You are looking for the best apps to find cheap accommodation? No problem, I’ve got you covered!
With more than seven years of travel experience, I’ve tried countless different websites to book hotels, hostels, and budget guest houses. Doing this, I noticed that it can make a huge difference where you book your accommodation. Often, you can find the exact same hotel on several sites for different prices.
To help you save money on your travels, I put together a list of the best apps for cheap accommodation (and some of the following booking portals even offer free places to stay)!
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1. Agoda – Best App for Cheap Accommodation
Agoda* is by far my favorite app to book cheap accommodation. The site offers a wide range of hotels and guest houses for low prices as well as a best price guarantee. If you find the same listing on a different booking portal for a cheaper price, Agoda will refund you the difference. They also offer unbeatable 24-hour flash-deals, which is a huge bonus if you book last-minute.
Plus, if you create an account, you can get cashback on completed bookings and participate in the loyalty program, through which you can reach different VIP-levels. Higher levels provide you access to better deals and lower prices.
As a long-term traveler, I use Agoda for almost all my hotel bookings! The app is easy to navigate, and the best price guarantee ensures that you book accommodation for the cheapest price possible.
Agoda at a glance:
- Best app for cheap accommodation
- Best price guarantee
- Loyalty program for better deals
- Cashback rewards
- Unbeatable last-minute deals
Tip: Although Agoda is a good resource in many countries around the globe, it works particularly well in Southeast Asia, where it offers a large selection of guest houses and budget hotels for ridiculously low prices! For more information about the topic, check out my best saving tips for Southeast Asia!
2. Booking.com – Largest Booking Portal for Cheap Hotels
With a large selection of accommodations, Booking.com* is one of the most popular websites for cheap hotels. As Agoda and Booking.com are owned by the same company, Booking also offers a best price guarantee. Plus, almost all accommodations on booking.com can be canceled free of charge up until 1 day before check in.
Similarly to Agoda, Booking.com also offers a loyalty program. If you regularly book through the app, your profile can achieve higher “genius levels” which results in discounts of up to 30% and other perks like free breakfast in selected hotels.
Booking.com at a glance:
- One of the best websites for cheap hotels
- Cheapest price guarantee
- Free cancellation for most bookings
- Loyalty program for better deals
3. Couchsurfing – Best App for Free Accommodation and Cultural Exchange
Couchsurfing is my favorite app for free accommodation. Well, at least almost free… You have to pay a subscription fee of about 14 USD per year, and then you can use the app as much as you want to find free places to stay.
When signing up for the app, you can register either as a couchsurfer or as a host. As a host, you provide other travelers with a place to sleep in your home – this can be a guest room, a mattress, or simply a couch in your living room. Couchsurfers can use the app to find hosts and reach out to them.
However, you should be aware that Couchsurfing should NOT only be viewed as an opportunity to find a free place to stay!
Rather, it’s about cultural exchange and meeting locals in the destination you travel to! If you’re just looking for a free place to sleep but don’t feel like spending time with your host, you shouldn’t couchsurf and book a cheap hotel or guesthouse instead. Always be respectful to your host and don’t contact anyone if you’re not open-minded to spend time with them!
More tips: Before contacting a host, take a close look at his or her profile. Evaluate if the person sounds like someone you could get along with, and read the reviews of previous couchsurfers to ensure the host is not some weirdo ;).
Couchsurfing at a glance:
- Best app for free accommodation and cultural exchange
- Great option to meet locals
- Places to sleep can vary (couch, mattresses, bed, etc.)
- Membership cost: 14 USD per year
Tip: You can also use the app to meet up with locals and fellow travelers, even if you don’t stay with a host. Just check if there are any Couchsurfing events happening in your area to explore the city with a local or grab some beers with other backpackers!
4. Hostelworld – Best App for Cheap Hostels
If you’re on a backpacking trip, you may not only want to find cheap accommodation but also a place with a social atmosphere. In this case, staying in a hostel might be just what you’re looking for!
The best app to book hostels is Hostelworld*, which provides the largest selection of hostels around the globe. No matter, where you want to go: This site has got you covered!
The app is easy to navigate and shows you all available hostels in the area you’re traveling to. Usually, you can choose between differently sized dorm rooms, but sometimes you can also find private rooms.
Furthermore, hostels usually provide a kitchen, which is a huge bonus when traveling through expensive countries. You probably won’t need a kitchen if you eat cheap Thai food every day, but if you’re traveling through countries like Australia, the US, or New Zealand, the option to cook can save you loooads of money!
Hostelworld at a glance:
- Largest and best selection of hostels
- Best option to meet fellow travelers
- Many hostels provide a kitchen
- Options between different-sized dorm rooms and sometimes private rooms
5. Workaway – Free Accommodation in exchange for Work
If you want to save money on accommodation while traveling, you should check out Workaway – an app through which you can find cheap accommodation in exchange for a few hours of work per day. There are many jobs you can find through the app, from farm work to housekeeping or reception jobs in hostels.
