A free FlightAware alternative
FlightAware is strong on flight status, airports and schedules. Wingwait focuses on something narrower: the live aircraft itself, moving on a map, for free and without signing up.
Track a flight →How they differ
| Wingwait | FlightAware | |
|---|---|---|
| Live map by flight number | Yes | Yes |
| Sign-up needed | Never | For alerts and some features |
| Landing alerts | Free, in the browser | With an account |
| Military aircraft mode | Worldwide, with role and country | Not a focus |
| "What plane is above me?" | One tap | No |
| Stream overlay for broadcasters | Built in | No |
| Schedules, delays, airport boards | Not yet | Yes, a core strength |
Comparison as of September 2026 from publicly described features. FlightAware is a trademark of its owner. Wingwait isn't affiliated with or endorsed by it.
Built for the person waiting
Most people who search for a flight are waiting for someone. Wingwait opens straight to the map, finds the flight from the number on the ticket (even when the airline's radio callsign differs), draws the route and shows a rough time to go. One tap arms a landing alert. The share button sends a live link to everyone else who's waiting.
Real paths, not straight lines
When you select a flight, Wingwait draws the path it has actually flown, built from received positions. Where there's no data, the route is dashed and labelled as an estimate, so you can always tell what's real.
Questions
Can Wingwait show flight delays and gate information?
Not yet. Wingwait tracks live aircraft positions. For schedules, delays and gates, check the airline or airport.
Why can't I find my flight?
It may not have taken off yet, the airline may use a different radio callsign (Wingwait converts most automatically), or it may be over an ocean or remote region with no receivers in range. Wingwait keeps listening and picks it up when it's heard again.