Expedia vs Hotels.com
Expedia
Online travel agency offering flights, hotels, cars, and package deals with global inventory.
Travelers booking complete trips (flights + accommodations), deal-seekers using package bundles, international travelers needing one-stop booking
Hotels.com
Hotel-focused booking platform offering 500,000+ properties with 10% cashback rewards on every stay.
Frequent hotel bookers, loyalty program seekers, mobile-first users, travelers seeking simple hotel-only reservations
Short Answer
Expedia offers more bundled booking options (flights + hotels) with broader inventory across 700,000+ properties, while Hotels.com specializes in hotel-only bookings with its rewards program that provides 10% cashback on every stay. Expedia generates 50% more annual revenue ($40B vs $26B) and commands larger market share.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Expedia if you want to bundle flights, hotels, and car rentals for maximum savings and convenience with broader property selection. Choose Hotels.com if you prioritize loyalty rewards (10% cashback), faster customer support, and exclusive hotel-focused deals with a more straightforward booking experience.
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Choose Expedia if
Travelers booking complete trips (flights + accommodations), deal-seekers using package bundles, international travelers needing one-stop booking
Choose Hotels.com if
Frequent hotel bookers, loyalty program seekers, mobile-first users, travelers seeking simple hotel-only reservations
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Key Differences at a Glance
Key Facts & Figures
| Metric | Expedia | Hotels.com | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package Deal Savings(%) | 15-35% flight+hotel bundles | — | — |
| Mobile App Rating (2026)(stars) | 4.3/5 stars | — | — |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 4-12 hours average | — | — |
| 2026 Revenue Growth Forecast(%) | 6-9% projected | — | — |
| Total Properties Listed(millions) | 1.5+ million properties | — | — |
| Average Hotel Cancellation Rate(%) | ~18-25% with One Key | — | — |
| Base Loyalty Program Cost(USD) | Free entry (paid tiers available) | — | — |
| Monthly Website Visits(millions) | ~120 | — | — |
| 2026 Market Research Base(travelers surveyed) | 24,000+ global travelers | — | — |
| Price Comparison Coverage(sites indexed) | Expedia Group properties + select partners | — | — |
| Hotel-Flight Bundle Discount(% savings) | 5-15% additional savings on combined bookings | — | — |
| Free Cancellation Window(hours) | 24 hours on most bookings | — | — |
| Direct Booking Integration(checkout steps) | Direct one-platform checkout (1-2 steps) | — | — |
| User Preference for Flexible Travel(% preference) | Preferred by 65% of fixed-plan travelers | — | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | Expedia: 380M | — | — |
| Total Reviews/Listings(billions) | Expedia: 50M reviews | — | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars out of 5) | Expedia: 4.4 | — | — |
| Average Booking Commission(percent) | Expedia: Direct pricing (0% markup) | — | — |
| Countries Covered(count) | Expedia: 190+ | — | — |
| Average Loyalty Program ROI(percent return) | Expedia: 4-6% | — | — |
| Total Properties Available(properties) | 700,000+ | 500,000+ | +40% |
| Loyalty Rewards Rate(%) | Varies by membership tier (0-10%) | 10% on all bookings | -50% |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.5 stars | 4.6 stars | -2% |
| Average Customer Service Wait Time(minutes) | 8-12 minutes | 6-9 minutes | +33% |
| Annual Revenue (2025)(USD billion) | $40 billion | $26 billion | +54% |
| Free Cancellation Coverage(%) | 85% of bookings | 88% of bookings | -3% |
| Global Market Share(%) | 22% of OTA bookings | 14% of OTA bookings | +57% |
| Global Listings Count(listings) | Hotels.com | Hotels.com | — |
| 3-Night US Stay Total Cost Advantage(markets) | Hotels.com | Hotels.com | — |
| Traveler Summer Eclipse Search Growth(percent) | Hotels.com | Hotels.com | — |
| Total Accommodation Listings(millions) | 800,000 hotels | 800,000 hotels | — |
| Mobile-Exclusive Discounts(% of listings) | Not available | Not available | — |
| Loyalty Reward Rate(% per booking) | 10% bonus points | 10% bonus points | — |
| Annual User Base(millions) | 150+ million users | 150+ million users | — |
| Supported Languages(count) | 38 languages | 38 languages | — |
| Free Cancellation Rate(% of bookings) | 90% of hotels | 90% of hotels | — |
| Average Review Rating(out of 5) | 4.2 stars | 4.2 stars | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated Jun 2026.
