AirPing vs MODE 1090
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AirPing
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AirPing is the flight tracking app powered by your own data. If you run an ADS-B receiver, it lets you view the planes you track right from your iPhone. Using this app requires you to run your own ADS-B receiver with a tar1090 or readsb instance. You can find information about how to set up your instance for use with the app on our website, https://airping.app.
MODE 1090
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Know what's flying overhead. Track aircraft live, point your iPhone at the sky and turn real sightings into your own aircraft collection. Start with live radar, scanning and collecting for free. No account needed to get started. YOUR SKY, LIVE • See nearby aircraft on a clear radar with altitude, speed and aircraft photos when available. • Explore the interactive flight map, browse the list of nearby aircraft and watch aircraft arriving at or departing from an airport. • Switch between aircraft silhouettes, ATC data blocks and a minimal radar view. SCAN IT. COLLECT IT. • Point your iPhone at an aircraft to find out what you're looking at. No photo upload needed. • Collect real sightings across aircraft types, airlines and registrations. Add notes and revisit your scan history. • See your collected aircraft on the map, complete daily missions, earn XP, level up and unlock achievements. • Share the hobby with friends and compare your progress. GET CLOSER WITH MODE 1090 PRO • Rotate, zoom and explore available 3D aircraft models and liveries. • Search live aircraft worldwide by callsign, registration or ICAO code, then follow a flight on the map. • Discover flight routes when available, save more aircraft favorites and revisit flight history. • Keep airport spotting in view with Live Activities on supported iPhones, where available. • Enjoy radar without the inactivity pause, spoken aviation callouts in English, custom radar colors and app icons. • Export your sighting notes for use beyond the app. ON YOUR PHONE, TABLET AND WRIST Enjoy spotting on iPhone and iPad, with a live radar on Apple Watch. With an optional account, you can sync your collection for free between iPhone and iPad. You can also export your collection data. No ads. Camera images stay on your device. Flight coverage, routes and model availability vary. MODE 1090 is for plane spotting and observation, not navigation or flight operations. MODE 1090 Pro is an optional subscription. It renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel it in your App Store account settings. Privacy: https://mode1090.com/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Support: https://mode1090.com/support
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AirPing at none against MODE 1090's 2. MODE 1090's advantage is device support (5 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. MODE 1090 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. AirPing asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | AirPing | MODE 1090 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | — | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 201 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Blahaj Ltd | Alexander Stolte |
In-app purchases
AirPing
No in-app purchases
MODE 1090
- Monthly$4.991 Month
- Annually$34.991 Year









