Kiwi vs Skyscanner vs EDreams: Which Flight Booking Site Is Best? 

Choosing between Kiwi, Skyscanner, and EDreams changes how much you pay for flights and how smoothly your booking goes. After using all three platforms to book dozens of flights to Valencia and across Europe, I’ve learned which one actually saves money and which ones create headaches.

My Winner:

Honestly, Kiwi wins for me. Here’s why.

The Comparison Experiment

I need to book a flight for my sister in New York in June (of 2026). So I ran some tests to see which of these platforms actually give me the best prices (and options). 

And not just prices based on the FIRST page, but what you’d actually pay at checkout.

…which isn’t always the same price…

I did all of this from the same computer, within the same 15 minutes from Valencia, Spain. I tried to keep everything as fair as possible. For science. 

So let’s get into my results. 

How These Platforms Actually Work

Before comparing prices, you need to understand what these sites actually do. They’re not all the same.

Kiwi Is an OTA

Kiwi.com functions as an Online Travel Agency. That means they book your flight directly.

You pay Kiwi. They issue your ticket. They handle customer service.

Additionally, Kiwi uses “virtual interlining” to combine flights from different airlines that don’t normally work together. This creates cheaper routes you won’t find anywhere else.

This does have pros and cons, though. More on that later. 

Skyscanner Is a Search Engine

Skyscanner doesn’t sell flights anymore. They used to, but that changed recently.

Now Skyscanner is purely a meta-search engine. You search on their site. They show results from airlines and booking sites. Then they redirect you elsewhere to actually book.

This means Skyscanner doesn’t handle your booking. Whatever site they send you to becomes responsible.

Sometimes that’s the airline directly. Great. Other times it’s a third-party site with questionable customer service. Not great.

EDreams Is Also an OTA

Like Kiwi, EDreams books flights directly. They’re based in Spain and operate throughout Europe.

However, EDreams has a bit of a mixed reputation. 

Plus, they do something that REALLY bothers me. Which is that the price on the search page is NOT the final price you’ll actually pay…

Price Comparison: Who’s Actually Cheapest?

Price matters most when booking flights. So I tested all three for the same routes.

New York to Valencia, June 5—13th, 2026

• Kiwi: €686 (or €767 for the premium service)
• Skyscanner: €695 to €720 on different sites
• EDreams: €715 (or €622 if you subscribe to their Prime service)

The Results

In other words, Kiwi consistently comes out as the cheapest option. Because even though EDreams has an even cheaper flight route, that’s ONLY if you get an annual subscription. 

So… you don’t actually end up saving money…

And Skyscanner just sends you to other pages. Like Kiwi and EDreams. And the prices go up because Skyscanner gets a commission from these brands (they swear they don’t…but this is literally their business model). 

Plus, a VERY important note is that the entire booking experience was a lot more simple and easy-to-follow. I do appreciate a not-shady-looking UI when I’m making a huge purchase like this. 

Why Kiwi Is My Top Choice

I prefer Kiwi for several reasons beyond just price.

Direct Booking

You book and pay on Kiwi’s site. Done.

No redirecting to third-party sites. No wondering who actually holds your ticket. No dealing with multiple customer service teams if something goes wrong.

This simplicity matters when flights get cancelled or delayed.

You do the check in directly on their app. Simple. 

Virtual Interlining Creates Deals

Kiwi’s virtual interlining is genuinely innovative. They combine flights that airlines don’t always sell together.

This means that sometimes you can get a better deal than getting them elsewhere. 

However, there’s a catch. Virtual interlining means separate tickets. If your first flight delays and you miss the connection, the second airline won’t help. You’ll need Kiwi’s Guarantee to cover you.

Which brings me to…

The Kiwi Guarantee

Kiwi Guarantee offers protection for missed connections on virtual interline bookings. They’ll rebook you or refund if things go wrong.

In fact, if your flight gets delayed by 5+ hours, you’ll automatically get a credit to rebook a new flight. Which is fantastic if you’re flying to a country where you don’t speak the language and can’t deal with the airport. 

Personally I like this, you get some assurances directly with the booking platform. You don’t have to deal with an external insurance agency. 

