KAYAK alternatives
KAYAK users often look for alternatives due to issues with inaccurate pricing, booking reliability, and customer support. Many find the app's listed prices don't match actual booking costs, and experience difficulties with cancellations and reaching support for issues.
Why users look for alternatives to KAYAK
- Users frequently report that prices displayed on KAYAK are not accurate, with actual costs being higher when attempting to book flights, hotels, or car rentals.R1R10R16R40
- Many users experience problems with booking reliability, including links not working, reservations not being confirmed, or cancellations being processed incorrectly.R9R18R24R25
- Customer service is a significant pain point, with users reporting difficulty reaching support, being ghosted, or being unable to resolve issues like refunds or cancellations.R7R19R27R42
- The app's search and filtering capabilities are criticized for missing features, inconsistent results, and difficulty filtering out basic fares or specific providers.R3R4R12R13
The alternatives
Expedia is a comprehensive travel booking platform that users appreciate for its ability to find deals and provide reliable customer support, especially for complex international travel R52R55R64. It is seen as a good alternative to services like Airbnb for hotel bookings R58.
Better for: Expedia suits travelers who frequently book hotels and need reliable customer support, especially those traveling for work or with families R55R64. It's also suitable for users who prefer a single platform for their entire trip, including international travel R52.
Head-to-head: KAYAK vs ExpediaHotels.com focuses primarily on hotel bookings and is praised by users for its savings and ability to accommodate specific needs like wheelchair accessibility R71R73. Some users appreciate its refund process for cancellations R69.
Better for: Hotels.com is better for users who prioritize hotel bookings, seek good savings, and may have specific accommodation needs R71R73. It's also suitable for those who value a straightforward cancellation process R69.
Head-to-head: KAYAK vs Hotels.comBooking.com is valued for its user-friendly interface, transparency in pricing, and flexible cancellation policies R80R83R85R87. Users find it easy to navigate and appreciate the clarity on total costs.
Better for: Booking.com is ideal for travelers who value ease of use, transparent pricing, and the flexibility of free cancellation options R80R83R85R87. It's also good for those who need to manage hotel bookings on the go R85.
Head-to-head: KAYAK vs Booking.comHopper is highly regarded for helping users find the best deals on flights, hotels, and car rentals, often at prices cheaper than booking directly R94R96R101. It also offers features like flight watching and notifications for when to purchase tickets R102.
Better for: Hopper is best for budget-conscious travelers who want to save money on flights, hotels, and car rentals, and appreciate tools that predict price changes and advise on booking times R96R101R102. It's also useful for those who want a single app for all travel bookings R101.
Head-to-head: KAYAK vs HopperPriceline is favored for offering economical deals on travel and providing helpful agents R111R113R119. Users appreciate its app for additional discounts, ease of use, and the ability to compare options R115R119.
Better for: Priceline is suitable for travelers looking for good deals and discounts, especially those who prefer using an app for booking due to its additional savings and intuitive interface R111R113R115R119.
Head-to-head: KAYAK vs PricelineYou should stick with KAYAK if you find its interface easy to use for checking and booking flights, appreciate its ability to combine different airlines for optimal prices, and value its organizational features for managing trip reservations .
Evidence note: All alternatives had sufficient reviews to draw conclusions.
Frequently asked
Why do KAYAK prices sometimes differ from the actual booking price?
Is it difficult to get customer support with KAYAK?
Does KAYAK allow filtering of basic fares?
What reviewers actually said
Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.
- [R1] KAYAK Marketed price not accurate: Price aggregators without real prices offer no value
- [R10] KAYAK Booking: Expensive and horrible just book through the hotel
- [R16] KAYAK It’s really bad and fake price price: They are a liar
- [R40] KAYAK Price is incorrect: Tried to rent a car. The Kayak app shows incorrect price. After choosing a car, it gets you to the rental company website and the actual prices are higher. Disappointed.
- [R9] KAYAK Iinks not working: Some links do not work when one goes to purchase the tickets. It happens very often.
- [R18] KAYAK It’s not like it used to be: Bought flight tickets and didn’t get any confirmation number or anything. I am not sure if they will charge me or anything. They don’t have any phone number to call or support email.
- [R24] KAYAK Flight confirmation unclear: I’ve booked a flight but cannot find confirmation receipt. My bank account shows the charge as pending but I’m not sure how to know if I’ve truly purchased the flight. I would love to be able to talk to someone!
- [R25] KAYAK Annoying: I’ve experienced multiple instances where my flight reservation was canceled after booking due to a reported fare change. This has been frustrating and has made the booking process feel unreliable. If the advertised fare is not actually available, it should not be displayed as the booking price.
