Booking a flight isn't exactly fun. The exciting bits that come afterward — the planning [1], the build-up, the actual trip [2] — those are the nuggets of travel that we look forward to the most. But first, we need to find an affordable way to get there. Snagging a good deal can be a lot of work, usually involving 23,894,723 or so open browser tabs. So, we'll take any help we can get.
The hunt for top-notch flight deals [3] shouldn't start with a preliminary search for the best tool for unearthing them. With seemingly piles of apps at our fingertips, we've sorted through to find the best ones. After all, the more money left in our wallets for our travel experiences [4] once we get there, the better. These eight apps will help you discover the cheapest flights, right on your phone — for free, to boot.
Hopper
You had us at free, Hopper [6]. This classic travel app is a workhorse, searching the internet for all possible flight deals so you don't have to. In addition to digging deep for the best fares, Hopper predicts what those fares will do, so we know when to buy. Thank you, bunny.
Skyscanner
With zero booking fees, this app is truly great and easy to use. Skyscanner [7] smartly keeps watch on your favourite flight routes, making sure to alert you when the pricing changes. You'll be able to tailor your search to narrow down results to flights that actually make sense for you (see ya, seven layovers!). Not only that, but the app also allows you to save your flights, so you can mull it over before actually buying.
Justfly
Another free app that we're on board with is Justfly.com [8], which allows users to compare flight deals for over 150 airlines. The database is updated constantly, so you can be sure that the cheapest fares are correct.
Note: Justfly.com app is only available for iOS users.
Cheapflights
Comparing airlines for the cheapest flights is great, but seeing which days are the cheapest to fly to your destination of choice is even greater. Cheapflights [9] does this with a nifty little calendar, making flight booking a breeze for travellers with a bit of flexibility. After filtering everything to your liking, the app will send you over to the airline's site to wrap things up and get you going.
CheapOair
Want your own personal travel agent in your pocket? CheapOair [10] will keep an eye on your top flights for free, without any ads. You can take care of most details right in the app, like choosing seats and adding/paying for baggage. Have a question? Just inquire with one of their travel experts for extra ease.
Jetradar
Jetradar [11] lets you peruse flight deals on a map, because maybe you're not sure exactly where you'd like to go. Mark your favourites and check back later to see if the price has changed in your favour, or just let Jetradar notify you because it's designed for that sort of thing. Either way, you'll be that much closer to your destination.
Skiplagged
Perhaps the speakeasy of flight apps, Skiplagged [12] offers a "hidden city" option when searching for affordable flights as part of the app's allure. They do all the other stuff as well, including filtering, alerts, etc., but we're still obsessed with this hidden aspect.
Kiwi
Not quite sure where you want to go? No problem. Kiwi [13] lets you search "everywhere" as a destination, showing you deals from, well, everywhere. As a bonus, this app has the Kiwi NOMAD feature, where you can search multidestination trips. One of the cooler highlights of Kiwi is the baggage calculator (of sorts). A point of your phone's camera in the app will help to determine whether your luggage might pass through without extra fees or if you should take out that extra pair of shoes.
Note: the Kiwi app is only available for iOS users.