MakeMyTrip vs EaseMyTrip vs Cleartrip: Which OTA Is Actually Cheapest in 2026?
By Diya Verma (Diya Verma flies from Tier-2 Indian cities and chases every possible fare hack — reposition flights, hidden-city ticketing, mileage runs and OTA bundle tricks. She has booked 200+ international trips out of Lucknow, Indore and Jaipur.) · Published · 9 min read
The base fare is almost identical across all three OTAs — the real difference is the convenience fee, which ranges from around ₹149 to ₹499 per passenger depending on the platform, payment method, and fare class. That spread is where MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, and Cleartrip actually differ.
TL;DR — the real price difference between MMT, EMT, and Cleartrip
Base fares are nearly identical across all three OTAs — airlines control pricing and push the same inventory. The difference is the convenience fee, which adds roughly ₹149–₹499 per booking depending on the OTA and payment method. EaseMyTrip has historically advertised zero convenience fees on certain searches; Cleartrip runs periodic promotions with reduced fees; MakeMyTrip typically charges more but sometimes offers larger cashback via card offers. The cheapest platform on any given booking depends on which card offer is live that day. Use FlightGPT to compare fares across platforms, then check the checkout total — not just the base fare.
Why base fares are almost always the same
Here's the thing most people don't know: Indian OTAs don't set flight prices. They pull inventory and fares directly from the airline's GDS (Global Distribution System) or API, and the airline controls the fare class and price. MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, and Cleartrip all access largely the same fare inventory for IndiGo, Air India, Akasa, and SpiceJet.
You'll occasionally see a ₹100–₹300 difference in the displayed base fare between OTAs — this can be because one OTA has a slightly older fare cache, or one is displaying a different fare class with marginally different conditions. In practice, for the same airline and fare class, the base fare is functionally identical. The battleground is everything else: convenience fees, card offers, coupon codes, and the occasional sale event where one platform discounts its own margin.
This is also why checking airline websites directly is worth the extra minute. Airline.com sites frequently have the same base fare as OTAs but lower convenience fees — and sometimes run app-exclusive offers that OTAs can't match.
Convenience fee breakdown: what each OTA charges
Convenience fees change frequently — what I'm sharing here are typical ranges based on observed patterns as of 2026, not guaranteed current numbers. Always verify at checkout.
| OTA | Typical convenience fee range | Zero-fee option? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MakeMyTrip (MMT) | ₹249–₹499 per booking | Rarely | Higher fees but larger card cashback offers (HDFC, ICICI) |
| EaseMyTrip (EMT) | ₹0–₹299 per booking | Yes, on select searches | Zero-fee is a core brand promise; verify it applies to your booking |
| Cleartrip | ₹200–₹399 per booking | Periodic promos | Flipkart-backed; often has SBI and Axis card offers |
| Airline direct (IndiGo/Air India app) | ₹0–₹200 per booking | Sometimes zero | App-only deals, co-branded card zero-fee |
These are per-booking figures, not per-passenger. On a 2-passenger booking the OTA fee stays flat (usually), so the relative impact shrinks on multi-pax bookings. On a solo booking, a ₹349 convenience fee on MMT versus ₹0 on EMT is meaningful — especially on a ₹3,500 IndiGo one-way.
When MMT's higher fee can still be the cheaper option
MakeMyTrip consistently has the deepest bank card partnerships. If you hold an HDFC Bank credit card, ICICI Bank card, or Axis Bank card, you'll frequently find MMT running 10–15% instant discounts or cashback offers that are not available on EaseMyTrip or Cleartrip on the same day.
Example: a ₹7,000 flight on MMT with a ₹399 convenience fee but a 10% HDFC cashback of ₹700 works out to ₹6,699. The same flight on EaseMyTrip at ₹7,000 with zero convenience fee works out to ₹7,000. MMT wins — by ₹301 — because of the card offer.
This is why you can't compare OTAs without knowing which card you're using at checkout. Always check MMT if you hold an HDFC or ICICI card; always check EaseMyTrip if you're paying UPI or a non-partnered card. Check airline direct if you hold their co-branded card.
Card offers change weekly — sometimes daily during sale events. Verify what's available on the payment page before committing.
When zero-fee OTAs beat all three
There are smaller OTA players in India — Ixigo, Goibibo (now part of MMT Group), and airline apps — that sometimes offer zero or near-zero convenience fees as a standard offer rather than a promotion. Ixigo in particular has positioned itself as a budget-traveller platform and often waives fees on UPI payments.
