silver Plan - Annual$34.991 Year
  • Gold Plan - Annual$55.001 Year
  • Gold Plan - Annual$95.001 Year

Questions

Is FlightAware Flight Tracker free?
FlightAware Flight Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Flight Buddy free?
Flight Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FlightAware Flight Tracker or Flight Buddy?
FlightAware Flight Tracker is rated higher. FlightAware Flight Tracker averages 4.9 out of 5 from 386K ratings, while Flight Buddy averages 4.6 from 123 ratings.
Do FlightAware Flight Tracker or Flight Buddy have ads?
FlightAware Flight Tracker shows ads; Flight Buddy does not.
Which is updated more often, FlightAware Flight Tracker or Flight Buddy?
FlightAware Flight Tracker ships an update monthly, and Flight Buddy weekly. Most recently, FlightAware Flight Tracker was updated on September 27, 2026 and Flight Buddy on September 27, 2026.
Which is more popular, FlightAware Flight Tracker or Flight Buddy?
FlightAware Flight Tracker currently peaks at #27 in the App Store charts, and Flight Buddy at #127. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons