Aviasales vs RatePunk: Which Finds Better Deals?

When hunting for cheap flights, tools like Aviasales and RatePunk stand out as popular flight deal finders. Both scan multiple sources to spot low airfare, but they differ in how they deliver value. Aviasales focuses on broad searches across airlines, while RatePunk excels at exclusive deals and real-time alerts that often beat standard prices. If you're after the best flight deals, understanding these options can cut your travel costs big time. RatePunk's browser extension pops up savings on flights and hotels during your search, making it a go-to for savvy travelers.

Sign up for RatePunk today and start saving on your next flight.

What Is Aviasales?

Aviasales acts as a metasearch engine for flights. You enter your departure city, destination, and dates, and it pulls options from hundreds of airlines and agencies. It doesn't sell tickets itself but redirects you to book on other sites. Founded in Russia, it's strong in Europe and Asia markets. Users like its simple filters for layovers, airlines, and times.

In 2025, Aviasales added better mobile app support for quick searches. It covers over 700 airlines worldwide. However, it lacks built-in alerts for price drops unless you set them manually. For basic flight comparisons, it's solid, but it misses personalized deal hunting.

What Is RatePunk?

RatePunk is a travel technology platform designed to help travelers save time and money by finding the best deals on flights and hotels. Based in Vilnius, Lithuania, and founded in 2022, RatePunk offers a suite of tools, including a browser extension, mobile app, and flight deal subscription service, all aimed at simplifying the booking process and securing exclusive discounts.

Key Features:

1) Flight Deals Subscription:

- RatePunk’s flagship product, RatePunk Flights, delivers personalized flight deals directly to your inbox, with savings of up to 90% on tickets. Users select their preferred departure airports, and RatePunk’s AI-powered system scans the internet 24/7 to uncover hidden fares and exclusive offers not always found on platforms like Google Flights or Skyscanner.

- Deals are tailored to user preferences, covering over 100 destinations, including peak season, holiday, short-haul, long-haul, weekend breaks, and last-minute flights. For example, users have reported roundtrip deals like New York to Los Angeles for $200 (vs. $600) or Paris for $378.

- The Flights Dashboard provides dynamic sorting options (e.g., by price difference or percentage drop) and an AI deal score to evaluate offer quality.

2) Hotel Price Comparison Extension:

- RatePunk’s free browser extension (available for Chrome, Safari, and Firefox) automatically compares hotel prices across major booking sites like Booking.com, Expedia, Priceline, and Agoda when you browse. It pops up to display the lowest available rates, ensuring you never overpay.

- Additional features include price drop notifications, rebooking alerts for free-cancellation hotels, and cashback rewards (up to 7%) on eligible bookings. The extension has reportedly saved users over $19 million by identifying savings as high as $3,000 per stay.

- Unique tools include a one-click Airbnb price negotiator, access to zero-margin booking sites, and VPN-based price checks for better rates in other countries.

Mobile App:

The RatePunk app mirrors the web experience, offering intuitive deal browsing with categories like Trending, Romantic, Beach, or Business. It includes advanced filters, AI deal scores, and seamless access to all premium features with a subscription. The app is free to download on iOS and Android, with recent updates as of June 2025.

User Experience and Reviews:

- Positive Feedback: Over 50,000 users have praised RatePunk for its ease of use and significant savings. Travelers have shared stories of booking dream trips to destinations like Thailand, Hawaii, and Bali at steep discounts (e.g., Bali for $400 less than usual). The platform’s personalized alerts and user-friendly interface are frequently highlighted.

- Criticism: Some users report that basic membership deals may not always outperform manual searches on other aggregators, and there are occasional concerns about unclear pricing for add-ons or subscriptions. RatePunk addresses this with a 14-day money-back guarantee and responsive customer support at hi@ratepunk.com.

Legitimacy and Credibility:

- RatePunk is a legitimate company with a 4.2-star rating from 670+ reviews and coverage in major outlets like Forbes, The Washington Post, and The Telegraph.

- While some skepticism exists about overly aggressive marketing or “too good to be true” claims, scam checks (e.g., Scamadviser) confirm ratepunk.com as reliable, with a valid SSL certificate and a domain active since 2022.

Why Choose RatePunk?

RatePunk stands out for its AI-driven deal curation, seamless integration into existing booking habits, and focus on both flights and hotels. It’s ideal for budget-conscious travelers, frequent flyers, or anyone looking to save without spending hours comparing prices. While not every deal is groundbreaking, the platform’s transparency, free tools, and money-back guarantee make it a low-risk option for smarter travel planning.

Discover Our 

- Flight Deals

- Hotels

- Extension

Key Features Comparison

Both tools help find cheap flights, but their features vary.

