Flying private sounds pretty simple until you actually try to book a flight.
You can charter a jet for one trip, buy a block of flight hours, join a membership program, or even buy a share of an aircraft. They all get described as private aviation, but they are very different ways to travel.
That makes ranking private jet companies from one to ten a little misleading.
Someone looking for a private flight from New York to Miami once or twice a year probably shouldn’t be considering the same program as someone flying privately every other week.
So instead of pretending there is one “best” private jet company, we’ve looked at what each company is actually good at and who it makes sense for.
Our 2026 selection includes some of the biggest names in private aviation, including NetJets, VistaJet, Flexjet, Wheels Up, and XO, along with companies that may make more sense if you only fly private occasionally.
Editorial disclosure: DailyStoke has not personally flown with every company in this guide. We researched current company information, program details, aviation sources, and publicly available information. No company paid for inclusion. Private aviation programs and prices change frequently, so always request current terms and a complete quote before booking.
Best Private Jet Companies Compared
| Private jet company | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| NetJets | Frequent private flyers | Fractional ownership, lease, jet card |
| VistaJet | Frequent international travel | Membership |
| Flexjet | Premium fractional ownership | Fractional ownership, lease, jet card |
| Wheels Up | Flexible private travel | Membership and charter |
| XO | Booking online | On-demand charter and membership |
| Sentient Jet | Jet cards | 25-hour jet cards |
| Magellan Jets | Personalized private travel | Jet cards and membership |
| Jet Linx | Local service | Jet card and aircraft management |
| Stratos Jet Charters | Occasional private flights | On-demand charter broker |
| Air Charter Service | Complex and international trips | Global charter broker |
1. NetJets: Best for frequent private flyers
NetJets is probably the private jet company most people already know.
Its main business is fractional ownership. Instead of owning an entire aircraft, you buy a share and receive access to a corresponding amount of flying.
The company also offers leasing and jet-card options, so buying a share isn’t the only way to use NetJets.
For frequent private flyers, the attraction is consistency. You are buying into an established aviation network rather than finding a different aircraft and operator every time you want to travel.
But for the occasional luxury vacation, it is probably overkill.
If you only expect to fly private a couple of times a year, I would look at on-demand charter before considering fractional ownership.
Best for: Frequent private flyers who value predictable access and an established network.
2. VistaJet: Best for frequent international travel
VistaJet is interesting because you don’t have to buy part of an aircraft.
Its silver-and-red jets operate internationally, and its main Program membership is aimed at people who fly privately regularly but don’t necessarily want the responsibilities or commitment that come with aircraft ownership.
That makes it particularly interesting if your travel regularly takes you between the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and other regions.
VistaJet also puts a lot of emphasis on making the experience consistent from one aircraft to another. For a frequent traveler, knowing roughly what you’re going to get can matter more than having your name attached to one particular plane.
For someone taking one special private trip, though, there is less reason to commit to a program. Compare ordinary charter prices first.
Best for: Frequent international travelers who want private aircraft access without fractional ownership.