If you're searching for cheap flights in Southeast Asia, you've probably used at least one of these three platforms: Aviasales, Skyscanner, or Google Flights. They all claim to find you the best deals, but do they actually return the same results? We decided to find out.
We searched the same 10 popular Southeast Asia routes on all three platforms, on the same day, for the same travel dates. We recorded the cheapest price each platform found, noted which airlines appeared, and tracked how easy the booking process was. The results were surprisingly different.
This isn't a sponsored comparison. We use affiliate links (disclosed below), but the rankings are based entirely on our test results. If a platform lost, we say so.
How We Tested
We selected 10 of the most popular budget flight routes in Southeast Asia:
- Bangkok (BKK) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
- Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok (BKK)
- Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Bali (DPS)
- Bangkok (BKK) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
- Manila (MNL) to Singapore (SIN)
- Bangkok (BKK) to Phuket (HKT)
- Jakarta (CGK) to Singapore (SIN)
- Hanoi (HAN) to Bangkok (BKK)
- Singapore (SIN) to Bali (DPS)
- Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Manila (MNL)
For each route, we searched for one-way flights departing 3 weeks from the test date. We used incognito mode, no VPN, and searched from the same location. We recorded the lowest displayed price including all taxes and fees.
Aviasales: The Southeast Asia Specialist
Aviasales consistently found the lowest prices on 6 out of 10 routes. This wasn't a huge surprise, as the platform has deep partnerships with Asian low-cost carriers like AirAsia, VietJet, Lion Air, and Cebu Pacific.
The key advantage of Aviasales for Southeast Asia flights is that it indexes smaller regional airlines that Skyscanner and Google Flights sometimes miss. On the Bangkok to Phuket route, for example, Aviasales found a Nok Air fare that didn't appear on either competitor.
The interface is clean and functional, though not as polished as Google Flights. The calendar view showing the cheapest days to fly is particularly useful for flexible travelers. One downside: Aviasales redirects you to third-party booking sites (like Trip.com or the airline's own site) rather than handling the booking itself, which can occasionally lead to price discrepancies at checkout.
Best for: Finding the absolute cheapest fare, especially on Asian low-cost carriers. The price calendar feature is excellent for flexible dates.
Skyscanner: The All-Rounder
Skyscanner found the cheapest price on 3 out of 10 routes. It's a solid platform with a massive airline database, but it didn't consistently beat Aviasales on Southeast Asian routes.
Skyscanner's main strength is its "Everywhere" search feature, which shows you the cheapest destinations from your departure city. This is great for inspiration, but less useful if you already know where you're going. The interface is well-designed and the mobile app is excellent.
One issue we noticed: Skyscanner sometimes displayed prices that increased by $5-15 when we clicked through to the booking page. This "bait and switch" pricing is frustrating and erodes trust. It happened on 2 of our 10 test routes.
Best for: Exploring destinations when you're flexible on where to go. Good mobile experience. Wide airline coverage globally.
Google Flights: The Fastest Experience
Google Flights found the cheapest price on only 1 out of 10 routes (it tied with Aviasales on 2 others). For Southeast Asia specifically, it was consistently the most expensive option.
However, Google Flights has significant advantages in user experience. The interface is the cleanest and fastest of the three. The price tracking feature (which alerts you when fares drop) is genuinely useful. And the calendar/date grid view is the best implementation we've seen.
The main weakness for Southeast Asia is coverage. Google Flights doesn't index several budget carriers as comprehensively as Aviasales. We found that Lion Air, Nok Air, and some VietJet routes were either missing or showed higher prices than what was available directly.
Best for: Quick searches when you need a fast answer. Price tracking alerts. The cleanest user interface of the three.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Aviasales | Skyscanner | Google Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest price found (out of 10 routes) | 6 routes | 3 routes | 1 route |
| Average price difference vs cheapest | $0 (baseline) | +$8 | +$14 |
| Budget airline coverage (SEA) | Excellent | Good | Fair |
| User interface | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Price accuracy (displayed vs checkout) | High | Medium | High |
| Mobile app | Good | Excellent | Good |
| Price calendar/flexible dates | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Price tracking alerts | No | Yes | Yes |
Our Verdict
For Southeast Asia flights specifically, Aviasales is the clear winner. It found the cheapest fare on 6 out of 10 routes and has the best coverage of regional budget airlines. If you're flying within Southeast Asia, start your search here.
Skyscanner is a solid second choice, especially if you're flexible on your destination. The "Everywhere" feature is genuinely useful for finding cheap getaways. Just be aware that displayed prices don't always match the final checkout price.
Google Flights is best for quick lookups and price tracking, but it's not the place to find the absolute cheapest Southeast Asia fares. Use it to set price alerts, then book through Aviasales when the price drops.
Our recommendation: Search on Aviasales first, then cross-check on Google Flights for peace of mind. If you find a lower price on Google Flights (rare for SEA routes), book there instead.
Try them yourself: