Software · head to head
Flightradar24 vs X-Plane 12
X-Plane 12
Software
Professional flight simulation software
- From
- $59.99/lifetime
- Rated
- -
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); X-Plane 12 commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download
- They diverge on capability: Flightradar24 covers Real-time tracking, X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Flightradar24 and X-Plane 12 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Flightradar24 | X-Plane 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $59.99/lifetime |
| Pricing model | freemium | one-time |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Windows, Macos, Linux |
| Founded | 2006 | 1995 |
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 X-Plane 12
- Flight physics
- Global scenery
- Realistic aircraft
- Weather simulation
- ATC system
- Plugins
- Add-ons
- VR headsets
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Flightradar24
- Flight trackingnot X-Plane 12
- Air traffic monitoringnot X-Plane 12
- Researchnot X-Plane 12
- Entertainmentnot X-Plane 12
- Professional trackingnot X-Plane 12
X-Plane 12
- Flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiastsnot Flightradar24
- Procedure practice and aircraft familiarisationnot 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)
X-Plane 12
- Commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download
- The personal edition therefore cannot be used for paid training or commercial simulation
- The professional edition is a distinct product rather than an upgrade path
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
X-Plane 12
$59.99/lifetime- X-Plane 12$59.99/lifetime
- Full simulator
- Global scenery
- Realistic physics
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.
Choose X-Plane 12 if
- You need flight physics.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
- You also want global scenery.
Questions people ask
- Is Flightradar24 or X-Plane 12 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Flightradar24 starts at Free and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Flightradar24 or X-Plane 12?
- Flightradar24 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Flightradar24 and $59.99/lifetime for X-Plane 12.
- Does Flightradar24 or X-Plane 12 run on more platforms?
- Flightradar24 runs on Web, Ios, Android. X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
- Can I use Flightradar24 for free?
- Yes. Flightradar24 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. X-Plane 12 starts at $59.99/lifetime.
- 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 X-Plane 12 is typically brought in for.
- What can Flightradar24 do that X-Plane 12 cannot?
- Flightradar24 covers Real-time tracking, Radar map, Aircraft info, Flight history. X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation.
Related pages
More on Flightradar24
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