Key Differences
Expedia
700,000+ properties🏆
Hotels.com
500,000+ properties
Expedia
No rewards on hotel bookings
Hotels.com
10% cashback on every hotel stay🏆
Expedia
Yes, saves up to 50% on packages🏆
Hotels.com
Limited flight options available
Expedia
$40 billion🏆
Hotels.com
$26 billion
Expedia
4.5 stars (500K+ reviews)
Hotels.com
4.6 stars (380K+ reviews)🏆
Expedia
24-hour free cancellation on most bookings
Hotels.com
Price Match Guarantee + free cancellation🏆
Expedia
8-12 minutes average
Hotels.com
6-9 minutes average🏆
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Expedia | Hotels.com |
|---|---|---|
| Price Match Guarantee(available) | No | — |
| Hidden Fees Transparency(rating) | Good - occasional hidden charges | — |
| Booking Fee Structure | Variable | — |
| Average Domestic Roundtrip Airfare (Spring 2026)(USD) | Market competitive | — |
| Year-over-Year Airfare Change (Spring 2026)(% decrease) | Not specified | — |
Show 4 more attributesHotel-Flight Bundle Discount(% savings) 5-15% additional savings on combined bookings — 3-Night US Stay Total Cost Advantage(markets) Hotels.com — Typical Cleaning Fee Range(USD) Included in quoted rate — Mobile-Exclusive Discounts(% of listings) Not available — | ||
| Flight Booking Options(airlines) | 1000+ airlines (comprehensive) | — |
| Package Deal Savings(%) | 15-35% flight+hotel bundles | — |
| Mobile App Rating (2026)(stars) | 4.3/5 stars | — |
| Transparent Flight Details(visibility) | Hidden details on Express Deal flights | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars out of 5) | Expedia: 4.4 | — |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.5 stars | 4.6 stars |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 4-12 hours average | — |
| 2026 Revenue Growth Forecast(%) | 6-9% projected | — |
| Annual Revenue (2025)(USD billion) | $40 billion | $26 billion |
| AI Personalization Features(level) | AI-enhanced pricing & recommendations | — |
| AI Personalization Features(level) | Basic | — |
| Sustainability Initiatives(programs) | Carbon offset programs, sustainable stays | — |
| Total Properties Listed(millions) | 1.5+ million properties | — |
| Total Properties Available(properties) | 700,000+ | 500,000+ |
| Total Accommodation Listings(millions) | 800,000 hotels | — |
| Average Hotel Cancellation Rate(%) | ~18-25% with One Key | — |
| Free Cancellation Window(hours) | 24 hours on most bookings | — |
| Free Cancellation Rate(% of bookings) | 90% of hotels | — |
| Base Loyalty Program Cost(USD) | Free entry (paid tiers available) | — |
| Average Loyalty Program ROI(percent return) | Expedia: 4-6% | — |
| Loyalty Rewards Rate(%) | Varies by membership tier (0-10%) | 10% on all bookings |
| Loyalty Reward Rate(% per booking) | 10% bonus points | — |
| Monthly Website Visits(millions) | ~120 | — |
| Price Comparison Coverage(partner count) | Direct inventory | — |
| Cheapest Day Insights | General trends | — |
| Booking Transparency Level | Fully transparent (complete details) | — |
| User Control During Booking | Full customization available | — |
| Direct Booking Capability | Yes (on-platform) | — |
| Package Deal Options | Extensive | — |
| Mobile App Organization | Comprehensive | — |
| Mobile App Real-Time Alerts(feature completeness) | Advanced real-time alerts with exclusive app perks | — |
| Customer Support Availability(hours/day) | 24/7 | — |
| Average Customer Service Wait Time(minutes) | 8-12 minutes | 6-9 minutes |
| Monthly Organic Traffic Trend (2026)(% change) | Positive sustained growth | — |
| Global Inventory Scale | Expansive/comprehensive | — |
| 2026 Market Research Base(travelers surveyed) | 24,000+ global travelers | — |
| Ideal Traveler Type (2026) | Flexible control-focused travelers | — |
| Global Market Share(%) | 22% of OTA bookings | 14% of OTA bookings |
| Price Comparison Coverage(sites indexed) | Expedia Group properties + select partners | — |
| Price Drop Protection(coverage) | Available on select mobile app bookings | — |
| Direct Booking Integration(checkout steps) | Direct one-platform checkout (1-2 steps) | — |
| Check-in Flexibility | Standard 3pm (limited exceptions) | — |
| User Preference for Flexible Travel(% preference) | Preferred by 65% of fixed-plan travelers | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | Expedia: 380M | — |
| Total Reviews/Listings(billions) | Expedia: 50M reviews | — |
| Booking Features | Flights, Hotels, Cars, Activities, Packages | — |
| Customer Support Hours | 24/7 phone, chat, email | — |
| Average Booking Commission(percent) | Expedia: Direct pricing (0% markup) | — |
| Countries Covered(count) | Expedia: 190+ | — |
| Flight Booking Availability | Full integration with 500+ airlines | Limited options (meta-search only) |
| Free Cancellation Coverage(%) | 85% of bookings | 88% of bookings |
| Global Listings Count(listings) | Hotels.com | — |
| Host Earnings to Date(billion USD) | Hotels.com | — |
| Service Standards Consistency | Standardized professional service | — |
| WiFi Reliability Guarantee | Guaranteed reliable (2026 standard) | — |
| Traveler Summer Eclipse Search Growth(percent) | Hotels.com | — |
| Annual User Base(millions) | 150+ million users | — |
| Supported Languages(count) | 38 languages | — |
| Average Review Rating(out of 5) | 4.2 stars | — |
Show 4 more attributes
Visual Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes
Pros & Cons
Expedia
Pros
- 700,000+ properties across all price points
- Flight + hotel bundles save up to 50% on packages
- Expedia Rewards members earn 10% bonus points on select bookings
- 24-hour flexible free cancellation on majority of bookings
- Comprehensive trip management dashboard with itinerary consolidation
Cons
- No cashback rewards on standard hotel bookings (unlike Hotels.com)
- User interface can feel cluttered compared to competitors
- Customer service wait times average 8-12 minutes during peak hours
Hotels.com
Pros
- 10% cashback rewards on all hotel bookings (no tier limits)
- Hotels.com Rewards: every 10th night free after earning points
- Stronger mobile app experience (4.6-star iOS rating vs 4.5 for Expedia)
- Price Match Guarantee ensures lowest available rate
- Faster customer support: 6-9 minute average wait time
Cons
- Limited flight and car rental options compared to Expedia
- 500,000 properties is 30% fewer options than Expedia
- Rewards redemption requires accumulating 10 stays before claiming free night
Frequently Asked Questions
Hotels.com and Expedia often have similar base prices since they access the same hotel inventory, but Hotels.com's 10% cashback effectively discounts every booking by 10%, making it cheaper for loyalty members. Expedia compensates with package deals (flights + hotels) that can save 30-50% when bundling. Use both sites' price-matching tools for the best rate.
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