Updated September 28, 2026 ยท NomadCue Editorial Team
Booking.com vs KAYAK
Booking.com
Higher score in this comparison
KAYAK
What sets them apart
| Compare | Booking.comReviewVisitVisit | KAYAKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Flights, Car rental, Transfers, Hotels, Hostels, Tours, Cruise | Flights, Hotels, Car rental, Packages, Cruise |
| Booking fees | No booking fees | No booking fee |
| Cancellation terms | Free cancellation at most properties | Handled by the travel provider |
Same on both: Mobile app (Yes).
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Key differences
- Booking.com scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.0.
- Products: only Booking.com offers Transfers, Hostels, Tours.
- Products: only KAYAK offers Packages.
- Support channels: only Booking.com offers Phone, Chat, Community.
- Founded is lower at Booking.com: 1996 vs 2004.
Our verdict on each
Booking.com
Booking.com suits travelers who want the whole trip in one place, with flights, car rental and transfers held on one account.
KAYAK
KAYAK suits families comparing flights, hotels and car rental in one search, with a mobile app for searching between the airport and the hotel desk. On the booking side: No booking fee, and cancellations are Handled by the travel provider. KAYAK Software Corporation has run it from the US since 2004.
Score breakdown
| Area | Booking.com | KAYAK |
|---|---|---|
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 9.0 |
How they place
| Ranking | Booking.com | KAYAK |
|---|---|---|
| Flights, trains and car rental | 3 of 521 | 279 of 521 |
| Cheap flights and airlines | 1 of 315 | 213 of 315 |
| Cruises and ferries | 1 of 118 | 76 of 118 |
| Car rental and car hire | 2 of 209 | 137 of 209 |
| Hotels and accommodation | 4 of 637 | 392 of 637 |
| Hotels and vacation rentals | 4 of 648 | 425 of 648 |
| Booking sites and package holidays | 2 of 368 | 243 of 368 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Booking.com | KAYAK |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Booking.com B.V. | KAYAK Software Corporation |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | United States |
| Founded | 1996Lower | 2004 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Phone, Email, Chat, CommunityCovers more | Help centre, Email |
Pros and cons
Booking.com
Pros
- One account covers flights, car rental and transfers, so a group can hold transport and beds together instead of searching supplier by supplier.
- No booking fees keeps the booking charge out of the price you compare.
- A mobile app is available, so bookings and changes travel with you between searches.
Cons
- FlixBus is the shorter decision when the trip is bus only, where flights, car rental and transfers asks you to weigh many choices.
- Hertz Bahamas WiFi covers car rental and transfers, so a car and a transfer trip does not need the wider list.
- Latam Travellers states its fee promise as 0 hidden fees, no contracts, which writes the position out in full words.
KAYAK
Pros
- Covers flights, hotels and car rental in one search, so a flight, a hotel and a car can be weighed against each other.
- It adds No booking fee, so what you see is the fare or rate the travel provider quoted.
- It has a mobile app, so searching and comparing work between the airport, the hotel and the car hire desk.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and email only, so a phone line or live chat is not part of the offer.
- Cancellations are Handled by the travel provider, so a refund is settled by the travel provider rather than by KAYAK.
- Searching is limited to flights, hotels and car rental, so a coach or rail ticket needs a different site.
Who each suits
Booking.com
Who it suits
- Families and groups who want flights, cars, transfers, hotels, hostels, tours and cruise arranged in one search, rather than FlixBus for bus alone.
- Travellers still confirming dates, because Free cancellation at most properties applies at most properties.
- Anyone who wants help without hunting, since support runs on help centre, phone and email with a phone line alongside the help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- If the trip is a car and an airport transfer, Hertz Bahamas WiFi covers car rental and transfers without the rest of the list.
- If a fee promise written out in full matters most, 0 hidden fees, no contracts is Latam Travellers' wording to read instead.
KAYAK
Who it suits
- Families lining up a flight, a hotel and a car for the same trip in one search
- Travellers who want No booking fee on the booking side rather than a service charge from the site
- People who search mostly from a phone, since a mobile app is available
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers after coach tickets only: FlixBus sells bus and nothing wider, so the choice is simpler.
- Anyone booking a rental car or an airport transfer on its own: Hertz Bahamas WiFi covers car rental and transfers directly.
- Shoppers who want a fee pledge in writing: Latam Travellers states 0 hidden fees, no contracts.
Current offers
Booking.com
Current offer
Discount code
Mobile-only discounts: 10% or more off select properties
Book in the Booking.com app
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Booking.com | KAYAK |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | No | Yes |
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Bolivia | No | Yes |
| Brazil | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Chile | No | Yes |
8 of 58 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Booking.com
Does Booking.com add a booking fee?+
No booking fee is added to what you pay. The stated position is No booking fees, so the figure shown for a room or a trip is not lifted by a booking charge. Deposit and payment timing still sit with the individual property, so read the terms on the room you pick, since a hold on your card can be larger than the price shown.
Can I cancel a booking without losing money?+
At most properties, yes. Free cancellation at most properties is the standard position, and it gives a group room to move dates while the trip is still firming up. The qualifier matters: the offer sits with most properties, so check the cancellation terms on the property you choose and read the deadline for free cancellation before you confirm.
KAYAK
Does KAYAK charge a booking fee?+
KAYAK adds No booking fee on top of the price displayed, so the fare or rate you see is the one the travel provider quoted. Extras such as bags or a deposit are set by the airline, hotel or hire company.
What can be booked through KAYAK?+
The range covers flights, hotels and car rental, so a flight, a hotel, a car, a holiday package and a cruise can be compared in one session. KAYAK is a booking site rather than a travel provider, so the trip is arranged with the company you pick.
Other options to compare
Booking.com
KAYAK