Three companies run the crossing to the Isle of Wight, and none of them price it the same way. Wightlink carries 4.3 million passengers a year across its routes (Wightlink, "About Wightlink", retrieved 2026-07-03) — and that's before you count Red Funnel and Hovertravel's own passenger numbers on top.
With three operators, three different routes, and pricing that shifts by time of day and day of the week, working out the cheapest option isn't obvious. This guide compares all three head-to-head, so you can see which one actually saves you money for your specific trip.
Key Takeaways
- Red Funnel's foot passenger fares start from £14 one-way, with an unadvertised Super Off-Peak Day Return around £11pp — the cheapest single fare of the three operators.
- Hovertravel's hovercraft crosses Southsea to Ryde in under 10 minutes (Hovertravel, retrieved 2026-07-03) — the fastest crossing, though foot passengers only.
- Booking a Saturday crossing typically costs £50–60 more than the same trip on a Sunday, because island cottage changeovers cluster demand on Saturdays.
The Three Ferry Operators at a Glance
Each operator runs a different route, at a different speed, with a different vehicle policy. Wightlink and Red Funnel both carry cars; Hovertravel is foot passengers only.
| Operator | Route | Crossing Time | Sailings/Day | Vehicles? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wightlink | Portsmouth – Fishbourne | 45 minutes | ~21 | Yes |
| Red Funnel | Southampton – East Cowes | 1 hour | ~19 | Yes |
| Hovertravel | Southsea – Ryde | Under 10 minutes | Frequent | No (foot passengers only) |
Sources: Wightlink, "Portsmouth – Fishbourne route", retrieved 2026-07-03; Hovertravel, retrieved 2026-07-03.
Wightlink also runs a second vehicle route, Lymington to Yarmouth, on the western side of the island — useful if you're coming from the New Forest rather than Portsmouth or Southampton.
How Much Does Each Ferry Actually Cost?
In 2026, Red Funnel's foot passenger fares to East or West Cowes start from £14 one-way, with a discretionary Super Off-Peak Day Return around £11 per person that isn't bookable online (Isle of Wight Guru, "10 Ways To Get Cheap Red Funnel Foot Passenger Fares (2026)", retrieved 2026-07-03). That undiscounted fare is the cheapest single crossing of the three operators.
For comparison, Wightlink's foot passenger day return starts from £28.20, and Hovertravel's adult standard day return sits at £34.00 (Isle of Wight Guru, "Isle of Wight Ferry Discounts 2026", retrieved 2026-07-03). Hovertravel is the priciest per crossing — but it's also by far the fastest, so you're paying for speed, not distance.
If you're bringing a car, Wightlink's car day return starts from around £40.50 per leg, though Red Funnel's vehicle pricing varies more by date, sailing time, and demand rather than following a fixed rate card. Neither operator publishes a simple flat car fare — the price you're quoted depends heavily on when you travel, which is exactly why timing your booking matters as much as picking an operator.
Worth noting: the "cheapest operator" question doesn't have one answer. Red Funnel usually wins on foot passenger price. Hovertravel wins on speed. Wightlink's Portsmouth route often suits London-bound travellers better because of the onward rail connection. The right choice depends on what you're optimising for — price, speed, or where you're actually going afterwards.
Wightlink vs Red Funnel: Which Is Actually Cheaper?
It genuinely depends on the day. In an August 2026 price check, a Saturday-to-Saturday lunchtime return cost £286 with Red Funnel versus £307 with Wightlink — but a Sunday-to-Sunday booking for the same trip type came in at £229 with Red Funnel against £269 with Wightlink. Red Funnel came out cheaper both times in that comparison, but the gap varied by £20–40 depending on the day.
The practical takeaway: don't assume one operator is always cheaper. Get a quote from both for your actual dates before booking either one. We've written a full head-to-head comparison — see our Wightlink vs Red Funnel guide for a deeper breakdown of when each operator wins.
When to Travel for the Lowest Price
Two timing factors move the price more than anything else: time of day, and day of the week.
Time of day: prices tend to peak between 10am and 4pm, with cheaper fares earlier in the morning and later in the evening. If your schedule allows an early or late crossing, you'll typically pay less than a midday sailing.
Day of the week: Saturday is consistently the most expensive day to travel, because most island self-catering cottages run a Saturday changeover — meaning both incoming and outgoing holidaymakers are trying to cross on the same day. In the August 2026 example above, the difference between a Saturday and Sunday crossing was roughly £50–60 on the same route.
If your travel dates are flexible even by a single day, checking Sunday or midweek prices against a Saturday quote is one of the simplest ways to cut the cost of the crossing.
Current Discounts and Offers (2026)
Both car-ferry operators are running live offers as of mid-2026:
- Red Funnel is offering 20% off car ferry and Red Jet foot passenger travel for journeys up to 31 December 2026, provided you book by 31 July 2026 (Red Funnel, retrieved 2026-07-03).
