Best Tools to Find Cheap Flights: A Complete Guide to Saving on Airfare
Finding the cheapest flights doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With so many powerful flight search engines and comparison tools available today, you can easily discover the best deals with just a few clicks. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the best tools for finding cheap flights, including comprehensive reviews of popular services like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Hopper. These tools are essential for travelers who want to save money and time, whether you’re booking a last-minute trip or planning months in advance.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them.
Google Flights: The Most Powerful Tool for Flight Comparison
When it comes to finding cheap flights, Google Flights is one of the most powerful and intuitive tools available. It offers several features that make it stand out from other flight search engines.
Key Features:
- Flexible Date Search: Google Flights allows you to explore prices across a range of dates. You can see prices for flights departing on different days, making it easier to spot when fares are lowest.
- Explore Destinations: Not sure where you want to go? Use the Explore Map to find the cheapest flights from your home airport to destinations around the world. You can filter by price, duration, or even interests like beach vacations or city breaks.
- Price Alerts: Set up price tracking for specific flights, and Google will notify you when fares drop, helping you grab the lowest price.
Why It’s the Best Tool:
Google Flights provides a quick and clear comparison of flight options from different airlines, and its fare tracking feature ensures you never miss out on a deal. Plus, its simple and clean interface makes searching for flights incredibly user-friendly.
Pro Tip: Use the flexible date search to plan trips around the cheapest available dates and check multiple destinations to get the best deals.
Skyscanner: Ideal for Budget Travelers
Another top player in the world of flight comparison tools is Skyscanner. With a global reach, Skyscanner excels at finding budget-friendly flights, especially if you’re flexible with your travel plans.
Key Features:
- Whole Month Search: Skyscanner’s whole month view lets you quickly see which days of the month offer the lowest fares. This feature is particularly useful for budget travelers who have flexible schedules.
- Multi-City Search: Plan multiple stops on your journey and find the cheapest flights for each leg of your trip with the multi-city search tool.
- Budget Airline Integration: Skyscanner includes budget airlines that might not be listed on other search engines, making it perfect for finding those rock-bottom prices.
- Everywhere Search: If you’re open to flying anywhere, the Everywhere Search feature will show you the cheapest flights to destinations around the world from your departure city.
Why It’s a Must-Use Tool:
Skyscanner is particularly valuable for those looking for the absolute cheapest flight without being too picky about specific destinations or dates. The ability to search “everywhere” and use the whole month view makes it ideal for spontaneous travelers and those on a budget.
Pro Tip: Use the Everywhere Search when you’re flexible on where you want to travel, and let Skyscanner show you the most affordable options across multiple destinations.
Hopper: Predict and Book the Cheapest Flight
Hopper is a mobile app that focuses on predicting future flight prices. It’s designed to help travelers figure out when to book their flights for the lowest possible price, by analyzing billions of airfare prices daily.
Key Features:
- Price Prediction: Hopper predicts whether flight prices will go up or down in the future and gives you advice on whether you should book now or wait.
- Price Drop Alerts: Just like other tools, Hopper sends notifications when prices drop, but it also predicts whether they will rise soon, giving you time to plan your booking.
- User-Friendly App: With its sleek, app-based platform, Hopper provides a more modern and mobile-friendly experience. You can book directly from the app, making it extremely convenient for users on the go.
Why It’s a Great Tool:
The ability to predict future prices gives Hopper an edge over other flight search engines, especially if you’re willing to wait for the right price. It’s also great for mobile users who prefer an app over a website.
Pro Tip: If you’re planning a trip well in advance, let Hopper track prices and notify you of the best time to book, based on its powerful predictive technology.
Other Flight Comparison Tools
While Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Hopper are some of the best tools, there are other flight search engines worth considering, especially if you want to compare all your options:
Momondo
- Momondo excels at finding hidden fare combinations and provides a colorful, easy-to-read graph showing how prices fluctuate over time.
Kayak
- Kayak offers a similar service to Google Flights but also includes features like trip bundling and filtering options for flights with specific airlines.
Expedia and Priceline
- These sites not only compare flights but also offer package deals that include hotels and car rentals, which can sometimes save you even more money.
Tips for Using Flight Search Engines
Now that you’re familiar with the best tools for finding cheap flights, here are a few tips to help you make the most out of these platforms:
- Set Price Alerts: Most of the tools mentioned allow you to set up price alerts for your preferred routes. Take advantage of this feature, as it will notify you when fares drop.
- Use Flexible Date Searches: If you’re not tied to a specific departure or return date, always use the flexible date feature to find the cheapest days to fly.
- Book One-Way Tickets Separately: Sometimes booking two one-way flights separately can be cheaper than a round-trip ticket. Compare both options on tools like Google Flights or Skyscanner.
- Check for Hidden Fees: Budget airlines often charge for extras like baggage, seat selection, and in-flight meals. Use tools like Skyscanner that include these airlines in their searches, but always check the final price before booking.
- Clear Browser Cookies: Flight prices can sometimes increase after repeated searches on the same website. To avoid this, clear your browser’s cookies or use incognito mode when searching for flights.
When it comes to finding the cheapest flights, using the right flight comparison tools can make all the difference. Whether you prefer the powerful simplicity of Google Flights, the flexibility of Skyscanner, or the price prediction technology of Hopper, these tools will help you save money on your next trip. For the most comprehensive search, we recommend combining multiple tools and always being flexible with your dates and destinations.
By following these tips and using these trusted platforms, you’ll be well on your way to booking the most affordable flights available.
Related Article: For more tips on how to score the best flight deals, check out our guide on How to Find the Cheapest Flights, which includes strategies for booking hacks, frequent flyer programs, and finding last-minute deals.
