# Harvard Van vs Boston Seaport Ferry

The clearest difference is monetization model: Boston Seaport Ferry at free against Harvard Van's free with in-app purchases. Harvard Van's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (170 vs 9). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Harvard Van against 4.6 for Boston Seaport Ferry. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Harvard Van has 170 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Harvard Van ships an update every 5 weeks, Boston Seaport Ferry every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and July 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Harvard Van | Boston Seaport Ferry |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (170 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-van/id1419081124/reviews)** | [4.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boston-seaport-ferry/id1450378585/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **170** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 134 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Via Transportation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657777018) | [Massachusetts Convention Center Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/910522175) |

## What reviewers say

### Harvard Van

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harvard-van/id1419081124)

Book on-demand shuttle rides around the Harvard University campus. Select your pickup and drop-off locations, track your van in real-time, and enjoy a safe and convenient travel experience. Matches riders going in the same direction for efficient routing.

**Highlights:** On-demand shuttle booking, Real-time van tracking, Customized and flexible routing, Campus-wide service area, Estimated pickup ETAs, Safe and convenient travel

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### Boston Seaport Ferry

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boston-seaport-ferry/id1450378585)

Access your ferry tickets directly on your phone for a seamless commute or visit. Avoid lines and never misplace your ticket again. Enjoy city views from the harbor with this hassle-free travel solution.

**Highlights:** Mobile ticket access, Electronic ticket wallet, Activate tickets before boarding, Never misplace tickets, Transfer tickets to new phones, Hassle-free commute

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Harvard Van free?

Harvard Van is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Boston Seaport Ferry free?

Boston Seaport Ferry is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Harvard Van or Boston Seaport Ferry?

Harvard Van is rated higher. Harvard Van averages 4.7 out of 5 from 170 ratings, while Boston Seaport Ferry averages 4.6 from 9 ratings.

### Do Harvard Van or Boston Seaport Ferry have ads?

Neither Harvard Van nor Boston Seaport Ferry shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Harvard Van or Boston Seaport Ferry?

Harvard Van ships an update every 5 weeks, and Boston Seaport Ferry every 6 months. Most recently, Harvard Van was updated on September 18, 2026 and Boston Seaport Ferry on July 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*