Flighty is widely regarded as one of the best flight‑tracking apps on iPhone, but it remains unavailable on Android. Over the past few weeks I tested two Flighty-like Android apps — Aviate and byAir — and while byAir fits my cross‑platform workflow, Aviate is the one I’d recommend to most Android users.
Aviate: the closest thing to Flighty on Android
Aviate is built specifically for Android, using Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language and a layout that feels at home on Pixel and Galaxy phones. The app is ad-free, the company says it does not include trackers or sell user data, and many core features are available for free. Those free features include flight tracking, real‑time gate changes, notifications, and calendar syncing. You can import flights automatically, add them manually by airline and flight number, or scan a boarding pass with your phone camera.
Aviate also offers extras such as a Starlink Wi‑Fi checker, a Jetlag Advisor, AI‑powered airport lounge recommendations, and a built‑in LiveATC feed browser and player. The paid Pro tier unlocks airport indoor navigation, public flight sharing, and LiveATC integration. Short‑term paid passes cost $1.29 for one week, $2.49 for two weeks, and $2.99 for three weeks. The app is still new and actively developed, its developers are working on an iOS app, and the author says he would not yet spend $199.99 on the lifetime plan.
byAir: better for cross‑platform users
byAir is available on both Android and iOS and syncs flights across platforms, which is why I prefer it personally: I regularly carry two phones and need my travel information on both devices. When opened, byAir places your next flight front and center while the world map, annual travel stats, total flight time and delay summaries live in a separate profile section.
byAir is also notable for early AI integrations: it supports MCP so you can connect models such as Claude and OpenClaw directly to the app. However, byAir locks basic flight notifications and calendar syncing behind its paid plan. The app supports Android’s Live Updates (the Now Bar on Samsung phones), but use of that feature requires a subscription. byAir’s pricing starts at $5.49 for a one‑week pass, $9.99 per month, or about $39.99 per year.
Which one to choose
If you only use Android, Aviate is the clearer recommendation: it feels native to Android, offers a generous free tier that includes notifications and calendar sync, and delivers many Flighty‑like features. For users who split time between Android and iOS, byAir’s cross‑platform syncing currently outweighs its paywall for notifications, which is why I continue to use it. Both apps have strengths, but for most Android‑only users I’d pick Aviate.
