The Test Routes (Because Context Matters)
Picked three typical intra-Europe hops that both airlines actually fly: London Stansted to Budapest (STN-BUD), Milan Bergamo to Bucharest (BGY-OTP), and Berlin Brandenburg to Sofia (BER-SOF).
All booked 45 days out, midweek in shoulder season, think early October. Same passenger profile: one adult, 40x30x20cm personal bag only, no priority, random seat, who cares where.
Base Fare Face-Off
On the STN-BUD route, Ryanair starts at €24.99 while Wizz asks €29.99.
For BGY-OTP, Ryanair hits €19.99, Wizz comes in at €22.99.
And BER-SOF? Ryanair €16.99, Wizz €27.99.
Ryanair wins on raw ticket price every single time. But hold your horses, we're just getting started.
The Fee Gauntlet (Where Dreams Go to Die)
That "Free" Personal Bag
Both claim 40x30x20cm is free. Reality check:
Ryanair says it must fit under seat, their sizer cages are brutal. I measured mine at home 39x29x19, still got the side-eye in Bergamo. Pro tip, soft bags compress better than hard-shell backpacks.
Wizz is slightly more forgiving, their sizer has 2mm extra wiggle room, yes I brought a ruler. Never had mine pulled aside in 6 flights.
Winner: Wizz, barely.
Seat Selection Hell
Random allocation is free, but let's be honest, nobody wants the middle seat purgatory.
Standard seat on Ryanair runs €4 to €8, on Wizz €5 to €11.
Front rows? Ryanair €12 to €15, Wizz €14 to €25.
Extra legroom goes €15 to €20 with Ryanair, but Wizz wants €18 to €35.
Wizz charges more for the same plastic seat. On BER-SOF they wanted €35 for row 1, Ryanair asked €15. That's a €20 craft beer budget right there.
Payment Processing (The Silent Killer)
Ryanair adds €2 flat if you avoid their prepaid MasterCard, which nobody has.
Wizz takes 1.5% of total, minimum €8. On a €50 ticket that's another €8 hit.
Suddenly that €5 base fare advantage evaporates.
Check-In Fees (Yes, Really)
Both free online, but airport check-in with Ryanair is €55, avoid at all costs.
Wizz charges €40 for airport check-in, but their app works better, fewer glitches reported.
The Real-Cost Calculator (Your New Best Friend)
Made a quick formula you can copy-paste into any spreadsheet. Plug in your numbers:
BASE_FARE plus, if payment method isn't prepaid card, add 2, plus, if seat selection yes, add seat price, plus, if bag size over 40x30x20, add priority fee.
But here's the actual breakdown from my test bookings:
STN-BUD Total
Ryanair: €24.99 base plus €2 payment plus €6 seat equals €32.99.
Wizz: €29.99 base plus €8 payment at 1.5% plus €7 seat equals €44.99.
BGY-OTP Total
Ryanair: €19.99 plus €2 plus €5 seat equals €26.99.
Wizz: €22.99 plus €8 plus €9 seat equals €39.99.
BER-SOF Total
Ryanair: €16.99 plus €2 plus €15 extra legroom equals €33.99.
Wizz: €27.99 plus €8 plus €35 extra legroom equals €70.99, ouch.
Hidden Gotchas Nobody Talks About
Ryanair side:
Changes name spelling? €115 at airport, €20 online if caught early.
Their priority includes 10kg bag, but non-priority can't even bring trolley without €25 fee at gate.
Boarding pass must be printed if not using app, €20 reprint fee.
Wizz side:
Their discount club at €39.99 per year actually saves money if you fly 4+ times.
App sometimes shows lower prices than website, weird but true.
More flexible with bag sizers, less gate drama.
The Verdict (TL;DR)
Solo traveler, personal bag only, no seat pick? Ryanair wins by €10 to 15 per leg.
Want guaranteed aisle/window or extra legroom? Ryanair still cheaper, Wizz gets greedy.
Flying 4+ times a year? Wizz Discount Club flips the script, suddenly they're cheaper.
Most stressful boarding experience? Ryanair gate agents have PhDs in passive aggression.
Bottom line: Ryanair is the true budget king if you play their game perfectly. One mistake, forgot to check-in online, bag 1cm too big, and poof, savings gone. Wizz costs more upfront but feels less like a trap.
Pro move: Book Ryanair, measure your bag twice, check-in 24h before, print boarding pass, pick random seat. Arrive with €20 extra for airport pints. Works 9/10 times.
Safe travels, don't let the budget airlines win.