Best budget
Sentry Mini
ForeFlight · $449 MSRP
44 g
and no battery to charge
- Dual-band traffic + FIS-B weather
- Runs from 5 V / 2 A USB
- No AHRS, CO or barometer
ForeFlight-only receiver.
See specs and where to buySpecs verified on maker sites · Oct 3, 2026
7 Best Portable ADS-B Receivers in 2026
By Renzo Madueño, former Airbus A320 First Officer (Avianca), FAA commercial pilot
The best portable ADS-B receiver for most US pilots in 2026 is the ForeFlight Sentry Plus ($799 MSRP): dual-band 978/1090 traffic, FIS-B weather, AHRS, a CO alarm, pressure altitude and up to 18+ hours of battery. On a budget, the Sentry Mini ($449) gets the same traffic and weather but has no battery, AHRS or CO sensor.
How we chose: we did not flight-test these units. We compared what each manufacturer publishes (bands, sensors, battery, weight, supported apps, MSRP) and the FAA's own ADS-B rules, and we link every source. Prices are the maker's list price on Oct 3, 2026; retailers may differ.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Rotate Pilot may receive a commission on items you buy through our links at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change.
Top 3 at a glance
Best overall
Sentry Plus
ForeFlight · $799 MSRP
18+ h
battery (maker spec)
- Dual-band 978 + 1090
- AHRS, CO alarm, barometer
- Wi-Fi for up to 5 devices
Sold by ForeFlight and resellers such as Sporty's.
See specs and where to buyBest for any app
Stratus 4
Appareo · $849 MSRP
~8 h
swappable battery
- ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, Stratus Insight
- Touchscreen + Apple Find My
- AHRS and pressure altitude
Replaces the Stratus 3 in Appareo's store.
See specs and where to buySpecs and MSRP from flywithsentry.com and stratusbyappareo.com, checked Oct 3, 2026.
Full comparison: verified specs
Swipe sideways on a phone. Every row links its source below.
| Receiver | MSRP | AHRS | CO alarm | Pressure alt | SiriusXM | Battery | Weight | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ForeFlight Sentry PlusBest overall | $799 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Up to 18+ h | 210 g (7.4 oz) | Wi-Fi, up to 5 devices |
| ForeFlight Sentry (Mk2)Best value with CO alarm | $649 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Up to 12 h | 118 g (4.2 oz) | Wi-Fi, up to 5 devices |
| ForeFlight Sentry MiniBest budget | $449 | No | No | No | No | None (5 V / 2 A USB power) | 44 g (1.6 oz) | Wi-Fi, up to 5 devices |
| Appareo Stratus 4Best for any app | $849 | Yes | No | Yes | No | About 8 h (user-replaceable) | Not published | Wi-Fi, multiple devices |
| Garmin GDL 52Best with SiriusXM weather | $1,425 | Yes | No | No | Yes | Up to 5 h | 0.75 lb (340 g) | Bluetooth, up to 2 devices |
| Levil iLevil 3 AWBest with air data | $1,754.50 | Yes | No | Yes | No | 5.5 h backup | 311 g (11 oz) | Wi-Fi, up to 7 devices |
| Stratux (open source)Best DIY | Varies by build | No | No | No | No | Depends on build | Depends on build | Wi-Fi |
All seven receive both ADS-B links (978 UAT and 1090ES).
Each receiver, in plain words
1.ForeFlight Sentry Plus
Best overallJeppesen ForeFlight (built by uAvionix) · MSRP $799 · 978 UAT + 1090ES · WAAS GPS
The most complete box for a ForeFlight pilot: dual-band traffic, FIS-B weather, backup attitude, a carbon monoxide alarm, pressure altitude and a battery that outlasts any GA leg. It also has an OLED screen, a g-meter and its own track log.
Watch out: Built for ForeFlight. If you use Garmin Pilot or FltPlan Go, look at the Stratus 4 or GDL 52.
Apps (per maker): ForeFlight 14.5+, OzRunways
Source checked 2026-10-03: https://flywithsentry.com/sentry-plus
2.ForeFlight Sentry (Mk2)
Best value with CO alarmJeppesen ForeFlight (built by uAvionix) · MSRP $649 · 978 UAT + 1090ES · WAAS GPS (+ Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou)
Same core as the Plus (dual-band, AHRS, CO alarm, barometer) for $150 less, in a smaller box. The trade is battery life: 12 hours instead of 18+, and no screen.
Watch out: No built-in flight data recorder; ForeFlight records the track log from its GPS instead.
Apps (per maker): ForeFlight 10.2+, OzRunways
Source checked 2026-10-03: https://flywithsentry.com/sentry
3.ForeFlight Sentry Mini
Best budgetJeppesen ForeFlight (built by uAvionix) · MSRP $449 · 978 + 1090 (dual antennas) · WAAS GPS (+ Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou)
The cheapest way to get dual-band traffic and FIS-B weather into ForeFlight. It is tiny and sits on the window, but it has no battery: it runs from a USB port that can supply 2 A.
Watch out: No AHRS, no CO detector, no pressure altitude, and no internal battery.
Apps (per maker): ForeFlight 11.5+
Source checked 2026-10-03: https://flywithsentry.com/mini
4.Appareo Stratus 4
Best for any appAppareo Systems · MSRP $849 · 978 UAT + 1090ES · WAAS GPS
The successor to the Stratus 3, with a color touchscreen, Apple Find My, a flight data recorder (about 20 hours) and a battery you can swap without tools. Appareo says it works with ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot and all other major apps.
