Bolt

Bolt Technology OÜ

4.5/5

Travel & Transportation

Get Bolt - Affordable Rides Worldwide

Request budget-friendly rides in 500+ cities across Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Save money on every trip.

Review

Updated Jan 2026

4.5

Bolt launched in 2013 as Taxify in Estonia, rebranding to Bolt in 2019 as it expanded globally. By 2026, Bolt operates in over 50 countries and 500+ cities across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia, serving 200+ million customers. Unlike Uber and Lyft, Bolt has found success by focusing on emerging markets and positioning itself as the more affordable, driver-friendly alternative. The company charges drivers lower commissions (15-20% vs Uber's 25-30%), which translates to lower prices for riders and better earnings for drivers. Bolt has expanded beyond ride-hailing into food delivery (Bolt Food), scooter rentals (Bolt Scooters), and car-sharing (Bolt Drive). In markets where Bolt competes directly with Uber, it consistently undercuts on price by 10-20%, making it the budget choice for cost-conscious riders.

Rating

Overall

Travel & Transportation

Features

•Economy, Comfort, and Premium ride options

•Real-time driver tracking with GPS

•Upfront pricing before booking

•Scheduled rides up to 48 hours ahead

More Features

•Split fare with friends

•10-20% cheaper than Uber in most markets

•Cashless and cash payment options

•Available in 500+ cities globally

Pros

+Most affordable major ride-hailing app
+Drivers earn more per trip
+Wide coverage in Europe and emerging markets
+Simple, fast booking process
+Capped surge pricing

Cons

−Limited US availability
−Smaller driver network than Uber
−Longer wait times in some cities

Pricing

freemium

Bolt is free to download and use. Pricing is typically 10-20% cheaper than Uber in competitive markets. Base fares in European cities start around €3-5 for short trips. Bolt uses a simpler surge pricing model that caps at 1.5-2x normal rates. No subscription service exists, but the app frequently offers promotional discounts for new users and referral bonuses.

VS Competitors

Uber

Lyft

Free Now

Cabify

+ Advantages

+Consistently 10-20% cheaper than Uber in competitive markets

+Lower driver commissions (15-20%) lead to better driver earnings

+Available in 50+ countries across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia

+Simpler app interface with faster booking process

+Surge pricing capped at 2x maximum

− Weaknesses

−Smaller driver network than Uber means longer wait times in some cities

−Limited availability in US and Canada

−Fewer premium ride categories compared to Uber

−Customer support response times slower than major competitors

−Safety features less comprehensive than Uber and Lyft

Verdict

Bolt is the smart budget choice for riders in Europe, Latin America, and Africa. If you're in a city where Bolt competes with Uber, you'll save 10-20% on most rides while supporting better driver wages. The app is simpler and faster to use, with less aggressive surge pricing. In Europe, Africa, and Latin America, make Bolt your primary app and keep Uber as backup. In North America, Bolt isn't worth installing unless you're in one of their few active cities.

Get App Bolt

Ready to download?

Redirects to official app store

Affiliate Disclosure: App365.ai earns commission when you download apps through our links. This helps us deliver fresh, independent reviews 365 days a year.