# Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) vs Loch Ness Experience

The clearest difference is update cadence: Loch Ness Experience at fortnightly against Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac)'s every 2 months. Loch Ness Experience also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 17.0). On price, 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.

Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) ships an update every 2 months, Loch Ness Experience fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) | Loch Ness Experience |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caledonian-macbrayne-calmac/id1621523538/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2** | — |
| Positive reviews | 6.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 27 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CalMac Ferries Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1621523540) | [The Continuum Group Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1445670859) |

## What reviewers say

### Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caledonian-macbrayne-calmac/id1621523538)

Plan and manage your ferry journeys to Scotland's islands. Get real-time service updates, check timetables, and book tickets for over 50 island destinations. Your essential companion for exploring the Clyde and Hebridean islands.

**Highlights:** Real-time service updates, Ferry timetables and fare information, Ticketing and booking, Favorite route management, Island destination information, Push notifications for service status

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful and improved app
- 🚀 Sleek and modern design
- 💡 Ability to save favorite routes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable and outdated information
- 🤔 Confusing and difficult to navigate
- 🔍 Harder to find information compared to old app
- 🔁 Requires frequent reinstallation

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Login process is buggy
- Inconsistent and contradictory information

**Requested features**

- Ability to view route information in both directions
- Improved real-time service updates
- Better integration with website and booking process


### Loch Ness Experience

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/loch-ness-experience/id6447874374)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) free?

Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Loch Ness Experience free?

Loch Ness Experience is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) or Loch Ness Experience have ads?

Neither Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) nor Loch Ness Experience shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) or Loch Ness Experience?

Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) ships an update every 2 months, and Loch Ness Experience fortnightly. Most recently, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) was updated on November 7, 2026 and Loch Ness Experience on November 12, 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.*