If you keep an eye on the skies or love tracking flights, you probably know Flightradar24. Now, things are changing—the site just rewrote its terms and conditions, and it’s not just small print no one reads. These changes are paving the way for one of the biggest feature launches in the platform’s history: a fully-fledged API.
This new API isn’t just a perk for major airlines or tech nerds. Flightradar24 is pitching its direct data connections at a broad bunch of people. Whether you’re an airline plotting logistics, a live streamer wanting up-to-the-second flight info, or just an aviation nut building your own dashboard, this API aims to make things easier and a whole lot more powerful. Real-time data access means more possibilities—like tailored flight alerts or in-depth analytics—for anyone who needs it.
Alongside the API, Flightradar24’s subscription rules are getting stricter. Here’s the headline: every premium subscription (including for the new API) will auto-renew. That means if you don’t actively stop your subscription before your next billing date, you’ll be charged—no warning, no last-minute prompts. For anyone managing multiple subscriptions, that’s a detail worth keeping in mind.
The company also spells out a clear position: once you buy a subscription or access the API, your service starts straight away. By agreeing, you give up your right to change your mind and ask for a refund. It’s immediate delivery, no cooling-off period. Trying the service and backing out isn’t an option, so know what you’re signing up for before you click “buy.”
If you ever want to stop, you need to go into your account settings before the new cycle begins. And if you’ve paid for an entire period up front, you won’t get that money back even if you cancel halfway through.
The company is leaning into clarity this time around. The fresh legalese avoids jargon where possible, aiming to make rules simple enough for regular users. Flightradar24 points users toward the new terms, especially the details around third-party services and how data from the API can and can’t be used. Integrating other software or sharing the data beyond set limits could draw unwanted attention or even penalties, so those using the API for more than personal fun should read carefully.
Whether you’re casually interested in aviation or building something big with live flight data, these changes affect how you access and pay for features. Reading the refreshed terms before your next login isn’t just smart—it might save you a headache down the line.