# Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker vs AirwayControl

The clearest difference is monetization model: Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker at free with in-app purchases against AirwayControl's subscription. Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker also leads on ratings volume (61K vs 1) and chart position (#28 vs unranked). AirwayControl's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 64%) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month and AirwayControl sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

AirwayControl holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker has 61K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker's written reviews are positive against 100% of AirwayControl's.

Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker ships an update every 10 days, AirwayControl every 5 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker | AirwayControl |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (61K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plane-finder-flight-tracker/id361273585/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airwaycontrol-flight-tracker/id6778455316/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **61K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 64.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#28** | — |
| Size | 165 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [pinkfroot limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/319726822) | [Christopher Svendsen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1884373160) |

## What reviewers say

### Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker

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

**Currently charting:** #28 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


### AirwayControl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airwaycontrol-flight-tracker/id6778455316)

Track flights in real-time with live radar, gate information, and delay notifications. Get assistance with flight disruptions, understand your rights, and easily file claims for issues like cancellations or lost baggage. Access baggage allowances and airport maps.

**Highlights:** Live flight radar worldwide, Real-time gate and status updates, Delay and cancellation notifications, Flight disruption rights guidance, Assistance with claims for delays/lost bags, Baggage allowance information, Airport maps with walking estimates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AirwayControl | $1.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker free?

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

### Is AirwayControl free?

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

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

AirwayControl is rated higher. Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker averages 4.7 out of 5 from 61K ratings, while AirwayControl averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

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

Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker shows ads; AirwayControl does not.

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

Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker ships an update every 10 days, and AirwayControl every 5 days. Most recently, Plane Finder ⁃ Flight Tracker was updated on November 3, 2026 and AirwayControl on November 3, 2026.

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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.*