Finding a cheap flight is not just about luck – it is about knowing where to look.

With so many booking platforms available, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. Yet the reality is this: the website you choose can have a major impact on the price you pay, the perks you receive, and how flexible your plans can be.

I once saved over $500 on a transatlantic trip simply by checking a second flight search site before booking. That kind of savings can mean an extra excursion, an upgraded seat, or even enough left over for your next getaway.

In this guide, we will break down the 10 best websites for booking cheap flights.

You will discover which platforms consistently surface the best deals, which ones excel at last-minute bargains, and how to use each site to your advantage. 

If you are ready to unlock smarter, more affordable airfare, keep reading – your next trip could cost far less than you expect.

What Makes A Flight Booking Site Great

Not all flight booking websites are created equal.

Some consistently uncover lower fares. 

Others stand out with better search flexibility, price tracking tools, or rewards programs. 

The best websites for booking cheap flights combine competitive pricing with features that make planning easier and more efficient.

Here are the key things to look for when choosing where to search and book:

• Price Transparency: The best sites clearly show the full fare – including taxes, fees, and baggage charges – so you know exactly what you will pay before checkout. This helps you avoid unpleasant surprises once you reach the payment screen.
• Search Flexibility: Powerful search tools can make a big difference in finding deals. Look for platforms that allow flexible dates, open-ended “anywhere” searches, or multi-city itineraries. These features often uncover fares you would never see with fixed-date searches.
• Speed and Filtering Tools: A great booking site should let you quickly sort flights by price, duration, layovers, departure time, airline, and even alliance. This helps you filter out inconvenient or overpriced options without wasting time.
• Rewards and Perks: Some OTAs and metasearch engines partner with loyalty programs or offer their own rewards. This could mean earning frequent flyer miles, unlocking member-only pricing, or collecting credits for future travel.
• Booking Confidence: Sites that offer reliable price tracking, low-price guarantees, or strong customer support provide extra peace of mind. If your plans change, a platform with flexible cancellation or change policies can save you both stress and money.

Choosing the right platform depends on your travel style.

Do you value the absolute lowest fare, the most flexible itinerary options, or the extra perks that come with a loyalty program? 

Knowing your priorities will help you choose the best site – and get the biggest savings – for your next trip.

The 10 Best Websites For Booking Cheap Flights

When it comes to booking flights on a budget, choosing the right website can save you more than just money. It can also save time, reduce stress, and unlock added perks like free seat upgrades or flexible cancellations. 

Each booking site has its own strengths, so the key is knowing which one works best for your travel needs.

From powerful metasearch engines to feature-packed OTAs, this list will help you find the right tool to score your next hotel deal. 

1. Google Flights

Google Flights is one of the most powerful flight search tools available, known for its speed, clean interface, and flexible search options. 

It is a metasearch engine, which means you do not book directly through Google. Instead, it scans hundreds of airlines and OTAs, then sends you to the airline or third-party site to complete the purchase.

One of its biggest strengths is the visual price graph and date grid, which allow you to compare fares across a range of dates at a glance. You can also explore destinations worldwide using the “Explore” map feature, making it perfect for travelers who are flexible on where and when they fly. 

Google Flights offers a price tracking tool that will email you when fares rise or fall for a saved route, helping you book at the right time.

In select cases, flights booked through Google Flights now include a price guarantee – if the fare drops after you buy, Google will refund the difference (up to $500 per year).

Pros:

• Fast, intuitive search with powerful filters
• Price graph and date grid for flexible date comparisons
• Price tracking alerts sent via email
• Price guarantee available on select U.S. departures

Cons:

• No direct booking; you complete the purchase with the airline or OTA
• Can feel overwhelming for first-time users due to many features

Best For:

• Travelers who want a fast, data-rich search tool with excellent flexibility, especially when comparing multiple travel dates or destinations.

2. Kayak

Kayak is a popular metasearch engine that pulls flight prices from hundreds of sources, including airlines, OTAs, and discount travel sites. 

You will not book directly on Kayak in most cases – instead, it sends you to the provider offering the fare. This makes it one of the fastest ways to compare a wide range of options in one search.

