Note (September 2026): Several apps on this list have closed or merged since it was written: Summon shut down in 2014, Easy Taxi became part of Cabify and Hailo became Freenow, now owned by Lyft. DRIVR operates in Denmark, not the US west coast, and the descriptions below have been corrected.
The main Uber alternatives are Lyft in the United States and Canada, Bolt and Freenow by Lyft in Europe, taxi apps such as Curb and Flywheel in US cities, and BlaBlaCar for long-distance carpooling. Some older Uber rivals, including Hailo, Easy Taxi and Summon, no longer exist under those names.
Key Takeaways
- Lyft is the second-largest ridesharing company in the US and has run Freenow in Europe since July 2025.
- Hailo became Freenow, Easy Taxi became part of Cabify and Summon shut down in 2014.
- Curb and Flywheel book licensed taxis in US cities; BlaBlaCar is for long-distance shared rides.
- DRIVR is an electric taxi service in Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark.
- Fares vary by city and demand, so compare the upfront price in each app.
Uber is considered the king of car-hailing apps in the market. Considering the success of Uber, many similar apps have come into the market and some of them are good enough to stand toe to toe with Uber too.
Best Uber Alternatives for Ridesharing
It is not surprising, considering uber-like app development cost. If you are on the lookout for the top Uber alternatives, keep reading.
1] Lyft
Lyft is Uber’s biggest competitor in North America: according to Wikipedia, Lyft is the second-largest ridesharing company in the United States, operates in the United States and Canada, and has served Europe through its Freenow app since it bought Free Now for €175 million in July 2025. All the Lyft drivers go through a thorough background check before they are hired to ensure the passengers’ safety. When this article was first published in 2019, the Lyft app offered three transport options – Lyft, Lyft Plus, and Lyft Line. Those names have since been retired: as of September 2026, Lyft’s rider page lists options such as Wait & Save, Standard, Priority Pickup, Extra Comfort, XL and Lyft Black, and notes that ride types vary by region.
2] Gett
Gett is a ride-hailing and business ground-transportation platform founded by Israeli entrepreneurs and headquartered in London, according to Wikipedia. Gett owned the New York ride-hailing service Juno from 2017 until it sold Juno in November 2019 in a deal with Lyft. It was formerly known as Get Taxi. Gett is now mainly a corporate ground-transportation management platform. In May 2024 the Israeli company Pango announced a deal to acquire Gett for about $175 million, and in April 2026 Lyft agreed to buy Gett’s UK operations for £40 million, with the Gett team moving to Freenow by Lyft.
You can book your ride up to 2 weeks in advance using Gett. Gett started in Tel Aviv, launched in London in August 2011 and expanded to Moscow in March 2012.
3] Easy Taxi
Easy Taxi was a taxi-hailing app founded in Brazil in 2011, and it is no longer available under its own name: Cabify bought Easy Taxi in 2017, folded the app into Cabify in 2019 and discontinued the Easy Taxi brand, according to Wikipedia. At its peak Easy Taxi covered 30 countries and more than 420 cities; today the old Easy Taxi web address redirects to Cabify. It rose to the top of the market by offering users a smooth booking experience by which the users only have to tap a few options to see the details of the ride.
4] Summon
Summon was originally called InstantCab and rebranded as Summon in February 2014. Summon operated in parts of Silicon Valley and San Francisco, but the company shut down in November 2014, so the service below is no longer available; the old Summon web address now leads to a domain-sale page. You can schedule your ride with the Summon Schedule Ahead feature and you get the 30-minute free cancellation option attached to that too.
5] Flywheel
Flywheel allows you to hire professional drivers and offers reasonable standard rates rather than individual car fares like Uber does during peak time. Fare and tracking are handled through TaxiOS, a smartphone-based alternative to the traditional taxi meter that Flywheel deployed in 2015. The app was launched in San Francisco. Flywheel (originally called Cabulous) was acquired by the taxi-software company Cabconnect in April 2017, and as of September 2026 the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) still lists Flywheel among its taxi apps, alongside CURB and YoTaxi SF.
