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Aviation & Aerospace · head to head

X-Plane 12 vs Flightradar24

X-Plane 12 logo

X-Plane 12

Aviation & Aerospace

Professional flight simulation software

From
$59.99/lifetime
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Flightradar24 logo

Flightradar24

Aviation & Aerospace

Real-time aircraft radar tracking worldwide

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Flightradar24 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; 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)
  • They diverge on capability: X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Flightradar24 covers Real-time tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which X-Plane 12 and Flightradar24 actually diverge.

Attributes where X-Plane 12 and Flightradar24 differ
AttributeX-Plane 12Flightradar24
Starting price$59.99/lifetimeFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19952006

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

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 Flightradar24

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

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 Flightradar24
  • Procedure practice and aircraft familiarisationnot Flightradar24

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

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

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)

Pricing, plan by plan

X-Plane 12

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

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

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 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

Questions people ask

Is X-Plane 12 or Flightradar24 better?
Neither clearly leads. X-Plane 12 starts at $59.99/lifetime and Flightradar24 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, X-Plane 12 or Flightradar24?
Flightradar24 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $59.99/lifetime for X-Plane 12 and Free for Flightradar24.
Does X-Plane 12 or Flightradar24 run on more platforms?
X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Flightradar24 runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 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 Flightradar24 is typically brought in for.
What can X-Plane 12 do that Flightradar24 cannot?
X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation. Flightradar24 covers Real-time tracking, Radar map, Aircraft info, Flight history.
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