A standout feature is its ability to combine two one-way tickets – sometimes on different airlines – into a single itinerary, often called “Hacker Fares.” This can lead to significant savings compared to booking a traditional round-trip ticket. 

Kayak also offers PriceCheck, a tool that lets you upload a screenshot of a flight deal and have Kayak compare it to hundreds of other listings to ensure you are getting the lowest rate.

In addition, the “Ask Kayak” AI tool can help you refine your search by answering natural language questions about routes, timing, and pricing trends. 

Price alerts, flexible date searches, and extensive filtering make it a strong choice for travelers willing to shop around before committing.

Pros:

• Searches hundreds of airlines and OTAs in one place
• “Hacker Fares” combine one-way tickets for potential savings
• PriceCheck feature validates deals found elsewhere
• AI-powered trip planning via “Ask Kayak”
• Price alerts and flexible date search options

Cons:

• Most valuable for travelers with flexibility; less helpful for fixed dates
• Booking is completed on a third-party site, not within Kayak

Best For:

• Travelers who want to cast a wide net when comparing fares, and those who are flexible enough to take advantage of hacker fares or shifting travel dates.

3. Momondo

Momondo is a visually engaging metasearch engine that excels at showing you how flight prices change over time. 

Its clean interface and colorful price graph make it easy to spot cheaper travel days at a glance. Like Kayak, it searches a broad range of airlines, OTAs, and discount sites, then sends you to the provider to complete your booking.

One of the unique Momondo features is its “Mix & Match” fares (formerly called “Hacker Fares”), which combine one-way tickets from different airlines to find the lowest overall price. Unlike Kayak, however, you will need to book each ticket separately on the respective airline or OTA site, which can be slightly less convenient.

The platform also offers robust filtering, price alerts, and a calendar view for flexible travelers. It is particularly useful if you like seeing price trends laid out clearly before committing to specific dates.

Pros:

• Colorful, visual price tracking tools for flexible date planning
• “Mix & Match” fares can uncover big savings
• Broad search across airlines and OTAs
• Price alerts help track fare changes over time

Cons:

• “Mix & Match” fares require booking each leg separately
• No direct booking or loyalty rewards

Best For:

• Travelers who want a visually intuitive way to compare prices over time and are comfortable booking separate tickets to secure the lowest total fare.

4. Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a flexible and user-friendly metasearch engine that searches thousands of airlines, OTAs, and booking sites to find competitive fares. 

You do not book directly through Skyscanner – instead, it redirects you to the airline or third-party site offering the deal.

Its standout feature is the “Explore Everywhere” search option, which lets you enter your departure airport and see the cheapest destinations for your chosen dates. This is ideal for spontaneous travelers or those willing to let price dictate their next trip. 

Skyscanner also offers multi-city search, price alerts, and the ability to change your preferred currency or language with ease, making it a strong choice for international travel planning.

While it does not have a loyalty program or booking perks, its broad search coverage and flexibility make it a go-to starting point for finding affordable routes worldwide.

Pros:

• “Explore Everywhere” feature for finding the cheapest destinations
• Multi-city search for complex itineraries
• Price alerts for tracking fares over time
• Easy currency and language changes for global users

Cons:

• No direct booking or loyalty rewards
• Limited added value beyond price comparison

Best For:

• Travelers who are flexible on destination or dates and want a broad, global search tool to uncover the cheapest possible routes.

5. Priceline

Priceline is a well-established online travel agency (OTA) that offers competitive airfare along with hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages. 

Its most notable feature for flights is “Express Deals,” which can offer lower fares by keeping certain details – such as exact departure time or airline – hidden until after purchase. This can lead to substantial savings if you have flexibility.

The platform also features a color-coded calendar that highlights the cheapest travel days, making it easier to adjust your dates for a better price. 

Search results are easy to navigate, with clear labels for nonstop flights, change fees, and early departure options.

In addition to its regular listings, Priceline offers a Price Match Guarantee and free cancellation within 24 hours of booking (excluding “Express Deals”). 

