Live flights on your desk.
Right now.
PlaneTicker Desktop is a small LED panel that names the aircraft flying over you as it goes, with its callsign, altitude, speed, airline and route. There's no subscription and no app. Plug it in, tell it where you are and it gets on with it.
What it is
That one. What is it, and where is it going?
PlaneTicker is a live aircraft tracker and ADS-B display board that shows the flights above your location in real time. Set any postcode or coordinates and watch the planes overhead, complete with callsign, altitude, speed, airline, and route, on a compact LED flight tracker display or free in your browser. No subscription, no app, and free flight data forever.
BAW117, Heathrow to New York, cruising at 37,000 ft and 12 km away
160×80mm
LED display
64×32px
Pixel resolution
5-500km
Catchment range
350+
Airlines named
350+ airlines named automatically
The panel reads each callsign and shows the airline by name. These are a few of them.
On the panel
Read the whole flight from across the room
Each aircraft gets four rows, and every field keeps its own colour, so you can tell the altitude from the distance without reading a label.
These are sample flights. Put your postcode or town in above and it'll show what's over you now.
Drawn with the panel's own fonts and layout. The real one stays on each aircraft for 15 seconds, this one moves on after 6.
EZY82BC
The flight's radio callsign
A20N
ICAO type code, tucked in the top right
5200ft
Ticks up or down between updates as it climbs or descends
251kt
Ground speed in knots
easyJet
Named from the callsign, and long names scroll
3.2km
How far away it is, in km or miles
BRS>FAO
Where it's come from and where it's going
CLB
Climbing, cruising, descending or on approach
Once it's on your WiFi the panel shows a one-off code. Type it in at planeticker.com/claim and it's linked to your account.
Setup
Setup in 3 minutes
You won't need any tools, and there's no app to install.
- 01
Unbox & power on
Plug in via USB-C. Connect to the setup hotspot from your phone.
- 02
Set your location
Enter a postcode, city, or coordinates. Pick a radius from 5km to 500km.
- 03
Watch live flights
Aircraft appear instantly. Auto-cycles through callsigns, altitudes, and routes.
Living with it
A few things it does without being asked
When the sky goes quiet
No aircraft in range? The panel switches to a clock until the next one turns up.
Follow one flight
Pin a flight from your dashboard and the panel tracks it in, showing how far along it is, the time left and the distance to go.
Dims itself at night
Press the button on the back for four brightness levels, or pick any level in the dashboard. Between 10pm and 7am it drops to 15% on its own.
Features
Packed with features
All of it comes with the £99.99, and there's nothing to unlock later.
Live ADS-B tracking
Real aircraft positions from the global ADS-B network, updated every 5 seconds.
350+ airlines named
Read from the callsign, so EZY shows up on the panel as easyJet.
Smart overhead scoring
Prioritises the closest, lowest aircraft heading toward you.
LED display + browser
The panel, a full-screen browser display, or a link you can share.
Works anywhere on Earth
Set coordinates and a radius from 5km to 500km.
WiFi setup from your phone
Power it on, join its hotspot from your phone and enter your location.
Flight phase detection
Climbing, descending, cruising or on approach, each in its own colour.
Route information
Where it's from and where it's going, as airport codes.
Free data forever
There's no subscription or premium tier. You pay once and the data is free for life.
Now available to order
PlaneTicker Desktop
It's a compact LED flight tracker for your desk, and it makes a good present for plane spotters (or for anyone who lives under a flight path and keeps wondering where they're all going).
- Display
- 160 × 80 mm
- Resolution
- 64 × 32 pixels
- Pixel pitch
- 2.5 mm
- Connectivity
- WiFi 2.4GHz
- Power
- USB-C, 5V
- Data refresh
- Every 5 seconds
30-day money-back guarantee
What's in the box
- 160×80mm RGB LED matrix display
- Desktop stand / enclosure
- USB-C power cable (1.5m)
- Quick start guide
- Free lifetime flight data
- Free software updates forever
Good for
- Aviation enthusiasts & plane spotters
- People near airports or flight paths
- Pilots who want to see local traffic
- Unique desk gadget & conversation starter
- Gift for anyone who looks up at planes
PlaneTicker at a glance
- Price
- £99.99 one-time. Postage £4.99 in the UK, from £9.99 internationally
- Subscription
- None. Flight data is free for the life of the device
- Size
- 160 x 80 mm, 64 x 32 pixels at 2.5 mm pitch
- Data
- Live ADS-B from open receiver networks, refreshed every 5 seconds
- Range
- Anywhere on Earth, with a radius you set from 5 km to 500 km
- Setup
- Connect to its WiFi hotspot from your phone, about 3 minutes, no app
- Power
- USB-C at 5V, cable included
- Delivery
- Ships within 3 to 4 weeks, tracked
- Returns
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Try before buying
- The browser display at planeticker.com/demo is free, no signup
One purchase, or a subscription, or a project
All three show you aircraft. They ask very different things of you afterwards.
