Bolt
The smart way to move in Europe.
What's New
vCA.78.1New scooter parking verification AI to keep streets tidy.
Bolt is the European success story in mobility. Born in Estonia, it has expanded aggressively across the continent by offering a leaner, meaner, and often greener alternative to the American giants. It focuses heavily on micromobility (scooters) alongside cars, pushing the vision of a city where car ownership is obsolete.
What It Does
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Ride-Hailing: book a car with a driver. Standard, Economy, and Premium tiers.
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Micromobility: The green scooters and e-bikes you see everywhere. Unlock them directly in the main app without needing a separate account.
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Bolt Food: Food delivery service integrated into the same platform in many markets.
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Bolt Drive: Car-sharing service where you drive the car yourself (available in select cities).
Who It's For
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Students and Youth: The 'Economy' category and frequent promo codes make it the go-to for budget-conscious riders.
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Commuters: The ability to take a car to work and a scooter back provides flexibility.
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Eco-Warriors: Bolt claims carbon neutrality for all its rides in Europe.
Key Features
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Green Plan: Bolt invests heavily in carbon offsetting projects.
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Safety Toolkit: Includes ride sharing, emergency assist, and scooter safety tests (cognitive reaction tests) during late-night hours to prevent drunk riding.
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Multiple Stops: Easy interface to add stopovers on your route to drop off friends.
Pricing & Monetization
Bolt's strategy is aggressive pricing. They typically take a lower commission from drivers than Uber (15-20% vs 25%+), allowing them to offer lower fares to riders while keeping driver earnings stable. It's almost always worth checking Bolt against Uber before booking.
Privacy & Data Usage
GDPR compliant by design, with servers in Europe. A strong selling point for privacy-conscious Europeans.
Our Verdict
Bolt feels lighter and faster than its competitors. The integration of scooters is seamless—scanning a QR code takes less than a second. While the car fleet might be slightly smaller in some cities, the price difference often justifies the extra minute of wait time. A must-have app for any European urbanite.
The Good
- +Often cheaper than competitors
- +Excellent scooters/e-bikes interaction
- +Fast reliable app
The Trade-off
- −Wait times can be longer in suburbs
- −Customer support is chat-only
Verified Voices
"Scooters are great fun and the rides are cheap."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay cash?
Yes, in many markets Bolt accepts cash payments, unlike Uber.
Technical Specs
- DeveloperBolt Technology OÜ
- VersionCA.78.1
- Size150 MB
- Last UpdatedDecember 12, 2025
- LicenseFree