If you're trying to decide between What Plane? and Flightradar24, the answer depends on what you're actually trying to do. Both are excellent apps, but they solve different problems.

This comparison will help you pick the right tool — or decide whether you need both.

At a Glance

Feature What Plane? Flightradar24
Primary purpose Identify the nearest aircraft overhead Global flight tracking and monitoring
Widget support ✅ Home screen widget with live data ✅ Widget (limited data)
Time to identify overhead plane ~3 seconds ~15–30 seconds
Coverage 30 nm around you Worldwide
Aircraft liveries ✅ Airline-specific models ✅ (premium feature)
Historical playback ❌ ✅
Airport arrivals/departures ❌ ✅
Price One-time purchase Free (premium from $3.99/month)
Platform iOS iOS, Android, Web

What Plane? — The Overhead Identifier

Best for: The "what's that plane?" moment.

What Plane? was built for one specific use case: you hear an aircraft overhead, you look up, and you want to know what it is — fast.

How It Works

The app detects the nearest aircraft within 30 nautical miles of your location using ADS-B data. It calculates 3D distance (combining horizontal distance and altitude) to find the truly closest aircraft, not just the one that appears nearest on a flat map.

The home screen widget shows the nearest aircraft at a glance — flight number, aircraft type, airline, altitude, speed, distance, and direction — without opening the app.

Strengths

  • Instant identification. The widget shows the answer before you've finished unlocking your phone.
  • Purpose-built UI. Every pixel is designed for the overhead identification use case. No clutter, no distractions.
  • Compass Ring bearing indicator. A visual ring on the widget border shows exactly which direction to look.
  • Airline-specific liveries. The aircraft model displayed matches the actual airline's colours.
  • 3D distance calculation. Prioritises low-flying aircraft that you're actually likely to see, rather than distant aircraft at 40,000 feet.

Limitations

  • No global tracking. What Plane? only shows aircraft near your current location.
  • No historical data. You can't replay past flights or track flight routes over time.
  • No airport schedules. It doesn't show arrivals/departures boards or gate information.
  • iOS only. No Android or web version (yet).

Flightradar24 — The Global Flight Tracker

Best for: Monitoring flights worldwide, tracking specific aircraft, and aviation research.

Flightradar24 is the world's most popular flight tracking platform, with coverage of over 20,000 aircraft worldwide. It's the go-to tool for aviation enthusiasts who want to see what's flying everywhere, not just overhead.

How It Works

Flightradar24 aggregates ADS-B data from a global network of over 45,000 volunteer ground receivers. The data is displayed on an interactive map that covers the entire globe, with detailed information available for each flight.

Strengths

  • Global coverage. See aircraft anywhere in the world, not just near you.
  • Historical playback. Replay past flights to see routes, altitudes, and speeds over time.
  • Airport data. Detailed arrivals/departures boards, gate information, and delay statistics.
  • Multi-platform. Available on iOS, Android, and the web.
  • Community features. User-contributed photos, flight logs, and spotting databases.
  • Premium features. 3D globe, satellite imagery, military aircraft tracking, and more with a subscription.

Limitations

  • Slower for overhead identification. Requires opening the app, waiting for the map to load, zooming to your location, and finding the nearest aircraft. By the time you've done all that, the plane you heard may have passed.
  • Cluttered interface. The wealth of features means the UI is complex compared to a focused app.
  • Widget limitations. The Flightradar24 widget shows limited data compared to What Plane?'s live widget.
  • Premium paywall. Many useful features require a subscription ($3.99–$11.99/month).

Head-to-Head: Key Scenarios

Scenario 1: "What's that plane flying over my house?"

Winner: What Plane?

You hear a plane, look up, and glance at your home screen. What Plane? already shows the nearest aircraft — type, airline, altitude, and direction. The entire process takes 3 seconds.

With Flightradar24, you'd need to open the app, wait for the map to load, zoom to your location, and identify the nearest aircraft. That's 15–30 seconds — often too late for a plane that's already passing overhead.

Scenario 2: "Where is my friend's flight right now?"

Winner: Flightradar24

Flightradar24 excels at tracking specific flights across the globe. You can search by flight number, route, or aircraft registration, and see the flight's real-time position, estimated arrival time, and historical route.

What Plane? doesn't support searching for specific flights — it only shows aircraft near your current location.

Scenario 3: "I want to spot planes at Heathrow"

Winner: Flightradar24 (with What Plane? as a complement)

Flightradar24's airport view shows all arrivals and departures, with detailed flight information, aircraft types, and routes. The historical playback feature lets you review past flights.

What Plane? works well as a complement: use the widget for instant identification of planes you see or hear, then use Flightradar24 for detailed route and schedule information.

Scenario 4: "I want a clean, beautiful widget on my home screen"

Winner: What Plane?

What Plane?'s widget is designed to look like a native iOS component, with smooth animations, airline-specific liveries, and a compass ring bearing indicator. It's one of the most visually polished flight tracking widgets available.

Flightradar24's widget is functional but less refined, showing basic flight information without the visual polish.

Scenario 5: "I want to track military aircraft"

Winner: Flightradar24 (Premium)

Flightradar24 Premium includes military aircraft tracking and satellite data. What Plane? only shows civilian aircraft that broadcast ADS-B data, and many military aircraft don't broadcast at all.

Can You Use Both?

Yes — and many aviation enthusiasts do.

What Plane? and Flightradar24 complement each other well:

  • Use What Plane? for instant overhead identification via the home screen widget
  • Use Flightradar24 for global tracking, airport data, and historical playback

Think of What Plane? as your personal aircraft identifier and Flightradar24 as your global flight dashboard. They serve different purposes, and using both gives you the best of both worlds.

Pricing Comparison

Plan What Plane? Flightradar24
One-time purchase Full features Basic tracking, ads, limited features
Premium N/A My Flight ($3.99/mo), My Airport ($5.99/mo), Premium ($11.99/mo)

What Plane? is a one-time purchase with no premium tier. Flightradar24's free version is generous but locks many useful features behind a paywall.

Verdict

Choose What Plane? if you:

  • Want instant identification of aircraft flying overhead
  • Value a clean, beautiful home screen widget
  • Don't need global tracking or historical data
  • Want a one-time purchase with no subscription paywall

Choose Flightradar24 if you:

  • Want to track flights worldwide
  • Need airport arrivals/departures information
  • Want historical flight playback
  • Need Android or web access
  • Are an aviation enthusiast who wants maximum data

Use both if you:

  • Want the fastest overhead identification (What Plane?) plus global tracking capabilities (Flightradar24)
  • Are a serious aviation enthusiast who wants comprehensive coverage

Related Articles

Ready to identify planes instantly? Download What Plane? on the App Store →