| PlaneTicker Desktop | Phone or web app | DIY Raspberry Pi build | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £99.99 once | Free tier, paid subscriptions | Parts plus your time |
| Ongoing fees | None | Subscription for the good tiers | None |
| Always on, no interaction | |||
| Visible from across the room | Sometimes | ||
| Works out of the box | |||
| Assembly or maintenance | None | None | Ongoing |
| Global map and deep flight lookups | Sometimes | ||
| Receives signals itself, no internet needed |
PlaneTicker Desktop
- Cost
- £99.99 once
- Ongoing fees
- None
- Always on, no interaction
- Visible from across the room
- Works out of the box
- Assembly or maintenance
- None
- Global map and deep flight lookups
- Receives signals itself, no internet needed
Phone or web app
- Cost
- Free tier, paid subscriptions
- Ongoing fees
- Subscription for the good tiers
- Always on, no interaction
- Visible from across the room
- Works out of the box
- Assembly or maintenance
- None
- Global map and deep flight lookups
- Receives signals itself, no internet needed
DIY Raspberry Pi build
- Cost
- Parts plus your time
- Ongoing fees
- None
- Always on, no interaction
- Visible from across the room
- Sometimes
- Works out of the box
- Assembly or maintenance
- Ongoing
- Global map and deep flight lookups
- Sometimes
- Receives signals itself, no internet needed
Choose your experience
Start free in your browser, or get the LED display.
Browser Display
Free
forever
- Real-time tracking
- LED simulator
- Custom location
- Shareable link
- Up to 5 aircraft
PlaneTicker Desktop
£99.99
one-time, no subscription
30-day money-back guarantee
- 160×80mm RGB LED
- 64×32 pixels
- WiFi, USB-C
- Desktop stand
- Free data forever
- Auto-cycles flights
- Airline names
- Flight phase
- Route info
- Free updates
PlaneTicker Wall
TBA
wall-mounted
- Larger LED panel
- Wall-mountable
- Multiple aircraft
- Premium enclosure
- Same free data
Try it without the risk
You are buying an object that has to earn its place on your desk. If it does not, you should not be stuck with it.
30 days to change your mind
Not for you? Send it back within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
No subscription, ever
Live flight data is free for the life of the device. There is no premium tier to upsell you to.
Free updates forever
New display modes and features arrive over the air, at no cost.
Designed and supported in the UK
Built by Rivoro Studio Ltd in Bristol, England. Company number 17226090.
Frequently asked questions
Something not covered? Ask us.
What is PlaneTicker?+
PlaneTicker is a real-time aircraft tracker that shows live ADS-B flight data for aircraft near your location on a compact LED display.
Is PlaneTicker free to use?+
The browser display is completely free. The PlaneTicker Desktop LED hardware is available to order at £99.99 with no subscription fees.
What does the display show?+
Callsign (cyan), aircraft type, altitude and speed (yellow), airline name (white), distance (green), route, and flight phase (colour-coded). When nothing is in range it shows the time.
How big is it?+
160×80mm, roughly smartphone-sized. 64×32 pixels at 2.5mm pitch. Compact for any desk.
Is there a subscription fee?+
No. The flight data is completely free, forever. The £99.99 price covers the hardware only.
Where does the flight data come from?+
PlaneTicker uses open ADS-B data from community networks. Aircraft broadcast their position via ADS-B transponders.
Can I use it anywhere?+
Yes. Set any coordinates, 5-500km radius. Best coverage in Europe and North America.
How long does delivery take?+
Orders typically ship within 3-4 weeks. Your card is charged at checkout and you will receive tracking details by email.
Can I return it if I do not like it?+
Yes. Every order includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are not happy, contact support and return it for a full refund.
Will there be a larger wall-mounted version?+
Yes! A larger wall-mounted PlaneTicker is in development. Join the waitlist to be the first to know.
From the blog
Guides on flight tracking, plane spotting, and the aircraft overhead.
PlaneTicker vs FlightAware SkyAware: Which Local Flight Display?
Looking for a FlightAware alternative? Compare a SkyAware display running on your own PiAware receiver with PlaneTicker, a plug-in LED display with no Raspberry Pi.
Read more
Birthday Gifts for Plane Lovers
The best birthday gifts for plane lovers: a live flight tracker display they will use every day, plus models, books, experiences, and ideas for every budget.
Read more
Retirement Gifts for Pilots
The best retirement gifts for pilots: a live flight tracker display that keeps them connected to the sky, plus keepsakes, books, and ideas from colleagues and family.
Read more
Ready to see what's flying over your head?
Order the PlaneTicker Desktop for £99.99 and get live aircraft data on your desk. Or try the free demo, no signup.