While it does not have its own loyalty program, the deep discounts available through Express Deals make it a favorite for travelers who prioritize price over airline preference.

Pros:

• “Express Deals” can offer significant discounts
• Color-coded calendar to easily spot cheaper dates
• Clear, organized search results with helpful labels
• Price Match Guarantee and 24-hour free cancellation on most bookings

Cons:

• No loyalty program for repeat users
• Limited flexibility with “Express Deals” due to hidden details

Best For:

• Travelers willing to trade some control over flight details for the potential of getting the lowest fare, especially for last-minute or short-notice trips.

6. Expedia

Expedia is one of the most recognized online travel agencies, offering flights alongside hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. 

While its standalone flight prices are usually similar to other OTAs, its strength lies in bundling – booking your flight together with a hotel or rental car can unlock deeper overall savings.

The Expedia One Key rewards program lets you earn points on flights, which can then be used toward future bookings across Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo, and other partner brands. 

Member-only pricing and frequent promotional sales can make it worth checking, especially if you book travel often through the Expedia network.

Although you can still earn airline miles on flights booked through Expedia, you may not receive elite-qualifying miles or be eligible for upgrades, depending on the airline. 

For travelers who value convenience and rewards across multiple trip components, Expedia is a reliable choice.

Pros:

• Bundle flights with hotels or cars for bigger savings
• One Key rewards program works across multiple brands
• Member-only pricing and frequent promotions
• Ability to earn airline miles on many bookings

Cons:

• Standalone flight prices rarely beat the competition
• Limited elite mileage earning and upgrade eligibility

Best For:

• Travelers who want to book flights and other trip elements together, or those who value a single rewards program across multiple types of travel.

7. Orbitz

Orbitz is another long-standing online travel agency that offers flights, hotels, vacation packages, and more. 

What sets it apart from many OTAs is its Orbitz Rewards program, which gives you Orbucks for bookings – including flights. You earn 1% of your flight purchase back in Orbucks, or 2% when booking through the Orbitz mobile app. 

These Orbucks can be redeemed for hotel stays booked on Orbitz, making it a good option for travelers who bundle flights and hotels.

The platform also features a Low Price Guarantee: if you find a lower price for your flight on another website within 24 hours, Orbitz will refund the difference. Most flights booked through Orbitz also come with a 24-hour free cancellation policy, providing added flexibility.

While its rewards are more hotel-focused, Orbitz can still be a solid choice for travelers who want to earn something back on their flight purchases and keep all trip details in one place.

Pros:

• Earn Orbucks on flights to use toward hotels
• Mobile app offers higher earning rate on Orbucks
• Low Price Guarantee and 24-hour cancellation policy
• Easy to book flights, hotels, and packages together

Cons:

• Orbucks can only be redeemed for hotel bookings
• Occasional booking fees on flights

Best For:

• Travelers who want to earn credits toward future hotel stays when booking flights, especially those who book through the Orbitz mobile app.

8. Hopper

Hopper is a mobile-first app designed to help travelers book flights at the best possible time. 

Using historical data and machine learning, Hopper predicts when fares are likely to rise or fall and advises you to either book now or wait. According to the app, following its recommendations can save you up to 40% on airfare.

The color-coded Hopper fare calendar makes it easy to see the cheapest days to fly for your chosen route. 

You can also set up watch alerts for specific trips or even for an entire month if you are flexible with dates. The app will notify you when it detects a significant price drop.

While Hopper excels at timing your purchase, it offers fewer filtering and customization options than full-scale metasearch engines or OTAs. 

It is best suited for travelers who prioritize finding the lowest fare over complex search preferences.

Pros:

• Predictive pricing helps you buy at the right time
• Color-coded fare calendar for spotting cheap travel dates
• Price alerts for individual trips or whole months
• Simple, user-friendly mobile interface

Cons:

• No desktop version; mobile-only booking
• Limited filtering compared to larger search tools

Best For:

• Travelers who want to use data-driven predictions to time their booking for the lowest fare, and those comfortable managing bookings exclusively on a mobile device.

