App in the Air Alternatives: Top 5 in 2026
App in the Air shut down on October 19, 2024, so every former user now needs a replacement. The best alternatives in 2026 are Nomad, Flighty, TripIt, Been, and Polarsteps. Nomad leads for digital nomads who need automated day-counting across Schengen's 90/180 rule, 183-day tax residency tracking, and visa-free limits in 195+ countries, with passport details stored privately on-device. Flighty is strongest for real-time flight tracking and delay alerts. TripIt works best for organizing itineraries from confirmation emails. Been suits travelers who mainly want a visual map of countries visited. Polarsteps is optimized for trip journaling and route logging. Unlike general travel apps, Nomad is purpose-built for compliance tracking and offers an AI chat assistant for visa questions.
Why look for App in the Air alternatives?
App in the Air was a travel companion app focused on flight tracking, frequent-flyer statistics, and gamified travel history with country badges and mileage maps. It built a loyal community of frequent fliers. The app announced its closure in September 2024 and permanently shut down on October 19, 2024, after which users could no longer download it or access their data.
That shutdown is the main reason people search for alternatives today. But even when it was running, App in the Air had gaps for compliance-focused travelers:
- No visa compliance tracking: App in the Air logged flights and countries visited but never monitored Schengen 90/180 limits, 183-day tax residency thresholds, or overstay deadlines.
- No longer available: As of October 2024 the app is discontinued, removed from the App Store, Google Play, and Samsung Galaxy Store.
- Flight-centric, not stay-centric: It tracked which flights you took, not how many days you legally have left in a country or region.
- No AI assistant: There was no built-in way to ask plain-language questions about visa rules or compliance.
If you were using App in the Air to remember where you have been, the replacements below cover that need. If you also need to stay legally compliant across borders, a purpose-built compliance tool matters more than a flight log.
Alternative #1: Nomad - Best for automated visa compliance
Nomad (the visa compliance app for digital nomads) tracks your days across every country automatically, alerts you before overstays, and keeps passport details on your device for privacy. It covers visa-free stay limits across 195+ countries, Schengen 90/180 rolling-window calculations, and 183-day tax residency tracking. Where App in the Air logged flights for fun, Nomad answers the harder question: how many days can I legally stay, and when do I need to leave?
This matters most for travelers who stay weeks or months at a time. A flight log tells you that you flew to Lisbon; it does not warn you that day 89 in the Schengen Area is approaching, or that you are nearing 183 days of presence in a country with tax-residency rules. Nomad is built for exactly that problem, which is why it fits former App in the Air users who have shifted from collecting miles to managing long stays across borders.
Why choose Nomad over App in the Air?
- Compliance tracking App in the Air never had: Nomad calculates Schengen 90/180 windows, 183-day residency counts, and visa-free limits automatically. App in the Air tracked flight history and mileage, not legal stay limits.
- Privacy-first architecture: Passport numbers and photos stay on your device. Only travel dates and countries sync to the cloud. App in the Air stored profile and travel data in its cloud service.
- AI assistant for visa questions: Ask "how many days can I stay in Thailand?" in plain English and get an answer. App in the Air had no compliance guidance built in.
- Still here and maintained: App in the Air is discontinued. Nomad is actively updated, with its country visa database refreshed weekly.
Key features
- Automatic day tracking across 195+ countries with timezone-aware calculations
- Schengen 90/180 rolling-window calculator built into the app
- 183-day tax residency tracking for multiple countries at once
- AI compliance chat with travel-domain guardrails
- Overstay alerts at 7, 3, and 1 day intervals
- Passport expiry reminders for dual and triple citizenship holders
- Travel history timeline with a visual calendar, plus PDF/CSV export for visa applications
Pricing
Free trial, then annual subscription. See the App Store for current pricing.
When to choose Nomad
- You travel to multiple countries per year and need automated compliance tracking
- You are subject to Schengen 90/180 rules or 183-day tax residency thresholds
- Privacy matters and you do not want passport numbers in cloud storage
- You want an AI assistant for visa questions instead of researching every country manually
- You hold multiple passports and need to track visa-free limits for each
When not to choose Nomad
- You are on Android: Nomad is currently iOS only. Android is on the roadmap but not available today.
- You want a free flight tracker: Nomad has a free trial but requires a subscription after. For pure flight alerts, Flighty's free tier or TripIt's free plan may fit better.
- You want travel statistics and badges: Nomad is built for compliance, not gamified flight stats. If you mainly miss App in the Air's mileage maps and country badges, Been or Polarsteps scratch that itch.
- You travel to only one or two countries per year: At low travel frequency, manual tracking works fine and a subscription may not be worth it.