6] Curb
Curb, formerly known as Taxi Magic has extended its services beyond on-demand taxi services by offering premium rides in some of its markets. People also love the fact that you don’t have to physically pay the driver if you don’t wish. The app has a fine layout but is not as fast as some of the other similar apps. As of September 2026, Curb says it works in more than 100 US cities, including New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans and San Francisco, with Ride Now, Ride Later and Pair & Pay, which lets riders pay in the app for a taxi they are already riding in.
7] Hailo
Hailo originated in London in 2011, but it no longer exists as a separate app: in late 2016 it was absorbed by the German taxi app mytaxi, which was rebranded Free Now on July 1, 2019 (now styled Freenow), and Lyft bought Freenow in July 2025. Hailo had already closed its North American operations in late 2014. The business version of this app offers express booking, corporate cards, and different ride choices. The normal and business versions were both available for Android and iOS devices. Former Hailo users are now served by Freenow, which operates in more than 150 cities across nine European countries, according to Wikipedia.
Hailo taxi Website
8] Bla Bla Car
BlaBlaCar (the official spelling) is a French ridesharing company founded in Paris in 2006 that has grown into a community in more than 20 countries across Europe, Latin America and Asia, connecting people to long-distance shared rides or letting them offer seats in their own cars. The funny name actually refers to how chatty you wish to be in the car. You can specify the level of chattiness you are with during the journey in your profile.
According to Wikipedia, BlaBlaCar passed 100 million registered members in 2022 and has about 26 million active members; it also runs BlaBlaCar Bus, an intercity coach service, and the app helps people with more than arranging rides. It facilitates the creation of new friendships, saves money and is environment-friendly.
9] Drivr
DRIVR is a Danish taxi service, not a US west coast app: the DRIVR app linked below is published by Drivr Technologies ApS and, as of September 2026, offers all-electric taxis in Copenhagen and Aarhus, with vehicles for up to 7 passengers and fixed prices. They charge reasonable rates for the quality of services that they offer. If you are a fan of fancy cars and would like to commute every day in style, then Drivr is the app for you. Under a partnership announced in August 2024, Uber agreed to return to Copenhagen in 2025 by letting passengers book Drivr taxis through the Uber app.
10] Kabbee
Kabbee has one of the best advanced booking features out of all the apps mentioned so far which allows you to book 3 to 5 months in advance. As Kabbee has over 10,000 professional and insured drivers, you can always count on them to pick you up whenever, wherever. Kabbee is a London minicab comparison and booking service founded in 2011; when this page was checked in September 2026 the Kabbee website did not load, so confirm the app is still taking bookings before you rely on it.
Final words
These are the ten apps this article originally listed as alternatives to Uber; as the status table below shows, several have since closed or merged, so check which ones actually serve your city. If you wish to build an app like uber, then you can hire a mobile apps development company which create applications for Android or iOS devices. Hope this article was helpful.
Which of These Uber Alternatives Still Work?
Of the ten Uber alternatives on this list, six still run under their own name as of September 2026, one (Kabbee) could not be confirmed, and three have closed or been merged into other apps. The table summarizes the status of each one.
| App | Status (September 2026) | Where it runs | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyft | Active | United States, Canada; Europe via Freenow | Bought Free Now in July 2025 |
| Gett | Active, mainly corporate travel | London-headquartered; Israel and business customers | Pango deal announced 2024; Lyft agreed to buy Gett UK in April 2026 |
| Easy Taxi | Discontinued | Replaced by Cabify | Bought by Cabify in 2017, merged in 2019 |
| Summon | Closed | Formerly Silicon Valley | Shut down in November 2014 |
| Flywheel | Active | San Francisco (listed by SFMTA) | Acquired by Cabconnect in April 2017 |
| Curb | Active | 100+ US cities | Taxi booking plus in-app payment |
| Hailo | Merged | Replaced by Freenow in Europe | Absorbed by mytaxi in 2016; Freenow owned by Lyft since 2025 |
| BlaBlaCar | Active | 20+ countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia | Long-distance carpooling plus BlaBlaCar Bus |
| DRIVR | Active | Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark | Electric taxis; Uber partnership announced 2024 |
| Kabbee | Unconfirmed | London | Website did not load when checked |
What Are the Biggest Uber Alternatives Today?
