Ferryhopper vs Ferryscanner: What to Know Before You Book?

Ferryhopper vs Ferryscanner

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.

Ferryhopper vs Ferryscanner

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-

AspectFerryhopper Ferryscanner 
Founded20172018
Core FocusFerry tickets to 500+ destinations, 160+ operators in 33 countries4,500+ routes, 125+ companies across Europe/Mediterranean
Partnerships120+ ferry operators125+ ferry companies
Global Rank#19,672 (higher traffic) similarweb​#41,497 similarweb​
HeadquartersAthens (Greece)Downtown Athens (Greece)
User Base Claim2M+ travelers1M+ happy travelers annually 
Team Size~50-60 employees (est. from growth) Smaller team, startup-focused 
Awards/RecognitionStelios Award 2018 ferryhopper​Emerging player, app-focused growth
App FeaturesReal-time schedulesSave details, manage bookings
CompetitorsDirect 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- 

FeatureFerryhopper Ferryscanner 
Booking ToolsMulti-leg itineraries, real-time schedulesInteractive maps, filters for speed/comfort
App CapabilitiesiOS/Android, e-tickets, island-hopping planneriOS/Android, live availability, paperless
Pricing DisplayCommission-based, direct comparisons, no hidden feesBest price guarantee, upfront discounts
Custoer SupportLive chat/email, strong reviews Quick chat (<40s), cancellations 
Unique PerksIsland-hopping planner, e-tickets, Broad indirect routesReal-time seat/vehicle availability, family discounts
User Ratings4.8/5 (8,800+ reviews); Strong Support4.6-4.8/5 (3,700+ reviews); Fast chat support
Mobile ExclusivesLive tracking, multi-device sync appsSave profiles, one-tap rebook 
Cancellation PolicyFlexible 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.

MetricFerryhopper Ferryscanner 
Monthly Visits2.8M (65% Greece), +40% growth1.1M, +45% growth
Avg. Engagement3:20 duration, 42% bounce 3:25 duration, 38% bounce 
Revenue ModelAggregator commissionsAggregator with guarantees/discounts
Funding Raised$8.88M total (Series B $5.29M in 2022) Not publicly detailed
Market ValuationNot public (post-Series B est. $20-30M)Not public (private startup)
Revenue EarnedNot public (est. $10-20M annually pre-2026) $5.4M (2026 annual est.) 
Expenses/Profit-LossHigh growth investment phase; profitable post-COVID recovery Startup expenses high; likely break-even/profit-neutral
Marketing EdgeEstablished brand, wide partnershipsPrice focus, app promotions
StrengthsMulti-leg trips, broad coverage, Scale and reliabilityAffordability, Simple UI, Maps, deals, user-friendly search
ChallengesOccasional 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 🙂

Related Posts:

Photo of author
Published By: Supti Nandi
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments