The best apps for tracking flights
Having up-to-date information on when a flight will take off or land at an airport can be very useful. Whether you're picking someone up from the airport or making a flight connection, flight tracking tools can save you time and even money.
Below, we'll introduce you to six excellent flight tracking apps for iOS and Android devices, as well as four websites you can use to follow a flight in real time.
1. Flightradar24
As its name suggests, FlightRadar24's main feature is a map that displays aircraft traveling around the world. You can select a flight to see more information, such as the route, estimated time of arrival, speed, altitude and much more.
It's easy to search for a specific flight by flight number, airport or airline. By selecting an airport, you'll get additional information such as current weather conditions and delay statistics.
If you're curious about which flights are passing above you, simply point your device at the sky to see flight information and a photo of the actual aircraft. You can even visualize exactly what the pilot is seeing in 3D, using augmented reality technology.
FlightRadar24 subscription options offer additional features, such as more flight history and other functionalities.
2. Flight Tracker
If you hate ads, try The Flight Tracker Pro. With it, you can track any flight in the world and view departure and arrival information, as well as aircraft data and seat maps.
During your travels, the app automatically synchronizes with a TripIt account, making it an excellent option for business travelers. Information can be saved and shared via various platforms, such as text messages or social networks.
The app offers push notifications for various situations, including personalized departure or arrival reminders, helping you to remember to pick someone up at the airport.
3. FlightAware
As well as allowing you to see the status of any commercial flight around the world, FlightAware Flight Tracker also tracks general aviation flights, such as private and charter aircraft in the United States and Canada.
Users can search for a flight by aircraft registration, route, airline, flight number, city pair or airport code. The app offers a full-screen map with radar overlay and all the detailed flight information.
A useful additional feature is the possibility of receiving push notifications with departure and arrival information for a specific flight, as well as cancellations, gate changes, delays and detour.
4. FlightStats
FlightStats is one of the best real-time flight trackers available. It allows you to track flights anywhere in the world via a specific flight number, route or airport. After searching for a flight, the information is saved in the "My Flights" tab for easy access later.
One of the app's main features is the live flight tracking map. This map shows the exact position of the plane in real time. You can choose from several different layers to include the flight plan, the actual flight route, weather radar and more. Flight information can be shared directly from the app quickly and conveniently.
For those on the move, the app also offers support for Apple Watch. Users can view flight information on the device's small screen. In addition, it is possible to customize a specific face of the Apple Watch with the app's widget, providing information without the need to open the app.
5. Planes Live - Flight Radar
Introducing Planes Live, an effective flight tracking app for monitoring both commercial and biplane flights around the world. Ideal for keeping track of friends' or family's trips, it offers notifications about changes to flight schedules, as long as they are activated.
Planes Live allows you to filter your search by plane model, airline, arrival and departure airport, saving you time. As well as displaying speed, altitude and distance traveled, the app includes weather overlays, showing cloud cover and precipitation.
Free, but with ads and limited features, Planes Live has an ad-free premium version. When you start the app, there is a three-day free trial offer, which you can decline to continue with the free version.
6. Flight Board
Flight Board offers a different approach to flight tracking. The app displays a classic-style arrivals and departures board for almost every airport in the world, updated every minute with real-time information. This data covers more than 16,000 airports and 1,400 airlines.
You can search for a specific flight using the flight number, destination or airline. What's more, it's easy to switch between an airport's arrivals and departures panels with a single tap.
7. Radarbox
AirNav's RadarBox is an excellent option for tracking not only commercial flights, but also military aircraft and helicopters with precision. Although it's free, there's a monthly fee of $2.45 to unlock all its features.
RadarBox allows you to filter flights by company, airport and flight number, offering details such as altitude, speed and information on the aircraft model. This makes it easier to locate specific planes, such as an Airbus A380, on the map.
A special feature of RadarBox is the replay function, which allows you to review previous flights. As well as being a flight tracking website, RadarBox also has a mobile app, ideal for keeping track of your flight while you wait at the airport.
Google Flights: Useful for tracking and searching flights
There's no need to rely on a specific flight tracking app or website if you're looking for quick information about a specific flight. That's because Google you can search for the best flight trackers on the internet to provide reliable information.
As long as you know the flight number, just type it into a Google search and a quick summary of its status will appear before any search results.
Find the flight tracker that's right for you
Using one of these smartphone apps or websites, you'll certainly be able to track an airplane flight, no matter where you are. And when you're ready to take off on your next vacation, make sure you use popular travel apps to help you keep your spending under control.
