XDA’s build-your-own plane radar piece brought the DIY ADS-B scene back into casual view, and the punchline is the same as it was five years ago: a twenty-dollar RTL-SDR dongle, a strip antenna, and the right software decode every Mode S transponder in a fifty-mile radius. The Flightradar24 tab stops being the source of truth once a local receiver comes online. What changes is which piece of desktop software sits between the dongle and the map.
We tested seven ADS-B flight tracking apps for desktop that read a local receiver, run a web UI, and feed one or more of the community aggregators. The picks cover pure decoders, polished map front-ends, Windows-native shareware, and cross-platform feeders. Each is scored on receiver compatibility, map polish, feeder support, and how easy it is to keep running after the novelty wears off.
What to look for in an ADS-B flight tracking app
- Receiver compatibility. RTL-SDR is the default, but SDRplay, AirSpy, and BladeRF owners need software that recognises the tuner without a manual patch. The picks below cover all four.
- Map quality. Aircraft trails, altitude colouring, and hover callsigns are the difference between glancing and studying. A map that lags at 300 targets is unusable during morning waves.
- Feeder support. If the receiver is going to feed FlightAware, ADSBExchange, or Flightradar24, the client needs to publish BEAST or SBS Basestation over TCP without a wrapper script.
- Cross-platform reach. Linux dominates Raspberry Pi setups, but a laptop-only user needs a Windows or macOS build. Web UIs like tar1090 sidestep the OS question by rendering in a browser.
- Offline behaviour. A dropped internet link should not blank the map. Local decode and local mapping keep the radar useful during outages.
- Cost. Free is the norm. The paid pick below (PlanePlotter) exists because it does things the free stack still cannot.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Cost | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dump1090-fa | Decoding the raw RTL-SDR stream | Linux, macOS | Free, open source | FlightAware’s maintained fork with SkyAware |
| tar1090 | The web map that ADSBExchange runs on | Linux, macOS, Windows via Docker | Free, open source | Full flight history playback per session |
| readsb | High-throughput multi-receiver decoding | Linux, macOS | Free, open source | Merges multiple SDRs into one feed |
| VirtualRadar Server | Windows-native map with a Basestation DB | Windows, Linux via Mono | Free | Third-party plugin ecosystem |
| PlanePlotter | Multilateration hobbyists | Windows | Paid (about $35 one-time, then annual key) | Community MLAT and PP Chart |
| FlightAware PiAware | Feeding FlightAware from a receiver | Linux (Pi image), Windows | Free | Free enterprise account for feeders |
| SkyAware | The map that ships with PiAware | Web on any OS | Free | Zero-config once PiAware is running |
The 7 best apps for ADS-B flight tracking on desktop
1. dump1090-fa, best decoder overall
dump1090-fa is FlightAware’s actively maintained fork of the original Malcolm Robb dump1090. It reads a Mode S stream from an RTL-SDR, SDRplay, or a BEAST device and outputs decoded aircraft data over TCP in Basestation, BEAST, and raw formats simultaneously. Every serious ADS-B setup uses dump1090-fa or a close cousin (readsb) at the bottom of the stack. The daemon runs as a systemd service on Debian and Raspbian, and macOS installs from source in a few minutes.
Where it falls short: dump1090-fa’s built-in web map is spartan compared to tar1090, so pair it with a proper front-end. Multi-receiver merging needs readsb, not dump1090-fa itself.
Cost: Free, open source.
Platforms: Linux (native packages for Debian, Raspberry Pi OS), macOS (source build via Homebrew).
Download: dump1090-fa on GitHub
Bottom line: If a receiver is going anywhere, dump1090-fa is what pulls the frames out of the tuner.
2. tar1090, best web front-end
tar1090 is the map interface ADSBExchange switched to when Virtual Radar Server hit its ceiling. It reads from dump1090-fa or readsb over TCP and paints aircraft in a Leaflet map with per-flight altitude gradients, callsign hover, and a session-long history slider. The playback bar is the killer feature. Scrub back through the last few hours and every track re-draws with the same colouring, useful for figuring out why a jet held at 12,000 feet or why a squawk changed.
Where it falls short: tar1090 is a web front-end, so it needs a running dump1090-fa or readsb behind it. First-time setup takes a scripted install, not a double-click.
Cost: Free, open source.
Platforms: Linux native, macOS via Docker, Windows via WSL2 or Docker.
Download: tar1090 on GitHub
Bottom line: The best free map for a local ADS-B receiver in 2026, and the one most aggregators standardise on.
3. readsb, best decoder for busy sites
readsb is the fork of dump1090-fa that adds multi-receiver merging, better handling of thousands of aircraft, and lower CPU use per message. A site with two SDRs (one for 978 MHz UAT, one for 1090 MHz ADS-B) can feed both into a single readsb instance and export a merged BEAST stream. That combined stream is what tar1090 reads on high-volume feeders. Anywhere near a hub airport, readsb outperforms dump1090-fa once the aircraft count crosses two hundred.
Where it falls short: The extra features add configuration surface, so the systemd unit and config file take longer to tune. Beginners are better off starting with dump1090-fa and switching when they need it.
Cost: Free, open source.
Platforms: Linux (Debian, Raspberry Pi OS packages via wiedehopf’s repo), macOS via source build.
Download: readsb on GitHub
Bottom line: The moment a site handles more than one receiver or crosses a couple hundred simultaneous aircraft, readsb replaces dump1090-fa.