In exchange, the host provides accommodation and – depending on the gig – potentially free food as well. To ensure that you’re happy with the work requirements, you should thoroughly communicate with your host beforehand. Ask what exactly will be expected of you and what you will get in return, so that you won’t get a nasty surprise on arrival!
Workaway is operating in 170 countries and is therefore the largest platform for work exchange out there. A membership for an individual worker costs $49 or $59 for a joint account with your travel partner.
If you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, you can also check out Woofing, which is the best platform to find jobs on organic farms or HelpX.
Workaway at a glance:
- Free accommodation in exchange for work
- Available in 170 countries
- Work requirements depend on the job
- You can create an individual or a couple’s account
- Membership cost: $49 per year as an individual worker
Beware: I’ve heard of some people getting scammed through apps like Workaway. These apps are for volunteers to work in exchange for a free place to stay. Your host may ask you to cook your own food, but you should NEVER have to pay for a place to sleep – this is what you’re working for!
6. AirBnB – Best App for Cheap Vacation Rentals
Photo from Peggy
AirBnB is the best app to book cheap vacation rentals, apartments, or studio-apartments. The platform offers more than 6 millions listings in 220 countries and regions.
With that being said, I also have to mention that AirBnB works better in some countries than others. While you can find beautiful apartments for cheap prices in Western countries (especially in Europe), the listings in some Asian countries (for example Southeast Asia and Central Asia) are quite expensive compared to accommodations on other platforms.
Also, in some cities like Barcelona, Paris, and Amsterdam short-term rentals through the app are restricted to help fight increasing rent prices for locals.
Nonetheless, it’s worth checking it out – sometimes you can find real gems through AirBnB!
AirBnB at a glance:
- Best app for cheap apartments and vacation rentals
- More than 6 million listings in 220 countries and regions
- Strict policies in some cities
- Works best for rentals in Europe and other Western countries
7. TrustedHousesitter – Best App for House- and Petsitting
Although I haven’t tried this site myself (yet), TrustedHousesitters is one of the best apps for cheap accommodation in a cozy and homey environment.
The site connects pet parents who are going on holidays with house sitters. As a house sitter, you’re responsible to look after the pets and the other person’s home. Depending on your agreement, you may also be asked to do minor household tasks like watering the flowers or receiving mail. In exchange for your time and work, you can stay in the pet parent’s home for free the time being.
A membership as a house sitter costs $129 per year. This may seem like a lot, but if you use the app a lot to find free places to stay, you can save a lot of money on your travels.
TrustedHousesitters at a glance:
- Free accommodation in exchange for pet and house sitting
- Non-flexible dates
- Cozy and homey places to stay
- Membership cost: $129 per year
FAQ
Agoda is the best app for cheap hotels. It offers a best price guarantee, unbeatable 24-hour flash deals, cashback rewards, and a loyalty program through which you can get access to better deals if you use the app regularly!
You can book cheap hotels through apps like Booking.com and Agoda. Both platforms offer a best price guarantee. If you book an accommodation and later find it for a cheaper price on a different platform, Booking.com and Agoda will refund you the difference.
Booking.com and Agoda are quite similar in some respects. Both platforms advertise with a loyalty program and a best price guarantee. Nevertheless, Agoda offers better deals (especially for returning customers with higher VIP-levels) and thanks to the cashback program you can get money back for your completed bookings. For this reason, Agoda is even better than Booking.com.
Booking.com and Expedia are two booking portals for cheap accommodation. However, I find Booking.com even better than Expedia, as Booking.com offers a best price guarantee. Also, the Booking.com app is more user-friendly and easier to navigate.
As you can see, there are many great apps for cheap accommodation available. Which app suits you best, depends on your travel style and desired comfort level. If you’re looking for the best apps to find cheap hotels and guest houses, you should check out Agoda and Booking.com. AirBnBs on the other hand are a good choice if you’re looking for a homey apartment or studio. More booking portals for cheap accommodation include Hostelworld which is best for backpackers, Couchsurfing and Workaway if you’re interested in cultural exchange, and TrustedHousesitters!
You are reading: The Best Apps for Cheap Accommodation
Hi Lena,
Das ist eine top Zusammenfassung. Trusted Housesitter ist echt nach wie vor ein Geheimtipp.
Kennst du auch Hostelz? Da es in deiner List nicht erwähnt wird, dachte ich, ich pitche dir das mal. Hostelz vergleicht Preise von Hostelworld, Booking mehr – Ohne Aufschlag oder so marketing-bs. Das könnte dir gefallen!
Beste Grüße, Gute Reise,
Giulietta