Comparison

Lyft vs Bolt

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

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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

Lyft4 screens
Bolt4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

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 4.8 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Lyft versus Bolt: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLyftBolt
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (18M ratings) — better4.8 (179K ratings)
Positive reviews61.3% of reviews — better26.6% of reviews
Number of ratings18M — better179K
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#3 — better#28
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size400 MB217 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLyft, Inc.BOLT TECHNOLOGY OU

Customer experience

Lyft

All ratings17,700,911 ratings
Positive98.3%
Neutral0.8%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews9,053 reviews
Positive61.3%
Neutral5.4%
Negative33.3%

Bolt

All ratings178,722 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral1.6%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews3,738 reviews
Positive26.6%
Neutral4.8%
Negative68.5%

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

Bolt

From 179K App Store ratings

What 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

None

Lyft

No in-app purchases

None

Bolt

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lyft free?
Lyft is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bolt free?
Bolt is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Lyft or Bolt?
Lyft is rated higher. Lyft averages 4.9 out of 5 from 18M ratings, while Bolt averages 4.8 from 179K ratings.
Do Lyft or Bolt have ads?
Lyft shows ads; Bolt does not.
Which is updated more often, Lyft or Bolt?
Lyft ships an update weekly, and Bolt weekly. Most recently, Lyft was updated on September 24, 2026 and Bolt on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Lyft or Bolt?
Lyft currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Bolt at #28. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons