Direct Ferries vs Openferry
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Direct Ferries
Compare and book ferry tickets for over 3000 routes worldwide with real-time pricing and availability. Features include a comparison tool, live ferry tracking, port finder, and secure payment options. Book up to 12 months in advance or as late as 2 hours before departure.
- Compare ferry prices globally
- Real-time availability
- Book up to 12 months ahead
- Live ferry tracking
- Port finder
- Secure payment options
- Amend and cancel bookings
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Direct Ferries is the world's leading independent ferry ticket retailer. Compare and book over 3000 ferry crossings worldwide, using real-time pricing and availability, anytime, anywhere from your mobile. The Direct Ferries app is free, quick, and easy to use. With access to all ferry companies, routes, and destinations, it is the only app you need for ferry travel! Direct Ferries App Features: - Our easy comparison tool is designed to make your ferry ticket search a breeze, ensuring you always get the best deal. - Compare prices from the world's major ferry companies, including DFDS Seaways, Brittany Ferries, Irish Ferries, GNV, and more. - Whether you're a spontaneous traveller or a meticulous planner, our app allows you to book your ferry tickets as close as 2 hours before departure or up to 12 months in advance, giving you the freedom to travel on your terms. - Contact our exceptional customer support team directly through the app using our messenger service. - Receive notifications to stay up to date on the status of your sailing and conversations with our customer support team. - Save your quote to complete unfinished ferry bookings later; we'll email you the itinerary and quote so you can complete the booking when you're ready. - Use the Live Ferry Tracker feature to track your ferry an hour before departure and during the crossing. - Don't get lost; the port finder feature can help you find the ferry port. - Recall ferry bookings or quickly and easily amend and cancel your bookings. - Secure payment by PayPal, credit or debit card - Fast booking and instant email confirmation
Openferry
Easily search, compare, and book ferry tickets from over 150 operators across 2500+ routes. Access e-tickets, track your ferry in real-time, and manage bookings all in one place. Plan your next adventure with transparent pricing and convenient payment options.
- Ferry ticket booking
- Compare prices and times
- Live ferry tracking
- e-Tickets
- Real-time arrival/departure estimates
- Booking management
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Made by travellers for travellers : Reliable & transparent ferry travel, packed with features, e-Tickets & live ferry tracking. The search for the best ferry travel experience continues from the web to your mobile. Find your next adventure with one of the 150+ operators on the Openferry platform and choose between 2500+ routes! Search & Book • Instantly compare ferry prices, times, and operators to find the best option for your journey. • Book last-minute (as close as 2 hours before departure) or plan up to a year in advance. • Choose your preferred currency: Euro, US Dollar, or British Pound. • Save loyalty cards and discount codes to your account. • Pay with major cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Track Your Ferry • Live estimates for arrival and departure times. • Notifications for delays and disruptions. • Share your trip with friends and family so they can track your ferry too. Travel • Access your e-ticket, check-in details, and paper ticket info anytime. • View gate numbers and available port facilities including taxi and bus stops. Your Account • Sync tickets across web and mobile. • Save passenger, vehicle, and pet details for faster bookings. • View and manage all your vouchers in one place. Support • Stay updated on cancellations, changes, or delays. • Cancel or reschedule eligible bookings directly in the app (*with select operators). • Need help? Our in-app support system is tailored to your needs. Chat with our team during business hours. • Explore the in-app Help Centre for how-tos and FAQs, or visit openferry.com/help-centre. Transparency You Can Trust • Free to download • No ads, no spam • Same prices as booking directly with ferry operators • GDPR-compliant: we only use your data to improve your experience, and you control what you share. Follow us on Social Media: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openferry/ • Facebook: https://facebook.com/openferry/ • Website: https://openferry.com/ Found a bug or got a suggestion to improve our app? Let us know at by creating a request through the app or via our Help centre at https://openferry.com/help-centre
Screenshots
Verdict
Direct Ferries and Openferry both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of Openferry's written reviews are positive against 29% of Direct Ferries's. Openferry also leads on ads (none vs shown). Direct Ferries's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 162). On price, rating, update cadence 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Direct Ferries against 4.6 for Openferry. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Direct Ferries has 1.5K ratings behind it against 162, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 29% of Direct Ferries's written reviews are positive against 67% of Openferry's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Direct Ferries | Openferry |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.5K ratings) — better | 4.6 (162 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 28.9% of reviews | 67.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.5K — better | 162 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 92 MB | 67 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Direct Ferries | Droplet Tech Ltd |
Customer experience
Direct Ferries
Openferry
User reviews
Direct Ferries
From 1.5K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Smooth booking process
- 🚀 Convenient app features
- 🚀 Global ferry services
- 🚀 Painless booking experience
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy app
- 🔍 Lack of customer support
- 🔍 Difficult to amend bookings
- 🔍 Unreliable service
- 💰 Expensive compared to direct booking
Openferry
From 162 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🚀 Fast booking process
- 💡 Live ferry tracking
- 👍 Good customer support
- 💡 E-tickets provided
Room to improve
- 😞 No support for third-party bookings
- 😞 Cannot upgrade bookings
- 😞 Difficult to communicate with companies
- 😞 No after-care support
- 😞 Port changes without clear notification
Bugs and requests
Direct Ferries
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes frequently
- Booking information not accurately reflected
- Inability to log in or reset passwords
- Mapping/directions feature not working properly
Requested features
4 requests- Improved customer support channels
- Ability to easily amend or cancel bookings
- More transparent pricing and booking policies
- Tighter integration with ferry operator apps
Openferry
Reported bugs
6 issues- QR code not working for app integration
- Etickets get constantly deleted
- Support tickets vanishing from account
- Message input on support tickets misses spellcheck and correction options on iPhone
- Bookings disappearing
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- App timed out when using certain email addresses
Requested features
10 requests- Allow lounge as an option
- Enable booking upgrades
- Improve communication channels
- Provide better after-care support
- Ensure accurate port selection
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Offer refunds or changes shortly after booking
- Make QR code scanning work for app integration
- Fix bug where etickets get deleted
- Ensure support tickets do not vanish
- Add spellcheck and correction to iPhone message input
In-app purchases
Direct Ferries
No in-app purchases
Openferry
No in-app purchases