If you want to skip the guarantee, here’s my recommended Travel Insurance. 

Flexible Date Search

All three platforms offer flexible date searches. But Kiwi’s interface makes it easiest.

You can search “anytime” and see price calendars for entire months. You can set trip lengths (like “10-14 days”) and let Kiwi show options.

This helps when you’re flexible and hunting for deals.

The Mobile App Works Well

It’s easy to search for flights and get access to all your information right away. You get instant notifications and the check-in process is super easy. 

Which, for me – the check-in process is super important. Since I am a resident (but not a citizen) in Spain, I always end up having random issues with bureaucracy. But with Kiwi’s app, so far I haven’t had any issues. 

In contrast, I’ve had EDreams’ app crash mid-booking twice. Skyscanner’s app is fine but just redirects you to browsers anyway.

Where Kiwi Falls Short

No platform is perfect. Kiwi has legitimate weaknesses.

Customer Service Complaints

Many travelers report problems with Kiwi’s customer service. Slow responses. Difficulty getting refunds. Confusing policies. To be fair, they only have a 4.0 score on Trustpilot. 

So maybe I’ve been lucky. My one customer service interaction (a missed connection) went smoothly. But I’ve read enough horror stories to know not everyone has that experience.

But in my experience, if you miss a connection… your life is probably going to be very stressful no matter what platform you booked through. 

I personally have no complaints about customer service. But I do want to point out that others have had issues. 

Virtual Interlining Risks

Those super cheap prices from combining airlines come with risk. You’re on separate tickets.

If your first flight cancels, the second airline doesn’t care. They won’t rebook you. You’ll need Kiwi’s guarantee to fix it.

Now this doesn’t happen with EVERY flight you book. It’s only for special flight connections that don’t usually exist. If this is the case, just absolutely make sure you have a layover that’s long enough to deal with any potential mishaps. 

Why Skyscanner Isn’t My First Choice Anymore

Skyscanner used to be my go-to. Not anymore.

No Direct Booking

The biggest problem? Skyscanner doesn’t book flights. They just redirect you.

This means you’re not saving time. You still need to go to another site and book there.

Additionally, Skyscanner sometimes shows prices that aren’t actually available. You click through and the price jumps €30.

➡️ Here’s a full article from when I used to use Skyscanner.

Less Predictable Results

Because Skyscanner redirects to multiple partners, your booking experience varies wildly.

Sometimes you get sent to the airline directly. Perfect.

Other times you end up at some obscure booking site you’ve never heard of. Then you’re gambling on whether they’re legitimate.

Still Has Value

Skyscanner isn’t useless. I still use it occasionally for comparison shopping.

Their “Search Everywhere” feature helps when you’re flexible on destination. And their interface is clean and fast.

But for actually booking? I go elsewhere.

Why EDreams Ranks Last

EDreams consistently disappoints. I’ve booked through them twice. Both times I regretted it.

Hidden Fees Everywhere

EDreams shows a price. Then they add booking fees, payment fees, and other charges.

That €120 flight becomes €145 by the final screen.

Moreover, they try to sneak you into a “Prime” membership that costs €60/year. You have to actively uncheck it during booking.

Terrible Customer Service Reviews

EDreams has consistently awful reviews on Trustpilot. 

Common complaints include:

• Refunds taking months
• Surprise charges
• Impossible to reach support
• Booked on wrong flights

Maybe it’s just that all travel booking tools have bad customer service reviews. After all, if you have to deal with customer service…it’s cause you’re stressed out and potentially stranded.

No Real Advantages

EDreams doesn’t offer anything Kiwi and Skyscanner don’t do better.

Their prices are higher. Their interface is clunkier. 

To be fair, my (Valencian) partner used to book all his international flights through EDreams. But it’s been YEARS since they’ve had cheaper flights. And he actually HAS had very bad experiences with customer support. 

My Actual Booking Process

Here’s how I book flights to Valencia (or anywhere in Europe):

Step 1: Check Skyscanner for Comparison

What I DO use Skyscanner for is checking out which cities have the cheapest flights at the moment. So if I want to plan a trip – but I don’t know where yet – sometimes I’ll do this.

