What it does
Flightradar24 combines aircraft tracking signals with flight plans, schedules and aircraft information to display air traffic on a moving map. The service also offers subscriptions, alerts and separate aviation-data products.
The map is useful when you want to understand where an aircraft is along its route. Flightradar24 explains that much of its tracking comes from ADS-B signals containing details such as identity, position, speed and altitude. Some aircraft use different equipment, requiring another method to calculate a position.
That distinction is a reason to read the service’s explanation of its data rather than assume every aircraft provides the same information in the same way. The site presents a subscription trial and links to email alerts and aviation data. Choose the passenger-facing tracker first if your purpose is following a journey; data feeds and the flight logbook are different parts of the wider service. Consult the airline for instructions affecting your own departure.
Strengths
- Explains the data sources behind its moving aircraft map
- Offers separate tracking, alert and aviation-data sections
Best for
- Following the progress of an aircraft journey
Sources
- Flightradar24: Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24 (Oct 26, 2026)
- How Flightradar24 works | Flightradar24 (Oct 26, 2026)