My Favorite Planespotting Apps
Planespotting has been one of my favorite hobbies for years. There’s something fascinating about watching planes take off, land, and tracking their journeys across the sky. With the right apps, planespotting becomes even more exciting and informative. After trying several options, I keep coming back to three: FlightRadar24, Plane Finder, and FlightAware. Each of these apps has its strengths, and depending on what I want to do—whether it's identifying a plane overhead, tracking a friend's flight, or just browsing global air traffic—I switch between them.
1. FlightRadar24 – My Go-To for Tracking Flights
Whenever I’m at an airport or even just sitting in my backyard watching planes fly by, I open FlightRadar24. It’s the most detailed and user-friendly flight tracking app I’ve used.
What I Love About It:
Live Flight Tracking: I can tap on any plane in the app and instantly see where it’s coming from, where it’s going, and all sorts of details like altitude and speed.
3D View: This feature makes me feel like I’m in the cockpit, seeing the flight path in real time.
Historical Data: I sometimes go back and check flights I’ve seen earlier in the day.
Filters: When I’m looking for a specific airline or aircraft, this makes it easy to narrow down the search.
I use the free version, but I’ve considered upgrading for even more data.
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2. Plane Finder – A Fun Augmented Reality Experience
This app is a game-changer, especially when I see a plane overhead and wonder what it is. Plane Finder’s AR feature lets me point my phone at the sky and instantly identify the plane.
Why I Like It:
AR Plane Tracking: Just point and see live flight data.
Custom Alerts: I set notifications for flights I want to track.
Playback Feature: Sometimes, I like going back and checking past flights.
3. FlightAware – Perfect for Flight Status Updates
Whenever I need reliable flight status updates, I turn to FlightAware. It’s especially great for tracking private jets and delays.
What Makes It Stand Out:
Accurate Flight Status Updates: Super useful for checking if a flight is delayed.
Private Jet Tracking: I’ve spotted some interesting business jets with this one.
Airport Information: I get real-time airport conditions, which helps when I’m traveling.
Which One is Best?
Honestly, I use all three depending on the situation. FlightRadar24 is my top pick for everyday tracking, Plane Finder is great for identifying planes in real time, and FlightAware is the best when I need flight status updates. If you love planes like I do, these apps will take your planespotting experience to the next level!