Comparison

PlaneRange vs Mini Radar

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

Head to head
About

PlaneRange

Explore the real-world flight range of any aircraft based on passenger load and airline configurations. This app uses actual manufacturer data to display range rings on a map, and works completely offline. Discover how factors like wind and runway length affect flight possibilities.

Highlights
  • Real airline configurations
  • Offline flight range calculations
  • Passenger load slider
  • Jet stream and wind effects
  • Runway and ETOPS checks
  • Save favorite aircraft and airports
Features
Read full description

Pick a real airline configuration, drag the passenger slider, and watch the range ring shrink on the map, live. PlaneRange uses real manufacturer data to show exactly how far any aircraft can fly, based on how many people are actually on board. WORKS WITHOUT WI-FI The full app works offline. All aircraft data, airport data, and range calculations happen on-device. No connection needed! Perfect for playing with range scenarios on your next long-haul flight. SAVE YOUR FAVOURITES Favourite the aircraft you fly most and the airports you care about. Jump back to any combination instantly. REAL AIRLINE CONFIGURATIONS "Boeing 787-9" isn't enough. Delta's A220 carries 109 seats; Swiss fits 125 in the same airframe. More seats means more weight means less range. PlaneRange lets you pick the specific airline config and the ring changes accordingly. No other range tool does this. WHAT YOU CAN EXPLORE - Does a 737 MAX have the range to cross the Atlantic from Dublin? - How much range does a full load cost a 787-9 on the Singapore-New York run? - Can a Gulfstream G650ER circle the globe with one fuel stop? - What does the jet stream actually do to your range ring? - Which aircraft can operate from London City Airport's short runway? 55 AIRCRAFT, REAL DATA Commercial airliners, private jets, and general aviation — from the Cessna 172 to the Airbus A380. Range figures come from Boeing and Airbus Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning (ACAP) documents and official manufacturer specifications. Payload-range curves use a quadratic fit through three data points, matching the real concave shape of manufacturer diagrams. WIND & JET STREAM Toggle seasonal winds to see how the jet stream stretches your range eastbound and contracts it westbound. Jets at FL350 see full jet-stream strength; turboprops and GA aircraft cruise lower and see proportionally weaker winds. RUNWAY CHECKS Select a destination and PlaneRange checks whether the aircraft can actually stop in time, corrected for airport elevation. ETOPS OCEAN COVERAGE See which parts of the ocean have diversion airport coverage within 60, 120, or 180 minutes — and where the gaps are. FOR CURIOUS PASSENGERS, AVGEEKS, AND FLIGHT SIM PLAYERS PlaneRange is built for anyone who has ever looked out a plane window and wondered where this aircraft could actually reach. The data is serious; the experience is instant. For exploration only - not certified flight planning software. Subscription Information PlaneRange Pro is available as a monthly subscription ($1.99/month), annual subscription ($12.99/year), or a one-time lifetime purchase ($29.99). - Monthly and annual plans typically include a 1-month free trial for new subscribers. - Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. - Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the rate of your selected plan. - You can manage and cancel subscriptions at any time in Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions. - Any unused portion of a free trial will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Mini Radar

View live aircraft around you on a radar scope or in augmented reality. Get detailed information on each plane, customize your view, and set alerts for favorite aircraft. Ideal for aviation enthusiasts and curious minds.

Highlights
  • Live radar scope
  • AR Sky View
  • Aircraft details
  • Customizable views
  • Favorites and alerts
  • Apple Watch support
  • Dynamic Island integration
Features
Read full description

Mini Radar shows the aircraft flying around you, live, on a clean radar scope. It's built on adsb.fi — a free, community-run ADS-B network. Volunteers around the world run small receivers and share what they pick up, and that shared feed is what you see. No account, no subscription, no ads. WHAT YOU GET • A live radar centered on you — or anywhere you search • Tap any aircraft for details: type, registration, altitude, speed, heading, squawk, and route (origin to destination) when available • Switch between a classic radar scope and a satellite map backdrop • Pinch, double-tap, or drag to zoom — from a few miles out to 250 NM • Color aircraft by type (commercial, private, helicopter, glider, military…) or by altitude, or switch on distinct per-type icons • North-up or heading-up — one tap on the compass button rotates the scope (radar or satellite) so the direction you're facing is up • A live contacts list and class filters, right on the scope • Sweep or pulse animation — your choice • A nearest-aircraft compass that always points to the closest plane POINT AT THE SKY • AR Sky View — hold up your phone and see the aircraft overhead, labeled in real space; pinch to zoom in ON YOUR WRIST • A standalone Apple Watch radar — zoom with the Digital Crown, tap a plane for details ALWAYS-ON GLANCE • Dynamic Island and Lock Screen tracking for what's overhead — your favorites, or any aircraft nearby, with a live bearing arrow FAVORITES & ALERTS • Star aircraft by tail number, callsign, or hex — they're highlighted whenever they appear nearby • Optional alert when a favorite comes within 10 NM of you (opt-in; uses background location only while it's turned on) SAVED PLACES • Save and name locations to jump between them • Choose what the radar opens to: your live location, the nearest airport, or a saved spot MADE TO READ EASILY • Colorblind-friendly palette • Light, dark, or automatic theme A NOTE ON COVERAGE Because the data comes from volunteer receivers, coverage is best where people are feeding and can have gaps elsewhere. Not every aircraft broadcasts ADS-B, and route lookups aren't available for every flight. Mini Radar is for curiosity and learning — not for navigation or any operational use. Want better coverage where you live? Anyone can become a feeder with a Raspberry Pi, an RTL-SDR dongle, and an antenna. There's a short how-to inside the app. Data by adsb.fi. Route information by adsbdb.

Screenshots

PlaneRange4 screens
Mini Radar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mini Radar at none against PlaneRange's 3. Mini Radar also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. PlaneRange sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Mini Radar asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PlaneRange against 5.0 for Mini Radar. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 8 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlaneRange ships an update every 3 weeks, Mini Radar every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 8, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PlaneRange versus Mini Radar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlaneRangeMini Radar
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings48 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, MaciPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel GauthierJohn Grey80227563111

Customer experience

PlaneRange

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Mini Radar

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

PlaneRange

Subscriptions2
  • PlaneRange Pro Monthly1 Month trial$1.991 Month
  • PlaneRange Pro Yearly1 Month trial$12.991 Year
One-time1
  • PlaneRange Pro Forever$29.99
None

Mini Radar

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PlaneRange free?
PlaneRange is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mini Radar free?
Mini Radar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PlaneRange or Mini Radar?
PlaneRange and Mini Radar are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 8 ratings respectively.
Do PlaneRange or Mini Radar have ads?
Neither PlaneRange nor Mini Radar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlaneRange or Mini Radar?
PlaneRange ships an update every 3 weeks, and Mini Radar every 2 days. Most recently, PlaneRange was updated on October 8, 2026 and Mini Radar on October 8, 2026.

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