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Flightradar24 vs Garmin Pilot

Flightradar24 logo

Flightradar24

Software

Real-time aircraft radar tracking worldwide

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Garmin Pilot logo

Garmin Pilot

Software

All-in-one flight planning and navigation app

From
$99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Flightradar24 has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Flightradar24 premium tiers as captured in 2022 ranged from Silver at $1.49/month (90 days of flight history) to Business at $49.99/month (business licensing, fleet view, extra weather layers) (archive capture is from 2022, over three years old, so treat exact figures as dated; the tier structure and history-window caps are the more durable facts); Garmin Pilot garmin Pilot's iPad app is offered on a 30-day free trial from initial download, after which the subscription plans described on Garmin's site apply
  • They diverge on capability: Flightradar24 covers Real-time tracking, Garmin Pilot covers Flight planning.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Flightradar24 and Garmin Pilot actually diverge.

Attributes where Flightradar24 and Garmin Pilot differ
AttributeFlightradar24Garmin Pilot
Starting priceFree$99/year
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidIos, Android
Founded20061989

Identical on both: 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 Flightradar24

  • Real-time tracking
  • Radar map
  • Aircraft info
  • Flight history
  • 3D view
  • ADS-B receivers
  • MLAT network
  • API

Only in Garmin Pilot

  • Flight planning
  • Aeronautical charts
  • Weather overlays
  • Panel sync
  • Traffic display
  • Garmin avionics
  • GTN series
  • G1000/G3000

Both cover

  • Data encryption
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Flightradar24

  • Flight trackingnot Garmin Pilot
  • Air traffic monitoringnot Garmin Pilot
  • Researchnot Garmin Pilot
  • Entertainmentnot Garmin Pilot
  • Professional trackingnot Garmin Pilot

Garmin Pilot

  • Flight planningnot Flightradar24
  • Weather analysisnot Flightradar24
  • In-flight navigationnot Flightradar24
  • Aircraft panel syncnot Flightradar24
  • Chart viewingnot Flightradar24

Where each one falls short

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

Flightradar24

  • Premium tiers as captured in 2022 ranged from Silver at $1.49/month (90 days of flight history) to Business at $49.99/month (business licensing, fleet view, extra weather layers) (archive capture is from 2022, over three years old, so treat exact figures as dated; the tier structure and history-window caps are the more durable facts)

Garmin Pilot

  • Garmin Pilot's iPad app is offered on a 30-day free trial from initial download, after which the subscription plans described on Garmin's site apply

Pricing, plan by plan

Flightradar24

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Flight tracking
    • Basic features
    • Mobile app
  • Silver$4.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • 30-day history
    • ADS-B coverage
  • Gold$7.99/month
    • Everything in Silver
    • Unlimited history
    • Advanced filters

Garmin Pilot

$99/year
  • Premium$99/year
    • IFR/VFR charts
    • Weather radar
    • Flight planning
  • Premium + Global$199/year
    • Everything in Premium
    • Worldwide charts
    • International planning

Which should you pick?

Choose Flightradar24 if

  • You need real-time tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want radar map.
Flightradar24 review

Choose Garmin Pilot if

  • You need flight planning.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want aeronautical charts.
Garmin Pilot review

Questions people ask

Is Flightradar24 or Garmin Pilot better?
Neither clearly leads. Flightradar24 starts at Free and Garmin Pilot at $99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Flightradar24 or Garmin Pilot?
Flightradar24 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Flightradar24 and $99/year for Garmin Pilot.
Does Flightradar24 or Garmin Pilot run on more platforms?
Flightradar24 runs on Web, Ios, Android. Garmin Pilot runs on Ios, Android.
Can I use Flightradar24 for free?
Yes. Flightradar24 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Garmin Pilot starts at $99/year.
What is Flightradar24 best used for?
Flightradar24 is most often used for flight tracking, air traffic monitoring, research, entertainment. Of those, flight tracking and air traffic monitoring are not what Garmin Pilot is typically brought in for.
What can Flightradar24 do that Garmin Pilot cannot?
Flightradar24 covers Real-time tracking, Radar map, Aircraft info, Flight history. Garmin Pilot covers Flight planning, Aeronautical charts, Weather overlays, Panel sync. Both handle Data encryption, Ios support, Android support.
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