Alternative #2: App in the Air - Discontinued (no longer available)
App in the Air was a travel app for frequent fliers that combined flight tracking, airport tips, mileage-account balances, and gamified travel statistics. It awarded badges for countries visited and miles flown, and displayed a personal map of everywhere you had flown. For years it was a popular choice among aviation enthusiasts.
Key features (historical)
- Flight tracking with check-in reminders and gate information
- Frequent-flyer mileage balance tracking across airline programs
- Country and mileage badges with a personal flight map
- Airport guides and tips contributed by users
Pricing
No longer applicable. The app was discontinued on October 19, 2024, and is unavailable on the App Store, Google Play, and Samsung Galaxy Store. Past subscribers were directed to export their data before the shutdown date.
When to choose App in the Air
There is no current scenario where you would choose App in the Air, because it is no longer available to download or use. If you exported your data before October 2024, you can import portions of that flight history into some other apps. Otherwise, the options in this list are where former users have moved.
When not to choose App in the Air
Always, in 2026. The service has ended, and any link claiming to offer the app is unofficial.
Alternative #3: Flighty - Best for real-time flight tracking
Flighty is a flight-tracking app for iOS that monitors flights in real time using live air traffic control data. It is widely regarded as the closest spiritual successor to App in the Air's flight features, with a sharper focus on alerts. It often warns travelers about delays before the airline does.
Key features
- Real-time flight tracking with gate, baggage claim, and delay alerts
- "Where's My Plane?" tracking of your inbound aircraft up to 25 hours before departure
- Machine-learning delay predictions that explain the likely cause
- Connection risk analysis for tight layovers, plus flight history and stats
Pricing
As of June 2026, Flighty's official pricing page lists a free tier with limited flight history, an annual Pro plan at $59.99/year ($4.99/month billed annually), and a $299 lifetime option. Flighty is iOS only, with an Android waitlist but no released Android app.
When to choose Flighty
Choose Flighty if your priority is staying ahead of flight delays, gate changes, and tight connections. It is excellent for frequent fliers who want best-in-class real-time alerts and detailed flight history.
When not to choose Flighty
Flighty does not track visa compliance, Schengen day counts, or tax residency. It is a flight tracker, not a stay-limit tracker. Android users are out of luck until the waitlisted app ships.
Alternative #4: TripIt - Best for organizing itineraries
TripIt is a long-running travel organizer that turns confirmation emails into a single master itinerary. Forward a booking to its import address and TripIt builds a structured trip plan covering flights, hotels, rental cars, trains, and more. It runs on both iOS and Android.
Key features
- Automatic itinerary building from forwarded confirmation emails
- Master trip view covering flights, lodging, ground transport, and events
- Calendar sync, sharing, maps, and document storage
- TripIt Pro adds real-time flight alerts, seat tracking, and alternate-flight search
Pricing
According to TripIt's official site, the free plan covers itinerary organization and import, while TripIt Pro is $49/year (verified June 2026) and adds real-time alerts and fare monitoring. TripIt is available on iOS and Android.
When to choose TripIt
Choose TripIt if your main pain is scattered booking confirmations and you want one organized itinerary per trip. It is strong for complex multi-leg trips and cross-platform households.
When not to choose TripIt
TripIt organizes plans but does not calculate visa-free limits, Schengen 90/180 windows, or tax residency days. It tells you where you are going, not how long you can legally stay.
Alternative #5: Been - Best for a visual map of countries visited
Been is a map-first travel tracker that lets you mark every country and region you have visited and build a visual travel passport. It is the closest match to App in the Air's country-badge and travel-stats appeal, minus the flight tracking. It runs on iOS and Android.
Key features
- Interactive world map of countries and regions visited (250+ countries, 1,000+ regions)
- Travel stats including time spent abroad and most-visited places
- Region-level drill-down for the US, Germany, the UK, and more
- Offline viewing of your map and stats, with cross-device sync
Pricing
Been uses a freemium model. The base app is free to download, and a one-time premium upgrade unlocks region-level tracking, a 3D globe view, and an ad-free experience. The exact upgrade price is not listed on its landing page - check the app store listing for current pricing.
When to choose Been
Choose Been if you mainly want a clean visual record and stats of where you have traveled, with no subscription. It is a fit for travelers who valued App in the Air's maps and badges over its flight tools.
When not to choose Been
Been tracks countries visited, not legal stay limits. It does not monitor Schengen 90/180 windows, tax residency days, or overstay deadlines, and it does not track flights.
How to choose the right App in the Air alternative
Picking the right replacement depends on which part of App in the Air you actually miss. Use these criteria to narrow down.
