# FlightAware Flight Tracker vs Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker

The clearest difference is update cadence: Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker at every 10 days against FlightAware Flight Tracker's monthly. FlightAware Flight Tracker's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and ratings volume (386K vs 61K). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 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 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FlightAware Flight Tracker has 386K ratings behind it against 61K, 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 Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker's.

FlightAware Flight Tracker ships an update monthly, Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker every 10 days. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | FlightAware Flight Tracker | Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (386K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flightaware-flight-tracker/id316793974/reviews)** | [4.7 (61K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plane-finder-flight-tracker/id361273585/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **386K** | 61K |
| Positive reviews | **73.6% of reviews** | 64.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #35 | **#32** |
| Size | 94 MB | 164 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FlightAware](https://appshunter.io/developer/316793977) | [pinkfroot limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/319726822) |

## What reviewers say

### FlightAware Flight Tracker

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

**Currently charting:** #35 Top Grossing · Travel, #102 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


### Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plane-finder-flight-tracker/id361273585)

**Currently charting:** #32 Top Grossing · Travel (US App Store)

Track live air traffic with real-time flight data, including altitude, speed, and destination. Explore flights in 3D, use augmented reality to identify aircraft overhead, and get detailed airport information with weather reports. Set custom alerts for specific flights.

**Highlights:** Live global flight tracking, 3D flight tracking, Augmented reality mode, Live airport information, Custom flight alerts, Flight playback, Advanced filters

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plane Finder Premium - Monthly | $3.49 | per month |
| Plane Finder Premium - Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Legacy Users | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fantastic features
- 👍 Great user interface
- 🔍 Detailed flight information
- 🔍 Ability to track military flights
- 🌐 Comprehensive global coverage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Inconsistent plane tracking
- 🔍 Missing some flight data
- 💸 Subscription model frustrates some users
- 📺 Excessive ads in free version
- 🔒 Issues with restoring premium purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Planes disappearing mid-flight
- Incorrect flight information displayed
- Subscription issues and billing problems
- Crashes and freezing on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Offline mode
- More customization options
- Better integration with iOS features (Dynamic Island, widgets, etc.)
- Improved military flight tracking
- Ability to save/bookmark flight histories


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FlightAware Flight Tracker free?

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

### Is Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker free?

Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, FlightAware Flight Tracker or Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker?

FlightAware Flight Tracker is rated higher. FlightAware Flight Tracker averages 4.9 out of 5 from 386K ratings, while Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker averages 4.7 from 61K ratings.

### Do FlightAware Flight Tracker or Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker have ads?

Both FlightAware Flight Tracker and Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker show ads.

### Which is updated more often, FlightAware Flight Tracker or Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker?

FlightAware Flight Tracker ships an update monthly, and Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker every 10 days. Most recently, FlightAware Flight Tracker was updated on September 25, 2026 and Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, FlightAware Flight Tracker or Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker?

FlightAware Flight Tracker currently peaks at #35 in the App Store charts, and Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker at #32. 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.*