The largest Uber alternatives today are Lyft in North America, Bolt across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, and Freenow by Lyft for licensed taxis in Europe. Which one is best depends mostly on the city you are in.
Lyft
Lyft is the second-largest ridesharing company in the United States after Uber, according to Wikipedia, with about 25 million active riders. Lyft also runs bike-share schemes, including Citi Bike in New York, after buying the operator Motivate in 2018.
Bolt
Bolt is a ride-hailing company based in Tallinn, Estonia, founded in 2013 by Markus Villig. According to Wikipedia, Bolt operates in more than 850 cities in over 50 countries and also offers e-scooters, e-bikes, food delivery (Bolt Food), grocery delivery (Bolt Market) and car sharing (Bolt Drive). Bolt reported revenue of €2.27 billion for 2025.
Freenow by Lyft
Freenow is the European taxi and ride app that absorbed Hailo and mytaxi. According to Wikipedia, Freenow serves more than 150 cities in nine European countries with taxis, private-hire cars, e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds and car sharing, and Lyft bought it for €175 million in July 2025.
Cabify
Cabify is the ride-hailing company that bought Easy Taxi in 2017 and absorbed its app in 2019, so the old Easy Taxi website now sends visitors to Cabify.
How to Choose an Uber Alternative
- Check coverage first. Most apps work only in certain countries or cities, so confirm the app serves both your pickup point and your destination.
- Decide between a taxi app and a ridesharing app. Apps such as Curb and Flywheel book licensed taxis, while Lyft and Bolt mainly use private drivers; BlaBlaCar is for long-distance shared trips rather than short city rides.
- Compare the upfront price. Many apps show a fare or estimate before you book; open two apps side by side for the same trip, especially at busy times.
- Look at safety features. Check that the app shows the driver’s name, photo, car and plate number, and lets you share your trip with someone you trust.
- Know your rights if something goes wrong. Read up on the legal steps to take after a rideshare accident; drivers should also review rideshare insurance options for drivers in California.
How Much Do Uber Alternatives Cost?
Prices for Uber alternatives vary by city, time of day, demand and ride type, so there is no single fixed fare to compare. Taxi apps such as Curb and Flywheel book licensed taxis that charge local taxi fares, while ride-hailing apps such as Lyft and Bolt set prices in the app and generally show them before you book. Prices change often, so check the fare in the app for your exact trip.
For background on how the market has shifted, see our look at the changing face of the taxi fleet sector and these Uber market share statistics. If you travel often, our guide to the best travel apps for globe-trotters covers other useful apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Uber?
Lyft is the best-known alternative to Uber in the United States and Canada, where it is the second-largest ridesharing company. In Europe, Bolt and Freenow by Lyft are the main alternatives, and in many US cities taxi apps such as Curb let you book and pay for a licensed taxi.
Is Hailo still available?
No. Hailo was absorbed by mytaxi in 2016, and mytaxi was rebranded Free Now in July 2019. The service is now Freenow, which Lyft bought in July 2025.
What happened to Easy Taxi?
Easy Taxi was bought by Cabify in 2017. The app was folded into Cabify in 2019 and the Easy Taxi brand was discontinued.
Is BlaBlaCar the same as Uber?
No. BlaBlaCar is a carpooling platform for longer trips between cities, where drivers offer empty seats on journeys they are already making. Uber and Lyft are for on-demand rides, mostly within a city. BlaBlaCar also runs an intercity bus service called BlaBlaCar Bus.
Is Lyft cheaper than Uber?
Neither app is always cheaper. Fares for both change with the city, time and demand, so the reliable way to compare is to check the upfront price for the same trip in both apps before booking.
