In today’s digital age, software and data is the lifeblood of businesses—especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) striving to stay competitive. Whether it’s tracking customer behavior, optimizing operations, or delivering real-time updates, data drives better decision-making. It’s not only about having data. It’s also about finding cheap and simple ways to use it. This is where Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) come into play, offering businesses the ability to tap into vast datasets without the need for complex infrastructure.
Many types of data are important for businesses. Aviation data, and flight API specifically, are especially important for travel, hotels, delivery services, and the aviation industry itself. For example, hotels might use flight data to adjust check-in schedules based on flight delays, while logistics companies need real-time flight tracking to ensure their cargo arrives on time.
The ability to access this type of aviation data seamlessly can streamline operations and provide a better customer experience. And with more businesses looking to harness the power of real-time data, the demand for flight APIs is on the rise.
Looking ahead, the flight data API market is projected to grow significantly over the coming years, according to some sources – reaching 8.2% CAGR, driven by the increasing demand for real-time aviation data across various sectors. As businesses aim to offer more efficient services and improve their agility, having reliable access to flight information APIs will be critical for staying ahead.
So, how do you choose the right flight data API for your business? With options ranging from free flight tracker APIs to comprehensive solutions, we’ve reviewed some of the best options available today.
Top 10 Best Flight API Available in 2024
OAG Flight Info API
Website: https://oag.com
OAG is one of the most recognized names in aviation data. Their Flight Info API provides the most comprehensive flight schedule data on the market as well as real-time flight status updates. They also offer historical data, making it ideal for businesses that need access to comprehensive global aviation information. But high quality and extensive coverage comes with a price: OAG’s API’s prices might be on a higher side making it more suitable choice for bigger enterprises and industry leaders with mission-critical products.
Pricing:
- Lowest plan: $249 per month for 500 API calls (on RapidAPI Marketplace)
- Highest plan: $449 per month for 1,000 API calls (on RapidAPI Marketplace)
- Direct subscription: pricing available on request
Cirium APIs
Website: https://cirium.com
Cirium is another leader in the aviation data industry leader. They offer a number of data products including various flight APIs, like Cirium Sky Stream, FlightStats API, Laminar Data Hub. This includes real-time flight data, airline schedules, industry insights and many more. Known for its extensive coverage, Cirium supports larger enterprises in the aviation, travel, and logistics industries.
Pricing:
- Cirium offers custom enterprise solutions based on business needs, with pricing tailored to usage.
FlightAware AeroAPI®
Website: https://flightaware.com
FlightAware’s AeroAPI is a well-established and trusted solution for accessing real-time flight tracking, flight history, airport data, and advanced analytics for aviation enthusiasts, businesses of all scales, airlines, airports and government. With global coverage and reliable data, FlightAware is widely used by both small businesses and large enterprises needing accurate aviation information for operational planning or customer service.
Pricing:
- Free plan: 500 API calls per month (personal use only)
- Lowest plan: $100 per month for 10,000 API calls (commercial B2C use incl)
- Highest plan: $1,000 per month for 100,000 API calls (commercial B2B use incl)
AeroDataBox API
Website: https://aerodatabox.com
AeroDataBox is an affordable niche aviation API tailored specifically for small and medium businesses and independent developers, currently positioned as an enthusiast-driven API. It provides real-time flight status API, flight search API, flight delays API, flight schedules, and airport information, making it ideal for SMBs looking to integrate essential aviation data without the hefty costs often associated with many other competitors. With an easy-to-use REST API, AeroDataBox allows for quick and seamless integration via public marketplaces like RapidAPI, API.Market and Sulu Hub.
Pricing:
- Free/Trial plan: 300-600 API calls per month (free on API.Market; $0.99 per month on RapiAPI)
- Lowest plan: $5 per month for 3,000 API calls, pay-per-use available.
- Highest plan: $150 per month for 300,000 API calls.
- Custom plans: available on request, SLA: coming soon.
