OnBuoy vs FerryHost
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OnBuoy
Find trusted guest moorage for your boat with this platform. Discover private docks, mooring buoys, marinas, and public facilities. Book with confidence and support responsible boating practices.
- Discover private docks and mooring buoys
- Book with confidence using secure payments
- Support community-driven responsible boating
- Mobile-optimized maps and filters
- GPX waypoint export to navigation apps
- Push notifications for bookings and messages
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**OnBuoy – Find trusted guest moorage at your fingertips** OnBuoy helps boaters find safe, reliable places to tie up—without anchoring, guesswork, or last-minute stress. From private docks and mooring buoys to marinas, state parks, and public facilities, OnBuoy brings trusted guest moorage together in one easy-to-use platform built by and for boaters. The OnBuoy iPhone app includes everything you can do on the web—plus powerful mobile features designed for real-world boating, whether you’re planning ahead or navigating on the fly. WHY BOATERS LOVE ONBUOY * Discover private docks and mooring buoys offered by local hosts * Use the new public check in feature to find and announce occupied and unoccupied spaces * Reduce anchor damage and protect sensitive shorelines * Book with confidence using transparent listings, clear rules, and secure payments * Support a community-driven approach to responsible boating ENHANCEMENTS EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE IPHONE * Smoother maps and smarter filters** to find the right moorage fast * Quick access** to state park moorages, Intracoastal Waterway “free docks,” fuel docks, marinas, and pump-out stations * GPX waypoint export**, so you can drop moorages straight into your favorite navigation app * Push notifications** for new bookings and messages—no missed updates * Full moorage details**, optimized for mobile viewing * Support for charter and sailing-club vessels**, making it easy to manage shared boats BUILT FOR TRUST. DESIGNED FOR THE WATER. OnBuoy is often used in real-time, real-world situations—sometimes offshore, sometimes on the move. That’s why we focus on performance, clarity, and reliability before releasing the app. We are happy to release version 2.0 thanks to your feedback, and we will continue improving through the boating community's help. Whether you’re cruising unfamiliar waters or returning to a favorite harbor, OnBuoy helps you arrive with confidence. Download the OnBuoy app and tie up smarter. We would love to hear your feedback. Please leave a review, use in-app contact, or email us directly at appfeedback@onbuoy.com
FerryHost
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Ferry Host helps commuters and travelers plan ferry trips across Washington State Ferries and San Francisco Bay Ferry routes. LIVE FERRY TRACKING View supported ferries on a live map and check current vessel and route information. FERRY SCHEDULES Browse upcoming departure and arrival times for supported ferry routes. Cached schedules may remain available when your connection is limited. TERMINAL INFORMATION View terminal conditions, service notices, local weather, and available WSF vehicle-space information where provided by the ferry operator. SAVE FAVORITE ROUTES Keep your frequently used ferry routes together for quick and convenient access. CHOOSE YOUR ALERTS Enable only the notifications you need: • Service alerts for favorite routes • Weather warnings for favorite routes • Recurring departure reminders for selected sailings • Ferry arrival updates • WSF vehicle-space alerts where available NO ACCOUNT REQUIRED Core features work without signing in. Optional Apple or Google sign-in lets you sync supported information across devices. Ferry Host uses information from WSDOT/WSF, San Francisco Bay Ferry/511.org, Open-Meteo, MapLibre, and OpenStreetMap contributors. Ferry Host is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any ferry operator or government agency. Schedules, arrival estimates, vehicle-space information, service alerts, and vessel positions may change or experience delays. Always confirm time-sensitive travel information with the official ferry operator.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: FerryHost at 15.0 against OnBuoy's 17.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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.
| Parameter | OnBuoy | FerryHost |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (15 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 43 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | OnBuoy, SPC | FerryHostLLC |
In-app purchases
OnBuoy
No in-app purchases
FerryHost
No in-app purchases








