Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FlightAware VS SkyVector

Compare FlightAware VS SkyVector and see what are their differences

FlightAware logo FlightAware

Live Flight Tracking

SkyVector logo SkyVector

Flight planning / aeronautical charts
  • FlightAware Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • SkyVector Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21

FlightAware features and specs

  • Flight Tracking Accuracy
    FlightAware provides highly accurate real-time flight tracking information, which is beneficial for both aviation enthusiasts and professionals.
  • Global Coverage
    It offers global coverage of flights, allowing users to track flights anywhere in the world.
  • Historical Data
    Users can access historical flight data, which can be useful for analysis and record-keeping.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Additional Features
    FlightAware offers additional features like alerts, airport information, and weather overlays, enhancing the user experience.
  • Mobile App Availability
    FlightAware has a mobile app, allowing users to track flights on-the-go with the same level of detail as the desktop version.

Possible disadvantages of FlightAware

  • Subscription Costs
    Some advanced features and real-time data are locked behind a paywall, requiring a subscription to access.
  • Data Overload
    For casual users, the amount of information and features can be overwhelming, making it difficult to find specific details quickly.
  • Internet Dependency
    The service requires an active internet connection, making it less reliable in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Privacy Concerns
    The detailed tracking of flights may raise privacy concerns for airlines, private jet owners, and passengers.
  • Limited Free Features
    Free users have access to limited features compared to what is available with a premium subscription.
  • Complexity for New Users
    New users might find the platform complex and may require some time to understand how to utilize all the features effectively.

SkyVector features and specs

  • Comprehensive Aeronautical Charts
    SkyVector provides detailed aeronautical charts that cover a wide range of flight information, making it a valuable resource for pilots who need up-to-date charts for flight planning and navigation.
  • Free Access
    The platform is available for free, which makes it accessible to a wide audience including student pilots, hobbyists, and professionals without a financial barrier.
  • Real-Time Weather Information
    SkyVector offers real-time weather data directly on the maps, including METARs, TAFs, and other weather overlays, which are crucial for safe flight planning.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The website features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, which allows users to quickly access necessary information and plan their routes efficiently.
  • Route Planning Tools
    SkyVector provides tools for route planning, enabling users to draw routes, measure distances, and calculate flight times effortlessly.

Possible disadvantages of SkyVector

  • Limited Functionality for Mobile Devices
    SkyVector's full functionality is best experienced on a desktop, and the mobile experience can be limited or cumbersome, which may be inconvenient for users who prefer on-the-go access.
  • No Out-Of-Browser Application
    SkyVector is web-based and does not offer a standalone application, which can be a drawback for users who prefer or require offline access for inflight use.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    For those new to aviation or flight planning, the amount of information and available tools can be overwhelming and may require a learning curve to utilize effectively.
  • No Live Flight Tracking
    Unlike some other aviation platforms, SkyVector does not offer real-time flight tracking capabilities, limiting its use for tracking aircraft in flight.
  • Dependence on Internet Connectivity
    As a web-based tool, SkyVector requires an internet connection to load maps and data, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity or when offline capabilities are needed.

Analysis of FlightAware

Overall verdict

  • Yes, FlightAware is a good service for tracking flights and related aviation data.

Why this product is good

  • FlightAware offers real-time flight tracking, historical flight data, and various aviation analytics. It provides reliable information that is frequently updated, which is beneficial for both individual users and industry professionals. The platform is accessible via its website and mobile applications, making it convenient for users on different devices.

Recommended for

  • Aviation enthusiasts who enjoy tracking flights
  • Travelers who want to monitor the status of their flights or the flights of others
  • Businesses in the aviation industry needing flight data for operational purposes
  • Researchers requiring comprehensive historical flight data
  • Pilots and airline operators for planning and logistics

FlightAware videos

Tracking Aircraft With The FlightAware - PiAware Setup Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - Flightaware App Showcase
  • Review - FlightAware CEO Daniel Baker: What You Should Know Before You Go | CNBC

SkyVector videos

SkyVector Flight Planning

More videos:

  • Review - Skyvector Flight Planner Review HD
  • Tutorial - How to Use SkyVector for IFR Flight Planning with SIDS and STARS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FlightAware and SkyVector)
Maps
81 81%
19% 19
Design Inspiration
79 79%
21% 21
Travel
86 86%
14% 14
Maps & Navigation
73 73%
27% 27

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare FlightAware and SkyVector

