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X-Plane 12 vs FlightAware

X-Plane 12 logo

X-Plane 12

Software

Professional flight simulation software

From
$59.99/lifetime
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FlightAware logo

FlightAware

Software

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: X-Plane 12 commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download; FlightAware flightAware Global is sold per aircraft tail, with discounts applied only when multiple aircraft are tracked
  • They diverge on capability: X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, FlightAware covers Real-time tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which X-Plane 12 and FlightAware actually diverge.

Attributes where X-Plane 12 and FlightAware differ
AttributeX-Plane 12FlightAware
Starting price$59.99/lifetimeFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19952005

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 X-Plane 12

  • Flight physics
  • Global scenery
  • Realistic aircraft
  • Weather simulation
  • ATC system
  • Plugins
  • Add-ons
  • VR headsets

Only in FlightAware

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

What people use each for

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

X-Plane 12

  • Flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiastsnot FlightAware
  • Procedure practice and aircraft familiarisationnot FlightAware

FlightAware

  • Tracking a business aviation fleet by tail number with taxi and ground alertsnot X-Plane 12
  • Blocking or selectively sharing an aircraft's flight legs for privacynot X-Plane 12
  • Pulling live and historical flight positions and tracks into an application over a REST APInot X-Plane 12
  • Predicting arrival times with Foresight for airline and airport operationsnot X-Plane 12

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

X-Plane 12

$59.99/lifetime
  • X-Plane 12$59.99/lifetime
    • Full simulator
    • Global scenery
    • Realistic physics

FlightAware

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

Which should you pick?

Choose X-Plane 12 if

  • You need flight physics.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want global scenery.
X-Plane 12 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 X-Plane 12 or FlightAware better?
Neither clearly leads. X-Plane 12 starts at $59.99/lifetime and FlightAware at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, X-Plane 12 or FlightAware?
FlightAware has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $59.99/lifetime for X-Plane 12 and Free for FlightAware.
Does X-Plane 12 or FlightAware run on more platforms?
X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. 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. X-Plane 12 starts at $59.99/lifetime.
What is X-Plane 12 best used for?
X-Plane 12 is most often used for flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiasts, procedure practice and aircraft familiarisation. Of those, flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiasts and procedure practice and aircraft familiarisation are not what FlightAware is typically brought in for.
What can X-Plane 12 do that FlightAware cannot?
X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation. FlightAware covers Real-time tracking, Flight status, Airport info, Delay tracking.
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