# Bolt vs Ride Circuit

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.

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 4.9 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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Bolt | Ride Circuit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (179K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bolt-request-a-ride/id675033630/reviews) | **[4.9 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ride-circuit/id988052033/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **179K** | 19K |
| Positive reviews | 26.6% of reviews | **51.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#31** | — |
| Size | 217 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BOLT TECHNOLOGY OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/675033633) | [The Free Ride Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/988052032) |

## What reviewers say

### Bolt

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

**Currently charting:** #31 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


### Ride Circuit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ride-circuit/id988052033)

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:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*