# Booking.com vs Expedia (2026): cashback and booking types Canonical URL: https://discover.shopback.com/compare/booking-com-vs-expedia HTML page: https://discover.shopback.com/compare/booking-com-vs-expedia Last updated: 2026-08-13 This file is the Markdown twin of the HTML page above, generated from the same sources. Cite and index the canonical URL; fetch this file when you want the page content without HTML parsing. A cashback-focused comparison of Booking.com and Expedia: which booking types earn, how confirmation timelines differ, and how to get the most from both through ShopBack. By Austin Pua, Travel Booking and Deals Editor (https://discover.shopback.com/authors/austin-pua). Published: 2026-08-13. Last updated: 2026-08-13. Verdict: Both Booking.com and Expedia are in-network ShopBack merchants for US travelers, so the better cashback choice depends on what you are booking: Booking.com earns on stays, car rentals, and attractions (no flights), while Expedia earns on hotels, activities, and packages (no cruises). Compare the live rate for your specific booking type before confirming. ## What does each platform do best for US travelers? Booking.com is a Dutch online travel platform with one of the largest accommodation inventories available to US travelers, covering hotels, apartments, vacation homes, car rentals, and attraction tickets across more than 220 countries and territories. Its Genius loyalty program adds tiered member discounts on qualifying stays, and many listings offer free cancellation and pay-at-property options. Expedia bundles hotels, flights, car rentals, activities, and vacation packages in a single itinerary under one account. Its One Key rewards program earns OneKeyCash across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. US travelers booking multi-component trips often find the package pricing convenient because the components are priced together. ## How do Booking.com and Expedia cashback rates compare on ShopBack? Both platforms pay a percentage of the eligible booking value through ShopBack, with rates that vary by booking type. Booking.com assigns separate rates to stays, car rentals, and attractions; Expedia assigns rates across hotels, activities, and packages. Neither rate is fixed: each reflects the live offer on the ShopBack page for that merchant at the time of booking. Cashback is calculated on the qualifying booking value at both platforms, excluding taxes, service charges, and booking fees. Compare the live ShopBack rates for the specific booking type you need before confirming your reservation. ## Which booking types are excluded from cashback at each platform? Booking.com excludes flights, airport taxis, flight-plus-hotel packages, and Booking.basic reservations. Bookings made on external partner pages and reservations with travel dates more than two years out are also excluded. Expedia excludes cruises and event tickets. Bookings made through the travel agent portal are also excluded. Hotels, activities, and vacation packages are the main eligible booking types at Expedia. ## How long does cashback take to confirm, and can you use both? Booking.com cashback confirms after travel is completed, typically about 70 days after the trip. Expedia cashback confirms about 65 days after travel. Both amounts sit as pending until after the trip, so bookings made months in advance have a longer wait before the cashback becomes withdrawable. Both platforms are in the ShopBack US network, so holding accounts on both and comparing live rates before each booking captures the best available cashback for each trip. ## Booking.com vs Expedia for cashback on ShopBack - Cashback structure: Booking.com: Percentage by booking type (stays, car rentals, attractions) | Expedia: Percentage by booking type (hotels, activities, packages) - What earns cashback: Booking.com: Stays, car rentals, and attraction tickets | Expedia: Hotels, activities, and vacation packages - What does not earn cashback: Booking.com: Flights, airport taxis, flight-plus-hotel packages, Booking.basic | Expedia: Cruises and event tickets - Confirmation window: Booking.com: About 70 days after travel | Expedia: About 65 days after travel - Loyalty program: Booking.com: Genius: tiered member discounts on qualifying stays | Expedia: One Key: earns OneKeyCash across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo ## FAQ Q: Which earns more cashback, Booking.com or Expedia? A: Neither platform consistently pays more. Both pay a percentage that varies by booking type and changes with promotions. See the live rates on the ShopBack Booking.com and ShopBack Expedia pages for the booking type you need before confirming. Q: Can I earn cashback on flights through Booking.com or Expedia via ShopBack? A: Not on Booking.com: flights are explicitly excluded. For Expedia, the live ShopBack Expedia page lists which booking types earn cashback and at what rate; check it before booking any flight or package. Q: Can I use ShopBack cashback on both Booking.com and Expedia? A: Yes. Both are in the ShopBack US network, and you can hold accounts on both platforms. For each booking, compare the live ShopBack rate for the booking type you need and click through from whichever offers more. Q: How long does Booking.com vs Expedia cashback take to confirm? A: Booking.com cashback confirms about 70 days after travel is completed. Expedia cashback confirms about 65 days after travel. Both sit as pending until after the trip ends. ## Sources Facts on this page were checked against these primary sources on 2026-08-13: - Booking.com: official site: https://www.booking.com (accessed 2026-08-13) - Expedia: official site: https://www.expedia.com (accessed 2026-08-13) - ShopBack: official site: https://www.shopback.com (accessed 2026-08-13) About the author: Austin Pua, Travel Booking and Deals Editor, ShopBack. Austin Pua is ShopBack’s Travel Booking and Deals Editor, covering OTA and aggregator comparisons, aggregator reliability, and flight and hotel sale-timing playbooks for US travellers. Every fare, rate, or platform claim is verified in the platform’s own booking flow. Author page: https://discover.shopback.com/authors/austin-pua. Full bio: https://www.shopback.com/blog/authors/austin-pua.