Comparison

Bolt vs Ride Circuit

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

Ride Circuit

This app provides on-demand local shuttle service using all-electric vehicles. Request a ride anywhere within coverage areas, get real-time driver ETAs, and enjoy interactive features during your journey. Rides may be free thanks to city partnerships and sponsors.

Highlights
  • On-demand shuttle requests
  • Real-time driver ETAs
  • All-electric vehicles
  • Interactive ride features
  • Free ride opportunities
Features
Read full description

Circuit is an on-demand, local, shuttle service. It’s a fun and easy way to get around downtown. Thanks to our all-electric vehicles and partnerships with cities and innovative sponsors, you may even be able to catch a ride for free. Make a request anywhere inside our coverage areas, receive real-time driver ETAs, and try out our photo booth while you enjoy a ride brought to you by great brands and thoughtful municipalities. Never has getting around been more interactive or exciting! For a full list of service locations and more information please visit our website, ridecircuit.com Make a request anywhere inside our coverage areas, receive real-time driver ETAs, and try out our photo booth while you enjoy a ride brought to you by great brands and thoughtful municipalities. Never has getting around been more interactive or exciting! For a full list of service locations and more information please visit our website, ridecircuit.com

Screenshots

Bolt4 screens
Ride Circuit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Ride Circuit at free against Bolt's free with in-app purchases. Ride Circuit also leads on review sentiment (51% vs 27%). Bolt's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (179K vs 19K). On price, rating, ads 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 — 4.8 for Bolt against 4.9 for Ride Circuit. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bolt has 179K ratings behind it against 19K, 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 Ride Circuit's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bolt ships an update weekly, Ride Circuit every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Bolt versus Ride Circuit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBoltRide Circuit
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (179K ratings)4.9 (19K ratings) — better
Positive reviews26.6% of reviews51.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings179K — better19K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#43 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size217 MB85 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBOLT TECHNOLOGY OUThe Free Ride Inc

Customer experience

Bolt

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

Ride Circuit

All ratings18,821 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral0.8%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews269 reviews
Positive51.3%
Neutral10.0%
Negative38.7%

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

Ride Circuit

From 19K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Convenient and efficient service
  • 👍 Friendly and helpful drivers
  • 💡 Innovative concept for reducing traffic
  • 🚗 Affordable alternative to other ride-sharing apps

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent and inaccurate ETA estimates
  • 🔍 Lack of driver tracking and communication
  • 🕰️ Long wait times and unreliable service
  • 🚫 Drivers canceling or passing by passengers

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

Ride Circuit

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App freezing and crashing issues
  • Incorrect passenger capacity displayed
  • Inability to leave driver feedback
  • High battery drain when app is running

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to save addresses for faster booking
  • Improved routing algorithm and driver coordination
  • In-app communication between riders and drivers
  • More detailed service area information

In-app purchases

None

Bolt

No in-app purchases

None

Ride Circuit

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bolt free?
Bolt is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ride Circuit free?
Ride Circuit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bolt or Ride Circuit?
Ride Circuit is rated higher. Bolt averages 4.8 out of 5 from 179K ratings, while Ride Circuit averages 4.9 from 19K ratings.
Do Bolt or Ride Circuit have ads?
Neither Bolt nor Ride Circuit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bolt or Ride Circuit?
Bolt ships an update weekly, and Ride Circuit every 3 weeks. Most recently, Bolt was updated on September 25, 2026 and Ride Circuit on September 24, 2026.

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