How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Expedia and Hotels.com share the One Key rewards program, so stays on either app count toward the same rewards balance.
- Kayak and Trivago do not sell rooms themselves; they compare prices across booking sites, which makes them the best first check before you book anywhere.
- Priceline's Express Deals hide the hotel name until after payment in exchange for a lower price, which suits flexible travelers and frustrates picky ones.
- Agoda is strongest for Asia-Pacific stays, while Trip.com adds value for travelers booking Asia trips with flights and hotels together.
- Every app here is free to download and use; you pay the hotel rate, not the app, so the real cost differences come from taxes, fees, and cancellation rules.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Expedia | Bundling flights and hotels | Free | Yes |
 Hotels.com | Rewards on every stay | Free | Yes |
 Kayak | Comparing prices across sites | Free | Yes |
 Agoda | Asia-Pacific hotel deals | Free | Yes |
 Priceline | Hidden-name Express Deals | Free | Yes |
 Trivago | Side-by-side hotel price comparison | Free | Yes |
 Trip.com | Asia trips with flights and hotels | Free | Yes |
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The best hotel apps
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Expedia is the broadest booking app for US travelers, covering hotels, flights, cars, cruises, and vacation rentals in one account. Bundling a flight and hotel together often beats booking each separately, and the app shows a clear total before payment on most listings. The One Key program earns rewards across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, so a family that books a beach rental one trip and a city hotel the next still builds one balance.
The honest catch is price presentation. Taxes and fees are shown before checkout on most US listings, but resort fees at some properties only appear in the fine print, so compare the final total, not the nightly headline. Support is 24/7, but wait times spike during storms and holiday disruptions. For travelers who want one app for the whole trip, Expedia is the safest default.
What we like- One Key rewards shared with Hotels.com
- Flight plus hotel bundles
- Wide property range
Watch out for- Prices can vary by device and dates
- Customer service waits can be long at peak times
- Resort fees appear late in some listings
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Hotels.com keeps the focus narrow: find a hotel, book it, earn rewards. The One Key program gives members a reward after qualifying stays, and the app makes it easy to filter for free cancellation, breakfast included, and pay-at-property options. That clarity helps when plans might change, since the cancellation deadline is shown on the property page before booking.
Hotels.com shares inventory and rewards with Expedia, so prices are usually close between the two. The difference is the experience: fewer trip types, less clutter, and a faster path from search to booking. Check the rewards terms before counting on a balance from an old trip, since expiry rules differ by program. For hotel-only trips, it is the cleaner of the two sister apps.
What we like- One Key rewards on stays
- Free cancellation on many properties
- Simple search and filters
Watch out for- Smaller bundle options than Expedia
- Some independent hotels missing
- Rewards expire if the account goes quiet
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Kayak is a search engine, not a seller. One search scans booking sites, hotel chains, and travel agencies, then ranks the same room by total price. Price alerts notify you when a tracked hotel drops, and the Trips feature builds an itinerary from forwarded confirmation emails, including flights and car rentals booked elsewhere.
That model has a trade-off. Kayak does not control the booking, so if something goes wrong, you deal with the site you booked through, not Kayak. Prices can also shift in the seconds between Kayak and the partner checkout. Use Kayak first to find the cheapest seller, then book directly with that seller, and check whether the hotel's own site matches the price before paying a middleman.
What we like- Searches hundreds of sites at once
- Price alerts and fare forecasts
- Trips tool organizes bookings
Watch out for- You still book with a third party
- Prices can change between Kayak and checkout
- No loyalty program of its own
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Agoda, part of the same group as Booking.com and Priceline, is strongest where other US apps are thin: Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Small guesthouses, hostels, and local chains appear here that never list on US-focused apps, and app-only prices undercut the website on many properties. Pay-at-property options are common, which helps travelers who prefer to pay in local currency on arrival.
For US domestic trips, Agoda is less compelling, and support hours and phone options are weaker for US travelers. Some listings display a pre-tax price first, so always open the price breakdown before booking. For an Asia trip, Agoda deserves a search alongside Kayak. For a weekend in Chicago, it is optional.
What we like- Deep Asia-Pacific inventory
- Frequent app-only deals
- Pay-at-property and pay-now options
Watch out for- US customer support is thinner than rivals
- Some listings show prices before local taxes
- Cancellation terms vary by property
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Priceline's signature feature is the Express Deal: pick a neighborhood, star level, and guest rating, pay a lower price, and learn the hotel name only after booking. Discounts of 20 to 40 percent are common, and Priceline now shows hotel prices with fees included, which makes comparison fairer. Standard bookings with named hotels and free cancellation are also available.
Express Deals suit travelers who care about area and quality, not the exact brand. They do not suit anyone with loyalty preferences, accessibility needs tied to a specific property, or plans that might change, since these deals are usually non-refundable. Priceline also runs a credit card that earns points on bookings, but the card is optional and not needed for the deals. Use Express Deals for flexible trips, and named bookings for everything else.
