Below is a concise, practical comparison of Seats.aero, ExpertFlyer, and Point.me — strengths, weaknesses, typical use-cases, and pricing so you can pick the right tool for your needs.

Seats.aero

• What it is: Fast award-availability search + alerts that aggregates cached and live availability across many frequent‑flyer programs and routes; strong for long‑haul/nonstop award searches. (seats.aero.)
• Pros:
  • Extremely fast, with cached results and broad route coverage for many popular long‑haul routes. (seats.aero.)
  • Unlimited alerts (free users get shorter search window); Pro adds advanced filters, SMS alerts, year‑long searches, route stats and API access. (docs.seats.aero)
  • Good value: Pro is $9.99/month or $99.99/year (many basic features are free for ~60–90 day searches). (forbes.com)
• Cons:
  • Uses cached + live data which can sometimes show transient or “phantom” availability; always verify on the airline’s booking site before transferring points. (seats.aero.)
  • More “power user” oriented (airport codes, partner routing knowledge helpful); coverage prioritizes long‑haul/nonstop routes (not ideal for complex domestic itineraries). (seats.aero)
• Best for: DIY award bookers who hunt long‑haul premium redemptions and want fast searches/alerts at a low price.

ExpertFlyer

• What it is: Long-standing tool focused on seat maps, seat alerts, award/upgrade inventory alerts, fare rules and behind‑the‑scenes flight data used by frequent flyers and agents. (expertflyer.com)
• Pros:
  • Very granular seat maps and seat alerts (specify exact seat, any window/aisle, etc.) and robust alerting for award/upgrade inventory and schedule/aircraft changes. (expertflyer.com)
  • Useful for monitoring upgrade clears, systemwide upgrades, and precise seat-pick needs. (awardwallet.com)
  • Multiple pricing tiers (free + Basic + Pro) to match casual vs frequent users. (forbes.com)
• Cons:
  • Older UI and features feel dated compared with newer tools; some airlines or features may be limited or unreliable at times (users report intermittent airline blocks/bugs). (expertflyer.com)
  • Seat map “available” seats do not equal award/upgrade inventory — you must use the award/upgrade search tools and/or verify with the airline. (ExpertFlyer specifically warns about this.) (expertflyer.com)
  • Paid tiers (Pro) typically cost ~$8–10/month if billed annually (and $99.99/yr is a common annual price point). (forbes.com)
• Best for: Frequent flyers who need precise seat alerts, seat maps, and upgrade monitoring (especially for systemwide/eUpgrade/upgrade certificate use).

Point.me

• What it is: A real‑time award search engine plus a paid concierge service — beginner‑friendly, shows which transferable programs can book an itinerary and provides step‑by‑step booking instructions. (connect.point.me)
• Pros:
  • Very user‑friendly interface and good for people who want guidance about which programs to transfer to and how to book (includes one‑click instructions and ability to sync balances). (connect.point.me)
  • Searches many programs and supports round‑trip searches; offers a full concierge/booking service if you want someone to handle the booking for you. (connect.point.me)
  • Flexible pricing: starter 24‑hour pass, standard annual (commonly $129/yr) and premium tiers with extras; concierge fees start around $200 per passenger for full‑service bookings. (techcrunch.com)
• Cons:
  • Mixed user reports on reliability, speed limits, and customer service; some users report bugs, rate‑limiting, or slower searches depending on load. Verify results on airline sites. (reddit.com)
  • More of a “guided” product — less raw speed/advanced filtering than Seats.aero for power award hackers; concierge service adds significant cost. (thepointsparty.com)
• Best for: Less experienced award bookers or anyone who values guided booking instructions and the option to pay for a concierge to finish the booking.

Common caveats (applies to all three)

• None of these services books for you (unless you pay a concierge); they surface availability and give instructions — always confirm live availability and pricing on the airline or program site before transferring points or completing a booking. Tools sometimes show “phantom” seats or cached results. (wsj.com)
• Because the tools rely on scraping/direct airline connections, coverage and accuracy vary by carrier and can change if airlines block third‑party access; expect occasional inconsistencies and keep a manual backup search strategy. (wsj.com)

Quick recommendation by user type

• You’re a points/award power user who wants speed and low cost: Seats.aero (Pro for year‑long searches). (seats.aero.)
• You need exact seat alerts, seat maps, upgrade monitoring, or use systemwide upgrades often: ExpertFlyer. (expertflyer.com)
• You want a beginner‑friendly tool with guided booking steps — or you want the option to pay someone to research/book for you: Point.me (or their concierge). (connect.point.me)

If you want, I can:

• suggest which one is the best single pick for a specific trip/route you have in mind; or
• give a quick checklist for how to verify availability on the airline site after one of these tools shows a result.