Comparison

Bolt vs Alto

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
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

About

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.

Highlights
  • Personalized ride control (music, lighting)
  • Professional employee drivers
  • Rigorous driver background checks
  • Real-time driver monitoring
  • Predictable arrival times
  • 5-minute free wait time
Features
Read full description

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

Bolt4 screens
Alto4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Bolt at none against Alto's shown. Bolt also leads on ratings volume (179K vs 4.1K) and chart position (#26 vs unranked). Alto's advantage is review sentiment (51% vs 27%) and iOS requirement (13 vs 15.0). On price, rating, 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

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 — 4.8 for Bolt against 4.7 for Alto. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bolt has 179K ratings behind it against 4.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 27% of Bolt's written reviews are positive against 51% of Alto's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bolt ships an update weekly, Alto every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Bolt versus Alto: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBoltAlto
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (179K ratings) — better4.7 (4.1K ratings)
Positive reviews26.6% of reviews50.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings179K — better4.1K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#26 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.013 — better
Further details — not scored
Size217 MB58 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBOLT TECHNOLOGY OUAlto Experience, Inc.

Customer experience

Bolt

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

Alto

All ratings4,133 ratings
Positive91.9%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews112 reviews
Positive50.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative44.6%

User reviews

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

Alto

From 4.1K App Store ratings

What 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

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

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

None

Bolt

No in-app purchases

None

Alto

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bolt free?
Bolt is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Alto free?
Alto is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bolt or Alto?
Bolt is rated higher. Bolt averages 4.8 out of 5 from 179K ratings, while Alto averages 4.7 from 4.1K ratings.
Do Bolt or Alto have ads?
Alto shows ads; Bolt does not.
Which is updated more often, Bolt or Alto?
Bolt ships an update weekly, and Alto every 2 weeks. Most recently, Bolt was updated on September 27, 2026 and Alto on September 25, 2026.

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