Comparison

Direct Ferries vs Rail Ninja

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

Rail Ninja

Easily book train tickets globally in over 50 countries. Search, compare seat options with videos, and pay securely. Tickets are stored offline for convenient access, with in-app chat support for changes.

Highlights
  • Book train tickets worldwide
  • Search 50+ countries
  • Compare seat options with videos
  • Offline ticket storage
  • In-app chat support
  • Book up to a year in advance
Features
Read full description

Rail.Ninja app – the most convenient way to book train tickets worldwide Rail Ninja makes booking train tickets easy. Search for tickets in 50+ countries and book up to a year in advance in just a few clicks. Watch helpful videos to explore train options and seat layouts before booking. Once issued, your tickets are securely stored in the app and available offline. Need assistance? Get help directly via in-app chat for any changes or travel adjustments. INTUITIVE INTERFACE Quickly find the best train options by entering your route and date. See live schedules, classes, and prices at a glance. EASY CLASS SELECTION Compare seat options with photos and videos to choose the best experience for your trip. FAST & SECURE BOOKING Pay effortlessly with Apple Pay, Visa, or Mastercard and receive official tickets instantly. TICKETS ALWAYS AT HAND Access your tickets anytime, even offline, without worrying about paper copies. TRUSTED BY MILLIONS Join 2.5M+ travelers who rely on Rail Ninja for smooth and hassle-free train bookings. WHAT’S INSIDE THE APP? Search tickets for 25,000+ destinations Buy tickets instantly from your phone Receive trip notifications View search history for quick rebooking Get support via in-app chat whenever you need help Use the app in English, French, and Spanish, with more languages coming soon Download Rail Ninja and make train travel easier than ever!

Screenshots

Direct Ferries4 screens
Rail Ninja4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Rail Ninja at none against Direct Ferries's shown. Rail Ninja also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and ratings volume (6.2K vs 1.5K). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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 4.8 for Rail Ninja. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5K and 6.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 29% of Direct Ferries's written reviews are positive against 32% of Rail Ninja's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Direct Ferries versus Rail Ninja: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDirect FerriesRail Ninja
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.5K ratings)4.8 (6.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews28.9% of reviews31.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.5K6.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.415.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDirect FerriesFirebird GT Limited

Customer experience

Direct Ferries

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

Rail Ninja

All ratings6,179 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral0.2%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews387 reviews
Positive31.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative67.2%

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

Rail Ninja

From 6.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Efficient booking process
  • 🚀 Convenient for international travel
  • 👍 User-friendly app
  • 👍 Excellent customer service

Room to improve

  • 💰 Overpriced tickets
  • 🚫 No refunds or cancellations
  • 🐛 Unreliable ticket delivery
  • 🤯 Poor communication from the company
  • 🤔 Misleading information about ticket types

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

Rail Ninja

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Tickets not received despite payment
  • Incorrect ticket information displayed
  • App crashes during booking process

Requested features

3 requests
  • Improve refund and cancellation policies
  • Provide better customer support channels
  • Offer more transparent pricing information

In-app purchases

None

Direct Ferries

No in-app purchases

None

Rail Ninja

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Direct Ferries free?
Direct Ferries is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Rail Ninja free?
Rail Ninja is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Direct Ferries or Rail Ninja?
Rail Ninja is rated higher. Direct Ferries averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Rail Ninja averages 4.8 from 6.2K ratings.
Do Direct Ferries or Rail Ninja have ads?
Direct Ferries shows ads; Rail Ninja does not.
Which is updated more often, Direct Ferries or Rail Ninja?
Direct Ferries ships an update every 3 weeks, and Rail Ninja every 3 weeks. Most recently, Direct Ferries was updated on November 1, 2026 and Rail Ninja on November 5, 2026.

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