Comparison

Direct Ferries vs Openferry

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • Ferry ticket booking
  • Compare prices and times
  • Live ferry tracking
  • e-Tickets
  • Real-time arrival/departure estimates
  • Booking management
Features
Read full description

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

Direct Ferries4 screens
Openferry4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Direct Ferries versus Openferry: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDirect FerriesOpenferry
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.5K ratings) — better4.6 (162 ratings)
Positive reviews28.9% of reviews67.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.5K — better162
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB67 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDirect FerriesDroplet Tech Ltd

Customer experience

Direct Ferries

All ratings1,513 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral1.2%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews173 reviews
Positive28.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative69.4%

Openferry

All ratings161 ratings
Positive91.3%
Neutral0.6%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive67.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative32.7%

User reviews

Direct Ferries

From 1.5K App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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 more
  • 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 more
  • 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

None

Direct Ferries

No in-app purchases

None

Openferry

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Direct Ferries free?
Direct Ferries is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Openferry free?
Openferry is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Direct Ferries or Openferry?
Direct Ferries is rated higher. Direct Ferries averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Openferry averages 4.6 from 162 ratings.
Do Direct Ferries or Openferry have ads?
Direct Ferries shows ads; Openferry does not.
Which is updated more often, Direct Ferries or Openferry?
Direct Ferries ships an update every 3 weeks, and Openferry every 3 weeks. Most recently, Direct Ferries was updated on November 6, 2026 and Openferry on November 2, 2026.

Other comparisons