Best Apps for Tracking Flights in 2026: 9 Apps Compared

FlightAware is the app we would put on any traveler's phone first. Its App Store listing says the free version lets you track any aircraft worldwide in real time and get alerts for departures, arrivals, cancellations, gate changes, delays and diversions. It also includes weather radar and saved favorite airports.

The most useful small feature is "Where is my plane?". It shows the aircraft that is supposed to operate your flight, so you can see if it is still sitting two cities away. That is often your earliest hint that a delay is coming.

Ad Remove is listed at $1.49 per month or $8.99 per year. The Aviator tiers, at $9.99 and $19.99 per month, are aimed at pilots, so most travelers can ignore them. The app shows 4.9 out of 5 from about 391,000 ratings in the US App Store.

Flightradar24 is the app most people picture when they hear "flight tracker". The free app shows aircraft moving on a map, and you can tap any plane for its route, arrival estimate, speed and altitude. Point your phone at a plane overhead and it will try to identify it.

The App Store listing says the free app also includes 3D views, historical data and playback, airport arrival and departure boards, delay statistics and weather. Silver adds 90 days of history, filters and alerts, while Gold adds 365 days of history, weather layers and air traffic control boundaries. Flightradar24 says upgrade prices depend on your country and currency, and both plans include a free trial.

It is the best choice for plane spotters and for watching a family member's flight in real time. For alerts about your own booking, FlightAware's free tier is more practical.

Flighty is a premium app built for people who fly often. The free tier covers unlimited flight tracking, live data, the Flighty Passport map of your trips and Flighty Friends for sharing. Its pricing page lists Pro at $4.99 per month or $59.99 billed yearly, and all Pro features are free for your first flight.

Pro is where the app earns its reputation. It adds flight alerts that Flighty says arrive before the airlines send them, Live Activities on the lock screen, gate and flight predictions, delay trends for airports and a Connection Assistant. We have not measured those alert timings ourselves, so treat the speed claims as Flighty's own.

If you travel for work every month, Flighty is the app worth paying for. If you fly once or twice a year, stick with FlightAware. Flighty has no Android app; Android users who want something similar can look at Aviate, which launched on Google Play in July 2026.

AirNav Radar is the new name for RadarBox, which rebranded in December 2024. It works like Flightradar24, with a live map, flight details and airport information on the web and in apps for iPhone and Android.

The pricing is the reason to look at it. Its subscription page lists Spotter at $24.50 per year, Pilot at $79.50 per year and Business at $399.50 per year, each with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Subscribing removes ads. If you run your own ADS-B receiver and feed data to the network, AirNav says you are upgraded to a free Business account.

It is a strong choice for aviation hobbyists who want more data than the free apps give without paying top prices. Casual travelers will not notice much difference from Flightradar24's free tier.

Plane Finder is a live air traffic app with a visual flair. Its App Store listing describes real-time global tracking, a 3D view you can launch from any aircraft or airport, an augmented reality camera mode and live airport boards with weather.

Plane Finder Premium is listed at $3.49 per month or $19.99 per year, with a free trial on the annual plan. The listing mentions unlimited custom alerts, global playback back to 2011, custom aircraft labels and dark mode, though it does not spell out which features sit behind the paywall. The app shows 4.7 out of 5 from about 61,000 ratings.

Plane Finder suits people who like to look at planes as much as track them. The yearly plan is one of the cheaper upgrades in this category.

ADS-B Exchange is different from the others. It describes itself as a global, independent flight data network that displays aircraft broadcasts as received. That approach appeals to aviation fans who want to see the raw picture rather than a curated one.

The main map is not a traditional app download. Instead, ADS-B Exchange offers a mobile web app optimized for iPhone and Android that you add to your home screen from your browser. It also promotes a camera-based app called Tailvision for identifying aircraft overhead.

It is not the right tool for checking whether your 6 a.m. flight is delayed. It is the right tool if you are curious about unusual aircraft and want data presented with as little filtering as possible.

TripIt is a trip organizer first and a flight tracker second. You forward hotel, flight and car confirmations, and it builds one itinerary you can share with family or coworkers. The free tier also includes airport and terminal maps, in-flight experience ratings and a check for flight compensation eligibility.

TripIt Pro costs $49 per year, according to its pricing page. Pro sends real-time flight alerts, warns you about potential trip disruptions and monitors for fare refunds. That makes it useful for business travelers with several bookings at once.

If your main need is tracking a single flight, TripIt is more than you need. If you juggle multi-city trips, it pairs well with FlightAware or Flighty.

Flightview keeps things simple. Its App Store listing describes real-time tracking of upcoming and in-air flights, push alerts, gate and delay information, and a flight progress map. You can forward itinerary emails to load your trips, and it can search schedules up to 350 days ahead.

The North American airport delay map is handy if you fly around the US often. Ads can be removed with a $2.99 monthly subscription or a $24.99 one-time purchase.

The weak point is reputation. The app shows 3.6 out of 5 from about 6,400 ratings, well below the leaders. It still received an update in early 2026, but read recent reviews before you rely on it for a tight connection.

Planes Live is a flight tracker with an airport focus. Its App Store listing says you can track planes worldwide, get alerts for status, cancellation and time changes, view airport departures and arrivals, and check weather forecasts for airports and locations.

Premium adds weather overlays, unlimited alerts, data updates twice as fast, terminal, check-in, gate and baggage information, and removes ads. The listing shows several in-app prices, including weekly subscriptions, without saying which is which, so check the price inside the app before subscribing. It shows 4.6 out of 5 from about 93,000 ratings.

It is a reasonable free option, but the gate and baggage details that travelers want most are paid. FlightAware gives you gate alerts free.