The 4 Best Airline Apps for Flying in 2026
With low-cost airlines the app has stopped being an extra: printing your boarding pass at the airport costs more than the ticket on some routes. And when there is a delay or a cancellation, whoever has the app rebooks from their seat while everyone else queues. In this guide we compare the 4 best airline apps in 2026.
Airline Apps for Check-In and Boarding Passes
Airline apps with online check-in, digital boarding passes that work offline, gate and delay alerts, baggage and seat management, and rebooking when something goes wrong.
Top pick
Vueling
Free · 5M+
Best Rated
4.7
277K reviews
TopApps analysis
Vueling's app is among the best rated in the sector in Spain: fast check-in, boarding pass in your phone wallet and solid handling of disruption.
The Vueling app is among the best rated of the airlines operating in Spain, with a quick check-in process and a boarding pass that saves straight to your phone wallet. It shows flight status in real time and lets you change seats on the fly.
Pros
- Among the best rated airline apps in Spain
- Boarding pass in your phone wallet
- Real-time flight status
Cons
- Flight changes are still expensive
- Frequent marketing notifications
- The app asks for a lot of permissions
Ryanair
Free · 50M+
The Most Necessary
4.2
385K reviews
TopApps analysis
With Ryanair the app is not optional: the digital boarding pass is free, while printing one at the airport carries a hefty surcharge.
The Ryanair app is practically compulsory if you fly with them: the digital boarding pass is free, while printing one at the airport carries a hefty fee. You can check in the moment it opens and keep your tickets available offline.
Pros
- Free digital boarding pass
- Check in the moment it opens, no queues
- Tickets available offline
Cons
- Pushes extras at you constantly
- Late check-in comes with a surcharge
- Interface crowded with promotions
Iberia
Free · 5M+
Best for Disruption
4.3
71K reviews
TopApps analysis
Iberia lets you rebook onto another flight from the app when there is a delay or cancellation, without queuing at the desk, and it integrates Iberia Plus Avios.
The Iberia app brings together booking, check-in and the Iberia Plus programme, with access to your boarding pass and your accumulated Avios. Its main advantage over the website is disruption handling: if a flight is delayed or cancelled, you can rebook yourself without queuing at the desk.
Pros
- Rebook yourself after a disruption, no queuing
- Iberia Plus and Avios built in
- Digital boarding pass, also in the wallet
Cons
- Modest rating compared with other airlines
- Occasional failures loading older bookings
- Interface less nimble than Vueling's
Last updated: 2026-08-04
Wizz Air
Free · 10M+
Best for Eastern Europe
4.7
755K reviews
TopApps analysis
Wizz Air is very well rated and covers routes from Spain to destinations the others don't fly, with free check-in and boarding pass in the app.
Wizz Air keeps adding routes from Spain to Eastern Europe, and its app is surprisingly well built: free check-in from the phone, digital boarding pass and clear alerts. As with any low-cost carrier, the line between what is included and what costs extra is a thin one.
Pros
- Very well rated by users
- Free check-in and boarding pass in the app
- Good routes to Eastern Europe from Spain
Cons
- Charges for almost everything beyond the seat itself
- Airport check-in carries a steep surcharge
- Patchy route network from some cities
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to check in through the app?
It isn't compulsory, but with low-cost carriers it is far cheaper. Ryanair and Wizz Air charge a significant fee to issue a boarding pass at the airport, and in some cases that charge is more than the fare itself. The free window is also limited: do it as soon as it opens, normally 24 to 48 hours before departure.
Does the boarding pass work offline?
Yes, in all these apps, as long as you downloaded it beforehand. That matters because airport wi-fi tends to fail exactly at the security check. The safest option is to save it in your phone wallet or take a screenshot as a backup, since the barcode is all they need to scan.
What do I do if my flight is cancelled?
European Regulation 261/2004 gives you the right to alternative transport, assistance and, depending on the cause and how much notice you were given, financial compensation. The Iberia app lets you rebook directly; with low-cost carriers you usually have to claim separately. Always keep your boarding pass and expense receipts, because they are the basis of any later claim.
Is the airline app worth installing, or is email enough?
The app gives you three things email doesn't: real-time gate change alerts, a boarding pass available offline, and disruption handling without phoning anyone. If you fly with that airline once a year it may not be worth it; if you fly with any regularity, it saves a lot of grief.
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