Fareward

Guide ยท checked 2026-10-11

Flight Price Trackers Compared: Google Flights, KAYAK, Hopper and Fareward

Quick answer

Most flight price trackers help you decide when to buy. Google Flights, KAYAK and Hopper all watch routes and send alerts or predictions before you book. Fareward is built for the other half of the trip: it watches a fare you've already booked and, if the price on your flight drops and your fare rules allow it, files with the airline to claim the difference as credit.

They aren't really competitors. Use a pre-booking tracker to buy at a good price, then use a post-booking watcher so a later drop doesn't go unclaimed.

The trackers at a glance

Tool When it helps What it does What it costs
Google Flights price tracking Before booking Email (and app) alerts when a tracked route or flight changes significantly; "likely to go up" warnings Free with a Google account
Google Price Guarantee Before and after booking, badged fares only Pays the difference via Google Pay if a badged fare drops, with limits Free, but narrow eligibility
KAYAK Price Alerts and Price Forecast Before booking Alerts on your route and dates; a forecast of whether the price will rise or fall Free
Hopper Before booking Buy-or-wait predictions; paid Price Freeze to hold a fare App is free; Price Freeze has a fee
Fareward After booking Watches your booked fare and files with the airline for credit when it drops Free to watch; 20% of savings, only after a credit lands

Details below come from each company's own help pages. Features change, so check the current terms before relying on any of them.

Google Flights price tracking

Sign in, search a route, and turn on Track prices for your dates or for "Any dates." You can also track a specific flight. Google sends an email when the price changes significantly, and also when prices on a tracked route are likely to go up or a current fare is about to expire.

Google Flights also shows insights such as whether prices are low, typical or high for your search and whether they're likely to rise.

Best for: deciding when to book. Limit: tracking is about the market price on a route. Once you've bought, Google doesn't claim anything from the airline for you.

Google Price Guarantee

On some results, Google shows a Price Guarantee badge. If the price on a badged itinerary drops before departure, Google pays the difference through Google Pay. Per the terms we read, you must be in the US and 18+, the itinerary must be one-way or round-trip departing the US, the difference must be at least $5, you must complete the trip, payouts come after travel, and the total is capped at $500 per calendar year. We compare it in detail in Google Flights price tracking vs. Price Guarantee.

KAYAK Price Alerts and Price Forecast

KAYAK lets you set alerts on a route and dates and get updates when the price changes. Its Price Forecast estimates whether a fare is likely to rise or fall in the coming days, with a confidence level and a buy-or-wait suggestion.

Best for: comparing across many sites and getting a buy-or-wait signal.

Hopper

Hopper is an app built around fare predictions; it tells you whether to buy now or wait. Hopper says its predictions are 95% accurate; that's the company's own figure, and we haven't seen an independent audit. Hopper also sells Price Freeze, where you pay a fee to hold a fare for a limited time.

Best for: people who like a prediction and want to lock a price for a few days.

Fareward (after you book)

Fareward starts where the others stop. You forward your airline confirmation; Fareward watches the current fare on your exact flights and fare type. If it drops below what you paid and the fare can be repriced, Fareward files with the airline as your agent. The savings land as airline credit in your name. It covers United, Delta, American, Alaska, Southwest and Hawaiian.

Best for: anyone who's already booked and doesn't want to keep checking. Limit: the payout is usually airline credit, not cash, and basic economy fares usually can't be repriced on any major US airline.

Which flight price tracker should you use?

  • Still shopping? Use Google Flights or KAYAK alerts. They're free and good at it.
  • Want a buy-or-wait opinion? Google's insights, KAYAK's forecast or Hopper's prediction.
  • Already booked? Check whether your fare can be repriced. Our airline price drop guide covers each airline. Then either check it yourself or let Fareward watch it.

Already booked? Let Fareward keep watching

Forward your airline confirmation to [email protected]. Fareward watches the fare on your exact flights and fare type. If it drops and your fare rules allow it, Fareward files with the airline as your agent, without needing your airline password, and the savings land as airline credit in your name. It covers United, Delta, American, Alaska, Southwest and Hawaiian.

Watching is free. Fareward takes 20% of the savings, only after a credit lands. If the fare never drops, or your fare can't be repriced, you pay nothing. Because the savings usually come back as airline credit rather than cash, it works best for people who'll fly that airline again.

FAQ

What is the best flight price tracker? It depends on timing. Google Flights and KAYAK alerts are strong free tools before you book. After you book, a tracker that watches your specific booked fare, like Fareward, is what catches post-purchase drops.

Does Google Flights track prices after I book? Google Flights tracking follows market prices on a route or flight. It doesn't file a claim with your airline. Only badged Price Guarantee itineraries get a payout from Google, with limits.

Is Hopper's price prediction accurate? Hopper says its predictions are 95% accurate. That's Hopper's own figure; we haven't seen an independent audit.

Can a price tracker get me money back after a fare drop? Most can't; they only alert you. You'd need to reprice through the airline yourself. Fareward files with the airline for you and takes 20% of the savings, only after a credit lands.

Are flight price trackers free? Google Flights, KAYAK alerts and the Hopper app are free to use. Hopper's Price Freeze has a fee. Fareward is free to watch and charges 20% of savings only when a credit lands.

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Sources (checked October 11, 2026)