You can track live aircraft overhead using free websites and apps that show real-time radar data

Several free services let you see which planes are in the air above your location right now. These sites pull data from ADS-B receivers—ground stations that pick up signals broadcast by aircraft transponders. The data updates every few seconds, so you see planes moving across a map in real time. You do not need special equipment or a subscription; you just enter your location or let the site use your GPS.

The most popular options are Flightradar24, ADS-B Exchange, and Plane Finder. Each shows the plane's altitude, speed, direction, and flight number. Some also display the aircraft type and the airline operating it. If you are curious about a specific flight—where it came from, where it is going, or why it is circling—these tools answer that in seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • Flightradar24 and ADS-B Exchange are the two largest free flight-tracking networks and cover most commercial aircraft worldwide.
  • You can zoom in on your home location and see planes by altitude, speed, and flight number without creating an account.
  • Military aircraft, small private planes, and some helicopters may not appear because they do not broadcast ADS-B signals or have them disabled.
  • Flight tracking data is public information collected by volunteer ground stations, not private surveillance.

Flightradar24: The most widely used flight tracker

Flightradar24 is the largest flight-tracking network. Its free version shows live aircraft on a map, with filters for altitude, speed, and aircraft type. You can click any plane to see its flight number, origin, destination, altitude, and speed. The site also displays historical flight data—if you want to know what time a plane passed over your house yesterday, you can look that up.

The free version has limits: you can track about 100 flights at once on the map, and some features (like detailed airport information) require a paid subscription. But for straightforward seeing what is overhead, the free tier is complete. Flightradar24 works in a web browser on any device, and they also offer a mobile app.

ADS-B Exchange: Unfiltered coverage of all aircraft

ADS-B Exchange is run by volunteers and shows every aircraft transmitting an ADS-B signal, including military planes and private jets that other trackers filter out. It has no paid tier—the site is entirely free. The interface is simpler than Flightradar24, but it covers more aircraft because it does not remove military or government flights from the display.

If you are tracking a specific plane or want to see military traffic in your area, ADS-B Exchange often shows flights that Flightradar24 does not. The trade-off is that the interface is less polished and the site can be slower during peak hours.

Plane Finder and other tracking options

Plane Finder is another free option with a mobile app and web interface. It shows similar data to Flightradar24—flight number, altitude, speed, origin, and destination. The free version is less feature-rich than Flightradar24's, but it works well if you just want a quick look at what is flying overhead.

RadarBox and OpenSky Network are two other free trackers. RadarBox has a cleaner interface but fewer features in the free version. OpenSky Network is research-focused and shows detailed flight data, though the interface is more technical. For most people, Flightradar24 or ADS-B Exchange is the easiest starting point.

Why some planes do not show up on flight trackers

Not every aircraft appears on these maps. Commercial airliners broadcast ADS-B signals by law, so they show up reliably. But military aircraft, government planes, and many private jets either do not broadcast ADS-B or have it disabled for security reasons. Helicopters, small private planes, and drones may or may not appear depending on their equipment and the rules in your country.

If you see a plane overhead but it does not appear on any tracker, it is likely a military flight, a private aircraft without ADS-B, or a helicopter operating under visual flight rules. This is normal and does not mean the tracker is broken.

How to use flight trackers to understand delays and noise

If you are dealing with flight delays or unusual aircraft noise, a flight tracker helps you understand what is happening. You can see whether planes are stacked up waiting to land (a sign of airport congestion), whether a plane is circling (often due to weather or traffic), or whether military jets are conducting training exercises in your area. Clicking on a flight shows you its origin and destination, which can explain why a particular route is busy.

Flight trackers also help you understand why you might hear the same plane multiple times. Aircraft often follow standard departure and arrival routes, so if you live near a flight path, you will see the same routes repeating throughout the day. The tracker shows you exactly which routes are active and when.

Understanding what the data on the map means

When you open a flight tracker and zoom to your location, you see dots or aircraft symbols on the map. Each one represents a plane transmitting a signal. The color or symbol often indicates the aircraft type—a commercial airliner looks different from a cargo plane or a helicopter. Clicking on any plane shows you a panel with its flight number, altitude in feet, ground speed in knots or kilometers per hour, and the direction it is heading.

Altitude is measured above sea level, not above the ground. A plane showing 5,000 feet might be much lower than it sounds if you live in a hilly area. Speed is the plane's movement across the ground, not its airspeed (which is higher because of wind). The tracker updates every few seconds, so you can watch planes move in real time across the map.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to track planes flying over my house?

Yes. Flight tracking uses publicly broadcast ADS-B signals that aircraft are required to transmit. The data is collected by volunteer ground stations and made public. You are not accessing any private information or breaking any laws by viewing this data.

Why does a plane keep circling above my area?

Planes circle for several reasons: waiting for a landing slot at a busy airport, holding due to weather, conducting training exercises, or following a standard arrival procedure. Open the flight tracker, click on the plane, and check its destination. If it is headed to a major airport, it is likely waiting to land. If it is a military aircraft, it may be training.

Can I see where a plane is going after it lands?

Flight trackers show the destination airport while the plane is in the air. Once it lands and turns off its transponder, it disappears from the map. You can see historical flight data on Flightradar24 by searching the flight number, which shows you where it came from and where it went.

Do I need to create an account to track planes?

No. Flightradar24, ADS-B Exchange, and Plane Finder all work without an account. You can zoom to your location and start tracking when ready. Creating an account unlocks extra features like saved locations and alerts, but the basic tracking is free and anonymous.

What is the difference between a plane's speed and altitude?

Altitude is how high the plane is above sea level, measured in feet. Speed is how fast it is moving across the ground, measured in knots or kilometers per hour. A plane at 35,000 feet is cruising; a plane at 2,000 feet is likely approaching or leaving an airport. Speed changes as the plane climbs, cruises, or descends.