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Layla vs Smartrip

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors.

The short answer

Free plan
Both — Layla has a free plan, Smartrip is free to use
Best fit
Layla: First-draft itineraries for an unfamiliar destination · Smartrip: Booking simple one-way or round-trip flights by describing them
Platforms
Layla: Web · Smartrip: iOS, Web
Trust score
About even — Layla 84, Smartrip 86
Status
We could not check Layla — its site turns automated checks away; Smartrip was up on Oct 16, 2026

From our own records as of each tool's last check. Anything we have not confirmed is left out rather than guessed. How we verify

LaylaTrip planner that drafts an itinerary of flights, hotels and activities, with human travel agents on call.SmartripiOS app that searches and books one-way and round-trip flights from a single written request.

Side by side

FactLaylaSmartrip
CategoryTravel Planning & ItinerariesTravel Planning & Itineraries
Pricing modelFreemiumFree
Trust score84 / 10086 / 100
PlatformsWebiOS, Web
CompanyLayla AI GmbHSmartrip Inc.
Launched2023—
Last verifiedOct 16, 2026Oct 16, 2026

What our research says

Layla

Layla drafts a full trip in one conversation and keeps human travel experts behind it for the bookings a generated itinerary cannot handle. Since Expedia Group bought it in July 2026 it is best treated as a planning front end to a large booking marketplace: good for a first draft, but verify fares and compare prices elsewhere before paying.

Pros

  • Free tier covers core itinerary planning
  • One conversation covers flights, stays, activities, dining and transport
  • Human travel experts available for complex bookings
  • Owned by Expedia Group since July 2026, with access to its hotel and flight supply

Cons

  • No public API
  • Fares and availability come from partners and need checking
  • Premium pricing could not be read from the vendor's site, which blocks automated visits

Smartrip

A conversational front end for booking flights, currently doing one job only. The trip-management features that would make it more than a search box are all labelled coming soon, and everything runs through an iPhone app with no web booking flow.

Pros

  • Free to use - no subscription in front of the booking
  • Books real one-way and round-trip flights, not just suggestions
  • Keeps boarding passes, gate information and status alerts together
  • Named legal entity and terms of service published

Cons

  • iPhone only; the website is a download page, not a booking tool
  • Hotels and post-booking support are still unreleased
  • Footer copyright reads 2025, so the pace of updates is unclear

Which one fits

Choose Layla if you need

  • First-draft itineraries for an unfamiliar destination
  • Travellers who want a human to finish the booking
  • Comparing activity and dining options in one place

Choose Smartrip if you need

  • Booking simple one-way or round-trip flights by describing them
  • Travellers who want boarding pass and gate details in one place
  • People who prefer a chat prompt to a fare-search grid

Layla vs Smartrip: the questions people ask

Does Layla or Smartrip have a free tier?

Both: Layla has a free tier, and Smartrip is free to use.

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