When zero-fee OTAs beat all three main platforms:
- Low base fares (under ₹4,000 one-way): On cheap domestic flights, a ₹299 convenience fee on MMT is nearly 7.5% of the fare. A zero-fee OTA wins clearly on these cheap tickets.
- No applicable card offer: If you don't hold any of the partnered cards and you're paying UPI, EaseMyTrip's zero-fee offer (when available) or Ixigo's UPI deal will undercut MMT and Cleartrip.
- Booking for multiple pax: Convenience fees are typically per booking (not per passenger), so the fee impact per person shrinks on group bookings — but a zero-fee platform still wins everything else being equal.
The airline's own website or app is also worth checking for domestic routes. IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa all run app-exclusive fares and cashback deals with co-branded cards that can beat OTAs on some dates. The checkout is smoother too — changes and cancellations are simpler when you've booked directly.
What about refunds and changes — does the OTA matter?
Yes, and this is where the cheapest-checkout decision can get more complicated. OTAs add a processing layer between you and the airline, which affects refund speed and change experience.
Under DGCA's passenger rights framework, you're entitled to refunds for cancellations within defined timelines — but the actual money flow goes: airline refunds to OTA, OTA refunds to you. This chain adds time. Most users report MMT refunds taking 7–15 working days; EaseMyTrip has similar timelines; Cleartrip has had mixed reviews on refund speed. Booking directly with the airline often means money back in 5–7 working days.
For international routes, this matters more. If the airline cancels a flight and you need your ₹30,000 back, a 10-day wait via OTA versus a 5-day direct refund is a real difference.
If you plan to make changes or want the cleanest cancellation experience, booking airline-direct is worth a ₹200–₹300 convenience-fee premium. For straightforward trips where you're confident about plans, OTA pricing and card offers win.
Bottom line: how to decide at checkout
Here's my actual decision flow when booking a flight in 2026:
- Search on FlightGPT to find the cheapest airline, route, and date combination.
- Open MMT, EaseMyTrip, and the airline's own app simultaneously. Check the checkout total (base + baggage if needed + seat + fee) on all three.
- Check which bank offers are live on MMT and Cleartrip for your card.
- If no card offer applies and EaseMyTrip has zero fee → go EaseMyTrip.
- If a card cashback on MMT or Cleartrip exceeds the fee difference → go there.
- If refund speed matters (international, tight plans) → go airline direct.
The ₹150–₹400 fee difference is real money across 10+ trips a year, but it's a small decision relative to getting the right airline, date, and fare class. Don't let OTA comparison distract you from the bigger call. Read more on how IndiGo's 6E Rewards programme can offset some of these costs if you book IndiGo regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper — MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, or Cleartrip — for flight booking in India?
The base fare is nearly identical across all three. EaseMyTrip often wins on total checkout cost when no bank card offer is available, because it has historically offered zero or lower convenience fees. MakeMyTrip can end up cheaper if you hold an HDFC, ICICI, or Axis card that has an active discount — cashback of 10–15% on MMT can outweigh its higher fee. Always compare the checkout total, not just the base fare.
What is the typical convenience fee on MakeMyTrip vs EaseMyTrip?
As of 2026, MakeMyTrip typically charges around ₹249–₹499 per booking; EaseMyTrip charges ₹0–₹299, with zero fees promoted on select searches. Cleartrip usually falls in the ₹200–₹399 range. These figures change frequently — verify at the payment page before confirming your booking.
Is it better to book flights directly on the airline website or via an OTA?
It depends. Airline direct bookings (via the airline's own app or website) often have lower or zero convenience fees, faster refunds, and app-exclusive deals. OTAs can beat airline direct when a bank card offer (cashback or discount) is live. For domestic cheap tickets, the difference is small; for international bookings with refund risk, booking direct is often worth paying ₹200–₹300 more.
Does DGCA protect passengers who book via OTAs?
Yes. DGCA's passenger rights rules (including refunds for cancellations) apply regardless of whether you book via an OTA or direct. The airline is still required to initiate the refund — but the money goes through the OTA, which adds time. Refunds from OTAs to passengers typically take 7–15 working days. Verify current DGCA guidelines at the official DGCA website (dgca.gov.in).
Are there any OTAs in India with permanently zero convenience fees?
EaseMyTrip has positioned zero convenience fee as a core brand offer, though it applies to select searches and may not cover all fare classes or payment methods. Ixigo and some airline apps also frequently offer zero fees on UPI payments. Always check the checkout page — the promotional description doesn't always match what's actually waived for your specific booking.