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

Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker vs Flighty

Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker
Flighty 4.8★ · Free + IAP 60

Flightradar24 is better for general, free flight tracking, while Flighty offers a more polished experience with detailed travel information for frequent flyers willing to pay.

Flightradar24 excels as a free, live flight tracker, despite intrusive ads. Flighty provides comprehensive flight details and a superior user interface, but its advanced features come at a high subscription cost.

Head to head

Features & Scope edge: Flightradar24 | Flight TrackerR8R9R11R16
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 is praised for its ability to show many planes and track flights live, including identifying specific aircraft R11R20. Users enjoy seeing what is flying overhead and tracking family members' flights R9R23. However, some advanced features like flight logs, aircraft age, and vertical speed are now subscription-gated R9R16. Users also desire additional features like time-lapse weather radar and terminal forecasts R8.
Flighty Flighty is valued for consolidating all flight information in one place, providing real-time updates, and offering detailed stats for aviation enthusiasts R63R71. It helps users track future flights and offers a historical log . However, some users note that it doesn't show all live airplanes on a map unless a flight number is entered . There are also complaints about missing boarding times and unreliable gate information .
Ease of Use & Interface edge: FlightyR20R28R30R34
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Many users find Flightradar24 easy to use and appreciate its smooth operation R20. Some, however, dislike the changes to the app's format R30 and report issues with the UI, such as blurry screens or non-responsive search bars R28R34.
Flighty Flighty is consistently described as having a beautiful, clean, sleek, and well-designed UI R69. Users find it very easy to use and seamless for travel . However, some users report bugs, like duplicate aircraft listings or cut-off images .
Reliability & Accuracy edge: Flightradar24 | Flight TrackerR9R21R23R34
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 is generally considered accurate, with users relying on it to track flights R21R23. However, some users report issues with flights not loading, especially at specific airports R34, or not showing all planes in the sky . There's also a complaint about the app erasing flight logs R9.
Flighty Flighty's accuracy is a significant concern for many users. Several reviews state that the data is often incorrect, showing flights as delayed when they are not, or vice versa R63R76R79. Users have reported the app showing a plane on the tarmac when it's already in the air R94. The app's import by email function is also noted as unreliable .
Price & Value (Free vs. Paid) edge: Flightradar24 | Flight TrackerR1R4R5R6
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24's free tier is heavily criticized for an overwhelming number of intrusive, full-screen ads that are hard to close and often redirect to the App Store R1R4R5. Many essential features are locked behind a subscription R6R16. Despite this, some users still find value in the free version .
Flighty Flighty is widely considered expensive, with many useful features paywalled behind a subscription R69R78R90. The pricing, including a weekly option, is seen as high, especially for occasional travelers R71. Some users feel the free version is overly compromised and barely works . There's also a complaint about a 'pay as you go' option being a recurring weekly subscription rather than a one-off payment .
Privacy & Support tieR7R22R61R64
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 faces severe criticism for its privacy practices, with users reporting that the app openly sells PII (Personally Identifiable Information) to third parties, even for paid subscribers R7. Users find it very difficult to opt out of data sharing, often requiring individual declines for numerous partners R7R22. There are also complaints about a lack of California privacy policy or data deletion requests R7.
Flighty Flighty users frequently complain about constant, intrusive requests to rate or review the app, sometimes multiple times a day R61R64. Some users also report not receiving basic notifications unless they upgrade . Support is described as not very helpful regarding issues like flight import .
Pick Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker if

You want a free app to casually track live flights on a map, are tolerant of numerous ads, and prioritize seeing a wide array of planes overhead R11R20.

Pick Flighty if

You are a frequent flyer or aviation enthusiast who values a sophisticated, detailed flight tracking experience with a clean interface, and are willing to pay a premium for comprehensive information and a flight log R71.

Evidence note: Reviews for Flightradar24 heavily focused on the ad experience and free feature changes, while Flighty reviews often discussed its high price and data accuracy issues.

Frequently asked

Is Flightradar24 truly free?
Flightradar24 offers a free tier, but it is heavily supported by ads that many users find intrusive, full-screen, difficult to close, and often redirect to the App Store R1R4R5. Many features are also locked behind a subscription R6R16.
Is Flighty accurate for real-time updates?
Flighty's accuracy for real-time updates is a significant concern for users, with many reporting that the app often provides incorrect or delayed information, such as showing flights as delayed when they are not, or displaying a plane on the tarmac when it has already taken off R63R76R79R94.
How expensive is Flighty?
Flighty is considered expensive by many users, with a significant number of its useful features paywalled behind a subscription R69R78R90. Reviewers mention prices like £60 for a year or £300 for a lifetime membership, with a weekly option also available at $4.99 R71.