- [R7] KAYAK Refund: They’ve took 36 dollars out my account. No one is answering the phone. How am I supposed to speak with someone when there’s an issue. It told me free cancellation but still put a hold on my money. Terrible service!
- [R19] KAYAK Trips: I am having an issue with forwarding trips and the customer support is ghosting me. Terrible service. I have been using the app since it’s beginning and I’m very disappointed.
- [R27] KAYAK Try and add personal help I can get assistance: How do I get assistance o this app? I’m trying to book a trip!
- [R42] KAYAK Can’t cancel or handle negotiations: Tried to cancel, was unable to negotiate with anyone. Hotel said the broker needed to handle, broker said hotel was unreachable. I called the front desk and they said they couldn’t be called. Agent said they tried multiple times but couldn’t get through. Book directly or else you will be totally screwed if anything comes up. It isn’t worth saving a couple bucks
- [R3] KAYAK Worse than the website different results: Missing features and doing the same search on the website gives better results
- [R4] KAYAK Kayak can’t filter basic fares: App is pointless if it is always showing basic fare tickets. Why did Kayak remove the option to filter out Basic fares? Is this some sort of deal with the airlines to deceive people into thinking flights are cheaper than they are?
- [R12] KAYAK Saving Flight Issues: Trying to save flights in trips is difficult. It tried to put them in categories you don’t want and it changes the flights once you save them so you have to go through the search menu and search them again to get the correct flight. Overall a good app but having a coherent experience makes a huge difference. They also need better search options like being able to view the pri
- [R13] KAYAK Change location: Request location change: I have tried to change the perimeter of my search; nothing works please help.
- [R52] Expedia Half way around the world: I traveled to small islands throughout Thailand by myself and basically used Expedia for the entire life. Plus a little help from ChatGPT.
- [R55] Expedia Service and Savings: I’m an Entertainer and when I travel(which is often) I can always find the best deals and reliable customer support on Expedia!
- [R58] Expedia Great: The experience I have had with expida is awesome I have had horrible experiences with air band b so it’s nice to have expida.
- [R64] Expedia We LOVE Expedia: I have no idea how long I’ve been using Expedia but it’s been a while. My husband travels for work and we have five children the youngest of whom graduated from college in the last few years and we have begun traveling. We use Expedia almost exclusively. We do shop other sites, but we always come back to Expedia. It has taken us to some of the best hotels in Washington DC and surr
- [R69] Hotels.com Cancel reservation: I want to thank you for refunding my reservation.. due to the circumstances my son was not able to make it.. we appreciate it so much 😀 that’s why we always booked with you..
- [R71] Hotels.com Saving: Savings is amazing
- [R73] Hotels.com Accessibility: It was a pleasure staying here. I am wheelchair bound and they accomadated me well.
- [R80] Booking.com Booking.com: I love reserving through this app. 100% transparent and allow you to add applicable discounts. Only thing I would suggest is adding military option
- [R83] Booking.com Booking: Love how they tell you the total and also works with you on payment and free cancellation
- [R85] Booking.com User friendly: Very easy to use on the go!
- [R87] Booking.com Cancel reservation: Super easy to find my reservation and cancel it.
- [R94] Hopper Excelente: La mejor aplicación para encontrar hospedajes a los mejores precios !
- [R96] Hopper Excellent resource: My flight was cheaper through Hopper than direct from the airline. I also received a a refund for the flight due to a flight interruption that caused a long delay at the airport. Hopper actually notified me that they were aware of the delay and offered me a refund. I didn’t have to do anything but agree to accept the refund.
- [R101] Hopper Travel buddys best friend: Hopper has been my go to when booking flights, hotels, and car rentals. I always feel like I’m getting the best deal, and customer support is also helpful if any issues arise. Absolutely recommend!
- [R102] Hopper So helpful!: This app is very helpful when trying to plan a trip. I love how it will watch flights for you and tell you when to purchase tickets
- [R111] Priceline Helpful: Priceline is economical and agents are super helpful!
- [R113] Priceline MSGT: Best deals of all businesses that offer travel and related discounts!
- [R115] Priceline Great App Great Service: Intuitive and great app and service. If you book with Priceline use the app, the additional discounts and ease of use makes this perfect. And if you need help it’s all in here
- [R119] Priceline The Priceline is the rightline: Priceline never fails me whenever I need a good deal. I love the app and the ability to compare all my options. Added bonus of repeat discounts and rewards. The prices are updated constantly consistent with availability. I recommend traveling right with Priceline in your hand.
- [R22] KAYAK App doesn’t work: Tried to book 4 different listing but keep getting baited and switched for higher cost listing
Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store