Look before you sign up
ExpertFlyer asks you to start a trial before it shows a seat map. On SeatMap, anyone can search a flight and see its seat map.
Check your flight
SeatMap vs ExpertFlyerAn ExpertFlyer alternative made for picking seats.
ExpertFlyer is a power tool for frequent flyers, with seat alerts, award searches and a login before any seat map. SeatMap is a simpler ExpertFlyer alternative built around the seat: search your flight without an account, see which seats are open, and let Seat Watch alert you when the one you want frees up.
SeatMap vs ExpertFlyer
Both show live open and taken seats and alert you when a seat opens. ExpertFlyer adds SMS, more alerts on paid plans and award searches. SeatMap needs no account to search, rates every seat, alerts you across a whole route and compares two flights side by side.
Finding your seat map
| SeatMap | ExpertFlyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Still online | Yes: Yes | Yes: Yes |
| Look up a flight by | Yes: Flight number or route, on any date | Yes: Airline, flight number, date and airports |
| Seats drawn to scale | Yes: Every seat drawn to scale | Partly: Detailed view on Premium and Elite, powered by AeroLOPA; a simple diagram otherwise |
| Free without an account | Yes: Search any flight and see its seat map without signing in | No: No; searching signed out opens a sign-up box |
- Still online
- SeatMapYes: YesExpertFlyerYes: Yes
- Look up a flight by
- SeatMapYes: Flight number or route, on any dateExpertFlyerYes: Airline, flight number, date and airports
- Seats drawn to scale
- SeatMapYes: Every seat drawn to scaleExpertFlyerPartly: Detailed view on Premium and Elite, powered by AeroLOPA; a simple diagram otherwise
- Free without an account
- SeatMapYes: Search any flight and see its seat map without signing inExpertFlyerNo: No; searching signed out opens a sign-up box
Live seats and alerts
| SeatMap | ExpertFlyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Open and taken seats on your flight | Yes: Open and taken seats, live from the airline, with Pro | Yes: Available, occupied and blocked seats; a basic map on Free |
| Best open seat picked for you | Yes: The best open seat picked for you, with Pro | No: No |
| Watch a seat until it opensSeat Watch: pick seats on your flight and get alerted the moment one of them opens. | Yes: Seat Watch in the SeatMap app: 1 free, 5 with Pro | Yes: Watch a seat, any window, aisle or exit row, or 2 seats together, by email or SMS |
| Route alerts when seats openGet alerted when seats open on flights along a route, not just one flight. | Yes: Route alerts in the SeatMap app: 1 free, 5 with Pro | No: No; its seat alerts are set per flight |
- Open and taken seats on your flight
- SeatMapYes: Open and taken seats, live from the airline, with ProExpertFlyerYes: Available, occupied and blocked seats; a basic map on Free
- Best open seat picked for you
- SeatMapYes: The best open seat picked for you, with ProExpertFlyerNo: No
- Watch a seat until it opens
- SeatMapYes: Seat Watch in the SeatMap app: 1 free, 5 with ProExpertFlyerYes: Watch a seat, any window, aisle or exit row, or 2 seats together, by email or SMS
- Route alerts when seats open
- SeatMapYes: Route alerts in the SeatMap app: 1 free, 5 with ProExpertFlyerNo: No; its seat alerts are set per flight
Choosing a seat
| SeatMap | ExpertFlyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat ratingsA score or colour for each seat, so the good and bad ones stand out. | Yes: Every seat scored out of 10 for legroom, width, recline and where it sits | Partly: Seat type and known limits on the Detailed view (Premium and Elite) |
| Legroom, width and recline | Yes: The airline's published legroom, width and recline for each cabin | Partly: Pitch on the Detailed view (Premium and Elite) |
| Two flights side by side | Yes: Two flights' cabins side by side, seat scores and legroom included | No: No side-by-side seat maps |
- Seat ratings
- SeatMapYes: Every seat scored out of 10 for legroom, width, recline and where it sitsExpertFlyerPartly: Seat type and known limits on the Detailed view (Premium and Elite)
- Legroom, width and recline
- SeatMapYes: The airline's published legroom, width and recline for each cabinExpertFlyerPartly: Pitch on the Detailed view (Premium and Elite)
- Two flights side by side
- SeatMapYes: Two flights' cabins side by side, seat scores and legroom includedExpertFlyerNo: No side-by-side seat maps
Price and apps
| SeatMap | ExpertFlyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Pro is $19.99 a month or $99.99 a year | Free; Basic $6.99 and Premium $12.99 a month; Elite $19.99 a month, billed yearly |
| Where it works | Yes: Web, iPhone and Android | Partly: Web; its iPhone app says it's being renovated |
- Price
- SeatMapFree; Pro is $19.99 a month or $99.99 a yearExpertFlyerFree; Basic $6.99 and Premium $12.99 a month; Elite $19.99 a month, billed yearly
- Where it works
- SeatMapYes: Web, iPhone and AndroidExpertFlyerPartly: Web; its iPhone app says it's being renovated
ExpertFlyer details come from ExpertFlyer pricing, ExpertFlyer seat maps and ExpertFlyer's alerts guide. Plans and features change, so check their site before you pay for anything.