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Start with what you need to track. If you need visa compliance (Schengen 90/180, 183-day residency, overstay limits), choose a tool built for compliance, not a flight or map app. Nomad is designed for this; Flighty, TripIt, Been, and Polarsteps handle flights, itineraries, or travel history but not compliance logic.
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Check platform availability. Nomad and Flighty are iOS only. TripIt, Been, and Polarsteps support both iOS and Android. If you are on Android, that narrows the field immediately.
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Evaluate privacy requirements. If storing passport numbers in a cloud service makes you uncomfortable, look for on-device storage. Nomad keeps sensitive passport data local; most travel apps store profile data in their cloud.
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Consider your travel volume. High-volume travelers who cross many borders a year benefit most from automated compliance tracking. Occasional travelers may find a free map app or manual logging is enough.
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Decide how much you cared about flight stats versus legal limits. If you mainly miss badges, maps, and mileage, Been or Polarsteps fit. If you need real-time flight alerts, Flighty fits. If you need to avoid overstays and tax-residency surprises, Nomad fits.
Frequently asked questions
Is App in the Air still worth using in 2026?
App in the Air is not usable in 2026 because it permanently shut down on October 19, 2024. It was removed from the App Store, Google Play, and Samsung Galaxy Store, and existing users were given until that date to export their data. Any website still offering the app is unofficial and should be treated with caution. Former users have largely moved to Flighty for flight tracking, Been or Polarsteps for travel maps and stats, and Nomad for visa compliance, depending on which feature they relied on most.
What is the best free alternative to App in the Air?
For a free replacement, Been and Polarsteps are the closest fits. Been offers a free map of countries visited with optional one-time premium upgrades, and Polarsteps is free to use with revenue coming from printed travel books. TripIt also has a capable free plan for itinerary organization. Nomad offers a free trial but requires a subscription afterward, so it is not a permanently free option. Choose based on which App in the Air feature mattered to you most.
Did App in the Air track visa compliance automatically?
No. App in the Air tracked flights, mileage balances, and gamified travel statistics, but it never monitored visa compliance such as Schengen 90/180 limits, 183-day tax residency thresholds, or overstay deadlines. If automated compliance tracking is what you need, Nomad is purpose-built for it, calculating day counts across 195+ countries and alerting you 7, 3, and 1 day before any stay limit. General travel apps log where you went; they do not tell you how long you can legally stay.
Can I use a flight tracker and Nomad together?
Yes. These tools track different things and work well side by side. A flight tracker like Flighty handles real-time delays, gates, and connections, while TripIt organizes your itinerary from confirmation emails. Nomad sits on top of that, counting your days in each country and warning you before you breach a visa or tax-residency limit. Many travelers run a flight app for the journey and Nomad for compliance, since neither replaces the other.
Which App in the Air alternative is best for digital nomads?
For digital nomads, Nomad is the strongest replacement because it solves the compliance problem that flight and map apps ignore. Nomads who stay weeks or months at a time face Schengen 90/180 limits, 183-day tax residency thresholds, and visa-free stay caps that vary by passport across 195+ countries. Nomad tracks those automatically, keeps passport data on-device, and answers visa questions through an in-app AI assistant. App in the Air, by contrast, was built for frequent fliers tracking miles, not long-stay travelers managing legal limits.
Related guides
- The Schengen 90/180 rule explained
- The 183-day rule explained
- TripIt alternatives for 2026
- Polarsteps alternatives for 2026
Final verdict
Different tools suit different needs now that App in the Air is gone. If you mainly miss real-time flight alerts, Flighty is the strongest successor. If you want one organized itinerary per trip, TripIt is solid. If you valued the maps, badges, and travel stats, Been and Polarsteps recreate that experience for free.
For digital nomads and multi-country travelers, though, the bigger risk is not a missed gate change - it is an accidental overstay or an unexpected tax-residency liability. That is where Nomad is built to help. It automates Schengen 90/180 and 183-day counting across 195+ countries, keeps your passport details on your device, and answers visa questions through an in-app AI assistant. If staying compliant across borders is your real concern, it is the alternative worth installing.
About Nomad
Nomad is the visa compliance app for digital nomads. Built by nomads for nomads, it tracks your days across every country automatically, alerts you before overstays, and keeps passport details on your device for privacy. The in-app AI assistant answers visa questions in plain English. Available on iOS.
Important: This content is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax regulations, and entry requirements change frequently and vary by individual circumstances. Always verify current requirements with official government sources or a qualified professional before making travel decisions. Nomad tracks your days and surfaces compliance information, but final responsibility for compliance rests with the traveler.