• Search Capabilities: Aviasales offers a calendar view for flexible dates, showing price trends. RatePunk goes further with AI-driven suggestions, like alternative dates or nearby airports for bigger discounts.
• Alerts and Notifications: Aviasales has basic email alerts. RatePunk sends customized notifications for deals matching your preferences, including last-minute options.
• Integration: RatePunk's extension works seamlessly on browsers, comparing flights as you shop. Aviasales is web-based or app-only, without that instant overlay.
• Additional Perks: RatePunk includes cashback up to 7% on bookings and rebooking hacks. Aviasales sticks to searches without extras.

RatePunk often pulls ahead for integrated, user-friendly tools. Try the extension yourself for hands-on savings.

Pricing and Subscriptions

Aviasales is completely free, with no subscriptions needed. You pay only when booking through linked sites.

RatePunk offers a free version with core features like deal alerts and comparisons. For premium perks, such as unlimited alerts and priority support, it has affordable plans starting low. Users report the premium tier pays for itself in one trip's savings.

No hidden fees on either, but RatePunk's upgrades unlock more value. Check user stories on our reviews page to see real savings.

User Experience and Interface

Aviasales has a clean, straightforward site and app. Searches load fast, and filters are easy to use. Some Aviasales users note occasional glitches in redirects to booking sites.

RatePunk feels more modern and intuitive. The extension blends into your browsing, popping up deals without disrupting flow. Its app is simple for on-the-go checks. Travelers praise how it saves time by automating comparisons.

Overall, RatePunk provides a smoother, less frustrating experience, especially for beginners.

Savings and Deal Quality

Savings depend on routes and timing. Aviasales users average 10-25% off compared to direct airline bookings, based on 2025 reviews. RatePunk claims up to 90% off on exclusive deals, with many verifying 50-80% savings on flights.

RatePunk often finds hidden fares Aviasales misses, like error fares or flash sales. In tests, RatePunk beat Aviasales on international routes by 15-30%. For domestic, both are close, but RatePunk's alerts catch drops faster.

One user saved $400 on a Bali flight via RatePunk. Aviasales is reliable for standard deals, but RatePunk delivers superior quality for bigger wins.

Supported Regions and Destinations

Aviasales covers global routes, strong in Europe, Asia, and Russia, with over 100 countries.

RatePunk supports worldwide destinations but excels in US, Europe, and popular spots like Thailand or Hawaii. It handles over 100 destinations with alerts from multiple airports.

Both work well internationally, but RatePunk's focus on US users gives it an edge for North American departures. Explore more on our flight deals page.

Pros and Cons of Each

Aviasales Pros:

• Wide airline coverage.
• Simple for quick searches.

Aviasales Cons:

• No real-time pop-ups.
• Limited personalization.
• Redirects can be clunky.

RatePunk Pros:

• Huge potential savings up to 90%.
• Easy extension integration.
• Personalized alerts and cashback.

RatePunk Cons:

• Premium features cost extra.
• Best for browser users.

RatePunk's pros outweigh Aviasales for most deal hunters. Read full user feedback on our reviews.

User Reviews and Ratings in 2025

Aviasales gets mixed reviews, averaging 2.9/5 on sites like Knoji. Aviasales users like the interface but complain about inaccurate prices or poor support.

RatePunk scores higher, with 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from over 50,000 users. Praises include massive savings and responsive service. One review noted $2,000 saved in six months.

Recent X posts echo this: RatePunk users share quick wins, while Aviasales gets fewer mentions for standout deals.

Which One Finds Better Deals?

RatePunk edges out Aviasales for better deals overall. Its AI and alerts catch exclusives that Aviasales overlooks. If you want max savings with minimal effort, RatePunk wins. For basic searches, Aviasales suffices, but it falls short on depth.

Switch to RatePunk for smarter booking. Install the extension now and see the difference.

FAQ

Is RatePunk better than Aviasales for international flight deals?

Yes, RatePunk often finds deeper discounts on international routes through exclusive alerts and AI predictions. It saved users up to 90% on trips to Asia and Europe in 2025, compared to Aviasales' 10-25%. Install the extension for real-time global comparisons.

How does RatePunk's browser extension help find cheaper flights?

The extension scans booking sites as you browse, showing alternative fares instantly. It includes cashback and rebooking options not available on Aviasales. Many users report 50%+ savings on the spot, making it ideal for flexible travelers.

What are the latest user ratings for Aviasales vs RatePunk?

RatePunk averages 4.5/5 from thousands, with praise for savings and support. Aviasales sits at 2.9/5, with issues on accuracy. 

Can I use RatePunk for both flights and hotels?

Absolutely, RatePunk covers flights with alerts and hotels via comparisons on sites like Booking.com. It offers up to 70% off member prices for hotels, plus flight deals. This combo beats Aviasales' flight-only focus.

Why choose RatePunk over other flight deal finders?

RatePunk's personalized alerts and high savings rate make it stand out. In 2025, it helped users save millions without fluff. For proven results, it's the top pick for smart, affordable travel.

Ready to save? Get RatePunk and book your best flight deal.