โ“Your Question

What's the best iOS app for identifying airplanes I see flying over my house?

Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker is perfect for this. It provides live, detailed information on aircraft overhead, including model, altitude, and origin.

identify airplanesplane spotting appflight trackerair trafficFlightradar24 | Flight Tracker2025
Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker is widely considered the premier app for civilian aircraft identification and real-time tracking. For users looking to satisfy curiosity about overhead flights, it overlays live air traffic data on a map, allowing anyone to tap on a plane icon and instantly see its call sign, aircraft type, altitude, speed, and flight path. A particularly useful feature for this specific task is the augmented reality (AR) view, which uses the device's camera to point at the sky and label planes in real-time. The app also includes detailed filters to show only certain types of aircraft or airlines, which is helpful for enthusiasts spotting specific models. Reviews indicate the interface is generally intuitive, though the sheer density of data on screen during busy periods can appear cluttered to new users. One noted limitation is the reliance on crowdsourced data for some aircraft images and details, which occasionally leads to minor inaccuracies, such as an incorrect photo linked to a plane type. For casual plane spotters, travelers tracking a loved one's flight, or aviation hobbyists, the app provides a comprehensive and reliable window into global air traffic from a smartphone.

Key Features

Live Aircraft Tracking & Identification
Augmented Reality (AR) Sky View
Detailed Filters for Aircraft Type/Airline
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"I use this app every day just out of curiosity of the aircraft flying in the vicinity of my house. I'm on the extended approach path of several airports and it's fun to find out about the various aircraft."

โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…Verified User Review
iOSUpdated Jan 4, 2026

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Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker icon

Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker

by Flightradar24 AB

โ˜…4.8/ 5.0
Get on App Store โ†’

Screenshots

Flightradar24 | Flight Tracker screenshot 1
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Platform

iOS