Lyft vs Bolt
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.
Bolt
Easily request rides across town, to the airport, or rent scooters and e-bikes. Enjoy transparent pricing, multiple payment options, and real-time driver tracking for safe and convenient travel.
- Request rides in seconds
- Transparent upfront pricing
- Multiple payment options
- Real-time driver tracking
- Schedule rides in advance
- Rent scooters and e-bikes
- Parcel delivery service
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Make getting around easier with Bolt! Whether you need a ride across town, an airport transfer, or a scooter to zip through traffic, our app makes it easy to move around confidently and conveniently. WHY CHOOSE BOLT? - Request a ride in seconds: enjoy safe, affordable rides with top-rated drivers. - Transparent pricing: see your fare upfront so there are no surprises. - Multiple payment options: pay securely using a credit/debit card, Apple Pay, or cash. EASY ORDERING: - Open the app and set your destination. - Choose from various ride types to suit your needs (Comfort, Premium, Electric, XL, and more). - Track your driver in real time. - Arrive in comfort and rate your experience. SAFETY FIRST: Some of Bolt’s safety features require the app to run in the background. - Emergency assist button: discreetly alert our Safety Team in case of emergencies. - Audio trip recording: record audio during rides for added peace of mind. - Private phone details: your contact information stays confidential when you call a driver. PLAN AHEAD: Need an airport transfer or an early morning ride? You can schedule your trip in advance from 30 minutes to 90 days before your expected pickup time. *JOIN BOLT PLUS TO UNLOCK PREMIUM FEATURES! Get the best of Bolt with Bolt Plus. Enjoy exclusive perks that save you time and money, making every ride smoother and more convenient. *BOLT DRIVE: We're committed to our carbon net zero goal by 2040. That's why we're increasing the lineup of electric and hybrid cars in Bolt Drive, our car-sharing service. You can also rent Bolt scooters and e-bikes via the app. *DELIVER PACKAGES Use the 'Send' ride type to arrange fast and convenient parcel delivery in your city. Bolt is available in 50 countries and 600+ cities worldwide (see the full list at https://bolt.eu/en/cities/). We rebranded from Taxify to Bolt in 2019. Bolt is the perfect taxi alternative for fast, reliable, and affordable rides. The app provides a seamless ride-ordering experience whether you’re commuting, travelling, or running errands. So, the next time you need a ride, choose Bolt! *Bolt options differ by location. Check the app for availability in your city. Earn money driving with the Bolt Driver app. Sign up: https://bolt.eu/driver/ Questions? Get in touch via info@bolt.eu or at https://bolt.eu Follow us on social media for updates, discounts, and offers! Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/Bolt/ Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/bolt X — https://x.com/Boltapp
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Bolt at none against Lyft's shown. Bolt also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Lyft's advantage is review sentiment (61% vs 27%) and ratings volume (18M vs 179K). 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 4.8 for Bolt. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lyft has 18M ratings behind it against 179K, 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 27% of Bolt's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Lyft | Bolt |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (18M ratings) — better | 4.8 (179K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.3% of reviews — better | 26.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 18M — better | 179K |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #3 — better | #28 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 400 MB | 217 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lyft, Inc. | BOLT TECHNOLOGY OU |
Customer experience
Lyft
Bolt
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
Bolt
From 179K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💰 Affordable prices
- 🚗 Reliable drivers
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🌟 Excellent customer service
- 🏃♀️ Quick pick-up times
Room to improve
- 🚫 Drivers cancel frequently
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location tracking
- 💰 Unexpected price changes
- 🤖 Poor customer support
- 🕰️ Long wait times for drivers
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
Bolt
Reported bugs
3 issues- Charges for rides that never happened
- App glitches and crashes
- Incorrect driver information displayed
Requested features
4 requests- Add tipping option for drivers
- Improve route planning for scooters/bikes
- Allow multiple stops in a single trip
- Implement two-step verification options
In-app purchases
Lyft
No in-app purchases
Bolt
No in-app purchases









