The 10 Best Flight Search Engines

Finding cheap flights has never been easier with the plethora of options available today. However, the sheer number of flight search engines out there can be overwhelming, leaving you unsure of which one to choose. 

We’ve done the legwork to analyze each option, creating a handy guide to help you decide when to use each one. Comparing prices across different platforms is essential and could potentially save you hundreds of dollars. 

Our thorough evaluation includes the top 10 flight search engines that can provide you with the best price for your trip. 

1. Kayak

While many people think of Kayak as just another online travel agency (OTA), it’s actually a metasearch engine. This means you can’t book tickets directly through Kayak. Instead, it redirects you to airline sites or other booking platforms. 

Kayak comes with handy features like Fee Assistant, which helps you figure out baggage fees, and Hacker Fares. These let you compare one-way fares across different airlines, often leading to cheaper options than booking a round-trip ticket with just one airline. So, if you’re looking for a user-friendly platform with some extra perks, Kayak might just be your best bet.

2. Skiplagged

Skiplagged is one of the best flight search engines thanks to its unique approach to finding cheap flights. It leverages a loophole in traditional ticketing by uncovering hidden-city tickets, where flights from City A to City C with a layover in City B can be cheaper than direct flights. 

Plus, Skiplagged’s interface simplifies the process, marking hidden-city tickets for easy identification. It’s perfect for budget travelers, especially since it’s focused on economy bookings. This means that Skiplagged does not provide options for cheap business or first-class tickets.

3. Momondo

Momondo is a great flight search engine, very much similar to Kayak but with some unique perks. While it lacks Fee Assistant, it compensates with features like automatically displaying flight prices for days surrounding your intended travel dates. This can potentially save you a lot of money.

Additionally, Momondo provides valuable flight insights, revealing the cheapest month, day of the week, and time to travel between your chosen destinations. Its user-friendly design further enhances the experience. With services akin to Kayak’s, including Hacker Fares, Momondo stands out for its intuitive interface and insightful tools, making it a top choice for savvy travelers seeking the best deals.

4. Hopper 

Hopper is an extremely useful flight search engine, particularly for mobile users seeking great deals. Its standout feature is its ability to predict flight prices up to a year in advance with up to 95% accuracy. Simply input your itinerary, and Hopper will advise the optimal time to book, potentially saving you up to 40% on flights. 

It continuously monitors prices, even when you’re not actively using the app. While it may not be 100% reliable and isn’t suitable for last-minute bookings, Hopper excels for travelers with flexible schedules, offering a convenient mobile platform for tracking and booking flights securely.

5. Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a standout flight metasearch engine with several notable strengths. Firstly, its “cheapest month” feature helps you pick the most budget-friendly time to visit a destination based on airfare trends. 

Secondly, it includes smaller Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), potentially offering even cheaper prices than larger ones (though booking through OTAs carries risks). Plus, it excels at finding the lowest prices for last-minute flights. With these user-friendly features tailored for budget-conscious travelers, Skyscanner remains a top choice for snagging affordable airfare deals.

6. Orbitz

Orbitz isn’t just about cheap flights anymore; it’s evolved into a comprehensive online travel deals aggregator, covering lodging, rental cars, and vacation packages. What sets it apart is its origin: founded by major airlines like American, Delta, and United, it was a response to rising online travel agencies. 

Though now owned by Expedia, Orbitz maintains its unique features. It offers a seamless booking experience for flights, hotels, and more, with perks like Orbitz Rewards, mobile-exclusive deals, and real-time travel updates via its app. With easy access to trip details and the convenience of online transactions, Orbitz remains a top choice for hassle-free travel planning.

7. Google Flights

Google Flights earns its spot as a top-notch metasearch engine thanks to its user-friendly interface and consistent ability to find competitively priced tickets across various routes. One of its standout features is the convenience of searching for flights across multiple airports in a single query, offering travelers greater flexibility. 

Powered by Google’s technology, it delivers lightning-fast load times and intuitive interfaces on both desktop and mobile platforms. With customizable filters, tracking options, and the ability to search for multi-city flights, Google Flights empowers users to find the best deals tailored to their preferences. Its integration of mixed-airline itineraries further enhances its utility, making it a go-to choice for comprehensive flight research.

8. Agoda

Agoda stands out as a reliable flight search engine, offering a user-friendly platform for quick travel bookings. Alongside flights, users can easily explore and book hotels, vacation homes, monthly homestays, and airport transfers, all in one convenient place. 

As part of the same parent company as Priceline, Kayak, and Booking.com, Agoda ensures peace of mind with its legitimacy. Its integration with Agoda Homes, boasting over 2 million properties worldwide, enhances the experience, especially for those seeking combined flight and vacation rental stays. 

While Agoda often presents enticingly cheap flight deals, it’s important to note that some flights may involve longer layovers, requiring travelers to weigh savings against convenience.

9. CheapOair

CheapOair earns its reputation as a go-to flight search engine for budget-conscious travelers. With a vast network of airline partnerships, it provides access to diverse flight options at competitive prices. Its user-friendly interface allows for easy comparison of prices and convenient filtering options by criteria such as airline and dates. 

Beyond flights, CheapOair offers a comprehensive booking experience, including hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages, all in one place. This streamlines trip planning and budget management for users. 

However, it’s important to note that while CheapOair offers impressive prices, some bookings may entail service fees. Even so, it remains a reliable choice for affordable travel arrangements.

10. Travelocity

Travelocity is one of the best flight search engines for travelers looking to plan their entire vacation in one place. It offers a wide range of options, including flights, hotels, rental cars, and even cruises. With its Price Match Guarantee, you can trust that you’re getting the best deal, as Travelocity will match prices found on other platforms and refund the difference. 

The user-friendly interface allows for easy searching and filtering of flights based on your preferences, such as airlines, travel dates, and price. Detailed flight information ensures you’re well-informed before booking. Plus, with the built-in price alert system and customizable travel packages, Travelocity makes vacation planning a breeze.