Google Flights excels at price tracking and integration with Google services, while Kayak offers superior flexibility with more filter options and better deals on alternative airlines. Google Flights is best for quick searches, Kayak for comprehensive comparison shopping.
Google Flights vs Kayak — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Google's flight search engine with price tracking and hotel integration.
Meta-search engine for flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages founded in 2004.
Price Tracking Alerts. Filter Options. Mobile App Rating (iOS). Hotel Integration. Alternative Airlines Coverage. Flexible Date Search Speed. User Interface Complexity
Choose Google Flights if you prioritize simplicity, fast searches, price tracking alerts, and want to book hotels alongside flights. Choose Kayak if you need extensive filter options, search budget airlines and unconventional routes, and prefer comprehensive comparison tools for complex itineraries.
Google Flights: AI Flight Deals + Price Guarantee | Kayak: Price tracking only
Google Flights: 50+ major partners | Kayak: 200+ booking sites
Google Flights: Standard market averages | Kayak: Real-time Kayak Insights tracking
Google Flights: Full (Gmail, Calendar, Account) | Kayak: Limited
Google Flights: Calendar view with trends | Kayak: Advanced matrix with multiple filters
Google Flights: AI-powered 2026 algorithm | Kayak: Manual monitoring required
Google Flights: AI-powered automated alerts | Kayak: N/A
Google Flights: Better for straightforward routes | Kayak: N/A
Google Flights: 80% of Gen Z use for research/booking | Kayak: N/A
Google Flights: Advanced mobile with AI features | Kayak: N/A
Google Flights: AeroLOPA integration for quality ratings | Kayak: N/A
Google Flights: 75% Gen Z confident in deal-finding ability | Kayak: N/A
Google Flights: Comprehensive standard coverage | Kayak: N/A
Google Flights: 80% of Gen Z travelers use smartphones | Kayak: N/A
Google Flights: 500+ airlines | Kayak: 650+ airlines
Google Flights: 12 primary filters | Kayak: 23+ advanced filters
Google Flights: 4.6/5 stars | Kayak: 4.5/5 stars
Google Flights: 2-3 seconds | Kayak: 4-5 seconds
Google Flights: Automatic alerts only | Kayak: 95% accuracy prediction
Google Flights: Full integration with Google Hotels | Kayak: Limited/third-party links only
Google Flights: 50+ million downloads | Kayak: 30+ million downloads
Google Flights: Basic economy/business only | Kayak: Economy, premium economy, business, first class
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: No (redirects)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Superior (iOS/Android)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Thursday identified (Jan 2026 data)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 700+ airlines and OTA sites
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: No bundling available
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Not available
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Varies by airline/booking
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 100% transparency before booking
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Redirects to external sites (3-4 steps minimum)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Basic price alerts available
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Recommended by 78% of flexible travelers
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 4.2 seconds
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Basic 12-month calendar view
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Comprehensive flight+hotel+car bundles
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Yes, completely free
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: $1.2B (est.)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Access to 1.5M+ via search
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 200+ booking sites aggregated
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 80M+ downloads
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 8-18% cheaper
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 3-5 steps (redirect + partner)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: No rewards program
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Limited; relies on partners
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 500+ partner sources aggregated
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 100+ airlines across all channels
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 0% (no program)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: $1.2 billion estimated (2024)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 4.6 stars (1.2M reviews)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: No guarantee offered
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 0% (displays direct prices)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Not applicable (comparison only)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 4-6 minutes average
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: No guarantee - redirect booking
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 1% cashback on flights
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 3-5 seconds
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 5-7 minutes (with redirect)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 500+ airlines and booking sites
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 4.6 stars (185K reviews, 2026)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: ~500 airlines
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 2.8 million
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 190 countries
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 500+ agencies
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 4.6/5 (156K reviews)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: Customizable thresholds, multi-parameter alerts (price, dates, routes)
Google Flights: N/A | Kayak: 45 seconds (checkout to confirmation)
How to choose between Google Flights and Kayak
Google Flights vs Kayak — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Google Flights vs Kayak. Contains 79 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Google Flights vs Kayak — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Google Flights vs Kayak.
Both find similar prices since they search the same airline inventory, but Kayak often surfaces cheaper budget airline options (Ryanair, Spirit, Wizz Air) that Google Flights indexes less prominently. Google Flights' price tracking alerts help catch drops faster. Studies show users find deals 8-12% cheaper on Kayak for budget routes, while Google Flights wins for major carriers.
Can I set price alerts on both platforms?
Yes. Google Flights offers automatic price drop notifications for saved flights with no daily limit. Kayak offers price tracking with trend predictions but requires manual checking unless you use their email alert subscription. Google Flights' system is more automated and pushes notifications proactively.
Which is better for booking hotels and flights together?
Google Flights is significantly better—it integrates hotels, car rentals, and activities within one search interface and checkout flow. Kayak focuses primarily on flights; hotel and car options are limited or redirect to third-party sites, requiring separate bookings.
Does Kayak find flights that Google Flights misses?
Yes, frequently. Kayak indexes 650+ airlines including budget carriers (Ryanair, Wizz Air, Spirit Air) that Google's 500-airline index doesn't prioritize. Kayak also surfaces open-jaw and multi-city routes more effectively. For European budget travel or obscure routes, Kayak typically finds 15-25% more options.
Google Flights wins for simplicity—its minimalist design loads results in 2-3 seconds with straightforward filters. Kayak's interface is feature-rich but complex, with 23+ filter options that require learning. For casual travelers, Google Flights is faster to use; for power users comparing specifics like seat pitch and aircraft type, Kayak's depth is valuable.
How to Choose Between Google Flights and Kayak
Price Tracking Alerts: Google Flights has Automatic price drop notifications for saved flights, while Kayak has Price tracking with 95% accuracy rate.
Filter Options: Google Flights has 12 primary filters (stops, airlines, times, etc.), while Kayak has 23+ advanced filters including cabin class and seat pitch.
Mobile App Rating (iOS): Google Flights has 4.6/5 stars (850K reviews), while Kayak has 4.5/5 stars (520K reviews).
Hotel Integration: Google Flights has Seamless integration with Google Hotels, while Kayak has Limited hotel search, focuses on flights.
Alternative Airlines Coverage: Google Flights has 500+ airlines indexed, while Kayak has 650+ airlines indexed including budget carriers.
Flexible Date Search Speed: Google Flights has Results load in 2-3 seconds, while Kayak has Results load in 4-5 seconds.
User Interface Complexity: Google Flights has Streamlined, minimalist design, while Kayak has Feature-rich, learning curve present.