The Best Points and Miles Tools in 2026 [Expert Recommendations]

The points-and-miles landscape has evolved in recent years, with new tools that make it easier to find award space, track perks, and maximize redemptions.

Whether you’re new to points and miles or a seasoned traveler, you can save time and money using tools and apps that simplify the work of redeeming points and miles for the best value. I asked the team at Upgraded Points to share their personal favorites. These are the tools, apps, and websites that we personally use to manage our points, miles, credit cards, travel plans, and more.

For some of these tools, we can offer our readers a discount on subscription prices, so be sure to look for promo and discount codes below.

Best Flight Award Search and Flight Tracking Tools

Roame

• Roame promo code: Save 15% by using the promo code UPGRADEDPOINTS
• Recommended by: Katie Corrigan Seemann

Finding award space used to be a very time-intensive process. However, even with a decrease in award availability these days, it’s easier than ever to find award space, thanks to a new crop of points and miles tools. One that I use a lot is Roame.Travel. It allows me to search for award space and set alerts. Live Search is great for live results when you have very specific parameters. SkyView shows cached results, which can be really helpful at the beginning of a search when you might have some more flexibility.

I love that I can set multiple alerts and get an email or SMS message when award availability pops up. While you can try Roame for free, I like the Friends of Roame subscription because it offers a broader search window (a 7-day window for live results versus a 3-day window, and 1 year versus 60 days for cached results) and more alerts.

AwardTool

• AwardTool Promo Code: Save 20% with code UPGRADED20
• Recommended by: Andrew Kunesh

AwardTool has been my go-to for finding award flights this year, saving me time when compared to searching airline websites. Its interface, which is similar to Google Flights, is incredibly easy to use. Better yet, Pro members can use the tool to add up to 32 points to each search. This means you can search across broad date ranges and multiple origin and destination airports.

There’s a lot of information in AwardTool search results, but its powerful filtering options make it easy to find the flights you want. For example, in this search for flights from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA), I’ve filtered the results to show only flights with business class award space bookable with Bilt Rewards points, and have excluded British Airways flights.

I also love the Panorama feature, which lets users run broad searches using cached award search data. You can leverage this feature to find flights across entire regions (e.g., all flights from the U.S. to Asia in April and May).

Point.me

• Direct link to: Point.me
• Recommended by: Lori Zaino

I’ve spent decades mastering my points and miles skills, but I’ve mainly focused on specific programs that have benefited me the most. Ask me about Iberia, Qatar, or pretty much any Oneworld airline, and I’ve got you covered. However, I’m not nearly as familiar with lucrative programs like Flying Blue, Atmos Rewards, and most Star Alliance options.

This is where point.me is helpful. Not only does it show me award availability, but it also teaches me the best ways to obtain that point currency. For example, it won’t just show me a deal using Flying Blue from the U.S. to Europe; it’ll explain exactly how many points I need to transfer from which banks (like Chase or Amex), taking transfer bonuses into account.

Point.me has opened my eyes to new ways to maximize my points, converting them into airline miles with programs I had never previously considered purchasing from or flying with. It’s helped me better understand award chart sweet spots, learn about new airline options, and use airline partnerships more effectively.

Seats.Aero

• Direct link to: Seats.aero
• Recommended by: Ryan Smith

I’m a big fan of Seats.aero, especially its flexible searches.

Often, the most important flight in my trip is the one over the ocean. Flying from the U.S. to eastern Asia, for example, my goal might be Taiwan. But if I can’t find a business class ticket using points, I’m willing to land in Hong Kong, Vietnam, mainland China, or another nearby destination and then buy a cheap ticket to my intended destination.

Seats.aero not only lets you type in numerous airports for possible starting or ending points, but it also offers searches like “East Coast USA” or “major airports in Europe.”

Plus, you can filter out programs you don’t have points in, so you can focus on individual airline programs like American Airlines AAdvantage or filter for programs that work with Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Most results you see on Seats.aero are cached, and you’ll see how long ago they were found. That means you should still double-check the inventory before assuming you can book that flight, and do this before you transfer your points.

Flighty

• Direct link to: Flighty
• Recommended by: Chris Hassan

Like any good tech-obsessed travel writer, I am constantly downloading and testing out new apps to help make my travels easier. One app that has been on my phone for years, and shows no sign of being uninstalled anytime soon, is Flighty.

