You are sitting with a coffee, trying to line up ferries between islands. Maybe it is Athens to Paros, then on to Naxos. Or Naples to Ischia, then Procida if the timing works. You open a few tabs, check dates, refresh schedules, and very quickly it feels more complicated than it should.
Two names keep popping up while you search. Ferryhopper. Ferryscanner. Both look legit. Both promise to make ferry booking easier. And at this point, you just want something that works and will not cause problems later.

If you have never booked ferries before, the stage of Ferryhopper vs Ferryscanner can feel confusing and oddly stressful. You are not missing something. This is just how ferry planning feels at first!
What Each Platform Is Really Built For?
Ferryhopper feels like it was built by people who live and breathe ferry travel. It comes out of Greece, and that shows in how naturally it handles island hopping. It works best when you are piecing together several legs and want to understand how everything connects.
Ferryscanner feels more focused on helping you lock in a route quickly. You search, compare, and book with less back and forth. It suits travelers who already know where they are going and want clear options without digging too deep.
To give some context on how the two companies compare at a high level, let’s have a look at their profiles-
| Aspect | Ferryhopper | Ferryscanner |
| Founded | 2017 | 2018 |
| Core Focus | Ferry tickets to 500+ destinations, 160+ operators in 33 countries | 4,500+ routes, 125+ companies across Europe/Mediterranean |
| Partnerships | 120+ ferry operators | 125+ ferry companies |
| Global Rank | #19,672 (higher traffic) similarweb | #41,497 similarweb |
| Headquarters | Athens (Greece) | Downtown Athens (Greece) |
| User Base Claim | 2M+ travelers | 1M+ happy travelers annually |
| Team Size | ~50-60 employees (est. from growth) | Smaller team, startup-focused |
| Awards/Recognition | Stelios Award 2018 ferryhopper | Emerging player, app-focused growth |
| App Features | Real-time schedules | Save details, manage bookings |
| Competitors | Direct Ferries, Ferryscanner, Ferrynav, Lets Ferry, Aferry, Bookaway, Omio, etc. | AFerry, Ferryhopper, Clickferry, etc. |
You do not need to memorize any of this. It just helps explain why Ferryhopper often feels more “infrastructure-heavy,” while Ferryscanner feels lighter and quicker.
Ferryhopper vs Ferryscanner: Booking Experience in Real Life
When you actually sit down to book, the differences become clearer.
Ferryhopper feels like planning with a map spread out in front of you. You can see routes, connections, and timing all at once. This is helpful when you are asking yourself things like, can I really make this connection the same day?
Ferryscanner feels more like a focused search. You type in your route and get clean, filtered results. It is easier when you just want to choose a ferry and move on.
Here is how their booking tools and app features look like-
| Feature | Ferryhopper | Ferryscanner |
| Booking Tools | Multi-leg itineraries, real-time schedules | Interactive maps, filters for speed/comfort |
| App Capabilities | iOS/Android, e-tickets, island-hopping planner | iOS/Android, live availability, paperless |
| Pricing Display | Commission-based, direct comparisons, no hidden fees | Best price guarantee, upfront discounts |
| Custoer Support | Live chat/email, strong reviews | Quick chat (<40s), cancellations |
| Unique Perks | Island-hopping planner, e-tickets, Broad indirect routes | Real-time seat/vehicle availability, family discounts |
| User Ratings | 4.8/5 (8,800+ reviews); Strong Support | 4.6-4.8/5 (3,700+ reviews); Fast chat support |
| Mobile Exclusives | Live tracking, multi-device sync apps | Save profiles, one-tap rebook |
| Cancellation Policy | Flexible up to 24h before (operator-dependent) | Free changes on select routes |
In real life, this translates to Ferryhopper being calmer for complex trips, and Ferryscanner feeling faster for straightforward ones.
Pricing, Fees, and Transparency
Most ferry anxiety shows up at checkout. You want to know the price is final and that nothing strange will appear after you click pay.
Both platforms are generally clear, but they approach pricing slightly differently. Ferryhopper focuses on clean comparisons across operators. Ferryscanner leans more into visible discounts and “best price” messaging.
Behind the scenes, their business models also explain some of these differences.
| Metric | Ferryhopper | Ferryscanner |
| Monthly Visits | 2.8M (65% Greece), +40% growth | 1.1M, +45% growth |
| Avg. Engagement | 3:20 duration, 42% bounce | 3:25 duration, 38% bounce |
| Revenue Model | Aggregator commissions | Aggregator with guarantees/discounts |
| Funding Raised | $8.88M total (Series B $5.29M in 2022) | Not publicly detailed |
| Market Valuation | Not public (post-Series B est. $20-30M) | Not public (private startup) |
| Revenue Earned | Not public (est. $10-20M annually pre-2026) | $5.4M (2026 annual est.) |
| Expenses/Profit-Loss | High growth investment phase; profitable post-COVID recovery | Startup expenses high; likely break-even/profit-neutral |
| Marketing Edge | Established brand, wide partnerships | Price focus, app promotions |
| Strengths | Multi-leg trips, broad coverage, Scale and reliability | Affordability, Simple UI, Maps, deals, user-friendly search |
| Challenges | Occasional support complaints | Newer market presence |
For you as a traveler, the takeaway is simple. Both are transparent enough to trust, but you should always double-check the final screen, especially if you are adding vehicles or booking for a group.
Flexibility and Changes
This matters more than people expect. Weather delays, late flights, and missed connections happen.
Ferryhopper is strong when managing changes across multiple legs, especially for island hopping trips. Ferryscanner can feel quicker to reach when you just need a fast answer, which is comforting when plans start to wobble.
Neither platform controls ferry operators, but both are legitimate intermediaries. If you are wondering whether Ferryhopper is legit or whether Ferryscanner can be trusted, the short answer is yes to both.
Route Coverage and Island Hopping
For Greece especially, Ferryhopper often feels more natural when dealing with smaller islands and less obvious connections. It helps you understand what is possible without trial and error.
Ferryscanner works very well for major routes in Greece, Italy, and Spain. If your trip sticks to popular ports, it usually has everything you need without overcomplicating things.
Which Platform Fits Which Traveler?
If your trip is flexible, multi-stop, and still evolving, Ferryhopper tends to feel easier to live with.
If your trip is fixed, time sensitive, and route-specific, Ferryscanner often fits better.
Many experienced travelers check both. That alone should tell you that this is not a high stakes decision.
Note: Recently, the tourism industry in Asia boomed dramatically. Hence, there have been growing demands for reviews of booking platforms. We have explained the following booking platforms so that you can book your travel easily-
Final Thoughts
In the end, Ferryhopper vs Ferryscanner is less of a decision than it first appears. Both work, both are familiar to frequent ferry travelers, and neither is trying to trip you up.
Book slowly, double check the details, and then let it go. Once the ticket is secured, the planning noise quiets down and the trip takes over.
Good Luck 🙂
