Lyft vs Alto
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.
Alto
Experience on-demand rides with a focus on comfort and control. Customize your journey's music and lighting, and enjoy professional, vetted drivers. Predictable arrival times and a commitment to safety redefine your travel.
- Personalized ride control (music, lighting)
- Professional employee drivers
- Rigorous driver background checks
- Real-time driver monitoring
- Predictable arrival times
- 5-minute free wait time
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At Alto, your ride is our obsession. With new cars, professional employee drivers, and an elegant app that puts you in control, Alto is creating a new standard for on-demand rides. Control your ride’s music, lighting, or set your driver to “do not disturb mode,” all from the touch of your app. With Alto, you drive everything, except the car! At Alto, safety is our top priority. Every Alto driver is an employee of our company, undergoes a rigorous background check, and is thoroughly trained. We monitor our drivers in real-time to ensure you have an exceptional experience on every ride. Download the app and join Alto to start riding! Once you request a ride, your driver will be there in ~10 minutes, every time. We run on your schedule with the promise of predictable timing. And once we show up, we’ll wait the first 5 minutes for free. Visit www.ridealto.com to learn more!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Lyft at 18M against Alto's 4.1K. Lyft also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). Alto's advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
Lyft holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lyft has 18M ratings behind it against 4.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of Lyft's written reviews are positive against 51% of Alto's.
Lyft ships an update weekly, Alto every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lyft | Alto |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (18M ratings) — better | 4.7 (4.1K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.3% of reviews — better | 50.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 18M — better | 4.1K |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #2 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 13 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 400 MB | 58 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lyft, Inc. | Alto Experience, Inc. |
Customer experience
Lyft
Alto
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
Alto
From 4.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚗 Pristine, comfortable vehicles
- 👍 Professional, courteous drivers
- 🔒 Reliable, safe service
- 💧 Complimentary amenities (water, chargers)
Room to improve
- 🕰️ Long wait times for available cars
- 💰 Expensive compared to competitors
- 🌐 Limited service area
- 🔍 Unclear pricing and membership policies
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
Alto
Reported bugs
3 issues- App glitches and crashes
- GPS issues causing driver confusion
- Membership cancellation difficulties
Requested features
3 requests- Add multiple stops capability
- Integrate flight tracking for airport rides
- Provide more transparent pricing upfront
In-app purchases
Lyft
No in-app purchases
Alto
No in-app purchases
