Comparison

Lyft vs Bird

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

Head to head
About

Lyft

Easily get to your destination with various transportation options. Enter your destination, see upfront costs, and choose from multiple ride types like bikes, scooters, or even rentals. Affordable options and public transit routes are also available.

Highlights
  • Multiple transportation options
  • Upfront route and cost estimates
  • Priority Pickup option
  • Bikes & Scooters
  • Lyft XL & Lux
  • Transit routes
  • Vehicle rentals
Features
Read full description

Get where you’re going with Lyft. Whether you’re catching a flight, going out for the night, commuting to the office, or running errands in a rush, the Lyft app offers you multiple ways to get there. EASY TO USE Enter your destination. See your route and ride cost up front. Choose Priority Pickup to get going quick. Boom. Done. Simple CHOOSE YOUR WHEELS Choose from Wait & Save, Priority Pickup, Bikes & Scooters, Lyft XL, Lyft Lux, Transit, or even Rentals. AFFORDABLE RIDES Our Wait & Save option helps you get around for less. And you can find the fastest public transit routes, too. * Lyft ride types may vary by region. Check the app to see what is available in your city. — Prices vary based on market condition. By downloading the app, you agree to allow Lyft to collect your device's language settings.

About

Bird

Access electric vehicles for convenient, eco-friendly city travel in over 350 locations. Unlock and ride electric scooters and bikes for errands, commutes, or leisure. Enjoy special offers and group rides.

Highlights
  • Access electric vehicles in 350+ cities
  • Convenient and eco-friendly travel
  • Unlock and ride electric scooters/bikes
  • Referral program for free rides
  • Group ride functionality
  • Flexible pricing plans (daily, monthly)
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Bird is the convenient, eco-friendly way to get around your city. Sign up to get access to electric vehicles in over 350 cities worldwide. HOW IT WORKS: * Download the app * Sign up * Choose your payment method (PayPal, credit card, etc.) * Select and unlock your vehicle * Ride electric! The fun way to get to your destination Head to work, run a few errands, or just go for a weekend ride. With the Bird app, get from point A to B safely and with style. ECO-FRIENDLY MOBILITY Our mission is to make cities more livable by reducing car usage and lowering carbon emissions. Every ride with Bird makes you a part of that mission. DISCOVER SPECIAL FEATURES AND OFFERS –Get free rides Share your code with a friend and you both get a free ride. —Travel together Riding with friends? The "group rides" feature lets you sign up for multiple e-vehicles through just one phone. —More rides for less money From daily to monthly rates, Bird has Ride Pass pricing plans that make sense for every rider. —Safety Do your part to keep your community running smoothly. Wear a helmet, use bike lanes, and make sure to park neatly and keep sidewalks clear. Download now and ride electric.

Screenshots

Lyft4 screens
Bird4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Bird at none against Lyft's shown. Bird also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Lyft's advantage is review sentiment (61% vs 33%) and chart position (#2 vs #73). 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 — 4.9 for Lyft against 4.9 for Bird. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lyft has 18M ratings behind it against 1.5M, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of Lyft's written reviews are positive against 33% of Bird's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Lyft versus Bird: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLyftBird
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (18M ratings) — better4.9 (1.5M ratings)
Positive reviews61.3% of reviews — better33.4% of reviews
Number of ratings18M — better1.5M
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#2 — better#73
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size408 MB218 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperLyft, Inc.Blue Jay Transit Inc.

Customer experience

Lyft

All ratings17,865,335 ratings
Positive98.3%
Neutral0.8%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews9,728 reviews
Positive61.3%
Neutral5.3%
Negative33.4%

Bird

All ratings1,501,307 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral0.8%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews1,016 reviews
Positive33.4%
Neutral4.5%
Negative62.1%

User reviews

Lyft

From 18M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Quick pickup
  • 👍 Friendly drivers
  • 💰 Affordable prices
  • 🚗 Clean cars
  • 🥰 Awesome app

Room to improve

  • 🕰️ Long wait times
  • 🤔 Inaccurate ETAs
  • 🚫 Drivers canceling rides
  • 💰 Unexpected charges
  • 🔍 Difficulty contacting support

Bird

From 1.5M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fun and fast
  • 🚀 Convenient way to get around
  • 👍 Smooth and consistent brakes
  • 👍 Enjoyable riding experience

Room to improve

  • 💰 Overpriced
  • 🐛 Unreliable scooters (malfunctioning brakes, throttle, connectivity)
  • 🔍 Hard to find available scooters
  • 🔍 Scooters not where the app shows them
  • 🔒 Security issues (credit card fraud)

Bugs and requests

Lyft

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashing
  • Payment issues
  • Incorrect pickup locations

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to select vehicle type
  • Ability to report driver issues
  • Improved communication with drivers
  • Easier account deletion process

Bird

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App glitches and freezes
  • Issues with locking/unlocking scooters
  • Incorrect distance/time/cost calculations

Requested features

5 requests
  • Allow reporting of improperly parked scooters
  • Improve customer support and response times
  • Add ability to use foreign driver's licenses
  • Provide better pricing transparency
  • Implement a PIN or other security measures

In-app purchases

None

Lyft

No in-app purchases

None

Bird

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lyft free?
Lyft is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bird free?
Bird is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Lyft or Bird?
Lyft is rated higher. Lyft averages 4.9 out of 5 from 18M ratings, while Bird averages 4.9 from 1.5M ratings.
Do Lyft or Bird have ads?
Lyft shows ads; Bird does not.
Which is updated more often, Lyft or Bird?
Lyft ships an update weekly, and Bird weekly. Most recently, Lyft was updated on November 2, 2026 and Bird on November 2, 2026.
Which is more popular, Lyft or Bird?
Lyft currently peaks at #2 in the App Store charts, and Bird at #73. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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