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CloudAhoy vs FlightAware

CloudAhoy logo

CloudAhoy

Software

Flight tracking and analysis platform for general aviation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FlightAware logo

FlightAware

Software

Global flight tracking and aviation data platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CloudAhoy pricing is not published; the Pro tier is named but not costed; FlightAware flightAware Global is sold per aircraft tail, with discounts applied only when multiple aircraft are tracked
  • They diverge on capability: CloudAhoy covers Flight tracking, FlightAware covers Real-time tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CloudAhoy and FlightAware actually diverge.

Attributes where CloudAhoy and FlightAware differ
AttributeCloudAhoyFlightAware
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Founded20122005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CloudAhoy

  • Flight tracking
  • Flight replay
  • Performance analysis
  • Training reports
  • Data visualization
  • GPS devices
  • Aviation databases
  • Privacy controls

Only in FlightAware

  • Real-time tracking
  • Flight status
  • Airport info
  • Delay tracking
  • APIs
  • Third-party apps
  • Airlines
  • Airports

Both cover

  • Weather data
  • Data encryption
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CloudAhoy

  • Post-flight debrief for flight students and instructorsnot FlightAware
  • Reviewing stabilised approaches after the factnot FlightAware
  • Checking IFR accuracy against the flown tracknot FlightAware
  • Sharing a flight track with another pilotnot FlightAware
  • Debriefing fixed-wing, rotorcraft and glider flightsnot FlightAware

FlightAware

  • Tracking a business aviation fleet by tail number with taxi and ground alertsnot CloudAhoy
  • Blocking or selectively sharing an aircraft's flight legs for privacynot CloudAhoy
  • Pulling live and historical flight positions and tracks into an application over a REST APInot CloudAhoy
  • Predicting arrival times with Foresight for airline and airport operationsnot CloudAhoy

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CloudAhoy

  • Pricing is not published; the Pro tier is named but not costed
  • Stability Score and Maneuver Score are Pro features
  • A post-flight debrief tool, so it analyses data recorded elsewhere rather than being an in-cockpit aid

FlightAware

  • FlightAware Global is sold per aircraft tail, with discounts applied only when multiple aircraft are tracked
  • Global satellite tracking through Aireon space-based ADS-B requires the Platinum plan at $295 per month or $3,540 per year
  • Secure flight sharing, flight leg unblocking and access management start at the Gold plan at $168 per month, not the $60 per month Silver plan
  • AeroAPI Standard carries a $100 monthly minimum and AeroAPI Premium a $1,000 monthly minimum regardless of usage
  • Historical flight data and flight alerting are excluded from the free AeroAPI Personal tier
  • AeroAPI Personal is rate limited to 10 result sets per minute against 5 per second on Standard
  • AeroAPI billing is metered per result set, for example $0.050 per result set for flight search, where one result set is 15 records
  • AeroAPI volume discounts begin only above $1,000 of monthly usage
  • Firehose, Foresight and FBO Toolbox carry no published price on the commercial products page

Pricing, plan by plan

CloudAhoy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic flight tracking
    • Flight replay
    • Limited storage
  • Pro$5.99/month
    • Advanced analysis
    • Performance metrics
    • Unlimited storage

FlightAware

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Flight tracking
    • Basic info
    • Mobile app
  • Subscription$9.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Premium tracking
    • Weather maps

Which should you pick?

Choose CloudAhoy if

  • You need flight tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want flight replay.
CloudAhoy review

Choose FlightAware if

  • You need real-time tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want flight status.
FlightAware review

Questions people ask

Is CloudAhoy or FlightAware better?
Neither clearly leads. CloudAhoy starts at Free and FlightAware at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CloudAhoy or FlightAware?
CloudAhoy starts at Free and FlightAware at Free.
Does CloudAhoy or FlightAware run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use CloudAhoy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is CloudAhoy best used for?
CloudAhoy is most often used for post-flight debrief for flight students and instructors, reviewing stabilised approaches after the fact, checking ifr accuracy against the flown track, sharing a flight track with another pilot. Of those, post-flight debrief for flight students and instructors and reviewing stabilised approaches after the fact are not what FlightAware is typically brought in for.
What can CloudAhoy do that FlightAware cannot?
CloudAhoy covers Flight tracking, Flight replay, Performance analysis, Training reports. FlightAware covers Real-time tracking, Flight status, Airport info, Delay tracking. Both handle Weather data, Data encryption, Web support, Ios support.
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