Flight Radar Online –
Live Flight Tracker, Free
Track planes, jets and cargo aircraft worldwide in real time. See live positions, altitude, speed, flight number and destination — no login, no app needed.
Video: Flightradar24 — How does ADS-B work?
What Is a Live Flight Radar?
A live flight radar is a real-time map that shows the positions of aircraft anywhere in the world, powered by ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) technology. Every modern commercial aircraft is equipped with an ADS-B transponder that automatically broadcasts its position, altitude, speed and flight number every second. A global network of ground receivers and satellites picks up these signals and feeds them into live tracking platforms like the one on this page — giving you an up-to-the-second view of air traffic worldwide.
How Does ADS-B Flight Tracking Work?
ADS-B is a surveillance technology in which an aircraft determines its own position using GPS and periodically broadcasts it on a frequency of 1090 MHz. Unlike traditional radar — where a ground station sends a pulse and waits for a reflection — ADS-B is passive and automatic. Any receiver within range can decode the signal. Thousands of volunteers and commercial operators run ADS-B receiving stations worldwide, and collectively they cover nearly all commercial airspace. The result is the dense, live map you see above.
How to Track a Specific Flight
Type the flight number (e.g. BA117, EK521) directly into the search field in the map. You will see the aircraft's current position, its full route, altitude in feet, speed in knots and estimated arrival time. You can also search by aircraft registration (tail number) or click on any aircraft icon on the map. To follow a flight from departure to arrival, click the plane and select "Follow" — the map will automatically scroll to keep it centred.
Why Are Some Aircraft Not Visible?
Not all aircraft appear on the radar. Military jets frequently operate without ADS-B or with transponders switched off. Small general aviation aircraft are not always required to carry ADS-B equipment, depending on the airspace. In remote areas — over oceans and polar routes — satellite ADS-B is needed to fill coverage gaps, and not all free platforms include this. Aircraft crossing the North Atlantic or Pacific may appear intermittently as they pass between satellite coverage zones.
Flight Radar vs Flightradar24 – What Is the Difference?
Flightradar24 is one of the most popular commercial flight tracking services, offering a polished app with premium features including extended history, airport views and aircraft photos. The live flight radar on this page is powered by ADS-B Exchange — a non-commercial, community-run network that provides unfiltered access to raw ADS-B data. Unlike commercial platforms, ADS-B Exchange does not remove or filter aircraft at the request of airlines or governments, making it the preferred choice for researchers and aviation enthusiasts who want complete data.
Flight Radar on Mobile — No App Needed
The live flight tracker works directly in the browser of any smartphone or tablet. Open this page in Chrome or Safari, and the map loads instantly with live ADS-B data. Pinch to zoom, tap any aircraft for details, and drag to pan. Whether you are at the airport watching arrivals, spotting from a garden, or simply curious about a plane you just heard overhead — the mobile flight radar is ready in seconds without any installation.
What is the best free flight radar online?
The best free online flight radar is one that shows live aircraft positions using real ADS-B data without requiring registration. The tracker on this page uses RadarBox ADS-B data — one of the largest global receiver networks — and is completely free, with no login or app download needed. Simply open the page and the live map loads instantly.
How do I track a live flight in real time?
To track a live flight, open the map above and type the flight number (e.g. LH400, BA117) into the search field. The aircraft will be highlighted on the map showing its current position, altitude, speed and estimated arrival time. You can also click "Follow" to lock the view onto the plane as it moves. Alternatively, simply click any aircraft icon on the map to see its details instantly.
Is this flight radar really free — no account needed?
Yes, completely free. No account, no subscription, no email address required. Open this page in any browser and the live flight map loads automatically with real-time ADS-B data from around the world. There are no hidden fees, no trial periods and no features locked behind a paywall on this page.
Why is my flight not showing on the radar?
There are four common reasons a flight does not appear: (1) The aircraft has not yet taken off or has already landed. (2) The flight is over the ocean, outside terrestrial ADS-B receiver range. (3) The airline or aircraft operator has requested the flight be filtered — some platforms honour these requests. (4) The aircraft is too small or is military, and may not carry ADS-B at all. Try searching by flight number directly rather than looking on the map.
How accurate is live flight tracking?
Live flight tracking based on ADS-B is very accurate over land and coastal areas. Aircraft transmit their GPS-derived position every second, and the data shown on the map is typically only 1–5 seconds old. Altitude accuracy is within 25 feet. Over remote ocean areas without satellite ADS-B, positions may be estimated or delayed, but in the vast majority of airspace the data is reliable and near real-time.
What do altitude and speed mean on a flight tracker?
Altitude is shown in feet above sea level (ft MSL). Commercial airliners cruise at 30,000–38,000 ft. Speed is displayed as ground speed in knots — typical cruise speed is 450–500 knots (830–925 km/h). Vertical speed shows the climb or descent rate in feet per minute. A positive value means climbing; a negative value means descending.
Can I track a private jet or military aircraft?
Many private jets and business aircraft are visible on the radar as they are equipped with ADS-B transponders. However, some owners request their registrations be blocked from public tracking platforms. Military aircraft routinely operate without ADS-B or with transponders off, so fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft and most military helicopters are not visible on any public flight radar.
What is ADS-B and how is it different from radar?
ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) is a technology where the aircraft itself determines its position via GPS and broadcasts it automatically every second. Traditional radar works by sending a radio pulse and measuring the reflection — it requires expensive ground infrastructure. ADS-B is passive, highly accurate, and received by a global community network of low-cost ground stations, making free real-time flight tracking possible for anyone.
Why does a plane disappear over the ocean?
Terrestrial ADS-B receivers only cover a range of about 400 km. Over open oceans, far from any coastline, there are no ground stations to pick up the signal. Unless the platform uses satellite-based ADS-B (which covers remote areas but at lower update rates), aircraft crossing the North Atlantic, Pacific or Indian Ocean will appear to vanish mid-route and reappear when they approach land again.
What is the difference between a callsign and a flight number?
The flight number is the commercial identifier printed on tickets and departure boards (e.g. LH400). The callsign is the radio identifier used between the crew and air traffic control (e.g. "LUFTHANSA 400"). For most flights they match, but charter, cargo and training flights often use different callsigns. On the radar, searching by either the flight number or callsign will usually find the aircraft.