I first downloaded the app for its free flight log, which is smooth and easily shareable, great for comparing stats with friends. However, I started using it more frequently for tracking upcoming flights and getting alerts, all with the free version.

However, many colleagues have told me it is the best app that they pay for. I was still hesitant about paying for something I was already enjoying for free until Flighty gave me a heads-up that my overnight international flight was going to be canceled, hours before American Airlines made it official.

Flighty had sent me a courtesy warning, but these alerts are standard for Flighty Pro users.

For about $5 a month, Flighty Pro gives me tons more in-depth flight data, alerts, weather warnings, backup flight suggestions, and more.

On a recent trip through New York, I encountered numerous delays, and Flighty had the most accurate departure times and connection data. That allowed me to relax in the lounge while the app monitored the situation and kept me updated. 

Expert Flyer

• Direct link to: ExpertFlyer
• Recommended by: James Larounis

When it comes to tools for miles and points users, I swear by ExpertFlyer. It allows you to search for award availability across multiple airlines and set tailored alerts.

In addition to award availability, the tool also shows revenue space on most airlines, allowing you to see how many seats are actually available on a given flight. This is fantastic when your flight is delayed or canceled and you need to find an alternative way to get where you’re going. ExpertFlyer has saved me countless times, and it’s one of the reasons I keep it favorited on my home screen.

One downside to ExpertFlyer is that the interface can be a bit daunting for first-time users. There’s a bit of a learning curve to using it, but once you master searching, setting alerts, and more, it’s very easy and will come second nature as you use the website.

Points Path

• Direct link to: Points Path
• Recommended by: Lori Zaino

Points Path is one of the most useful points and miles tools I’ve found, primarily because of its simplicity and ease of use. All I had to do was add the browser extension, and it automatically added award pricing to my Google Flight searches. Better yet, the service uses arrows to show whether paying in points or cash is the best deal.

I also find Points Path Pro, the paid version of the service, a valuable and worthwhile addition. For $79 per year, I get access to perks like the 7-day calendar, which has already saved me time and money by helping me find lower award pricing. The Pro version also offers features such as Delta Amex 15% mileage pricing, a Lufthansa First Class dashboard, and the ability to adjust valuations for a more personalized experience. 

Best Shopping and Cash-Back Tools

CardPointers

• CardPointers Discount: Save 30% on a CardPointers+ subscription with this link
• Recommended by: Lori Zaino

CardPointers is an app that lets me keep track of my 9 credit cards and their perks, benefits, fees, and welcome bonus offers. Before using this app, I was using Google Sheets to track my cards and their perks, and it was a total mess.

I missed renewal dates (and opportunities to call and request retention offers) because I wasn’t keeping up with updates and checking the sheet frequently enough. I was also rushed during checkouts at stores and online, often using the wrong cards and missing out on category spend bonuses.

I recommend the CardPointers+ version because it lets me add more than 1 card of each type and tells me exactly which card to use every time I make a purchase, so I’m always prepared with the right card at checkout. It also automatically adds my credit card offers to my cards, and I’ve saved nearly $200 in just a couple of months using this feature.

Savewise

• Savewise Promo Code: Save 20% on a Pro subscription with the promo code UP20
• Recommended by: Katie Corrigan Seemann

I love tools that help me earn more points, and Savewise has quickly become one of my favorites. The first thing Savewise does is show me which shopping portals are offering the best return on any given day, but it goes beyond that. With my pro subscription, I can see a year of history for any portal, which helps me decide whether it’s a good time to buy or wait it out. I can even set alerts for specific stores or shopping portals.

Plus, Savewise shows me which Amex Offers, Citi Merchant Offers, and Chase Offers are available and auto-adds them to my cards so I never miss a deal.

It’s an easy-to-use tool that makes using shopping portals a breeze and helps me stack offers so I save more money and earn more points and miles on every purchase.

TopCashback

• TopCashback New Member Bonus: New accounts can get a $15 bonus
• Recommended by: Keri Stooksbury

While many of our team members are on the Rakuten train, the bulk of my rewards are with Chase Ultimate Rewards, so earning cash back as Amex Membership Rewards points doesn’t excite me. That’s why the majority of my online purchases start with TopCashback.

TopCashback generally offers the highest cash-back rates listed on Cashbackmonitor.com, and if not, it provides a “Highest Cash Back Guarantee” to beat rates from select major sites. I’ve never had to use the guarantee because the rates are generally already higher than most sites.

