PlanePlotter vs OpenSky Network

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

PlanePlotter is a Travel & Location solution with tags like flight-tracking, adsb, mlat, aviation, aircraft-monitoring.

It boasts features such as Interactive map to view aircraft positions, ADS-B and MLAT data support for flight tracking, Graphing and logging tools, Data export capabilities, Virtual Radar to simulate radar coverage, Playback mode to replay flights and pros including User-friendly interface, Powerful tracking and logging features, Supports many data sources, Affordable pricing tiers.

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.

PlanePlotter

PlanePlotter

PlanePlotter is a flight tracking and logging software program that allows users to monitor aircraft in real-time using ADS-B and MLAT data. It has interactive maps, graphs, logging tools and data export features.

Categories:
Travel & Location Flight Tracking
flight-tracking adsb mlat aviation aircraft-monitoring

PlanePlotter Features

  1. Interactive map to view aircraft positions
  2. ADS-B and MLAT data support for flight tracking
  3. Graphing and logging tools
  4. Data export capabilities
  5. Virtual Radar to simulate radar coverage
  6. Playback mode to replay flights

Pricing

  • Free
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

User-friendly interface

Powerful tracking and logging features

Supports many data sources

Affordable pricing tiers

Cons

Requires additional hardware like an ADS-B receiver

Limited capabilities in free version

Can be complex for casual users

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