Travel apps were responsible for over $1 trillion in value creation in 2024, with approximately 44 percent of all travel app bookings made via apps. These apps have become key in organising the various bookings that go into a successful trip, and there are plenty of apps available for each type of travel niche.
According to the Travel App Report, over 900 million people used travel apps in 2024. Since the pandemic, users are relying even more on apps to create their perfect experience, and the majority of online travel agencies have seen their revenues exceed 2019 levels.
In our market map, we cover all of the major subsectors of the industry with the top apps in each:
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- Marketplace: Many travel apps now bundle hotels, flights, home rentals, car hire, and more into a single marketplace. Providers such as Booking, Expedia and TripAdvisor offer these services through their own subsidiaries and third-party partners. Google Travel takes a different approach, acting purely as a portal to other vendors and earning commission from each referral.
- Rentals: The short-term rental market has expanded rapidly over the past decade, largely driven by Airbnb and Vrbo. Newer platforms like Sonder, Sykes and Plum Guide have emerged with a more curated approach, offering stays tailored to specific styles or premium-market customers.
- Hotels: Some booking platforms remain focused on hotels. Hotels.com, HotelTonight, Agoda and trivago have partnerships with hundreds of thousands of properties, earning commission on each booking. ResortPass adds a twist, allowing users to access hotel amenities—like spas and cabanas—without staying overnight.
- Flights: Apps like Skyscanner, KAYAK and Kiwi specialise in finding the cheapest flight options, with tools to track fare trends and identify the most affordable travel days. CLEAR streamlines the airport experience by consolidating required documents in one app.
- Event Booking: For those travelling for entertainment, apps like Ticketmaster, StubHub and Eventbrite are go-to platforms for booking events. Meanwhile, GetYourGuide, Headout and Klook offer tickets to top attractions and guided tours in many major cities.
- Restaurant Booking: Finding great local food is a key part of travel. Apps like OpenTable, Yelp, Resy and TheFork help diners reserve tables while offering user reviews and ratings to avoid tourist traps.
- Taxis: Navigating a new city can be tricky, but taxi and ride-hailing apps make it easier. Uber is the most widely available, while Lyft, Bolt, FreeNow and inDrive serve specific regions where they are popular and reliable.
- Car Rental: Renting a car is another flexible option. Sixt, Turo and Avis offer vehicles of all types, while Zipcar uses a map-based system (similar to Lime and Bird) for hourly or daily car rentals.
- Planners: Organising a multi-stop trip can be stressful, but apps like TripIt, Wanderlog and Allyz help users plan day-by-day activities. Rome2Rio, Moovit and Roadtrippers assist with mapping out routes and identifying the best transport options.
- Maps: For finding your way, classic mapping apps like Google Maps, Waze and Citymapper provide directions and real-time data. AllTrails is ideal for hikers, offering curated walking routes and a community of outdoor enthusiasts.
- Trackers: Want to know where your flight is? Flightradar24, Flighty and FlightAware let you track flights in real time. Interrail and NextBus provide similar tracking for rail travel in Europe and buses in U.S. metro areas, respectively.
- Translation Tools: If you’re rusty on your language skills, translation apps like Google Translate, iTranslate and DeepL offer quick and effective help in real time.
- Money Transfer: Avoid hefty transaction fees abroad with services like Revolut, Wise and Remitly, which offer low-cost or fee-free international spending.
- Weather: Apps like The Weather Channel, AccuWeather and the Met Office provide accurate forecasts to help you pack appropriately and plan ahead.
- Luggage: To keep tabs on your bags, Airtag and Tile offer GPS-enabled tags with real-time tracking. If you need to stash your luggage while exploring, Bounce and StowYourBags help locate nearby storage options.
Download the Travel App Market Map here to get a comprehensive view of the market and all of the top apps.