Watch out: No CO detector. Appareo no longer sells the Stratus 3 new.
Apps (per maker): ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, Stratus Insight, others via GDL 90
Source checked 2026-10-03: https://stratusbyappareo.com/stratus-4-page-new/
5.Garmin GDL 52
Best with SiriusXM weatherGarmin · MSRP $1,425 · 978 UAT + 1090ES · GPS
The only receiver here that adds SiriusXM satellite weather (and audio) to ADS-B, so you keep weather where FIS-B ground stations do not reach. It also feeds Garmin portables and G3X Touch panels.
Watch out: SiriusXM needs a subscription; 5-hour battery; Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi. The GDL 50 ($900, 8 h) is the same box without SiriusXM.
Apps (per maker): Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight, FltPlan Go, Garmin aera, G3X Touch
Source checked 2026-10-03: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/529290
6.Levil iLevil 3 AW
Best with air dataLevil Aviation · MSRP $1,754.50 · 978 + 1090 · WAAS GPS
Portable or permanently mounted, with pitot-static transducers for indicated airspeed and pressure altitude plus SD-card recording. Built for experimental and LSA owners who want a backup air-data source on the tablet.
Watch out: Most expensive here. Levil's Astro+ ($875, 3.5 h backup battery) is the ADS-B + AHRS model without air data.
Apps (per maker): ForeFlight, iFly, Aerovie, WingX, FlyQ, SkyDemon, Avare, FltPlan and more
Source checked 2026-10-03: https://levilaviation.com/products/ilevil-3-aw
7.Stratux (open source)
Best DIYOpen-source project, pre-built by third parties · MSRP Varies by build · 978 UAT + 1090ES · Depends on build
Free software that turns low-cost radio dongles into a dual-band ADS-B receiver. Pre-built units are sold by third parties. Specs (GPS, AHRS, battery) depend on the kit you buy.
Watch out: No manufacturer warranty or support line; quality depends on the seller.
Apps (per maker): 18 EFBs listed, incl. ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, WingX, Avare
Source checked 2026-10-03: https://stratux.me/
What ADS-B In will and will not show you
Straight from the FAA. This is what decides whether a receiver is enough.
Weather comes only on 978 MHz
FIS-B (radar, METARs, TAFs, NOTAMs, TFRs) is broadcast only on the UAT 978 MHz link, so a receiver needs 978 to show weather.
“FIS-B provides weather data and it is only available on the UAT or 978MHz link due to bandwidth considerations.” FAA
Full traffic needs ADS-B Out
Ground stations rebroadcast radar targets (TIS-B) and the other link's traffic (ADS-R) to aircraft that transmit ADS-B Out. With a portable receiver in an aircraft without Out, you see only what is broadcast directly or for a nearby client.
“If an aircraft is not ADS-B Out equipped, the ADS-B ground stations will not identify the aircraft as a TIS-B / ADS-R client.” FAA
The 'hockey puck' is limited
Traffic uplinked for a client aircraft covers a cylinder around it, not the whole sky.
“The 'hockey puck' is 30 nm in diameter and +/- 3,500 ft.” FAA
Why dual-band matters
Below 18,000 ft in the US, aircraft may transmit on either link; airliners and anyone above FL180 use 1090ES. A dual-band receiver hears both directly.
“For aircraft operating below 18,000 feet and within the United States ADS-B rule airspace, you must be equipped with either a Mode-S transponder-based ADS-B transmitter or with UAT equipment.” FAA
ADS-B Out airspace rules (14 CFR 91.225) and transponder use are tested on the FAA Private Pilot written. See how the PPL written covers them.
ADS-B receiver questions
What is the best portable ADS-B receiver in 2026?
For most US pilots who fly with ForeFlight, the Sentry Plus ($799 MSRP): dual-band 978/1090 traffic, FIS-B weather, AHRS, a CO alarm, pressure altitude and up to 18+ hours of battery (maker specs, checked Oct 3, 2026). On a budget, the Sentry Mini ($449) receives the same traffic and weather but has no battery, AHRS or CO sensor.
What is the difference between Sentry, Sentry Plus and Sentry Mini?
All three are dual-band receivers made by uAvionix for ForeFlight. Sentry Plus ($799) adds the longest battery (18+ h), a screen and a flight recorder. Sentry ($649) keeps AHRS, CO alarm and barometer with a 12-hour battery. Sentry Mini ($449) is a 44 g receiver with no battery, AHRS, CO or barometer.
Which ADS-B receiver works with Garmin Pilot?
Garmin's own GDL 52 (and GDL 50) connect to Garmin Pilot over Bluetooth, and Appareo says the Stratus 4 works with Garmin Pilot too. The Sentry family is officially supported only in ForeFlight (and OzRunways).
Do I need a dual-band ADS-B receiver?
Yes for the full picture. Weather (FIS-B) is broadcast only on 978 MHz, and aircraft below 18,000 ft may transmit on either 978 or 1090. A dual-band receiver hears both links directly, which matters most when your own aircraft has no ADS-B Out and so gets no rebroadcast (ADS-R/TIS-B) service.
Does a portable ADS-B receiver meet the ADS-B Out mandate?
No. Portable receivers are ADS-B In only. The 14 CFR 91.225 requirement is for ADS-B Out, which needs an installed, certified transmitter.
Was the Stratus 3 discontinued?
Appareo no longer sells the Stratus 3 new in its store (only parts), and its current receiver is the Stratus 4 at $849. We found no dated discontinuation notice, so we describe it as replaced rather than give a date.
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