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

Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker vs FlightAware Flight Tracker

Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner FlightAware Flight Tracker
FlightAware Flight Tracker 4.9★ · Free + IAP 70

FlightAware Flight Tracker is slightly better due to fewer complaints about ads and a more stable user experience, despite some login issues.

Full reviews: Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker · FlightAware Flight Tracker

Flightradar24 is praised for its comprehensive real-time flight tracking, but its free version is heavily criticized for excessive and intrusive ads, making it nearly unusable for some. FlightAware also offers robust tracking and is appreciated for its accuracy, though it faces user frustration with its login process and some occasional data inaccuracies.

Head to head

Features & Information edge: Flightradar24 | Flight TrackerR3R5R24R29
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 users appreciate its ability to see real-time flight movements, identify planes flying overhead, and access detailed information like aircraft type and airline R5. Premium features include live weather, cloud data, aircraft age, and playback of past flights . However, many core features are locked behind a paywall, making the free version feel limited R3R24R29.
FlightAware Flight Tracker FlightAware is valued for its comprehensive information and features, with users finding it reliable for tracking flights, including arrival and departure times . It offers tools for aviators and is useful for monitoring family flights . Some users desire improvements like naming saved flights and more intuitive data display for lay users .
Ease of Use & User Experience tieR1R7R12R13
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 is generally considered easy to use for basic tracking, with a good map view . However, recent updates have introduced an overwhelming number of ads that are often unskippable, instant, and cover the screen, making the app difficult or impossible to use for free users R1R7R12R13. Some users also dislike the new format and find certain features difficult .
FlightAware Flight Tracker FlightAware's user experience is mixed. While many find it easy to use and visual for basic flight tracking , a significant number of users report issues with the sign-up and login process, describing it as buggy, difficult, and requiring excessive authentication steps . Some find the UI to be appalling and not intuitive, especially for setting notifications .
Reliability & Accuracy tieR4R9R28R51
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 is generally praised for its accuracy in real-time tracking R9. However, some users report issues with flights not loading, the search bar being unresponsive, or the app not showing all visible planes R4R28. There are also reports of inaccuracy, such as planes showing as airborne before takeoff R51.
FlightAware Flight Tracker FlightAware is often described as accurate and reliable, with updates that are good and sometimes better than airline information . However, several users experience issues with inaccurate or delayed updates, especially regarding landing times or diverted flights . Some flights, like TUI, are not tracked R90.
Price & Value edge: FlightAware Flight TrackerR1R3R6R7
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker Flightradar24 offers a free tier, but it is heavily criticized for being almost unusable due to an overwhelming number of long, unskippable, and intrusive ads R1R7R9R12. Many features require a monthly or yearly subscription, which some users feel is expensive and not good value, especially as previously free features have been moved behind a paywall R3R6.
FlightAware Flight Tracker FlightAware also has a free tier with ads R93. Users can pay to remove ads, but there is dissatisfaction with a recent price increase for existing ad-removal subscriptions (from $5.99 to $8.99 yearly) and the requirement for a subscription rather than a one-off payment to remove ads R76R93. One user upgraded to premium within a week due to being impressed .
Pick Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker if

You are an aviation enthusiast who values comprehensive real-time flight data and are willing to pay for a subscription to avoid ads and unlock advanced features .

Pick FlightAware Flight Tracker if

You need a reliable flight tracker for personal use, are less sensitive to occasional login friction, and prefer an app with fewer complaints about intrusive ads in its free tier .

Evidence note: Both apps have a free tier with in-app purchases. The negative reviews for Flightradar24 are heavily skewed by complaints about the aggressive advertising in its free version, which significantly impacts its perceived usability and value for non-paying users. FlightAware also has ads, but the complaints are fewer and more focused on login issues and price changes for ad removal.

Frequently asked

Which app has fewer ads?
FlightAware Flight Tracker generally has fewer and less intrusive ads compared to Flightradar24, which is frequently criticized for excessive, long, and unskippable advertisements that make the free version nearly unusable (R1, R7, R12, R13, , , , , for Flightradar24 vs. , , R93 for FlightAware).
Is FlightAware's ad-removal subscription worth it?
FlightAware's ad-removal subscription price recently increased from $5.99 to $8.99 annually, which has caused dissatisfaction among loyal customers who expected to be grandfathered into their original rate R76. Some users are also unwilling to pay a subscription for ad removal without additional features R93.
Do these apps track all types of aircraft?
Both apps primarily track civil aviation, but some users report that military aircraft (like those from RAF and USAF) are not always displayed on Flightradar24 R48. FlightAware users have also noted that specific flights, such as TUI flights, might not be tracked R90, and some allege censorship regarding certain private aircraft R112.

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. [R3] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 3/5 · US I dunno: Must pay to get most features. Basic (what you start with) is where you can only see flights. So annoying!
  2. [R5] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 5/5 · US Very helpful: This app helped me in a lot of situations like when I wanted to know which plane were landing or taking off I love it ✈️🤩
  3. [R24] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 3/5 · US Too many ads and locked features: So many things are restricted and it bombards you with ads it gets annoying
  4. [R29] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 4/5 · US Good app: It lets me look and see if there’s any interesting flights near me but you have to pay to unlock other options
  5. [R1] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 2/5 · US Ads disguised as a useful app: Like ads?!? You’ll love this app! You get to see more ads than planes and it’s great!!
  6. [R7] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Unusable due to ads: This app used to be great but you can’t even look at a flight without getting 3 ads that you can’t close. Terrible to use now
  7. [R12] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 3/5 · US Ads are too long: The plane is gone by the time the ads are over
  8. [R13] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Instant ads: I understand ads keep the app free however it shouldn’t be instantaneous. That’s ridiculous.
  9. [R4] 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.
  10. [R9] 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.
  11. [R28] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 2/5 · US Used to be great: This app used to show so many airplanes. Not so much anymore. I can look up in the sky and see several airplanes and this app won’t show anything.
  12. [R51] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 3/5 · GB Inaccurate but okay app will still use: Not accurate a plane that’s not even took off yet a flight radar 24 will be telling me it’s already 25 feet up in the air
  13. [R6] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 3/5 · US Pay pay pay: It’s okay
  14. [R76] FlightAware Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Disappointing Price Increase for Loyal Customers: I am very disappointed to see the price of the yearly ad-removal subscription increasing from $5.99 to $8.99. Every other app I have ever used values its current customer base by grandfathering them into their original rate. With those companies, you only pay the new, higher price if you cancel your subscription and choose to rejoin at a later date
  15. [R93] FlightAware Flight Tracker 3/5 · GB Can’t Subscribe to Remove Ads: Lovely app, and I’d be happy to pay a one off sum to remove ads, but that requires a subscription! Not a chance in the world. The ads are irritating but I’ll delete the app rather than subscribe for no extra features.
  16. [R48] Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker 3/5 · GB Not all planes recognised: I live in Norfolk, we have a lot of aircraft flying over from the RAF and USAF. I always like to know what they are, but they don’t even appear on the map☹️
  17. [R90] FlightAware Flight Tracker 3/5 · GB TUI Flights: Not being tracked, having to use other apps and websites to do this.
  18. [R112] FlightAware Flight Tracker 1/5 · US Censorship: This app really really doesn’t want you to look up Elon Musk’s airplane. Probably also other billionaires.

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