Priceline specializes in opaque bookings and discounted rates for budget-conscious travelers, while Expedia offers a broader inventory with transparent pricing and greater flexibility. Both remain major players in online travel, though Expedia maintains higher website traffic and market reach in 2026.
Priceline vs Expedia — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Online travel agency known for Express Deals and deep discounts on hotels, flights, and vacation packages.
Global online travel agency offering flights, hotels, cars, and vacation packages with direct booking capabilities.
Booking Model. Target Audience. Inventory Size. 2026 Website Traffic Trend. Primary Value Proposition. 2026 Travel Insights Focus. Spring 2026 Airfare Data. User Control Level
Expedia holds the competitive edge in 2026 with superior traffic metrics, transparent pricing, and expansive inventory, making it ideal for most travelers. Priceline remains valuable for budget seekers willing to accept opaque bookings, though recent traffic declines suggest shifting market preference toward transparency and control.
Priceline: -3.06% decline | Expedia: Positive sustained growth
Priceline: Opaque (limited upfront details) | Expedia: Fully transparent (complete details)
Average Domestic Roundtrip Airfare (Spring 2026)
Priceline: $340 average | Expedia: Market competitive
Priceline: Moderate selection | Expedia: Expansive/comprehensive
Priceline: Not specified | Expedia: 24,000+ global travelers
Year-over-Year Airfare Change (Spring 2026)
Priceline: -7% (favorable) | Expedia: Not specified
Priceline: Limited pre-purchase choices | Expedia: Full customization available
Priceline: Spontaneous budget seekers | Expedia: Flexible control-focused travelers
Priceline: 1.8+ million | Expedia: 2.1+ million
Priceline: 80+ million | Expedia: 100+ million
Priceline: 10 points/$1 | Expedia: 10 points/$1
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 1000+ airlines (comprehensive)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 15-35% flight+hotel bundles
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 4-12 hours average
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 6-9% projected
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: AI-enhanced pricing & recommendations
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Good - occasional hidden charges
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Carbon offset programs, sustainable stays
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 1.5+ million properties
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: ~18-25% with One Key
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Free entry (paid tiers available)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Direct inventory
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Yes (on-platform)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: General trends
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Expedia Group properties + select partners
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 5-15% additional savings on combined bookings
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Available on select mobile app bookings
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 24 hours on most bookings
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Hidden details on Express Deal flights
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Direct one-platform checkout (1-2 steps)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Advanced real-time alerts with exclusive app perks
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Preferred by 65% of fixed-plan travelers
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Expedia: 50M reviews
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Flights, Hotels, Cars, Activities, Packages
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 24/7 phone, chat, email
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Expedia: Direct pricing (0% markup)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Full integration with 500+ airlines
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 85% of bookings
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 22% of OTA bookings
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 1-2 hours (24/7 chat)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Fixed 10 points per $1
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Limited offline features
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 2,800,000+ hotels
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 150M+ downloads
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 1-2 steps (integrated)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 10% points + elite status
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 24/7 dedicated support
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 1.2+ million directly bookable
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Partner airlines + select OTA inventory
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 10% average annual return on Expedia Rewards
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: $40.2 billion (2024)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 24-hour Price Match Guarantee
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 2-8% markup over direct booking
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 10-15% savings on flight+hotel bundles
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Full native integration with bundling
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 4.6 stars (380k+ reviews)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 10% One Key points
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Flights, hotels, cars, activities, packages
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 2-3 minutes average
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 1-5x points, avg 1.5 pts/$1 (~1.2% value)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 2-3 minutes (integrated)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 50-100 partner airlines
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 4.3 stars (320K reviews, 2026)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: ~340 million reviews
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 12-15% commission
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: 10% Expedia Rewards
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Direct OTA (no external redirects)
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: Full flight booking on-platform
Priceline: N/A | Expedia: ~5.5 million properties
How to choose between Priceline and Expedia
Priceline vs Expedia — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Priceline vs Expedia. Contains 111 attribute comparisons, 3 FAQ pairs.
Priceline vs Expedia — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Priceline vs Expedia.
Are Expedia prices lower than booking direct?
It varies by property and timing. Hotels offer "best rate guarantee" for direct bookings and may add amenities (room upgrade, breakfast, late checkout) for direct guests. However, Expedia package deals (flight + hotel bundled) frequently beat direct rates by 10-20% because the pricing model is different. For standalone hotel bookings, direct is often price-competitive or better; for packages, Expedia often wins. Always compare.
Priceline Express Deals show you the hotel's star rating, neighborhood, and amenities (pool, gym, free breakfast) but not the hotel name — you must book and pay before the property is revealed. This opacity allows hotels to discount heavily without publicly advertising lower rates. Discounts are typically 20-45% below standard rates. It's ideal for travelers who know a neighborhood and aren't brand-loyal to a specific hotel chain.
Is Expedia or Priceline better for rental cars?
Priceline consistently ranks among the top for rental car prices — it aggregates from all major carriers (Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, National, Alamo) and frequently has aggressive promotional rates. Expedia is also competitive, especially when bundled with flights or hotels. For standalone rental cars, checking both plus Kayak (a Booking Holdings/Priceline sibling that searches broadly) usually surfaces the best rate.
How to Choose Between Priceline and Expedia
Booking Model: Priceline has Opaque bookings (Express Deals), while Expedia has Transparent pricing.
Target Audience: Priceline has Budget-conscious bargain seekers, while Expedia has Flexible travelers wanting transparency.
Inventory Size: Priceline has Moderate selection, while Expedia has Expansive global inventory.
2026 Website Traffic Trend: Priceline has -3.06% month-on-month decline, while Expedia has Sustained high traffic (millions of monthly visits).
Primary Value Proposition: Priceline has Deep discounts on hidden bookings, while Expedia has Full transparency and booking flexibility.
2026 Travel Insights Focus: Priceline has Spontaneity & nostalgia trends, while Expedia has Comprehensive 'Unpack' behavioral trends (24k+ travelers).
Spring 2026 Airfare Data: Priceline has Domestic roundtrip avg $340 (-7% YoY), while Expedia has Market-wide competitive pricing.
User Control Level: Priceline has Limited (hidden details pre-booking), while Expedia has Full control and visibility.
Priceline specializes in opaque bookings and discounted rates for budget-conscious travelers, while Expedia offers a broader inventory with transparent pricing and greater flexibility. Both remain major players in online travel, though Expedia maintains higher website traffic and market reach in 202