# Bolt vs Alto

The clearest difference is ads: Bolt at none against Alto's shown. Bolt also leads on ratings volume (179K vs 4.1K) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). 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.

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 — 4.8 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.

Bolt ships an update weekly, Alto every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bolt | Alto |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (179K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bolt-request-a-ride/id675033630/reviews)** | [4.7 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alto/id1442044302/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **179K** | 4.1K |
| Positive reviews | 26.6% of reviews | **50.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#42** | — |
| Size | 218 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BOLT TECHNOLOGY OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/675033633) | [Alto Experience, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1442044301) |

## What reviewers say

### Bolt

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

**Currently charting:** #42 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


### Alto

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alto/id1442044302)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚗 Pristine, comfortable vehicles
- 👍 Professional, courteous drivers
- 🔒 Reliable, safe service
- 💧 Complimentary amenities (water, chargers)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Long wait times for available cars
- 💰 Expensive compared to competitors
- 🌐 Limited service area
- 🔍 Unclear pricing and membership policies

**Reported bugs**

- App glitches and crashes
- GPS issues causing driver confusion
- Membership cancellation difficulties

**Requested features**

- Add multiple stops capability
- Integrate flight tracking for airport rides
- Provide more transparent pricing upfront


## Frequently asked 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 28, 2026 and Alto on September 28, 2026.

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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.*