Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) vs Discover Islay
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac)
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.
- Real-time service updates
- Ferry timetables and fare information
- Ticketing and booking
- Favorite route management
- Island destination information
- Push notifications for service status
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Ready to explore Scotland's stunning islands? The CalMac app is your ultimate on-the-move travel companion, helping to make your journey stress-free and straightforward. From checking timetables to planning your next adventure or receiving service updates, we're with you every step of the way. Manage your entire trip from start to finish, connecting you to over 50 incredible locations across the Clyde and Hebridean islands. Key Features: - Stay informed: Get instant push notifications on service status for your routes. - Plan your trip: Access timetables, fare information and our ticketing site to effortlessly plan your island escape. - Save your favourites: Quickly access information and updates for your frequently used routes. - Find answers: Our help centre is packed with answers to all your travel questions. Discover your island escape: Scotland's islands offer something for everyone, from breathtaking landscapes to rich history and heritage. Not compatible with iPad
Discover Islay
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Discover Islay is your digital active travel guide to this stunning island off the west of Scotland, famous for its dramatic coastal seascapes, birdlife, seafood and numerous whisky distilleries. Choose from eight self-guided walking and cycling trails featured in the app. Each trail page includes a route synopsis, map and detailed route description to allow you to decide whether or not the trail is suitable for you. To keep all your group entertained there are Eye Spy games to be discovered and answered at locations around Port Ellen in the app. Earn points on completing these, adding to your total shown in the achievements section - can you score over 80% to win the explorer challenge? Key Features - Eight self-guided walking trails - Maps and route descriptions - Points of interest to discover on the trails - Fun family Eye Spy challenges to spot features - Links to local visitor information resources Download the app to Discover the Isle of Islay!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) at every 2 months against Discover Islay's every 12 months. Discover Islay's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
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, Discover Islay every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) | Discover Islay |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 6.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 12 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CalMac Ferries Limited | Aerial Digital Ltd |
Bugs and requests
Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac)
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes frequently
- Login process is buggy
- Inconsistent and contradictory information
Requested features
3 requests- Ability to view route information in both directions
- Improved real-time service updates
- Better integration with website and booking process
Discover Islay
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac)
No in-app purchases
Discover Islay
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) free?
Is Discover Islay free?
Do Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) or Discover Islay have ads?
Which is updated more often, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) or Discover Islay?
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