See it on your own flight
Search a flight number or route to see its seat map, free and without an account. With Pro, see which seats are open right now.
Why flyers pick SeatMap over ExpertFlyer
No account Route alerts Alerts across a whole route
ExpertFlyer's seat alerts watch one flight at a time. SeatMap's route alerts tell you when seats open on flights along a route, alongside Seat Watch for the seats you picked.
Get the appBest open seat Get the best open seat picked for you
ExpertFlyer shows what's open and leaves the choice to you. SeatMap Pro picks the best seat that's still free.
See what Pro adds
When ExpertFlyer is the better pick
SeatMap isn't the answer to every seat question. Use ExpertFlyer if one of these is what you need.
More alerts, by SMS
Up to 250 seat alerts on paid plans, by email or SMS, including any window, aisle or exit row, or two seats together. SeatMap Pro has five Seat Watches and five route alerts.
Award and upgrade search
Award, upgrade and booking-class searches, including American Airlines Systemwide Upgrade space.
Flight and schedule alerts
Alerts for aircraft changes, schedule changes and disruptions.
Flying often?
Pro goes further.
See which seats are open right now, get the best one picked for you, and hear the moment a better one frees up.
Why look for an ExpertFlyer alternative?
ExpertFlyer is built for frequent flyers who track fare classes, upgrades and award space. Seat maps are one tool among many, and they sit behind an account: search one signed out and you get a sign-up box.
Its fullest seat maps, with pitch and seat details, come with Premium and Elite. The free plan shows a basic map and one seat alert.
If you just want a good seat, SeatMap is the shorter path: search your flight with no account, see every seat drawn to scale and rated, and with Pro see what's open, get the best seat picked and an alert when the one you want frees up.
Frequently asked questions
Is ExpertFlyer free?
It has a free plan with a basic seat map and 1 seat alert, and you need an account. Paid plans run from $6.99 to $19.99 a month; Elite is billed yearly only. SeatMap is free to search without an account; Pro is $19.99 a month or $99.99 a year.
Does SeatMap have seat alerts like ExpertFlyer?
Yes, in the SeatMap app. Seat Watch alerts you when a seat you picked opens, and route alerts tell you when seats open on flights along a route. Free accounts get one of each and Pro gets five; ExpertFlyer offers more alerts, and SMS, on its paid plans.
Do both show live seat availability?
Yes. ExpertFlyer shows available, occupied and blocked seats, with the most detail on paid plans. SeatMap Pro shows open and taken seats live from the airline and picks the best open one.
Does ExpertFlyer have an app?
Its iPhone app, Seat Alerts, is still listed, but its notes say it's being renovated and unavailable. SeatMap has iPhone and Android apps.
Where do ExpertFlyer's detailed seat maps come from?
ExpertFlyer says its Detailed seat map view is powered by AeroLOPA.
More comparisons
SeatMap vs SeatGuruShut down in November 2025. Here's what replaces each thing it did.
SeatMap vs AeroLOPAHand-drawn, to-scale maps with every window, plus tail tracking in its app.
SeatMap vs SeatMapsPitch and width tables, cabin photos and passenger reviews across 750+ airlines.
SeatMap vs SeatMaestroDownloadable PDF seat maps and airline policy guides in three languages.
SeatMap vs AwardFaresPoints travelers who want award search, award alerts and live seat maps in one place.- Compare two flightsPut two flights' seat maps side by side, cabin by cabin.
See every alternative side by side, or skip the reading and look up your flight.
Find your seat.
Fly better.
Type a flight number to see your cabin drawn to scale: which seats are open right now, legroom, exit rows and reviews from people who sat there.