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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Planes Live vs Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker

Planes Live 4.6★ · Free + IAP 55
Winner Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75

Flightradar24 is the better choice for flight tracking, offering more reliable data and a better overall user experience despite its own issues with ads and subscription models.

Full reviews: Planes Live · Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker

Flightradar24 generally provides more reliable flight tracking and a richer feature set, evidenced by its higher lifetime rating and greater user satisfaction, even with frequent complaints about ads and paywalls. Planes Live struggles with data accuracy, intrusive ads, and poor customer support, making its free version nearly unusable.

Head to head

Features and Data Accuracy edge: Flightradar24 | Flight TrackerR1R3R8R9
Planes Live Planes Live users report significant issues with missing flight data, incorrect tracking, and inaccurate arrival times, making the app unreliable for its core function R1R3R15. Some users miss older features like seeing a close image of the plane or aircraft type R8R9.
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 users generally praise its ability to find and track many planes, with some calling it 'amazing' and 'the best app' . However, some users report issues with incomplete flight info, missing planes (especially military aircraft), and a blurry screen .
Ease of Use and User Experience edge: Flightradar24 | Flight TrackerR4R6R7R8
Planes Live Users find Planes Live's free version 'almost unusable' due to constant, intrusive ads that frequently freeze the app or block flight info R4R6R7R10. Some also dislike the new layout and find it clunky R8.
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 is generally considered easy to use and runs smoothly . However, a significant number of users complain about the overwhelming number of ads in the free version, which are often full-screen, uncloseable, or redirect to the App Store, making the app frustrating or 'unusable' R61R64R70. Some also prefer the old format .
Reliability and Performance edge: Flightradar24 | Flight TrackerR11R15R20R35
Planes Live Planes Live users report frequent freezing, issues with notifications not working, and the map tracker often showing flights going in the wrong direction R11R15R35. Some also note that it 'takes forever to flight information' R20.
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 generally runs smoothly for many users . However, some recent reviews mention the app not loading flights, the search bar being unresponsive, or the entire screen being blurry .
Price and Value (Free vs. Paid) tieR4R7R10R16
Planes Live Planes Live users are highly critical of the aggressive push to pay, with the free version becoming 'useless' or 'unusable' due to overwhelming ads R4R7R10R16. The subscription cost is perceived as very high, with one user noting '$5 a week' R16R30. There are also complaints about a misleading free trial that requires agreeing to a subscription .
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 users frequently complain about the increasing number of features being moved behind a paywall and the intrusive ads in the free version R61R64. Some paid users also feel their subscriptions have been 'nerfed' .
Customer Support and Privacy tieR12R13R55R67
Planes Live Planes Live support is described as 'terrible,' with bounced emails and replies directing users to FAQs without further assistance R12. There are also serious concerns about 'very graphic adult ads' appearing in the app R13 and issues with subscription cancellation and refunds R55.
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 faces significant criticism for its data sharing practices, with users finding it 'very hard to opt out' of sharing PII with third parties, even for paid subscribers R67R82. Some users also report unexpected verification requests via Apple Pay .
Pick Planes Live if

You are willing to pay for a subscription and hope for a better experience, or if you specifically enjoy its interface when it works .

Pick Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker if

You prioritize generally more reliable flight data and a smoother core tracking experience, even if you have to contend with frequent ads in the free version or pay for a subscription .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative recent reviews, primarily concerning intrusive ads and aggressive monetization strategies in their free tiers. This skews recent sentiment negatively for both, despite higher lifetime ratings. The comparison focuses on the free-tier experience and the value proposition of the paid tiers.

