Flight tracking

Flight tracking sites show aircraft positions on a live map, built mostly from ADS-B signals that aircraft broadcast and that networks of ground receivers pick up. Pilots use them to review their own flights and watch traffic, and businesses use the data for arrival predictions and operations.

FlightAware and Flightradar24 are the largest consumer services, each with web maps, mobile apps and paid tiers. ADS-B Exchange is fed by community receivers and is known for not filtering out aircraft that request privacy on other sites. Plane Finder offers live tracking and playback of past traffic.

Tracking data is for awareness only. Coverage varies, especially at low altitude and in remote areas, so never use it for collision avoidance or navigation.

Pilots find tracking useful after a flight. Reviewing your own track shows how closely you followed the planned route, how you flew a pattern or an approach, and how long each leg took. Some logbook and debrief tools can import tracks for a closer look.

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4 drone and aviation tools in flight tracking

FlightAware

Flight tracking site and apps showing live positions, flight history and airport activity, with data APIs for businesses.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Mobile app
  • Has an API

Flightradar24

Live flight tracking map and apps built on a large network of ADS-B receivers, with flight history and aircraft details.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Mobile app

ADS-B Exchange

Flight tracking site fed by community ADS-B receivers, known for showing aircraft without filtering out blocked flights.

  • Free plan or free tier

Plane Finder

Live flight tracking on the web and in mobile apps, with playback of past traffic and airport views.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Mobile app

For businesses, tracking data feeds into arrival predictions, fleet dashboards and alerts. If you build on a tracking API, read the data terms carefully and check how history, live data and commercial use are priced and permitted.

Remember that tracking sites show what receivers heard. A gap on the map can mean a gap in coverage, not a change in the flight.

Several services offer premium plans with longer history, more map layers or alerts. Free tiers are enough for most curious pilots and spotters.

Questions about flight tracking

How does flight tracking work?

Most aircraft broadcast their position by ADS-B. Networks of ground receivers, many run by volunteers, collect those signals, and tracking services combine them with other data to show flights on a map.

Can I use flight tracking for navigation?

No. Tracking data can be delayed or missing, especially at low altitude. Use certified equipment and air traffic services for navigation and traffic separation.

Can I host my own receiver?

Yes. Several services give extra features to people who run an ADS-B receiver and share its data. Check each service's terms for what they do with the data.

Why can't I see some aircraft?

Some aircraft lack ADS-B, are out of receiver range, or have asked services to hide them. Different services handle privacy requests differently.

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