CheapOair vs RatePunk: Which Finds Better Deals?

When hunting for the best flight and hotel deals, travelers often compare platforms like CheapOair and RatePunk. Both aim to slash costs on airfare and accommodations, but they differ in approach and results. CheapOair focuses on broad bookings for flights, hotels, and cars, while RatePunk excels at uncovering hidden savings through smart comparisons. If you're seeking cheap flights or affordable hotels, understanding these tools can save you hundreds. 

Ready to score unbeatable travel savings? Sign up for RatePunk today and start finding better deals effortlessly. 

What Is CheapOair?

CheapOair is an online travel agency that lets users book flights, hotels, and car rentals. It partners with over 500 airlines to offer low fares worldwide. Users can search for deals using filters like price, duration, and stops. The site includes a price match promise, where it refunds the difference if you find a lower fare elsewhere within 24 hours. Phone-only deals provide extra savings for callers. However, many users note hidden fees for services like seat selection or changes.

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 Face-Off

CheapOair offers a one-stop shop for booking flights, hotels, and cars with flexible search options. You can bundle packages for potential discounts, and self-service cancellations are available online. However, it lacks automated alerts.

RatePunk shines with its extension that runs in the background, comparing prices on sites like Booking.com or Expedia without extra effort. It sends customizable flight notifications based on your preferences, including nearby airports for more options. For hotels, it highlights better rates every search. This proactive approach often uncovers deals CheapOair misses. Learn about hotel price tools in our blog on comparing Kayak, Trivago, and RatePunk.

Which Delivers Superior Savings?

Data shows RatePunk users save more consistently. Testimonials highlight $560 off Thailand trips and $422 on Bali flights, averaging 90% discounts on select deals. In 2025, average flight savings via tools like RatePunk hit 20-30% per booking, per industry stats.

CheapOair's price match helps, but reviews cite inflated base prices and fees eroding savings. A 2025 analysis found CheapOair fares 10-15% higher than meta-search tools on average. RatePunk's no-fee model and real-time scans make it superior for pure deal hunting. Dive deeper into savings tips on our blog.

Ease of Use and Interface

CheapOair's site is straightforward but cluttered with upsells. Searches take time with CheapOair, and mobile users report glitches.

RatePunk's extension integrates seamlessly into your browser, popping up savings without disrupting flow. Setup takes seconds, and alerts arrive via email. It's conversational and user-friendly, ideal for beginners. Over 50,000 users rate it highly for simplicity. For hotel-specific ease, visit RatePunk hotels.

Customer Feedback and Trust

CheapOair scores mixed reviews. Pros include cheap initial fares, but cons dominate: poor service, non-refundable changes, and bait-and-switch pricing. Trustpilot averages 2.5/5, with complaints on CheapOair fees.

RatePunk earns rave feedback. Users love consistent savings and responsive support, with 5/5 on Trustpilot for hotel and flight finds. Over 50,000 testimonials note $2,000+ saved per year. See more on our reviews.

Costs and Hidden Charges

CheapOair advertises low prices but adds fees for boarding passes, changes, and cancellations – up to $50 per item. No refunds often apply.

RatePunk is free, with no charges. It earns via affiliates but passes full savings to you. This transparency wins out. Explore fee-free options in our Google Flights alternative blog.

On-the-Go Booking

CheapOair's app handles bookings but lacks push notifications.

RatePunk's extension works on mobile, scanning deals during searches. App Store ratings praise its flight alerts. For mobile tips, check our blog.

FAQ

Is RatePunk better than CheapOair for flight deals?

Yes, RatePunk often finds 90% off deals with personalized alerts, while CheapOair users report higher fees reducing savings. It scans multiple sites automatically, saving time and money.

How does RatePunk compare hotel prices to CheapOair?

RatePunk's extension compares rates in real time across platforms, frequently beating CheapOair's bundled offers. Users save on average 15-20% more, per 2025 reviews.

What are the main drawbacks of CheapOair?

Common issues include hidden fees, poor customer service, and non-refundable bookings. In contrast, RatePunk has no fees and high satisfaction ratings.

Can RatePunk help with last-minute bookings?

Absolutely, its alerts and scans work for short-notice trips, often uncovering deals CheapOair misses. Industry data shows last-minute savings up to 20% via such tools.

Why choose RatePunk over other deal finders?

It combines flight and hotel comparisons in one free tool, with proven savings from over 50,000 users. Plus, it's ad-free and user-focused.

Try RatePunk for superior deals – sign up now.