Is Stowaway Free to Use, and Do You Need an Account?

Yes. Stowaway's sky, live planes, and satellites are free to use, and you don't need an account to open it. According to the site's own FAQ, supporters get sharper ground detail and "a few extras," but none of that is required to enjoy the core experience. The page also states there are no ads and that user data isn't sold.

What the free version includes

The free tier is the main event, not a demo:

• Live aircraft positions — drawn from the same public ADS-B signals other trackers use, but placed in a 3D sky rather than as icons on a flat map.
• Satellites on their actual orbits — shown where they really are relative to you.
• Stars computed for your location and time of day — the night sky as it actually appears where you're standing.
• The "window seat" view — a rendered but fact-based perspective from aboard a plane flying through that sky.

Nothing in the scene is invented: planes, satellites, and stars are all positioned from real data, and most of it updates while you watch.

What supporters get

The clearest documented difference is ground detail. Supporters fly over real buildings and streets "in far sharper focus than satellite imagery manages" — same planet, much better picture. The site describes this as a few extras on top of the free experience and frames support as what keeps the free version free.

The page doesn't publish prices or payment details, so check the site's support section for current terms before committing.

Do you need an account?

No. The FAQ answers "Is Stowaway free?" with: the sky, planes, and satellites are all free, and you don't need an account. There's no sign-up wall described for the core tracking view.

Privacy and ads

Two commitments are stated directly on the page:

• No ads.
• No selling of anything about you to anybody.

These are the site's own claims; treat them as product statements rather than independently verified facts.

Quick answers

Before you try it

Open the site and the sky loads without a login. If the ground looks soft, that's the free tier working as described — sharper terrain is the supporter perk. If you only care about seeing where the plane above you is right now, the free version covers it completely.