But again, only if I’m looking to figure out where I want to go. 

Step 2: Search on Kiwi

I start with Kiwi.com. I input my cities and dates.

I use their flexible date search to see if shifting by a day or two saves money when I can.

If Kiwi shows a good deal on a direct flight, I book immediately.

Step 3: Check the Airline Directly

If I’m booking a simple route (Valencia to Madrid, for example), I check the airline’s website.

Sometimes Ryanair or Vueling offers the same price as Kiwi.

But for lengthier flights that are cross-Atlantic, for some reason it’s almost always easier to book through Kiwi. 

Platform Comparison Chart

Here’s a quick reference:

Kiwi:

• Direct booking: Yes
• Virtual interlining: Yes
• Customer service: Mixed reviews, good for me
• Best for: Finding cheap deals and complex routes

Skyscanner:

• Direct booking: No (redirects only)
• Virtual interlining: No
• Customer service: N/A (they don’t book)
• Best for: Comparison shopping

EDreams:

• Direct booking: Yes
• Virtual interlining: No
• Customer service: Poor reviews
• Best for: Nothing really

When to Use Each Platform

Despite Kiwi being my preference, the others have specific use cases.

Use Kiwi When:

• You want the cheapest option
• You’re flexible on routing
• You’re willing to accept virtual interline risks (again, only on some flights)

Use Skyscanner When:

• You want to compare all options quickly
• You’re exploring different destinations
• You prefer booking directly with airlines
• You’re researching prices before deciding

Use EDreams When:

• You absolutely have to (because nothing else works)
• You’re very careful about hidden fees
• You screenshot everything during booking

Another Alternative: Trip.com

One other interesting alternative is Trip. During the research, I found this brand as well. I found that they offered the same flight for €647 — which is the cheapest option! 

And while they did offer several upsells during the booking process, there were also several discount options available. 

They also have a 4.4-Star Review on Trustpilot, which is the highest I’ve seen so far! 

So I’m including this as an interesting option because I may try them in the future. However, I don’t have a personal experience with them, so I can’t vouch for them personally. 

They seem to function similarly to something like Expedia, where you can book your flights, hotels, and cars all on the same platform. So definitely something I’ll be looking into for future trips. 

And since I often get annoyed by Booking for hotels – this seems like a good candidate! 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I’ve made these errors. Learn from me.

Booking Too Late

I once booked flights to Valencia just a couples months out through Kiwi. For international flights… this was definitely too late. 

Generally, 6 months in advance hits the sweet spot.

Ignoring Total Price

That €50 flight on EDreams? It’ll be €80 after fees.

Always scroll to the final price before getting excited.

Not Reading Luggage Policies

By default, a lot of these airlines only allow for small carry-ons. 

If you need a full suitcase, please make sure you’re paying extra attention! Otherwise you’ll be in for a very expensive surprise at the airport. 

Trusting Reviews Blindly

Sites like Skyscanner have okay reviews. But remember they don’t actually book your flight.

The booking site they redirect you to might be terrible.

Always check who you’re actually paying.

Putting Up With Flight Delays

At least within the EU, you’re entitled to compensation if your flight gets delayed. So besides getting a new flight accommodation through Kiwi, you ALSO can get an economic compensation. 

If you don’t want to deal with filing paperwork — I highly recommend AirHelp. I used them for a flight to Germany and ended up getting around €200 back. 

Final Recommendation

Best overall: Kiwi

• Cheapest prices
• Direct booking
• Virtual interlining finds deals

Best for research: Skyscanner

• Clean interface
• Comprehensive results
• Shows airline direct bookings

Avoid: EDreams

• Hidden fees
• Poor customer service
• No advantages over competitors

This reflects my experience living in Valencia and booking dozens of European flights. Your mileage may vary.

But I’d bet money that Kiwi saves you more on your next flight!

Try it yourself here

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Related Resources

Planning your Valencia trip? Check these guides:

• Valencia Travel Budget – Total trip costs
• Valencia Airport Guide – Getting to the city
• Best Time to Visit Valencia – When to fly
• Where to Stay in Valencia – Accommodation tips
• Public Transport in Valencia – After you land