Bolt
Estonia
EU
Bolt is a mobility platform from Estonia. Markus Villig founded the company in 2013 in Tallinn as Taxify, aged 19. According to the company page, Bolt serves more than 200 million customers...
European Ride-Hailing Apps
Cabify
Spain
EU
Cabify is a Spanish ride-hailing company founded in Madrid in 2011 by Juan de Antonio. According to its company page it operates in six countries and more than 40 cities: Spain, Chile,...
Freenow
Germany
EU
Non-European Parent Company
Freenow is a taxi and ride-hailing app headquartered in Hamburg. Lyft, a US company, completed its takeover on 30 July 2025 for about 175 million euros, so Freenow now has a non-European...
Heetch
France
EU
Heetch is a French ride-hailing app that started in Paris in 2013 with night-time rides. Today it works as a VTC (private hire) platform in French cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille,...
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Submit SuggestionEuropean ride-hailing apps connect passengers with taxis and private hire vehicles in cities. The four apps below are the best-known Uber alternatives with headquarters in Europe. They differ strongly in reach: Bolt works in dozens of countries, Freenow in nine European countries, Cabify mainly in Spain and Heetch in France. Anyone looking for an Uber alternative should first check which of them is active in the own city.
European ride-hailing apps compared
| App | Country | Ownership | Service | Reach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt | Estonia | Independent, venture-funded | Rides, scooters, car sharing, food delivery | 50+ countries |
| Freenow | Germany | Lyft (USA) since July 2025 | Taxi and private hire | 9 European countries |
| Cabify | Spain | Private, founded 2011 | Private hire and taxi | Spain (plus Latin America) |
| Heetch | France | Private | Private hire (VTC) | French cities |
Which app fits which city
Bolt is the only app with a very wide reach across Europe and beyond and also offers scooters, car sharing and food delivery. Freenow focuses on licensed taxis and is available in Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Poland and Austria. Cabify serves Spanish cities with private hire vehicles, and Heetch serves large French cities.
Ownership matters
Freenow was bought by the American company Lyft in July 2025. It is still headquartered in Hamburg, but carries a notice for a non-European parent. Bolt, Cabify and Heetch are headquartered in Europe and have no majority owner from outside Europe.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best European alternative to Uber?
Bolt is the closest match in range and services. Freenow is the better choice for licensed taxis in many German and Western European cities.
Is Freenow European?
The company is based in Hamburg, but Lyft, a US company, has owned it since July 2025.
Can the apps be used abroad?
Bolt and Freenow work in several countries with one account. Cabify and Heetch are mostly limited to Spain and France.
More about the American original can be found on the page European alternatives to Uber.