4. VirtualRadar Server, best Windows-native map
VirtualRadar Server was the standard Windows ADS-B viewer for a decade and still holds up. It reads BEAST or Basestation feeds, paints a live map, and stores tracks in a SQLite database that third-party tools query. The plugin ecosystem (Custom Content, Web Admin, Database Editor) is bigger than tar1090’s, so anyone who wants a lookup for private tail numbers, aircraft photo pop-ups, or a custom silhouette set finds it here.
Where it falls short: Development slowed once ADSBExchange moved away, and the map feels dated next to tar1090. Some users report the Mono port on Linux occasionally struggles under heavy load.
Cost: Free.
Platforms: Windows (native), Linux via Mono, macOS via Mono.
Download: Virtual Radar Server
Bottom line: The map to keep for a Windows-only setup, especially with a Basestation database already built.
5. PlanePlotter, best paid Windows client
PlanePlotter is the shareware Windows client that ran the hobby’s original multilateration (MLAT) network. It still does things the free stack does not: server-side MLAT with COAA’s network, decoded MODE-S text with route callsigns, an ADS-C receiver for oceanic tracks, and PP Chart for logging. A single desktop license runs about $35 up front, then a small annual key.
Where it falls short: Windows-only, and the interface has not been redesigned since Windows XP. First-time users find the setup wizard dense. The community leans older and quieter than the tar1090 crowd.
Cost: Paid. One-time license around $35, plus a modest annual subscription for the shared MLAT service.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: PlanePlotter
Bottom line: The only reason to pay in 2026 is MLAT and PP Chart. If a setup needs either, this is the pick.
6. FlightAware PiAware, best feeder client
FlightAware PiAware is FlightAware’s bundle: dump1090-fa, a feeder daemon, and SkyAware in a preconfigured install. Feed the receiver to FlightAware and the site gets a free enterprise account, so all the paid features (unlimited history, oceanic tracks, MLAT, weather overlays) unlock on flightaware.com in exchange for the raw data. The Pi image (Raspberry Pi OS with everything preinstalled) is the fastest path from a fresh dongle to a feeder.
Where it falls short: PiAware is a feeder client first, so anyone who does not want to publish to FlightAware should install dump1090-fa on its own and skip the feeder daemon. The Windows installer works but is less polished than the Linux path.
Cost: Free (data-for-account trade).
Platforms: Linux (Pi image, Debian, Raspberry Pi OS), Windows.
Download: PiAware
Bottom line: The easiest way to get a decoder, a map, and a free enterprise FlightAware account in one install.
7. SkyAware, best zero-config web viewer
SkyAware is the map that ships with PiAware. It runs on port 8080 on the local host, shows current aircraft on a Leaflet map, and needs zero configuration once the feeder is running. For anyone who wants a map on the LAN without opening tar1090’s install script, SkyAware is the right answer. It also links out to flightaware.com for full flight history, so a hover on a callsign gets a route, an aircraft type, and a trail without extra plugins.
Where it falls short: SkyAware is tied to a running PiAware install, so it is not a general-purpose front-end. The session history is shorter than tar1090’s playback, and there is no per-flight replay.
Cost: Free (bundled with PiAware).
Platforms: Web on any OS, once PiAware is running on the LAN.
Download: SkyAware documentation
Bottom line: The set-and-forget map for a PiAware feeder. Open a browser to the receiver’s IP and it is there.
How to pick the right one
- If starting from an empty Pi: install PiAware. The dump1090-fa binary and SkyAware come with it, and feeding earns a free enterprise FlightAware account.
- If the goal is the best map: run dump1090-fa (or readsb) on the receiver and open tar1090 in a browser. This is what most serious sites do.
- If the setup is Windows-only and touching Docker or WSL is off the table: VirtualRadar Server is still the right pick.
- If MLAT is the reason for the whole exercise: PlanePlotter is the only one on this list with server-side MLAT built in.
- If aircraft counts routinely climb past two hundred: switch dump1090-fa for readsb and let it merge feeds.
FAQ
What is the best free ADS-B flight tracking software?
For a Linux or Raspberry Pi setup, dump1090-fa plus tar1090 is the free standard. For a Windows machine, VirtualRadar Server is the free pick. Neither needs an internet connection to run, which is why the local receiver crowd tends to run both instead of the paid alternatives.
Do I need a Raspberry Pi to run ADS-B software?
No. dump1090-fa runs on any Linux laptop, VirtualRadar Server runs on Windows, and both accept a normal USB RTL-SDR dongle. The Pi is popular because it is cheap and can sit on an antenna 24/7 without pulling much power.
What is the difference between tar1090 and Virtual Radar Server?
tar1090 is a modern web map that runs on top of dump1090-fa or readsb and is what ADSBExchange serves. Virtual Radar Server is a Windows-native map with a Basestation SQLite database and a plugin ecosystem. tar1090 has better performance and playback. Virtual Radar Server has better lookup and reporting.
Can I feed multiple aggregators from one receiver?
Yes. dump1090-fa and readsb both expose the BEAST feed on a TCP port, and separate feeder daemons (piaware, adsbexchange-feed, fr24feed, rbfeeder) each read from that port and publish to their own aggregator. Running four feeders on one Pi is normal.
What is the cheapest way to start ADS-B flight tracking?
A generic RTL-SDR v3 dongle costs about $25 online, and a magnetic base 1090 MHz antenna is another $20 to $40. Install PiAware on a Raspberry Pi 4 or a spare Linux laptop and the software is free. Total under $80 including a decent antenna cable.
Is ADS-B tracking legal?
ADS-B signals are unencrypted transponder broadcasts on 1090 MHz that anyone with a receiver can legally decode in most countries. Some jurisdictions restrict rebroadcast or commercial resale of the data. The apps above only decode and display, which is fine everywhere the transponders themselves are.