9. Hotwire

Hotwire is best known for its discounted hotel rates, but it also offers competitive pricing on flights, especially when bundled with other travel components. 

The greatest savings on the platform often come from package deals – booking your flight along with a hotel can result in a lower combined cost than purchasing each separately.

The interface of the site is straightforward, allowing you to sort flights by price, duration, number of stops, and departure time. 

Hotwire also has a Low Price Guarantee and a 24-hour free cancellation policy on most flights, giving travelers an extra layer of flexibility.

While standalone flight deals on Hotwire are generally similar to other OTAs, the bundling discounts make it a good choice if you are planning a multi-part trip. 

Some bookings may include a small service fee, so it is worth checking the breakdown before finalizing.

Pros:

• Strong discounts on flight + hotel packages
• Simple, easy-to-use interface
• Low Price Guarantee and 24-hour cancellation on most bookings
• Frequent sales and promotions

Cons:

• Standalone flights rarely beat other OTAs
• Possible booking fees on certain itineraries

Best For:

• Travelers looking to save by bundling flights with hotels, especially for city breaks or vacation packages.

10. Travelocity

Travelocity is a veteran online travel agency that offers flights, hotels, vacation packages, and more. 

Its flight search functions are similar to those on other major OTAs, but it stands out with a Price Match Guarantee – if you find the same itinerary cheaper elsewhere within 24 hours, Travelocity will refund the difference.

The site offers a range of filtering tools to narrow down flights by airline, duration, number of stops, and departure time. 

Most flights come with a 24-hour free cancellation policy, which is useful if you change your mind shortly after booking.

One potential drawback is that fares can change between selecting your flight and completing your purchase, so it is important to move quickly once you find a good deal. 

Travelocity may also charge booking fees on some itineraries, which can eat into your savings.

Pros:

• Price Match Guarantee on identical itineraries
• 24-hour free cancellation on most flights
• Good range of filtering options for customizing searches

Cons:

• Prices can change during the booking process
• Possible booking fees on certain flights

Best For:

• Travelers who value the reassurance of a price match guarantee and prefer booking with a familiar, established OTA.

Cheap Flights Websites To Approach With Caution

While the following platforms can sometimes surface low fares, their drawbacks may outweigh the benefits for many travelers. These sites can still be useful in certain situations, but it is important to be aware of potential fees, limitations, and customer service issues before booking.

11. CheapOair

CheapOair is an OTA that promotes low advertised fares, but the final price often ends up higher due to hefty booking fees. These fees can be as much as $35 per ticket – and in some cases, up to $200 – which can erase any initial savings.

The platform does offer a Price Match Promise, refunding the difference if you find the same flight cheaper on select OTAs within 24 hours. However, the guarantee has strict conditions and applies only to identical flights on certain competitor sites.

CheapOair also charges fees for changing or canceling tickets, even within the 24-hour window that many other OTAs offer for free. For this reason, it is best used only if you have found a fare unavailable elsewhere and you are certain your plans will not change.

Pros:

• Price Match Promise on eligible flights
• Occasionally lists routes not shown on other OTAs

Cons:

• High booking fees (up to $200)
• Change and cancellation fees apply to all tickets
• Price Match Promise is limited in scope

Best For:

• Travelers who find an exclusive route or fare not available on other sites and are confident they will not need to make changes.

12. Agoda

Agoda is a well-known OTA, particularly strong in the hotel booking space, but its flight search features are more limited. 

While the site offers a simple, multilingual interface, it lacks the advanced filters and tools found on other flight search engines.

Flight prices on Agoda are generally similar to those found elsewhere, but the platform does not offer a loyalty program or significant perks for air travel. 

For this reason, it is better suited for travelers booking hotels – especially in Asia, where Agoda’s hotel rates are highly competitive – rather than relying on it as a primary flight search tool.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface with multilingual support
• Occasionally surfaces competitive fares

Cons:

• Limited flight search filters and functionality
• No loyalty program for flights
• Less competitive for airfare than other OTAs

Best For:

• Travelers who are already booking hotels on Agoda and want to add flights for convenience rather than for finding the absolute lowest airfare.

