The 3 best smart travel apps on iOS for 2023

Traveling can be a fun and exciting experience, but planning a trip can often be stressful, time-consuming, and ultimately disastrous. Fortunately, with iOS and the millions of apps in the iOS App Store, travel planning just got a whole lot easier. There are many travel apps available for iOS that help you plan your trip, book your flights and find the best deals. I am personally in the process of booking a trip in the fall with several flights, hotels and countries. The three apps I mentioned made planning this trip so much easier.

Before we start

If you are a veteran of the travel hacking and credit card points game, this post may not be for you. I focus primarily on apps that help you get the best deals in dollar terms, not points/miles redemptions. Let’s get started now!

FareDop is one of my absolute favorite apps to help me find the best deals when it comes to flights. If you have a flexible schedule and want to travel on the cheap, then look no further than Freddrop. This app is the brain child of travel YouTubers Cara and Nate. They wanted to help people find cheap ways to travel so they could explore the world like they did.

FareDrop works by tracking price drops and notifying you when there’s a deal. The app tracks prices for specific flights and sends notifications when the price drops, allowing you to book the flight at a lower cost. It’s easy to set up – all you do is select a few airports in your area, and it uses that information to find flights from that airport. These are the fares displayed on the dashboard. So you can see it’s only $108 from NYC to DC!

By default, FareDrop offers free service for domestic economy flights. There are two other plans to consider, especially if you want to fly internationally. The first paid plan is $49 per year and gives you the same alert system but includes international economy flights. The second and highest tier gets you business class flights domestically and internationally for $99 a year. So if you’re looking to step up to the business class but still want to pay less, the Global Pro plan might be for you. I’ve booked a few domestic flights with it, and it’s saved me hundreds of dollars, waiting for alerts to come through. It is constantly being improved and updated.

Hopper is another iOS app that focuses on helping you find the best deals on flights. The app uses advanced algorithms to predict when flight prices are the lowest, and can suggest the best time to book your flight. Hopper claims to be able to save users up to 40% on their flights by finding great deals.

One of Hopper’s best features is the price tracking function. You can set alerts for specific flights, and the app will notify you when the price drops. You can also use the app to search for flights and compare prices on different airlines. Hopper offers a price calendar showing the best days to fly for the cheapest fares.

Hopper not only lets you book prices for flights, but also hotels, car rentals, and vacation rentals like Airbnb. Over the years, Hopper has added plenty of features like free rewards, carrot cash, and their own store. The main features are free to use, but you can buy things like Hopper Matches, Hopper to Carrot Cash and more when you deposit up to $20.

Some have said that Hopper has added too many functions and features — to the point of being a bit complicated — but if you’ve used Hopper before, you know how useful it can be when planning a trip months in advance. Their pricing calendar and alert system alone are worth a try for Hopper.

Flight is the new kid on the block. I learned about it when Live Activity was introduced in iOS 16 and started seeing really cool flight tracking on users’ lock screens. Flight is a little different from the first two apps I mentioned. Flight is primarily used to keep tabs on your upcoming or current flight. But it provides more information than you might think.

Sure, you get the usual stuff like flight duration, origin and destination, but it goes beyond that. It helps you stay updated on any changes to your flights, from delays to cancellations. The app uses machine learning algorithms to predict potential problems with your flights, and can suggest alternative flights if you experience disruptions. This means you can plan for any delays and avoid surprises at the airport.

One of Felay’s best features is its ability to track your flights in real time. The app uses information from multiple sources to provide accurate information about your flight, including gate changes and estimated departure and arrival times. It can also provide push notifications about any changes to your flight status, so you’re always up to date.

Then my favorite part of the app is the flight log. Flight starts tracking how many miles you’ve flown, flights taken, which airports you’ve visited, and how many countries you’ve visited. There’s a free trial that unlocks all of their cool services, and it costs $49.99 a year. If you travel more than once a year, I think it’s worth it!

wrap up

These three travel apps are among the best options for iOS users who want to plan their trip, find the best deals on flights, and track wherever they go. Whether you’re looking for real-time flight information, flight price forecasts or price tracking functions, Flighty, Hopper and FareDrop have you covered. With the help of these apps, you can make your travel experience more enjoyable, stress-free and save some hard-earned money on the road.

What do you think about these apps? Have you tried them before? How often do you travel? Let’s chat in the comments and see what other readers do to stretch their dollar while traveling!

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