# Lyft vs Bolt

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lyft | Bolt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (18M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lyft/id529379082/reviews)** | [4.8 (179K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bolt-request-a-ride/id675033630/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18M** | 179K |
| Positive reviews | **61.3% of reviews** | 26.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | #30 |
| Size | 400 MB | 217 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lyft, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/523004506) | [BOLT TECHNOLOGY OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/675033633) |

## 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


### Bolt

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bolt-request-a-ride/id675033630)

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Affordable prices
- 🚗 Reliable drivers
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 🌟 Excellent customer service
- 🏃‍♀️ Quick pick-up times

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Drivers cancel frequently
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location tracking
- 💰 Unexpected price changes
- 🤖 Poor customer support
- 🕰️ Long wait times for drivers

**Reported bugs**

- Charges for rides that never happened
- App glitches and crashes
- Incorrect driver information displayed

**Requested features**

- Add tipping option for drivers
- Improve route planning for scooters/bikes
- Allow multiple stops in a single trip
- Implement two-step verification options


## Frequently asked 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 #30. 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.*