Plane Finder vs OpenSky Network

Struggling to choose between Plane Finder and OpenSky Network? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Plane Finder is a Travel & Location solution with tags like aviation, adsb, flight-routes, live-tracking.

It boasts features such as Real-time flight tracking, ADS-B and MLAT technology, Aircraft and flight information, Augmented reality view, 3D radar view, Flight route visualization, Flight alerts/notifications, Sharing options, Multiple device syncing and pros including Accurate real-time tracking, Informative aircraft details, Interactive map views, Customizable alerts, Syncs across devices, Free version available.

On the other hand, OpenSky Network is a Network & Admin product tagged with aviation, tracking, open-source, software-defined-radio.

Its standout features include Crowdsourced network of ADS-B receivers that track aircraft, Open data API and live flight tracking map available, Research platform for collecting and analyzing ADS-B data, Global coverage due to large number of receivers, Ability to build custom applications on top of the data, and it shines with pros like Free access to flight data through API or map, Open source model allows customization and collaboration, Large crowdsourced network provides extensive coverage, Enables new research and applications with ADS-B data.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Plane Finder

Plane Finder

Plane Finder is a flight tracking software that allows users to identify aircraft in real-time as they fly overhead. It uses ADS-B and MLAT technology to receive live information on flight routes, altitudes, speeds and more.

Categories:
Travel & Location Flight Tracking
aviation adsb flight-routes live-tracking

Plane Finder Features

  1. Real-time flight tracking
  2. ADS-B and MLAT technology
  3. Aircraft and flight information
  4. Augmented reality view
  5. 3D radar view
  6. Flight route visualization
  7. Flight alerts/notifications
  8. Sharing options
  9. Multiple device syncing

Pricing

  • Freemium
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Accurate real-time tracking

Informative aircraft details

Interactive map views

Customizable alerts

Syncs across devices

Free version available

Cons

Subscription required for full features

May not work well in remote areas

Data accuracy depends on coverage

Battery drain on mobile

Can get expensive for premium tiers

OpenSky Network

OpenSky Network

The OpenSky Network is an open-source community of hobbyists, academics, and companies building a large global network of low-cost sensors to monitor aircraft in real-time. The sensors use software-defined radio technology to track aircraft location, altitude, velocity and identity.

Categories:
Network & Admin Network Monitoring
aviation tracking open-source software-defined-radio

OpenSky Network Features

  1. Crowdsourced network of ADS-B receivers that track aircraft
  2. Open data API and live flight tracking map available
  3. Research platform for collecting and analyzing ADS-B data
  4. Global coverage due to large number of receivers
  5. Ability to build custom applications on top of the data

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free access to flight data through API or map

Open source model allows customization and collaboration

Large crowdsourced network provides extensive coverage

Enables new research and applications with ADS-B data

Cons

Data quality dependent on receiver network density

Limited control over receiver network as a crowdsourced system

Mostly hobbyist/academic use, not enterprise-grade performance

Requires technical expertise to fully utilize API and data