Comparison

Virgin Hotels vs Alto

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

Head to head
About

Virgin Hotels

Manage your hotel stay from check-in to check-out. Access your room with a digital key, control in-room settings, order room service, and make service requests. Join the loyalty program for exclusive perks and earn rewards.

Highlights
  • Mobile check-in
  • Keyless room entry
  • In-room controls
  • Room service ordering
  • Service requests
  • Loyalty program integration
  • Digital bill review
Features
Read full description

The Virgin Hotels app allows you to seamlessly control your experience before you even arrive. From mobile check-in and keyless entry to in-room controls, room service at your fingertips, and seamless service requests, everything you need is effortlessly within reach. MORE PERKS FOR KNOW MEMBERS Want to be in The Know? Join our personalized loyalty program to unlock exclusive perks like room upgrades, member-only rates, and daily cocktail hour when you sign up. And if you're in The Know, the Virgin Hotels app gets even better. Update your preferences (sweet or salty?) and unlock exclusive member perks that make your stay even more rewarding. As a Know member, you can now earn and redeem Virgin Points on stays at participating Virgin Hotels when you sign up to Virgin Red - Virgin's rewards club. Connect your accounts in the Virgin Hotels app and build up your points balance to unlock a treasure trove of rewards. ARRIVE ON YOUR TERMS Pre-Arrival Check-In – Get ahead of the game and check in before you even land. Available anytime after 3 PM the day before arrival—then skip the desk or grab your key when you’re ready. Your Digital Key – Access your chamber, elevator, and key-protected amenities—all from your device. YOU’RE IN CONTROL
 Room service, reimagined – Browse, order, and return to your chamber with your meal waiting. Requests, without the calls – Extra pillows, valet, turndown? Done. Lights, thermostat, TV? Check. – Set the vibe without leaving bed. Hotel & Dining reservations – Book a table or your next stay with ease. SEAMLESS CHECK-OUT
 Check out from your phone, review your bill, and have it emailed instantly—no stop at the desk required. Download the Virgin Hotels app and let your stay be as effortless as it is unforgettable.

About

Alto

Experience on-demand rides with a focus on comfort and control. Customize your journey's music and lighting, and trust professional, vetted drivers for a safe and predictable experience.

Highlights
  • Customizable ride music and lighting
  • Professional employee drivers
  • Rigorous driver background checks
  • Real-time driver monitoring
  • Predictable ~10 minute arrival times
  • 5 minutes free waiting 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

Virgin Hotels4 screens
Alto4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Alto at 51% against Virgin Hotels's 5%. Alto also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.3) and ratings volume (4.4K vs 3). On price, update cadence, 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

Alto holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Alto has 4.4K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 5% of Virgin Hotels's written reviews are positive against 51% of Alto's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Virgin Hotels ships an update every 2 weeks, Alto every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Virgin Hotels versus Alto: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVirgin HotelsAlto
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (3 ratings)4.7 (4.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews5.3% of reviews50.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings34.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB76 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperVirgin HotelsAlto Experience, Inc.

Customer experience

Virgin Hotels

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews151 reviews
Positive5.3%
Neutral2.0%
Negative92.7%

Alto

All ratings4,378 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews114 reviews
Positive50.9%
Neutral5.3%
Negative43.9%

User reviews

Virgin Hotels

From 3 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ⭐ Great hotel ambiance
  • 🤩 Excellent guest services

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Invasive privacy concerns
  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
  • 🤯 Completely non-functional
  • 😤 Frustrating user experience
  • 🤔 Missing key features

Alto

From 4.4K 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

Virgin Hotels

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • ID verification not working
  • Reservation management issues
  • Inconsistent app behavior
  • Compatibility problems with devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for more hotel locations
  • Improve app stability and reliability
  • Implement better user authentication methods
  • Provide more self-service options for guests

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

Virgin Hotels

No in-app purchases

None

Alto

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Virgin Hotels free?
Virgin Hotels 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, Virgin Hotels or Alto?
Alto is rated higher. Virgin Hotels averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Alto averages 4.7 from 4.4K ratings.
Do Virgin Hotels or Alto have ads?
Neither Virgin Hotels nor Alto shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Virgin Hotels or Alto?
Virgin Hotels ships an update every 2 weeks, and Alto every 3 weeks. Most recently, Virgin Hotels was updated on November 6, 2026 and Alto on November 6, 2026.

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