SmartFares Alternatives in 2027: 6 Other Ways to Find Flights

Many SmartFares alternatives charge no service fee of their own. Here is what to look for, how to spot hidden fees, and 6 other ways to find flights.

By Heather Budreviciene

Published: October 8, 2026 • 6 min read

Updated: October 18, 2026

SmartFares Alternatives in 2027: 6 Other Ways to Find Flights

SmartFares is a ticket-selling travel agency, and a service fee of its own is added on top of each fare. Here’s what that fee costs, what to look for in a SmartFares alternative, and how six alternatives compare.

See Flight Deals from Your Home Airport

Why Look for a SmartFares Alternative?

SmartFares is rated 3.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot, from 58,741 reviews (checked October 8, 2026). Most reviewers are happy with the booking itself, so the reasons to look elsewhere are mostly about cost:

The service fee — SmartFares charges up to $30 per person on its fares, and up to $100 per passenger for Business Class, First Class, or multi-city trips (fee page read October 8, 2026).
No refund of the fee — SmartFares says its service fees aren’t refundable.
A trip chosen in advance — Each SmartFares search needs an origin, a destination, and dates, so an undecided trip gets little help.

Top Features to Look for in a Cheap Flight Finder

When choosing a SmartFares alternative, focus on these key features:

Price comparison across multiple airlines and booking sites
Price alerts and notifications for price drops
Flexible date and destination tools
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Easy booking process with direct links to airlines or trusted partners
Mobile-friendly experience for booking on the go

These features help you find the cheapest flights without the hassle of extra fees or confusing checkout processes.

The Three Kinds of SmartFares Alternatives

You can replace SmartFares with one of three types of site:

Flight search engines — Momondo, Skyscanner, Kayak, and Google Flights check many sellers at once and hand you off to the one you click.
Booking sites — Kiwi.com is a ticket seller like SmartFares, with a specialty in trips that pair unrelated airlines.
Deal alerts — Deal alert services do the searching on your behalf. RatePunk falls in this group: with your home airport on file, we notify you whenever a departure from it gets cheaper than it normally is.

How to Find the Cheapest Flights in 2026

Follow these expert tips to get the best deals on airfare:

Compare prices across multiple platforms: Use flight search engines to check prices from different airlines and booking sites.
Set price alerts: Get notified when prices drop for your preferred routes.
Be flexible with dates and destinations: Flying midweek or to less popular destinations can save you hundreds.
Check nearby airports: Sometimes, flying from a different city can be much cheaper.
Book in advance: For international trips, try to book 3–6 months ahead for the best prices.

How to Avoid Hidden Fees and Save More

Many budget flight sites add extra fees at checkout, but the best alternatives keep pricing transparent. Here’s what to watch out for:

Service fees: Some sites charge $30–$100 per ticket.
Seat selection fees: You might pay extra to choose your seat.
Flexible ticket fees: Changing your flight could cost more.
Customer service fees: Some sites charge for phone support.

Choosing a platform with clear, upfront pricing helps you avoid these hidden costs and save more on every trip.

Best SmartFares Alternatives Compared

Here’s what each of the six does:

Platform	Description
RatePunk	RatePunk keeps track of what flights from your home airport usually cost, and we alert you when one drops below that price. We look at about 150 million flight prices a day and give each deal an AI Deal Score out of 100. You see the deals in the RatePunk app, on the web dashboard, and in deal emails. RatePunk doesn’t sell tickets and adds no fee to a fare, because you book with the airline or a travel site. A paid membership is needed to see the deals, and they help most when your dates or destination can change.
Skyscanner	Skyscanner is a leading global travel search engine that aggregates flight prices from hundreds of airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs). Its intuitive interface allows users to compare fares across multiple providers, offering flexible search options like "Everywhere" to find the cheapest destinations and "Cheapest Month" to identify the lowest fares for a given route. Skyscanner supports searches for nearby airports and entire countries, making it ideal for flexible travelers. It also provides price alerts to track fare changes and a mobile app for on-the-go bookings. While it doesn’t include baggage fees in initial results, its transparency and extensive coverage make it a top choice.
Google Flights	Google Flights is a powerful flight search tool that excels in speed and usability, leveraging Google’s technology to display real-time prices from airlines and OTAs. It offers unique features like the "Explore" map to find budget-friendly destinations, date grids to compare prices across a month, and price tracking with email alerts. Google Flights also provides insights on price trends and predicts whether fares are likely to rise or fall. It’s particularly strong for finding direct flights and supports alternative airports, but it may not include all budget carriers. Users are redirected to book directly with airlines or OTAs, ensuring transparency.
Momondo	Momondo is a robust flight comparison site that searches over 1,000 airlines and travel sites to find the cheapest fares. Its "Mix & Match" feature combines tickets from different suppliers to save money, and its price calendar highlights the cheapest travel days. Momondo’s filters allow users to refine searches by layover duration, airlines, and more. It’s free to use, with no hidden fees, and offers a visually appealing interface with tools like price trend graphs. Momondo is especially popular for international flights and is known for finding deals missed by other platforms.
Kiwi.com	Kiwi.com specializes in unique itineraries, often combining separate tickets (self-transfers) to create cheaper routes. It offers a "Nomad" feature for multi-city trips and a price lock option for a fee, allowing users to secure fares for three days. The Kiwi.com Guarantee provides refunds or alternative flights for unexpected changes, adding peace of mind for complex bookings. While it may include budget carriers and unconventional routes, users should be cautious of self-transfer risks, as missed connections aren’t always covered by airlines. Kiwi is ideal for adventurous travelers seeking the lowest prices.
KAYAK	KAYAK is a comprehensive travel search engine that compares flight deals across hundreds of airlines and OTAs. It offers robust filters for layovers, airlines, and flight times, along with a "Hacker Fares" feature that combines one-way tickets from different carriers to save money. KAYAK’s price forecast tool predicts whether fares will rise or fall, and its mobile app supports price alerts and trip management. It also provides deals on hotels and car rentals, making it a one-stop shop for travel planning. KAYAK’s reliability and user-friendly design make it a strong contender.

Which SmartFares Alternative Should You Use?

The best fit depends on where you are in planning:

You know the trip and want every price — Google Flights or Momondo lays out every seller’s price for that exact flight.
You want to skip an agency’s service fee — Find the flight on Skyscanner or Kayak, then check the price on the airline’s own website.
You’ll take a route that mixes airlines — Kiwi.com builds those trips.
You haven’t picked a trip yet — RatePunk brings you home-airport fares that are lower than normal, before you’ve chosen anywhere.