You can track most commercial planes live using free websites and apps that show their location, altitude, and speed
The most direct way to track a plane is through FlightRadar24 or FlightAware, two websites that display aircraft positions on a map as they fly. Both pull data from ground-based radar and aircraft transmitters, so you see planes moving in real time. You do not need to log in or pay—the basic versions work on any browser or phone.
If you are tracking a specific flight, you can search by flight number (like "United 447") or by the airline and route. The map shows you the plane's current location, altitude in feet, ground speed, and sometimes the aircraft type. You can also see whether a flight is on time, delayed, or cancelled before it departs.
These tools are useful if you are picking someone up at the airport, waiting for a delayed flight, or straightforward curious about air traffic near your home. The information updates every few seconds on most flights.
Key Takeaways
- FlightRadar24 and FlightAware are free websites that show plane locations, altitude, and speed updated in real time.
- You can search by flight number, airline name, or route to track a specific plane or see all aircraft in an area.
- Both sites show whether a flight is on time, delayed, or cancelled, and let you see the aircraft type and registration number.
- Some planes, including military and private aircraft, do not appear on these maps because they have tracking disabled.
FlightRadar24: The most detailed live map
FlightRadar24 displays planes as small aircraft icons on an interactive map. Click any plane and a sidebar opens showing the flight number, airline, departure and arrival airports, altitude, speed, and how long until landing. The map zooms to any region—you can watch all traffic over your city, a specific airport, or an entire country.
The free version shows most commercial flights. The paid version ($5.99 per month or $59.99 per year) adds features like historical playback (rewatch a flight that already landed), 3D flight paths, and detailed aircraft information. For most people tracking a single flight or watching local traffic, the free version is enough.
FlightRadar24 works on desktop browsers and has apps for iPhone and Android. The mobile app is useful if you are at the airport or driving to pick someone up, because you can check the plane's position without switching between windows.
FlightAware: Best for detailed flight status
FlightAware also shows planes on a map, but its strength is detailed flight information. When you search a flight number, you see the scheduled departure and arrival times, actual times, gate information (if available), and a timeline of any delays or cancellations. You can also see the aircraft's history—how many flights it has made that day and whether it is running late from an earlier leg.
FlightAware's map view is less detailed than FlightRadar24's, but the text information is more complete. If you are tracking a flight to know whether it will arrive on time, FlightAware often gives you the answer faster. The site also sends email or text alerts if you set up a free account and add a flight to your watchlist.
Like FlightRadar24, FlightAware has a free version and a paid subscription ($9.99 per month). The free version covers what most people need: real-time position, status updates, and historical flight data.
How to search for a specific flight
On either site, look for a search box at the top of the page. Type the flight number exactly as it appears on your ticket—for example, "AA1234" for American Airlines flight 1234, or "DL567" for Delta flight 567. The site will show you that flight if it is scheduled to depart within the next few hours or is currently in the air.
If you do not have the flight number, search by airline and route instead. Enter the departure airport code (like LAX for Los Angeles or JFK for New York) and the arrival airport code. The site will list all flights on that route today, and you can click the one you want.
Once you find the flight, you can watch it move across the map or bookmark the page so you can check back later. Most browsers let you refresh the page to see the latest position without typing the flight number again.
Why some planes do not appear on the map
Military aircraft, government planes, and many private jets do not show up on FlightRadar24 or FlightAware because they have ADS-B out disabled. ADS-B is the system that broadcasts a plane's location to ground receivers. Disabling it is legal for certain aircraft, so you will not see them on any public tracking map.
Commercial airliners always transmit ADS-B, so you can track any passenger flight. If you are looking for a private plane or military transport and it does not appear, that is why—the owner or operator has chosen not to broadcast its location.
Tracking planes near your home or a specific airport
Both FlightRadar24 and FlightAware let you zoom the map to any location. Click and drag to move around, or use the search box to jump to a city or airport code. Once you zoom in, you see all planes currently in that airspace, with their flight numbers and destinations labeled.
This is useful if you live near an airport and want to understand the flight patterns overhead, or if you are curious about air traffic during a busy travel day. You can watch planes line up to land, see how fast they descend, and track them from takeoff to landing.
If you want to focus on a single airport, search for the airport code (like ORD for Chicago O'Hare or SFO for San Francisco). The map will center on that airport and show all arrivals and departures in real time.
Using flight tracking to understand delays
When a flight is delayed, the tracking map shows you why it might be late. If the plane is still in the air from a previous flight, you can see exactly where it is and estimate when it will land and turn around. If it is on the ground but not pushing back from the gate, the delay is likely due to weather, air traffic congestion, or a mechanical issue—the map does not show the reason, but you can infer it from the plane's position.
FlightAware's status page is clearer for this: it lists the scheduled time, the new estimated time, and sometimes a reason like "weather" or "air traffic." FlightRadar24's map is better if you want to see the plane's actual location and judge for yourself how far away it is.
Neither site can tell you why a flight is delayed if the airline has not announced a reason. But both let you see whether the delay is because the aircraft is running late from an earlier flight, or whether the problem is at the current airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I track a plane if I only know the airline and departure time?
Yes. Search the airline name and the departure airport on FlightAware or FlightRadar24, and you will see a list of all flights on that route today. Click the one that matches your departure time. If the flight has already taken off, it will appear on the map with its current position.
Do I need to create an account to track a plane?
No. Both FlightRadar24 and FlightAware work without logging in. Creating a free account on FlightAware lets you save flights to a watchlist and receive email alerts, but it is optional.
How often does the map update?
FlightRadar24 and FlightAware update every few seconds for planes in the air. Once a plane lands, the map stops updating its position, but the flight status page will show the actual arrival time and gate information if the airport has provided it.
Can I see a plane's flight history?
Yes. On FlightAware, click any flight number and scroll down to see that aircraft's history for the day—all the flights it has made and whether any were delayed. FlightRadar24 shows similar information if you click on a plane and look at its recent flights.
What is the difference between ground speed and airspeed?
Ground speed is how fast the plane is moving over the ground, which is what the tracking map shows. Airspeed is how fast it is moving through the air. Wind affects ground speed but not airspeed. For tracking purposes, ground speed is what matters—it tells you how quickly the plane is covering distance toward its destination.