You can watch any airplane in the sky right now using free websites and apps

Real-time flight tracking lets you see where a specific plane is, how fast it's moving, its altitude, and where it's headed—all updated every few seconds. The most popular free tools are Flightradar24, ADS-B Exchange, and FlightAware. Each one pulls data from the same source: signals that aircraft broadcast automatically as they fly. You don't need special equipment or permission. If you're waiting for someone's arrival or just curious about the plane overhead, you can find it in seconds.

These trackers work because commercial aircraft transmit their position automatically via radio signals called ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast). Ground receivers around the world pick up these signals and share them publicly on the web. This is why you can see nearly every commercial flight in real time, and why the data is free to access.

Key Takeaways

  • Flightradar24, ADS-B Exchange, and FlightAware are the three largest free flight-tracking websites and show nearly all commercial aircraft in real time.
  • You can search by flight number, airline, aircraft type, or route, and the map updates every few seconds with position, speed, and altitude.
  • Most commercial flights are visible on these trackers, but military and private aircraft do not broadcast their location on public networks.
  • Mobile apps for iOS and Android let you track flights from your phone and set up alerts when a specific plane lands or takes off.
  • Flight tracking works because aircraft transmit their position automatically via ADS-B radio signals, which ground receivers pick up and share publicly.

How to search for a flight on Flightradar24

Flightradar24 is the most widely used flight tracker. Go to flightradar24.com and you'll see a live map of aircraft. In the search box at the top left, type the flight number (for example, "United 456" or "UA456"), the airline name, the aircraft registration (the tail number, which starts with N for US planes), or a route like "New York to Los Angeles."

Once you find the flight, click on it and a panel opens showing the aircraft type, current altitude, ground speed, heading, departure and arrival airports, and the scheduled arrival time. The map updates continuously, so you can watch the plane move in real time. If the flight hasn't taken off yet, the tracker shows its status—on time, delayed, or cancelled. You can also click the aircraft icon itself on the map to see the same information without using the search box.

Using ADS-B Exchange and FlightAware as alternatives

ADS-B Exchange (adsbexchange.com) works the same way as Flightradar24 but shows more aircraft because it includes some military and private planes that other trackers filter out. The interface is simpler and the data updates slightly faster, though the map can feel less polished. Search the same way: flight number, airline, or tail number. The information displayed is identical—position, altitude, speed, and heading—and updates just as frequently.

FlightAware (flightaware.com) is owned by an aviation data company and integrates flight status information directly. It shows delays, cancellations, and gate information for many airports. The search works identically, and you can also look up historical flight data—useful if you want to see whether a particular route is usually on time. FlightAware also lets you set up free email or text alerts when a specific flight departs or lands, which is helpful if you're picking someone up and want a reminder.

What information you can see on a flight tracker

When you click on an aircraft, the tracker displays its current position on the map, altitude in feet, ground speed in knots or kilometers per hour, and the direction it's heading. You'll also see the departure and arrival airports, the scheduled and estimated arrival times, and the aircraft type and registration number. This core information is the same across all three major trackers.

Some trackers show additional details: the airline, number of stops, distance traveled so far, distance remaining, and how long until landing. If the flight is on the ground, you can see which gate or terminal it's at on FlightAware, if that airport shares gate data. Historical trackers let you replay the entire flight path after it lands, showing exactly when it took off, climbed, cruised, and descended. This replay feature is useful if you want to understand why a flight was delayed or how weather affected its route.

Why some aircraft don't appear on flight trackers

Most commercial airliners broadcast their position automatically via ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast), a radio signal that includes the plane's location, altitude, and speed. Ground receivers around the world pick up these signals and feed them to flight-tracking websites. This is why you can see nearly every commercial flight. The system was designed for safety and air traffic control, and the data is transmitted openly so anyone can receive it.

Military aircraft, government planes, and some private jets can disable their ADS-B transmitters or use different systems, so they won't show up on public trackers. Small general-aviation planes (Cessnas, Pipers, and similar) may not have ADS-B equipment at all, especially older ones. If you're looking for a flight and it doesn't appear, it's either not broadcasting, hasn't taken off yet, or the tracker's coverage in that region is spotty—which can happen over oceans or remote areas where fewer ground receivers exist.

Using flight-tracking apps on your phone

Flightradar24, FlightAware, and ADS-B Exchange all have free mobile apps for iPhone and Android. read the app, search for a flight the same way you would on the website, and you can track it from anywhere. The apps let you zoom in and out on the map, rotate it, and see the same detailed information as the web version. The mobile interface is usually simpler and faster to load than the website on a phone.

Most apps include a notification feature: you can save a flight and get an alert when it departs, when it's 30 minutes from landing, or when it lands. This is useful if you're picking someone up and want to know when to head to the airport. Some apps also show live weather radar overlaid on the flight map, so you can see thunderstorms or rain the plane is flying through. Push notifications work even if you close the app, so you won't miss an update.

Tracking a flight when you don't know the flight number

If you know the airline and departure and arrival cities but not the flight number, search by route instead. On Flightradar24, type the departure airport code (like "JFK" for New York) and the arrival code (like "LAX" for Los Angeles), and the tracker shows all flights on that route currently in the air. You can then click on the one that matches the airline and time you're looking for. This method works well if you know roughly when someone is flying but don't have their confirmation number or flight number.

Alternatively, if you know the aircraft's tail number (visible on the fuselage), search for that directly. Every commercial aircraft has a unique registration number, and searching it shows you where that specific plane is and what flight it's operating. If you're tracking someone's arrival and you know roughly when they're landing, you can also search the arrival airport and watch for their airline's flights coming in. Most trackers let you filter by airline, which narrows the list quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I track a private plane or helicopter?

Most private jets and helicopters don't broadcast ADS-B signals, so they won't show up on public trackers. Some do, especially larger jets, and you can search by tail number if you know it. Military and government aircraft almost never appear on public trackers for security reasons.

Do I need to pay to use flight trackers?

No. Flightradar24, ADS-B Exchange, and FlightAware all offer free versions with full real-time tracking. They do offer paid subscriptions with extra features like ad-free browsing or historical data, but the free version shows everything you need to track a flight.

How accurate is the arrival time shown on a flight tracker?

The estimated arrival time updates as the plane flies and is usually accurate within 5 to 15 minutes. However, unexpected delays—weather, air traffic, mechanical issues—can change it. FlightAware often shows more accurate estimates because it includes gate information and airport delay data.

Can I see what's happening inside the plane using flight tracking?

No. Flight trackers show only the aircraft's location, altitude, and speed. They don't show cabin video, passenger information, or anything happening on board. The data comes from the plane's navigation system, not from cameras or sensors inside the aircraft.

Why does a flight sometimes disappear from the tracker?

A flight may disappear if it's flying over an area with poor ground receiver coverage, such as the ocean or remote regions. It may also disappear if the aircraft's ADS-B transmitter malfunctions temporarily. Once the plane re-enters coverage or the transmitter recovers, it reappears on the map.