Google Flights vs Skyscanner: Search, Alerts
Google Flights is a flight search tool from Google: it compares fares from more than 300 airline and online travel agency partners, sorts results into Best and Cheapest, tracks prices by email and estimates carbon emissions, then sends you to the airline or agency to book. Skyscanner is a travel search site that began in 2003 and says it searches billions of prices for flights, hotels and car hire, with more than 160 million monthly users in 180 countries and 1,200+ travel partners. Neither is better for everyone.
Google Flights
Google's flight search tool, comparing fares from more than 300 airline and agency partners.
Travelers tracking fares across flexible dates
Google Flights is a flight search tool from Google: it compares fares from more than 300 airline and online travel agency partners, sorts results into Best and Cheapest, tracks prices by email and estimates carbon emissions, then sends you to the airline or agency to book. Skyscanner is a travel search site that began in 2003 and says it searches billions of prices for flights, hotels and car hire, with more than 160 million monthly users in 180 countries and 1,200+ travel partners. Neither is better for everyone.
Deciding factor: Google Flights for fare tracking and flexible dates; Skyscanner for flights, hotels and car hire in one search.
Key fact: Google Flights compares more than 300 airline and agency partners; Skyscanner lists 1,200+ travel partners.
Best for flexible-date fare hunting with price tracking: Google Flights, with a calendar and price graph, email alerts and Best or Cheapest sorting. Best for searching flights, hotels and car hire in one place: Skyscanner, which says it searches billions of prices across all three. With either, you book with the airline, hotel or agency you choose.
Choose Google Flights if
Travelers tracking fares across flexible dates
Choose Skyscanner if
Travelers comparing flights, hotels and car hire together
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Key Differences at a Glance
- What it searches:Flights vs Flights, hotels and car hire
- Partners:More than 300 airlines and agencies vs 1,200+ travel partners
- Price tracking:Email alerts for dates or any dates vs See vendor site
Compare next
Google Flights vs Kayak
Key Differences
4 attributes compared head-to-head
- FlightsWhat it searchesFlights, hotels and car hire
- More than 300 airlines and agenciesPartners1,200+ travel partners
- Email alerts for dates or any datesPrice trackingSee vendor site
- Estimates per flightEmissionsSee vendor site
- What it searches
Google Flights
Flights
Skyscanner
Flights, hotels and car hire
- Partners
Google Flights
More than 300 airlines and agencies
Skyscanner
1,200+ travel partners
- Price tracking
Google Flights
Email alerts for dates or any dates
Skyscanner
See vendor site
- Emissions
Google Flights
Estimates per flight
Skyscanner
See vendor site
Full Comparison
| Attribute |  Google Flights | Skyscanner |
|---|---|---|
| What it searches | Flights: one-way, round-trip, multi-city | Flights, hotels and car hire |
| Partners | More than 300 airline and online travel agency partners | 1,200+ travel partners |
| Ranking | Best and Cheapest tabs; partners do not pay for placement | See vendor site |
| Deals | Flight Deals (beta): fares at least 20% below typical | See vendor site |
| Reach and updates | Calendar prices update about once every 24 hours | More than 160 million monthly users in 180 countries |
| Price tracking | Email alerts for dates or any datesTie | See vendor siteTie |
Google FlightsPros & Cons
6 pros·3 cons across both
Google Flights
Pros
Cons
Skyscanner
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questions
Google says that on Google Flights you usually finish booking on the airline or online travel agency site. Skyscanner is a search site that connects travelers with airline, hotel, car hire and travel agency partners.
Yes. Skyscanner says it searches billions of prices for flights, hotels and car hire. Google Flights covers flights.
Google says Google Flights shows results in Best and Cheapest tabs, with Best weighing price, convenience and ease of booking, and that travel partners do not pay Google to appear in the list of flights.
Yes. Google says you can track prices for specific dates or for any dates on a route and get email alerts when fares change, plus emails when prices are likely to rise.
Google says its AI-powered Flight Deals tool, in beta, highlights fares that are at least 20% below the typical price for a route.
Skyscanner says more than 160 million people in 180 countries use its app and website every month, and it lists 1,200+ travel partners. It started in 2003.
Analysis: Google Flights vs Skyscanner
Google Flights is a flight search tool from Google: it compares fares from more than 300 airline and online travel agency partners, sorts results into Best and Cheapest, tracks prices by email and estimates carbon emissions, then sends you to the airline or agency to book. Skyscanner is a travel search site that began in 2003 and says it searches billions of prices for flights, hotels and car hire, with more than 160 million monthly users in 180 countries and 1,200+ travel partners. Neither is better for everyone.
Key takeaways
- Google says Google Flights compares fares from more than 300 airline and travel agency partners. - Google says partners do not pay for placement in Google Flights rankings. - Google Flights tracks prices by email and estimates emissions per flight. - Skyscanner says it searches billions of prices for flights, hotels and car hire. - Skyscanner says it has more than 160 million monthly users in 180 countries.
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How each search works
Google Flights searches one-way, round-trip and multi-city trips, with an interactive calendar and price graph to compare fares across days. Skyscanner searches flights, hotels and car hire, and lists 1,200+ travel partners.
Ranking and booking
Google says Google Flights splits results into Best and Cheapest tabs and that partners do not pay for placement. You usually finish booking on the airline or online travel agency site. Skyscanner sends travelers to its airline, hotel, car hire and agency partners.
Price tracking and deals
Google says you can track a route for specific dates or any dates and get email alerts, plus emails when prices are likely to rise. Its Flight Deals tool, in beta, flags fares at least 20% below the typical price.
Emissions
Google Flights shows carbon emissions estimates for flights, using the EASA label where available or Google's Travel Impact Model.
Who should pick which
Pick Google Flights for fare tracking, flexible dates and emissions estimates. Pick Skyscanner to compare flights, hotels and car hire in one search. Google Flights vs Kayak and Expedia vs Kayak compare other travel search tools.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
External Resources
Google Travel Help: Search for flights (opens in new tab)
One-way, round-trip and multi-city search; 300+ partners; booking on airline or agency sites.
Google Travel Help: How results are ranked (opens in new tab)
Best and Cheapest tabs; partners do not pay for placement.
Google Travel Help: Track flight prices (opens in new tab)
Track specific dates or any dates; email alerts.
Google Travel Help: Carbon emissions estimates (opens in new tab)
EASA label or Travel Impact Model estimates.
Google Travel Help: Flight Deals (opens in new tab)
Beta; a deal is at least 20% below the typical price.
Skyscanner Partners: About us (opens in new tab)
Started 2003; 160M+ monthly users; billions of prices for flights, hotels and car hire.
Skyscanner Partners: Home (opens in new tab)
1,200+ travel partners; users in 180 countries.
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