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. [R8] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 4/5 · US Great app: Room for improvement. Would like to see time lapse wx radar, and terminal forecasts on the airport pages. Enjoying the app otherwise!
  2. [R9] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 3/5 · US Incomplete Flight Info: This app has been awesome to see what is flying overhead. However, the app owners have decided to erase flight logs and inform
  3. [R11] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 5/5 · US Best app: Bro I just got this app 2 days ago, I loved the app. That’s why I love planes, I wanted to get this app. There was just SOOOO many planes. Like, literally the best app EVER!
  4. [R16] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Free features getting removed, overall platform decay: not impressed with changing free features to be subscription gated. previously a subscription was not needed to view more than 24 hours of arrival/departure history, now you do. desktop has a huge sidebar that was intentionally inserted to be as annoying as possible to force you to subscribe to remove. aircraft age and vertical speed previousl
  5. [R20] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 5/5 · US I would have loved this as a child: Growing up I’d lie in my grass and look at the sky and watch a plane fly over me. I thought “I wonder where they’re going” and with this, I now know. Never really had any issues, runs smoothly.
  6. [R28] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US can you fix this plz: idk if it’s just me or mg phone but on the app the entire screen is blurry.
  7. [R30] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 3/5 · US Format: I like the old format better
  8. [R34] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US STILL NOT LOADING (UPDATED REVIEW JUNE 29): The app was perfect. And still, flights don’t load. The search bar isn’t responsive. And it happens at JFK Airport. This was never an issue. It can’t possibly a reception problem with my phone, because I’m able to use other apps without a problem, including Flight Aware. I prefer this app though.
  9. [R21] 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.
  10. [R23] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 5/5 · US Love it: Thank you for this very informative and helpful app you have no idea how much it helped me. Whenever any of my family members travel I keep track of their flights through this app. It makes me feel relaxed knowing I can keep watch on their flight. I love all the neat features of the program. Thanks I a million ❤️
  11. [R1] 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
  12. [R4] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Too many ads: Too many ads
  13. [R5] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 4/5 · US Adds are bad: Everything is fine just the free tier has lots of adds
  14. [R6] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 3/5 · US Add unless you pay: It’s okay but it makes you pay a subscription to go no adds
  15. [R7] 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.
  16. [R22] 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
  17. [R61] Flighty 1/5 · US Constant inquiries: Every day it asked me to rate/review sometimes 2 to 3 times a day. It’s very annoying.
  18. [R64] Flighty 1/5 · US Stop: Asking me for a review
  19. [R63] Flighty 3/5 · US Review: I paid for the lifetime membership, app is fine. I love how all my flights are in one place that is the best. However the data is incorrect a lot of the time. I try to send them corrections but nothing happens. Not really the data ahead of time more like while my flight is happening it will say delayed but it really isn’t.
  20. [R76] Flighty 2/5 · US Unfortunately not timely info on United flight delays: Used to love this app but it has not received the timely info on United for multiple delays
  21. [R79] Flighty 1/5 · US No longer accurate.: Flighty used to be my go to app. It would alert me of changes before TripIt or the airline. Now it never tells me of a change. The widget will say “no flights” even if I have flights that day and I travel twice a week. I feel so let down. I used to love and live by this app. Now it feels worthless.
  22. [R94] Flighty 2/5 · GB Can’t be trusted - too many errors: Currently tracking a flight that says the plane is still on the tarmac yet I’m tracking it on flight radar and it’s at 5000 feet! Full of errors so you can’t trust any of the information. At Christmas it got the connecting terminal wrong. Wish I could have got my money back. I won’t be renewing the subscription. Total rubbish!
  23. [R69] Flighty 3/5 · US Flashy but Spendy: It’s a beautiful app but so many features are locked behind subscription fees that it might as well be part of the Adobe suite.
  24. [R71] Flighty 5/5 · US Awesome for not just tracking your flight before take off but in flight to also while in the air.: App is awesome, pro is worth it and the pricing is good just 4.99 a week so you don’t have to do monthly just the week that you’re flying. Info on the app is full of info, even for an airplane nut or junkie will love the stats and gates, luggage carousel baggage pick up all in one place. If your pl
  25. [R78] Flighty 3/5 · GB Too expensive: Its a good app with a good interface, but you can get the same information on other apps for free. You are only really paying for an expensive flight logbook.
  26. [R90] Flighty 3/5 · GB Expensive compared to alternatives: The import by email function is very unreliable which leaves the history either manual or inaccurate. If you’re looking for real time flight data there are much cheaper options. All the useful features of this app are paywalled.

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