What we like- Express Deals can cut 20 to 40 percent
- Hotel prices shown with fees included
- 24/7 support
Watch out for- Express Deal hotel name is hidden until payment
- Those deals are usually non-refundable
- Fewer boutique properties than rivals
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Trivago compares hotel prices across booking sites and shows the same room from each seller side by side, often with a note on how far below the average a deal sits. Price alerts flag drops on hotels you watch, and the app includes a large library of destination guides and deal roundups. The interface is simpler than Kayak, which some travelers prefer for a quick check.
Like Kayak, Trivago never takes your booking, so support and changes go through the seller you chose. On fast-selling rooms, the compared price can be gone by checkout, so treat Trivago as a starting point, not a guarantee. For a traveler who already knows the hotel they want, Trivago answers the only question that matters: who sells this room cheapest right now.
What we like- Compares the same room across many sellers
- Price history and deal alerts
- Simple interface
Watch out for- Does not book or handle support
- Prices can be stale on fast-moving inventory
- Limited filters versus Kayak
#7
Trip.com
Best for: Asia trips with flights and hotels
Visit trip.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Trip.com is one of the world's largest travel agencies, and its strength is Asia: hotels, flights, trains, and attractions in China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and beyond, often with local payment options and Chinese-language support for properties there. Trip Coins earned on bookings can discount future trips, and support runs around the clock in many languages.
For US domestic travel, Trip.com is a backup rather than a first choice, since coverage and promotions trail Expedia and Hotels.com. Prices sometimes display in a foreign currency before switching to dollars, so confirm the currency at checkout. For a trip that mixes Asia flights and hotels, Trip.com can beat the US apps on both price and inventory, and it is worth a search before booking.
What we like- Strong Asia inventory and flight coverage
- Trip Coins rewards
- 24/7 multilingual support
Watch out for- US hotel coverage is thinner than Expedia
- Some prices display in other currencies first
- Fewer US-specific promotions
How we chose
We compared app store listings, vendor homepages, help pages, and public reviews, and opened each vendor homepage to confirm the product still exists and matches its description. We favored apps with broad hotel inventory, clear total pricing, usable cancellation filters, and a real rewards or price-alert feature. All seven apps are free to download and use, so this comparison focuses on what you pay for the room, how easy changes are, and where each app wins, rather than on subscription prices.
How to get the lowest price without getting burned
Hotel apps compete on the same rooms, so a few habits matter more than which app you open first.
Compare the final total, not the nightly rate
Taxes, resort fees, and service charges can add 20 to 40 percent to a headline nightly rate. Open the price breakdown on every app before choosing, and check whether the total includes all fees. Priceline shows fees in the displayed price, while some rivals surface resort fees later in the flow.
Check the hotel's own site before booking through an app
Chains often match or beat app prices for members, and direct bookings usually include better change terms and loyalty points. If the app is cheaper, book the app. If the hotel site matches, book direct for the easier cancellation path.
Use comparison apps first, booking apps second
Kayak and Trivago find the cheapest seller in seconds. Once you know who is cheapest, book with that seller or check the hotel direct. That two-step habit beats loyalty to any single app.
Read the cancellation deadline, not just the word "free"
Free cancellation usually ends days before check-in, and the deadline varies by property and rate. Screenshot or save the cancellation terms at booking time, and set a reminder a day before the deadline in case plans change.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one best hotel app for everyone?
No. Expedia is the best all-rounder for US travelers, Kayak and Trivago are the best price checkers, Hotels.com is the simplest rewards play, and Agoda or Trip.com win for Asia trips. Most frequent travelers keep one booking app and one comparison app on their phone.
Are hotel booking apps free to use?
Yes. Downloading and searching is free on every app here, and you pay the hotel rate plus taxes and fees, not the app. Some apps sell optional extras, such as insurance or lounge access, but the core booking function costs nothing.
Do I earn hotel loyalty points when I book through an app?
Usually not, or only at a reduced rate. Most chains award full points and member benefits only on direct bookings. If loyalty status matters to you, compare the app price against the chain's own site before booking.
What is the difference between Kayak and Trivago?
Both compare prices across sellers instead of selling rooms. Kayak covers flights, cars, and hotels with deeper filters and a trip organizer. Trivago focuses only on hotels with a simpler interface and deal alerts. Use either as a first check, then book with the cheapest seller.
Are Express Deals on Priceline worth it?
They are worth it when you care about neighborhood and quality, not the exact hotel, and your plans are firm. Discounts of 20 to 40 percent are common. They are a poor fit when you need a specific brand, have accessibility needs tied to one property, or might cancel.
Why do hotel prices change between search and checkout?
Rooms sell in real time, and comparison apps cache prices for seconds or minutes. Taxes, fees, and currency conversion also update at checkout. If a price jumps, re-run the search and check the hotel's own site before paying.
Sources we checked (7)
- https://www.expedia.com/
- https://www.hotels.com/
- https://www.kayak.com/
- https://www.agoda.com/
- https://www.priceline.com/
- https://www.trivago.com/
- https://www.trip.com/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.