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Aviation · head to head

DUAT vs FlightAware

D

DUAT

Aviation

Flight briefing and weather information system

From
$9.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FlightAware logo

FlightAware

Aviation

Global flight tracking and aviation data platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FlightAware has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DUAT no native mobile applications; web-only access; FlightAware flightAware Global is sold per aircraft tail, with discounts applied only when multiple aircraft are tracked
  • They diverge on capability: DUAT covers Flight briefings, FlightAware covers Real-time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DUAT and FlightAware actually diverge.

Attributes where DUAT and FlightAware differ
AttributeDUATFlightAware
Starting price$9.95/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19922005

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Aviation).

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 DUAT

  • Flight briefings
  • NOTAM information
  • Flight planning
  • Briefing tools
  • FAA systems
  • ATC databases
  • Chart systems
  • FAA approved

Only in FlightAware

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

Both cover

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

What people use each for

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

DUAT

  • Flight briefingnot FlightAware
  • Weather briefingnot FlightAware
  • Flight planningnot FlightAware
  • Regulatory compliancenot FlightAware

FlightAware

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

Where each one falls short

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

DUAT

  • No native mobile applications; web-only access
  • Modern pilots prefer integrated EFB solutions with moving map displays

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

DUAT

$9.95/month
  • Standard$9.95/month
    • Flight briefings
    • Weather data
    • NOTAM information
  • Professional$24.95/month
    • All Standard features
    • Advanced weather
    • Unlimited briefings

FlightAware

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

Which should you pick?

Choose DUAT if

  • You need flight briefings.
  • You also want notam information.
DUAT 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 DUAT or FlightAware better?
Neither clearly leads. DUAT starts at $9.95/month and FlightAware at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DUAT or FlightAware?
FlightAware has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $9.95/month for DUAT and Free for FlightAware.
Does DUAT or FlightAware run on more platforms?
DUAT runs on Web. FlightAware runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use FlightAware for free?
Yes. FlightAware has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DUAT starts at $9.95/month.
What is DUAT best used for?
DUAT is most often used for flight briefing, weather briefing, flight planning, regulatory compliance. Of those, flight briefing and weather briefing are not what FlightAware is typically brought in for.
What can DUAT do that FlightAware cannot?
DUAT covers Flight briefings, NOTAM information, Flight planning, Briefing tools. FlightAware covers Real-time tracking, Flight status, Airport info, Delay tracking. Both handle Weather data, Weather services, Data encryption, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DUAT: What services does DUAT provide?

DUAT provides weather briefings, NOTAM information, and flight plan filing through an online system accessible to registered pilots. Pilots can check weather, review alerts, and file flight plans within a 15-minute transaction window.

Source
DUAT: Who can use DUAT?

DUAT services are available to registered U.S. pilots and student pilots who hold a current medical certificate, as well as flight instructors, ground instructors, and other members of the aviation community.

Source
DUAT: How has DUAT changed over time?

DUAT has evolved as a service. The FAA discontinued DUATS (the competing service) on May 16, 2018, and most pilots have transitioned to modern electronic flight bag applications. DUAT.com, operated by Data Transformation Corp., continues to provide flight briefing services.

Source
DUAT: Is DUAT free to use?

Historically, DUAT was free to qualified U.S. pilots and student pilots holding a current medical certificate. Current pricing for DUAT.com services should be verified directly with the provider.

Source
DUAT: What are the recommended alternatives to DUAT?

The FAA recommends 1800wxbrief.com for free weather and aeronautical information, flight plan filing, and automated services. Modern pilots increasingly use electronic flight bag applications like ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot which integrate weather, charts, and flight planning.

Source
DUAT: Does DUAT offer mobile app access?

DUAT is primarily web-based without native mobile applications. Modern electronic flight bag alternatives like ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot offer full-featured mobile apps for on-the-go flight planning.

Source
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