FlightAware Reviews

The Power of Affordable Flight API for Businesses โ€” Top 10 Options
FlightAwareโ€™s AeroAPI is a well-established and trusted solution for accessing real-time flight tracking, flight history, airport data, and advanced analytics for aviation enthusiasts, businesses of all scales, airlines, airports and government. With global coverage and reliable data, FlightAware is widely used by both small businesses and large enterprises needing accurate...
Source: aerodatabox.com
Best Flight Data APIs in 2024
PlanMonthly PricingKey FeaturesPersonalFreeUp to 10 API calls per minute, access to static maps and visuals, limited to personal and academic use, no volume discounting, email support only.Standard$100Up to 5 API calls per second, 5 cents per result set (15 results/record), access to current and historical flight data, real-time flight event alerts, predictive ETAs powered...
Source: geekflare.com
Top 10 Picks For Flight Status API That Provides Real-Time Data
Flight Aware offers AeroAPI, a query-based web service that captures live flight tracking data along with recent historical datasets. This API is particularly suited for applications requiring small data needs which makes it an ideal choice for mobile apps, scheduling software integration, post-flight analytics, and more. FlightAwareโ€™s strength lies in its comprehensive...
Source: datafloq.com
Flight Information Display System (FIDS): Sourcing, Sharing, and Integrating Flight Data
FlightAwareโ€™s selling point is its ETA predicting technology Foresight, which can be of great use to airports as well. Though this is reflected in the price in that the API doesnโ€™t have a monthly fee for personal usage but per-query fees apply. The commercial usage pays $100 monthly at the minimum. FlightAware API is REST-based. AeroDataBox APIs Enthusiast-driven,...

SkyVector Reviews

We have no reviews of SkyVector yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

SkyVector might be a bit more popular than FlightAware. We know about 195 links to it since March 2021 and only 178 links to FlightAware. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FlightAware mentions (178)

  • Frontier Delays?????
    Isn't there still a lot of bad weather on the east coast? It is unfortunate, but if you like the route, check flightaware.com to see their typical performance. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • DL469 | ATL - LAX status
    Do you mean DL459? See link below from flightaware.com. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Where to view historical flight data - on time vs. canceled/delayed, etc.?
    Https://flightaware.com will have the last 10 days or so of the flight number. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I am flying through Orange County Santa Ana on a 5 minute gap between schedule arrival and boarding beginning should I be worried about missing my flight
    I suggest using https://flightaware.com/ and researching the gates for both flights and airport segments head of time. Know exactly where to go to minimize travel time. It's not a big airport, but you won't have much leeway to work with. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Flight nightmare getting out of yyz
    Flightaware.com has some good tracking for her flight #, many details. I find its better to check this site and other sites for north american flight delays from weather (or recent wildfires). Calling airlines and others gets minimal answers. They often give you the runaround because they simply don't know when the backlog will get cleared or if your plane is cleared to take off to get to Pearson to pick you up.... Source: over 2 years ago
View more

SkyVector mentions (195)

  • US influencer stranded in Antarctica after landing plane without permission
    Avweb [0] has a bit more concise report of the story: >On June 28, Chilean prosecutors allege that Guo submitted a false flight plan at Carlos Ibรกรฑez del Campo Airport in Punta Arenas, indicating he would fly over the city. However, authorities claim he deviated from this plan without notification, continuing toward Antarctica and landing at Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base in Chilean Antarctic territory.... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Someone keeps stealing, flying, fixing and returning this man's plane. But why?
    Itโ€™s there as a relief valve. LAX has some of the busiest airspace in the world. ATC grants services to VFR traffic on a workload permitting basis. When ATC is too busy separating IFR traffic, which is their higher priority, it allows pilots an option that confines them to a certain area and altitudes. For details, take a look at the Los Angeles Special Flight Rules Area[0] on the Los Angeles TAC. It gives a... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Someone keeps stealing, flying, fixing and returning this man's plane. But why?
    Most aircraft have a GPS on the panel that can show you the airspace around you and along your flight path, but it's not a required instrument. It's more of a 2D depiction of the airspaces, but there are three dimensional depictions on them. There's also apps like ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot that you can run on a tablet or phone. Before those electronic methods became ubiquitous pilots used paper charts and... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Ask HN: What are good high information density UIs (screenshots, apps, sites)
    Aeronautical charts have incredible information density. https://skyvector.com/ for zoomable charts. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Don't DRY Your Code Prematurely
    Paper charts are great (they're fairly cheap and printed quite nicely in the USA at least) but you can get a good look at these boundaries through online charts. https://skyvector.com is a good way to view these. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FlightAware and SkyVector, you can also consider the following products

RadarBox - Real-time flight tracking app with one of the best and most accurate coverage worldwide.

XPFlightPlanner - XPFlightplanner is an application for generating flightplans that can be natively used with X-Plane.

ADSBExchange - The worldโ€™s largest co-op of ADS-B/Mode S/MLAT feeders, and the worldโ€™s largest public source of unfiltered flight data. Access to worldwide flight tracking data for hobbyists, researchers, and journalists alike.

OpenSky Network - The OpenSky Network is a non-profit ADS-B exchange for sharing real time aircraft data broadcast over the airwaves. The network consists of thousands of sensors connected to the Internet by volunteers which collect ADS-B and Mode S broadcast data.

Plane Finder - Plane Finder is built on Automatic Dependent Surveillance โ€“ Broadcast (ADS-B) enabling the transmission of real-time data directly from, and to, aircraft.

FlightRadar24 - Flightradar24 allows you to track: * Planes moving in real-time