Frequently asked

Is Planes Live free to use?
Planes Live offers a free version, but many users report it is 'almost unusable' due to constant, intrusive ads and a strong push for paid subscriptions, with some features now requiring payment R4R7R16R22.
How much does Planes Live cost?
While specific pricing varies, one review mentions a cost of '$5 a week,' which users consider very expensive and not worth it R16R30.
Does Flightradar24 have a lot of ads?
Yes, Flightradar24's free version is heavily criticized for its 'persistent' and 'excessive' ads, which are often full-screen, uncloseable, or redirect to the App Store, making the app frustrating for many users R61R64R70R81.
Are there privacy concerns with Flightradar24?
Yes, some users express strong privacy concerns, noting that Flightradar24 'openly sells your PII information to third parties' and makes it 'very hard to opt out' of data sharing, even for paid subscribers R67R82.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Planes Live 1/5 · US Missing flight data everywhere what’s up?: I sent something in with no response. Checking today for flights from Fort Lauderdale to Boston again and it shows there aren’t any next week or after. I’m about ready to cancel what’s going on with your data? When it’s working, it’s a five star app. If it doesn’t have the flights it’s not even a one star app Thanks.
  2. [R3] Planes Live 3/5 · US Does not track planes properly: This app work for a while ok but recently is not showing the planes flying right over my head. I don’t live in a big city with lots of traffic so it should not be the high plane traffic. Disappointed ! The App I properly updated so it’s the phone.
  3. [R8] Planes Live 4/5 · US I prefer the old version:/: I've used this app for quite some time now, but the new layout just bugs me. The only reason this particular tracker was my go-to was because it was easy to see a close image of the plane overhead, it displayed above all the flight info. Either that particular feature has been removed entirely, or it's been hidden in such a way that I can't find it.
  4. [R9] Planes Live 3/5 · US Appearance and flight info: Would be cool to see it have a dark mode feature and would be cool to have it where you click on a flight it shows the picture of the type of aircraft just like it used to
  5. [R4] Planes Live 1/5 · US Now useless: The free app is now worse than useless, a complete waste of time. Nothing but constant ads and even when not ads, frequently freezes.
  6. [R6] Planes Live 3/5 · US Ads are out of control: I get it - you build an app hoping to make money, and you deserve to. But the ads have taken over the free version of the app, making it almost unusable at times.
  7. [R7] Planes Live 2/5 · US Was a good app before, now not so much: Was good app before, then they turned it into having to pay for a plan. If you don’t pay, the free version is almost unusable. Rarely use it now, I’ve switched to other flight tracking apps.
  8. [R11] Planes Live 5/5 · US sad 😕: The app keeps telling me to manage my notifications. I’ve done everything I can and this app will not do my notifications. I don’t know why.
  9. [R15] Planes Live 3/5 · US Map tracker doesn't always work.: If you care about the map tracking feature, it doesn't often work. Many times it has shown a flight going in the opposite direction in should be, yet the fligt data is correct when not using the map.
  10. [R20] Planes Live 5/5 · US Ops manager: Takes forever to flight information
  11. [R35] Planes Live 5/5 · US Good app but….: This app is wonderful and has so much easy features and accurate but after a while I starts to freeze and can’t types and other stuff I don’t know if it’s a bug or just my phone but it’s kinda anoying but overall it’s a worth it app and simple directions how to use it great job making this app it perfectly made but I don’t know about the bug so yea.
  12. [R10] Planes Live 1/5 · US Once great, now just spam: Just a big spam app now. Avoid.
  13. [R16] Planes Live 1/5 · US F you very much: So Flight tracker I’ve been using for years all of a sudden stops working today and says I have to pay five dollars a week to use it, up yours certainly not worth it! Maybe $20 a year would be fine but not five dollars a week!!!
  14. [R12] Planes Live 3/5 · US App is great, support is terrible.: Love the app! However, support is terrible. Sent a support request through the app and the email got bounced back to me saying that the email address was no longer in use and to send a support request through the app (???). I sent an email to the address in the App Store, got a reply that basically said to look in the FAQ on the website and if the question was
  15. [R13] Planes Live 1/5 · US Adult Ads Showing: Just installed and glad no kids were around as very graphic adult ads showing right at the top. I’m sure this is from a third party ad network but I’d be selecting one that was far more restrictive before dropping it on my application. I’m certain the application is built well based on the reviews but this is not acceptable.
  16. [R55] Planes Live 1/5 · US Illegal business practices: Expiration date is 8/12/25. Billed 8/8/25 canceled on 8/8/25They refused a refund twice. How do u charge before expiration date and refuse a refund if you canceled before the expiration date. It may be a lousy $9.99 but the BBB will decide on their business practices.
  17. [R67] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Sells your data very hard yo opt out: Openly sells your PII information to third parties even if you are a paid subscriber. Very hard to reject cookies. Also zero California privacy policy or request for data deletion.
  18. [R22] Planes Live 2/5 · US Used to be great. Now It’s terrible: Used to be a useful app and a must on each flight or even sitting on my deck at home. Now it’s hot garbage, filled with pop up ads and constant prompts for a subscription.
  19. [R30] Planes Live 3/5 · GB Expensive: £5.49/week
  20. [R61] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Persistent Ads: Enjoyed the app for about 2 weeks, didn’t mind the periodic ads. But now the ads that pop up cover the entire screen and make you sit through several seconds before the “X” appears in the corner to close. If that’s not bad enough, pressing the “X” takes you to the App Store instead of closing the ad, then when you close that, another ad pops up in its place. It seems now that I sp
  21. [R64] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Too many ads: Too many ads
  22. [R70] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Ads: After the adds can’t go back to the radar screen
  23. [R81] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 3/5 · US Great App but ads have gotten crazy!: This is a great and accurate app, however the ads have gotten extremely crazy and make it hard for the app to work correctly in my opinion as a QA agent. The ads started out light but now they are so heavy thry bog down your phones processing speed.
  24. [R82] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Too hard to opt out of data sharing: App shares your data with 30 partners and you have to decline in each individually. Uninstalled instead

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store