Tips To Find The Best Flight Deals Online

Even the best booking website will not guarantee the lowest fare every time. The real secret to saving money on flights is combining smart tools with the right booking habits. These tips will help you get more value from each site and avoid common pitfalls that can cost you extra.

• Compare Across Multiple Platforms. Start with a broad search on a metasearch engine like Google Flights, Kayak, or Skyscanner to see the full price range. Then check one or two OTAs and the airline’s own website before booking.
• Be Flexible With Dates and Airports. Flying midweek, early in the morning, or late at night can often yield lower prices. Expanding your search to include nearby airports may also uncover cheaper routes.
• Track Prices Over Time. Use tools like Google Flights’ price tracking, Hopper’s predictive alerts, or Kayak’s fare watch to monitor trends. Booking at the right time can save you significantly more than searching randomly.
• Book Direct After Finding A Fare. If an OTA surfaces a good price, check the airline’s site to see if the same fare is available. Booking direct can make it easier to manage changes, upgrades, or cancellations.
• Watch For App-Only Deals and Flash Sales. Some platforms, like Hopper, Agoda, and Priceline, offer mobile-exclusive prices. Download the app and log in to unlock these extra discounts.
• Use Credit Card Portals and Cash-Back Sites. Booking through a rewards credit card travel portal, airline rewards travel portal, or cash-back site like Rakuten can add extra value, even if the base fare is the same.
• Factor In All Fees Before Booking. Some “low” fares do not include baggage, seat selection, or other extras. Always check the total trip cost – including add-ons – before committing.

With the right combination of research, flexibility, and booking strategy, you can consistently score airfare that costs less without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Bonus: Points-Only Flight Search Engines

If you collect airline miles or credit card rewards, finding award availability can be just as important as tracking cash fares. 

While some airlines make this process simple, most require you to search one program at a time – a slow and frustrating approach. That is where specialized award flight search engines come in.

These tools scan multiple frequent flyer programs at once, helping you find available seats to book with points or miles. They can save hours of research and uncover redemption opportunities you might otherwise miss.

seats.aero

Seats.aero is a fast, no-frills search engine that focuses exclusively on award availability. It scans multiple airline loyalty programs and displays results in an easy-to-read grid, with filters for specific routes, cabins, and date ranges.

Seats.aero is especially useful for finding last-minute premium cabin awards, which airlines often release close to departure. It also offers advanced features for paid subscribers, like extended search history and expanded date ranges.

Best For: 

• Points and miles collectors who value speed and efficiency when searching for award seats, especially for last-minute premium travel.

roame.travel

Roame.travel combines an intuitive interface with powerful search capabilities, making it one of the most user-friendly award flight search tools available. 

It searches across dozens of airline programs and allows you to filter by cabin class, number of stops, and even transfer partner compatibility for popular credit card rewards programs.

A standout feature is its interactive map view, which lets you visualize all possible destinations from your chosen departure city based on award availability. This makes it ideal for travelers with flexible destinations but fixed points balances.

Best For: 

• Travelers who want a visually guided way to explore award flight options and match their credit card points to available routes.

Final Thoughts

There is no single “best” website for booking cheap flights every time. 

The most effective approach is to combine a few reliable tools, compare prices across platforms, and use smart booking strategies to lock in the lowest fare for your trip.

Metasearch engines like Google Flights, Kayak, Momondo, and Skyscanner excel at showing a broad range of options quickly. 

OTAs such as Priceline, Expedia, Orbitz, Hotwire, and Travelocity can match those fares while offering package deals and occasional member perks. 

Specialized tools like Hopper help you time your purchase, and points-focused platforms like seats.aero and roame.travel make it easier to maximize loyalty rewards.

The key is knowing which site aligns with your travel style – whether you value speed, flexibility, loyalty rewards, or deep discounts. 

Start with a broad search, track prices, and be ready to book when the right deal appears.

With the right combination of resources and timing, your next trip could cost less than you think – and those savings can go straight into making the journey even more memorable.

Kevin Zanes