I like that I can also stack Chase Offers with TopCashback purchases, meaning I can triple-dip my rewards with certain retailers. While the purchases may only yield a few dollars back, the rewards definitely add up, as I’ve earned hundreds of dollars in cash-back over the years.

When it’s time to cash out, most payment options offer bonuses, such as 5% for a virtual Visa prepaid card, 4% for a Best Buy eGift card, or 2% for an Amazon eGift card. I almost always choose the highest prepaid card option and then immediately deposit the funds into my Amazon gift card balance.

TopCashback also offers responsive customer service. Whenever I’ve had a missing purchase or an inaccurate amount tracked, I’ve been satisfied with the resolution (though some requests do take a bit of time).

Hot Tip:

If you’re new to TopCashback, you can earn a $15 bonus after your first $10 in cash-back through our link. If you already have a TopCashback account, be sure to check out the great refer-a-friend bonuses to help your rewards balance grow even more.

Rakuten

• Rakuten New Member Bonus: Get up to a $50 bonus for joining
• Recommended by: Lori Zaino

Rakuten adds another layer of earnings potential to my online shopping. It’s basically a shopping portal where you can get cash back (or points) by clicking through the Rakuten website or using its browser extension.

I always opt for earning Amex Membership Rewards points instead of cash back, which I find extremely lucrative. Rakuten has also recently partnered with Bilt, so Bilt members can now convert cash back to Bilt points (ratios vary).

For example, I realized my 4-year-old’s winter coat was starting to look a bit tight, hopped on Rakuten, and realized I could earn 12x points per dollar spent at Carter’s. I clicked through and made my purchases, which were all on sale: a coat, some sweatpants, and a pair of pajamas, all for about $90.

I paid with my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to get 2x Capital One miles on my purchase. I also got 1,098 Amex Membership Rewards points via Rakuten, which transfer at a 1:1 ratio to airlines like Iberia. Considering I recently booked an Iberia sale fare: a one-way Iberia ticket from Chicago (ORD) to Madrid (MAD) using 6,000 Avios and about $160, I’m well on my way to being able to get another.

Best Hotel Award Search Tools

MaxMyPoint

• MaxMyPoint Promo Code: Use the promo code UPGRADEDPOINTS to SAVE 20%
• Recommended by: Juan Ruiz

I say it often to anyone who will listen, but MaxMyPoint is hands down my favorite tool for tracking award-night availability at hotels.

With MaxMyPoint, I can set alerts for specific properties and dates. More than once, I’ve been notified the moment a standard award night or suite opens up. That’s exactly how I managed to lock in one of my aspirational stays at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, a notoriously tough property for finding consecutive award nights, let alone suite availability.

With the addition of MaxFHR, MaxMyPoint has become even more useful for helping me maximize the $600 annual prepaid hotel credit from The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, which gives me up to $300 twice a year (January to June and July to December) toward Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings once enrolled.

At just $79.99 per year for a Platinum subscription before a 20% discount, MaxMyPoint has paid for itself many times over. Being able to grab those award nights or apply a suite upgrade worth over $1,000 a night has completely changed the way I plan family trips. It’s one of those rare tools that not only saves me points but also helps me actually turn those dream redemptions into reality.

Gondola

• Gondola Status Challenge: Earn 5% back (plus hotel points) through our status challenge
• Recommended by: Ryan Smith

The more I learn about Gondola, the more excited I get. Sure, I love some of its simple features like auto-importing emails from my travel bookings (to give me a travel itinerary) and recommending when I should use cash or points for a hotel stay. But it also has some great features I think are underrated.

In addition to hotel points, you can earn 3% cash-back on hotel bookings or 5% back through the Gondola status challenge. You can also track your points and miles balances. My 2 favorite features are the alerts to rebook a stay at a lower price and the AI-based recommendations.

The AI tool learns the types of hotels you book and adjusts its recommendations based on the types of neighborhoods, properties, and even costs associated with your past stays. Plus, if you have a reservation with a flexible rate, Gondola will notify you when the rate drops, letting you cancel and rebook at the lower price.

I recently got a notification for a rate drop at a Mr & Mrs Smith property booked via Hyatt on a cash rate. While saving $14 on a 2-night stay isn’t life-changing, these savings add up over time.

Final Thoughts

There is a wide variety of tools that can help you find award space, manage your cards, find stacking opportunities, and earn more points than ever before. Many of these tools offer overlapping benefits, so you’ll need to try a few before deciding which is the best fit for you.