Lyft vs Bird
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Multiple transportation options
- Upfront route and cost estimates
- Priority Pickup option
- Bikes & Scooters
- Lyft XL & Lux
- Transit routes
- Vehicle rentals
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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.
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.
- 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)
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.
| Parameter | Lyft | Bird |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (18M ratings) — better | 4.9 (1.5M ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.3% of reviews — better | 33.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 18M — better | 1.5M |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #2 — better | #73 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 408 MB | 218 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | Lyft, Inc. | Blue Jay Transit Inc. |
Customer experience
Lyft
Bird
User reviews
Lyft
From 18M App Store ratingsWhat 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 ratingsWhat 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
Lyft
No in-app purchases
Bird
No in-app purchases