- Wightlink has 10% off ferry travel for bookings made and travelled before 27 March 2027, excluding bank holidays and Isle of Wight Festival weekend.
- Wightlink also offers up to 40% off motorhome crossings at off-peak times — a substantial saving if you're travelling in anything larger than a standard car.
Offers like these change through the year, so check both operators' current promotions before you book rather than relying on last season's deal.
Bundle Deals: Ferry Included in Your Accommodation
If you're staying on the island rather than just visiting for the day, checking whether your accommodation bundles the ferry crossing can beat booking it separately by a wide margin. A five-night stay in late July 2026 at Whitefield Forest Touring Park, including a return ferry crossing and a pitch with electric hook-up for up to four people, came to £283 — roughly half what the same ferry crossing and pitch would cost booked independently.
This pattern holds across many island campsites, holiday parks, and B&Bs: many properties negotiate block rates directly with Red Funnel and Wightlink specifically for car ferry travel, and pass the saving on as part of a package price. It's always worth asking your accommodation directly whether they have a ferry-inclusive deal before booking your crossing separately — the saving is often larger than any discount code you'd find on the ferry operator's own site.
How Booking Works With Each Operator
All three operators run their booking through their own website or app — there's no single combined booking system across Wightlink, Red Funnel, and Hovertravel, so you'll need to book directly with whichever operator you choose.
Wightlink and Red Funnel both let you select a specific sailing time when booking a car ferry, and both charge more for peak sailings than off-peak ones on the same day. Neither operator offers open, "any sailing" tickets for car crossings — you commit to a specific time when you book, though both allow date/time changes for a fee if your plans shift.
Hovertravel, being a much shorter and more frequent crossing, operates more like a shuttle service — turn up and travel on the next available departure is realistic for foot passengers, though booking ahead online still guarantees your fare and seat, particularly at busy times.
Which Ferry Should You Choose?
The right operator depends on who's travelling and what you need:
- Bringing a car? See our dedicated guide to the cheapest ferry with a car, covering vehicle-specific routes, booking tips, and hidden costs.
- Travelling as a family? Our best ferry for families guide compares which operator and route suit groups and kids best.
- Foot passenger only? Check our best ferry for foot passengers comparison of FastCat, Hovertravel, and Red Jet.
- Deciding between Wightlink and Hovertravel specifically for Ryde? See Wightlink vs Hovertravel for foot passengers.
If You Live on the Island
Everything above covers standard public pricing. If you're an Isle of Wight resident, you likely qualify for resident discount schemes that beat all of these fares — Wightlink's Multilink card, Red Funnel's resident discount, and Hovertravel's Blue Card can cut your regular crossing cost substantially. See our full IoW resident ferry discount guide for how to apply and how much you can save.
For a live, adjustable estimate based on your own trip details, try our ferry cost calculator — it covers peak/off-peak pricing, passenger numbers, and resident rates in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the cheapest Isle of Wight ferry operator?
For foot passengers, Red Funnel is generally the cheapest, with fares from £14 one-way and an unadvertised Super Off-Peak Day Return around £11pp. For car ferries, the answer depends on your travel date — Red Funnel and Wightlink swap places depending on the day, so it's worth quoting both. Hovertravel is priciest per crossing but fastest, at under 10 minutes.
What is the fastest way to get to the Isle of Wight?
Hovertravel's hovercraft between Southsea and Ryde, at under 10 minutes, is the fastest crossing of the three operators (Hovertravel, retrieved 2026-07-03). It's foot passengers only, so it's the right choice if you don't need a car on the island, or if you're happy to hire or use public transport once you arrive.
Why are Isle of Wight ferry prices so different depending on the day?
Pricing follows demand. Saturdays are the most expensive day to cross because most island self-catering holiday cottages run Saturday changeovers, concentrating both arriving and departing travellers on the same day. Off-peak hours (before 10am or after 4pm) and non-Saturday travel both tend to be meaningfully cheaper for the same route.
Can I get a discount on Isle of Wight ferries?
Yes, in two ways. General public discounts include current promotions like Red Funnel's 20% off (bookable by 31 July 2026 for travel to 31 December 2026) and Wightlink's 10% off (for bookings and travel before 27 March 2027). Separately, if you live on the island, resident schemes like Wightlink Multilink offer deeper ongoing savings — see our resident discount guide for details.
Do all three ferry operators carry cars?
No. Wightlink (Portsmouth–Fishbourne and Lymington–Yarmouth) and Red Funnel (Southampton–East Cowes) both carry vehicles. Hovertravel (Southsea–Ryde) is a foot-passenger-only hovercraft service — there's no vehicle deck, so you can't take a car, motorcycle, or bicycle on this route.
Related: Wightlink vs Red Funnel: which is cheapest? · Cheapest ferry with a car · IoW resident ferry discount guide
