Kayak Review

Category: Travel
Cost/Platforms: Free for Apple, Android and Blackberry devices; $1 for ad-free version for iPhones and iPad

Overall Rating:
Multiplatform:
Lots of function for nothing:
Fun and easy to use:
Solves a real travel need or challenge:

Shop for flights, hotels and car rentals on the fly.

Why we like it -- Kayak has created one of the most user-friendly travel apps, and although competitors (most notably OnTheFly) are catching up, it remains a category stalwart. The app lets you shop across a wide range of travel providers with ease.

Thanks to a recent update, Kayak will also offer cheaper options to those who are flexible on their travel dates. The smartphone version of the app pales in comparison to the iPad version, which makes great use of the extra screen space, to offer more booking options.

No matter the format, though, it’s more than just a booking app. The “Airports” tab offers detailed guides to amenities at the nation’s busiest airports, as well as many major international airports.

It’s one indication of how ambitious Kayak is about its mobile strategy. As such, this app will likely grow more full-featured with time, even as competitors join the fray.

Improvements we’d like to see -- You can’t book travel from within the app, so you must instead use your mobile web browser and squint your way through the booking process.

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