AviationStack API
Website: https://aviationstack.com
AviationStack provides a global API that delivers real-time flight status updates, airport data, and airline information. Designed for businesses of all sizes, AviationStack supports real-time flight tracking and historical data, making it ideal for travel platforms, logistics companies, and other services that rely on up-to-date aviation data. AviationStack’s Platinum Support provides priority email assistance, faster bug reviews, dedicated account management, and influence over product features through prioritized requests
Pricing:
- Free plan: 100 API calls per month.
- Lowest plan: $49.99 per month for 10,000 API calls.
- Highest plan: $499.99 per month for 250,000 API calls.
- Platinum Support add-on starting from $479.88/year.
AirLabs API
Website: https://airlabs.co
AirLabs provides comprehensive real-time and historical aviation data, covering everything from flight tracking to airport schedules. Its API is popular among travel agencies, hospitality platforms, and logistics providers, offering seamless integration and flexibility to meet a range of business needs.
Pricing:
- Free plan: 1,000 API calls per month.
- Lowest plan: $49 per month for 25,000 API calls.
- Highest plan: $499 per month for 1 million API calls.
- SLA available.
Aviation Edge API
Website: https://aviation-edge.com
AviationEdge offers an extensive suite of aviation data services, both APIs and downloadable datasets, including real-time flight tracking API, airline information, airport schedules, taxes and more. Their API is useful to any type of business that require large-scale, real-time data for travel booking platforms, logistics, or analytics services.
Pricing:
- Trial plan: available from $7 per first 30 days.
- Lowest plan: $299 per month for 30,000 API calls.
- Highest plan: $1,499 per month for 500,000 API calls.
- Custom plans: available, SLA: available
Flightradar24 API
Website: https://fr24api.flightradar24.com
Flightradar24, known for its popular crowdsourced consumer flight tracking platform, has recently launched their own flight search API. Their API provides precise, real-time flight tracking data, making it an excellent option for businesses that need comprehensive flight information. While Flightradar24 has been a staple in the flight tracking world for years, its API offering is relatively new but carries the same level of trust and reliability.
Pricing:
- Lowest plan: $9 per month for 30,000 API calls.
- Highest plan: $900 per month for 4,050,000 API calls.
AirNav RadarBox API
Website: https://radarbox.com/api
RadarBox is another popular flight tracking platform. They offer a robust flight tracking API designed for both hobbyists and businesses. Its API delivers live flight tracking, as well as historical data and analytics, helping businesses optimize operations and improve customer experiences by integrating aviation data directly into their platforms.
Pricing:
- Lowest plan: $119.95 per month for 10,000 API calls.
- Highest plan: $999.95 per month for 250,000 API calls.
- Custom plans: available upon request (up to 20M API calls)
ADS-B Exchange API
Website: https://www.adsbexchange.com
ADS-B Exchange is an open-source flight tracking platform known for providing unfiltered, crowdsourced real-time data on aircraft movements globally, including military and private flights, unlike many other trackers that restrict certain information. ADSBExchange also provides a real-time flight tracking API. This API is particularly well-suited for aviation enthusiasts, or businesses looking for exhaustive data on flights worldwide.
Pricing:
- Basic plan: $10 per month for 10,000 API calls via RapidAPI
- Enterprise plan: available on request
Conclusion
Flight APIs have become essential tools for businesses across industries that rely on real-time or historical aviation data. Whether you’re a small business looking for an affordable option like AeroDataBox, FlightRadar24, or AirLabs, or a large enterprise requiring extensive data from providers like OAG, Cirium, or FlightAware, flight APIs can significantly improve your operational efficiency and customer service.
While we tried to compare the pricing of various API products, it’s important to recognize that each one of them offers unique features and has its own distinguished pricing specifics.
Even flight tracking capabilities — the very common thing across these APIs — can vary greatly in terms of convenience of use, supported protocols, data coverage, or the availability of historical or scheduled future data. The devil is in the details: direct comparisons aren’t always trustworthy, and the best choice can vary depending on your specific needs and use cases.
With a range of pricing plans—from free flight tracker APIs to comprehensive enterprise solutions—there’s a flight API to fit every business need. Now is the time to integrate one into your platform and start taking advantage of the power of real-time flight data.