Ryanair vs easyJet: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?

Ryanair vs easyJet: Which Is Cheaper for Your Trip?

I almost booked the wrong airline. Last autumn I was looking for a quick trip from London to Amsterdam and Ryanair’s headline fare was €19 — roughly half what easyJet was showing. I nearly clicked buy before I remembered to actually add the bag. By the time I’d ticked a cabin bag and chosen a seat that wasn’t the last row, the two airlines were within €4 of each other.

That gap — between the headline fare and what you actually pay — is the whole Ryanair vs easyJet debate. Neither airline is definitively cheaper. The one that wins depends on your route, how you pack, when you book and what you’re willing to skip. Here’s the honest breakdown.

Check live prices for your route on both airlines at once before reading on:

Baggage Policies: Where the Price Gap Really Lives

This is where most travellers get stung, and it’s the single biggest difference between the two airlines.

Ryanair allows one small personal item (40 × 20 × 25 cm) free in the cabin — think a small backpack or handbag that fits under the seat. Anything larger, including a standard rolling cabin bag (55 × 40 × 20 cm), costs extra. If you buy a Priority boarding add-on (around €6–€16 depending on route and timing) you get that larger cabin bag included; without it you pay a bag fee at check-in or the gate, which can reach €45 if you forget to add it online. A 10 kg checked bag runs around €12–€28 added in advance, rising steeply if left to the airport.

easyJet allows one small bag (45 × 36 × 20 cm) free for every passenger — slightly more generous than Ryanair’s personal item. A larger cabin bag (56 × 45 × 25 cm) requires the Hands Free bag add-on or an easyJet Plus membership. Checked bags (15 kg or 23 kg) are priced similarly to Ryanair, around €13–€35 added online.

Verdict on bags: easyJet’s free allowance is slightly more useful for weekend packers. Ryanair’s Priority add-on is often the cheapest way to bring a cabin bag if you remember to add it early. Neither airline is “free” for anything bigger than a daypack.

Seat Fees: Ryanair Charges More Aggressively

Both airlines make money on seat selection, but Ryanair is more aggressive about it.

On Ryanair, if you don’t pay to choose a seat you’ll be assigned one at check-in — often a middle seat at the back. Preferred seats (extra legroom, front rows, window/aisle in good rows) run from around €4 to €20+ per person per leg. On a return trip for two people that’s potentially €40–€80 in seat fees alone.

easyJet’s free seat assignment at check-in has historically been somewhat friendlier, and families with children under 12 are assigned seats together for free by default — something that matters more than it sounds if you travel with kids. Seat selection costs from around £4/€5 per person per leg upward.

Neither is a clear win here; for a solo traveller who genuinely doesn’t mind where they sit, both are manageable. For couples or families, easyJet’s family seating policy is a real practical advantage.

Route Networks: Ryanair Wins on Volume

Ryanair is the largest low-cost carrier in Europe by passenger numbers, serving over 240 destinations across 40+ countries, with particular strength in Ireland, the UK, Spain, Italy and Central/Eastern Europe. Its secondary-airport strategy means you often land 40–60 km from your actual destination (London Stansted instead of Heathrow; Frankfurt Hahn instead of Frankfurt Main) — factor in the transfer cost.

easyJet focuses on primary or near-primary airports at around 150 destinations, which means shorter and cheaper transfers at the destination end. It is especially strong on UK domestic routes and Western European city pairs: London–Amsterdam, London–Paris Charles de Gaulle, Barcelona–Amsterdam.

For routes like London to Dublin, both airlines compete directly. See our guide to cheap flights from London to Dublin for a route-specific comparison.

Punctuality: Ryanair’s Surprising Strength

Ryanair’s reputation for being cheap and cheerless tends to overshadow a genuine operational strength: it is consistently one of Europe’s most on-time airlines. In several independent rankings it has hit 80–90 percent on-time performance despite running an enormous schedule, which is a real logistics feat.

easyJet is comparable in good years but more variable — certain hubs, particularly London Gatwick in summer, have seen above-average delays. Neither airline should scare off a cautious traveller; both are far more reliable than legacy carriers on equivalent short-haul routes.

For travel hacks that work regardless of airline, see our how to find cheap flights guide.

Change Fees: Both Are Expensive, Neither Is Forgiving

If your plans change, both airlines will remind you that budget fares are priced for certainty.

Ryanair charges around €45–€50 per person per flight change (online, before check-in opens). easyJet charges £35–£49 or equivalent in euros. In both cases the fare difference on the new flight is added on top, so a “£45 change fee” on a flight that’s now £80 more expensive becomes a £125 bill.

Ryanair’s “Flexi Plus” fare and easyJet’s “Flexi” or “Plus” fares waive or reduce these fees, but cost meaningfully more upfront. For leisure travellers confident in their dates, ignore the flexi fare — it rarely pays off. For business trips or anything with uncertain timing, price the flexi add-on carefully.

Who Wins? A Traveller-by-Traveller Verdict

There is no single answer — and any site that gives you one without knowing your route is guessing. Here’s the honest grid:

The single most useful thing you can do is run the search on both airlines for your actual route and dates, look at the final price with a standard cabin bag included, and book the cheaper one that day. Don’t be loyal to either.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ryanair or easyJet cheaper overall?

Ryanair’s headline fares are usually lower, but once you add a cabin bag and seat selection the final price is often similar to easyJet. The cheaper airline depends on your route, travel dates and how much luggage you carry.

Which airline has better baggage fees — Ryanair or easyJet?

easyJet includes one small personal item free and offers a more generous free cabin bag allowance on Plus fares. Ryanair allows only a small under-seat bag free; a larger cabin bag costs around €6–€24 extra depending on when you add it.

Which airline is more punctual — Ryanair or easyJet?

Ryanair consistently ranks among Europe’s most on-time airlines despite its volume, frequently achieving 80–90 percent punctuality. easyJet’s punctuality is comparable but tends to vary more by hub and season.

Does Ryanair fly to more destinations than easyJet?

Yes. Ryanair operates a larger network — over 240 destinations across 40+ countries — compared with easyJet’s roughly 150 destinations. However, easyJet covers many key Western European city pairs that Ryanair does not.

Can I change my flight on Ryanair or easyJet without a big fee?

Both airlines charge flight-change fees. Ryanair charges around €45–€50 per person per change; easyJet charges £35–£49 (or equivalent in euros). The fare difference on the new flight is charged on top. Buying a Flexi or Plus fare avoids or reduces the fee.

Which budget airline should I pick for a weekend city break?

For a carry-on-only city break, compare the total price on your specific dates — both airlines are close once bags and seats are included. Use a flight search tool to check both at once rather than visiting each site separately.

Compare Prices and Book the Cheaper Flight Today

The bottom line: Ryanair vs easyJet is less a rivalry than a coin toss that tips differently every week, every route, and every bag configuration. Check both, include the bag fee, and click the cheaper total. That’s the whole strategy.

Heading to Ireland? Our cheap flights London to Dublin guide covers both airlines on one of Europe’s most competitive routes. For the full toolkit on saving money on any flight, visit the flights hub .