# Lyft vs Empower Driver

The clearest difference is ads: Empower Driver at none against Lyft's shown. Empower Driver also leads on monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). Lyft's advantage is ratings volume (18M vs 2.7K) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lyft has 18M ratings behind it against 2.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 61% and 62% positive.

Lyft ships an update weekly, Empower Driver fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lyft | Empower Driver |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (18M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lyft/id529379082/reviews)** | [4.6 (2.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empower-driver/id1486383191/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18M** | 2.7K |
| Positive reviews | 61.3% of reviews | **62.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | #154 |
| Size | 400 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lyft, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/523004506) | [Yazam Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454849874) |

## What reviewers say

### Lyft

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lyft/id529379082)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Travel, #92 Top Free (US App Store)

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:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing
- Payment issues
- Incorrect pickup locations

**Requested features**

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


### Empower Driver

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empower-driver/id1486383191)

**Currently charting:** #154 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

This app connects passengers directly with drivers, offering a more sustainable income for drivers and potentially lower costs and customized rides for passengers. It bypasses large corporate platforms to facilitate direct transactions.

**Highlights:** Direct driver-passenger connection, Sustainable driver income, Less expensive rides, Customized transportation options, Bypass corporate middlemen

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 100% of fare kept by drivers
- 🤝 Drivers set their own rates
- 🚗 Flexible driving hours
- 💳 Daily payouts from Stripe
- 🔒 Gender-specific driver selection

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Poor customer support
- 🗺️ Inaccurate pickup/dropoff locations
- 🚕 Unexpected number of passengers
- 💰 Discrepancies between quoted and actual pay
- 🔒 Safety concerns with unverified passengers

**Reported bugs**

- Background check delays
- App crashes and freezes
- Inability to delete account

**Requested features**

- Destination mode to pick up riders along the way
- Cancellation fees for riders
- Cleanup fees for driver incidents
- Improved GPS accuracy and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lyft free?

Lyft is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Empower Driver free?

Empower Driver is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Lyft or Empower Driver?

Lyft is rated higher. Lyft averages 4.9 out of 5 from 18M ratings, while Empower Driver averages 4.6 from 2.7K ratings.

### Do Lyft or Empower Driver have ads?

Lyft shows ads; Empower Driver does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lyft or Empower Driver?

Lyft ships an update weekly, and Empower Driver fortnightly. Most recently, Lyft was updated on September 24, 2026 and Empower Driver on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Lyft or Empower Driver?

Lyft currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Empower Driver at #154. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*