Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Freenow by Lyft vs Lyft

Freenow by Lyft 4.8★ · Free to download 40
Winner Lyft
Lyft 4.9★ · Free to download 70

Lyft is generally a more reliable option for ride-sharing with better app functionality, while Freenow by Lyft is a niche app for specific European cities that often suffers from inconsistent pricing and poor customer support.

Full reviews: Freenow by Lyft · Lyft

Lyft, with its vast user base and higher lifetime rating, offers a more consistent ride-sharing experience, though it faces issues with fluctuating prices and occasional driver-related problems. Freenow by Lyft, while useful in some European cities, is plagued by deceptive pricing, poor customer service, and unreliable ride availability.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: LyftR2R18R27R29
Freenow by Lyft Freenow by Lyft's app is described as easy to use by some R2, especially for those familiar with Uber or Lyft R29. However, many users report significant bugs, such as incorrect pickup locations R18, failure to remember previous searches R27, and issues with pre-booking not securing a driver R12. The app also struggles to find drivers in many locations R16R31.
Lyft Lyft's app is generally seen as functional, with users appreciating its algorithm for matching good drivers and quick ride assignments . However, the app has issues with displaying incorrect pickup locations , failing to show available choices , and not notifying users when it stops searching for a ride . Some users also report the app being slow or down .
Reliability & Availability edge: LyftR1R5R7R12
Freenow by Lyft Freenow by Lyft's reliability is highly inconsistent. While some users report prompt pickups and short wait times in cities like Rome and Athens R5, many others experience long waits R16, drivers cancelling R1, or the app failing to find a driver at all, even after confirming availability R7R12. Pre-booked rides are not always honored R12.
Lyft Lyft also faces significant reliability issues. Users frequently report inaccurate estimated arrival times, with drivers taking much longer than initially stated R63R75. Drivers often cancel rides R76, and the app sometimes fails to find drivers even when they appear to be nearby R73R76.
Pricing & Value edge: LyftR3R4R10R13
Freenow by Lyft Freenow by Lyft frequently has deceptive and inflated pricing. Users report being charged significantly more than the initial quote R3R4, with charges sometimes double the taxi meter R10R13. There are unexplained service charges R3 and additional fees R4. Cancellation fees are also charged even when the driver is at fault .
Lyft Lyft users also complain about price discrepancies. Prices often change after the initial quote , and temporary holds on cards are not always returned . While some find Lyft cheaper than competitors R75, others consider it expensive .
Driver Quality & Experience edge: LyftR9R14R17R20
Freenow by Lyft Driver quality with Freenow by Lyft is mixed. Some drivers are praised as friendly, professional, courteous, and helpful R14R17R20. However, there are reports of drivers not using air conditioning R9, taking wrong passengers , being rude , taking longer routes , or even stopping mid-trip . A significant issue is drivers overcharging or demanding more money than the app or meter shows R22R34.
Lyft Lyft drivers are often described as courteous, friendly, safe, and professional . However, there are complaints about drivers having nasty attitudes , not speaking English , driving dirty or smelly cars , taking wrong destinations , or refusing to accommodate larger groups or wheelchairs despite booking XL vehicles .
Customer Support tieR1R13R22R34
Freenow by Lyft Freenow by Lyft's customer support is widely criticized as poor or non-existent. Users report being unable to complain or find help R1, getting no response after asking for human assistance R1, being trapped in endless loops with chatbots R22, and receiving no response to issues like overcharging R13R34.
Lyft Lyft's customer support also receives heavy criticism. Many users express frustration at the inability to speak to a live person , describing support as useless or unprofessional R73. Issues like driver abuse or incorrect charges are reported as unresolved.
Pick Freenow by Lyft if

Pick Freenow by Lyft if you are traveling in specific European cities like Athens, Rome, or Barcelona where it is reported to work well and provide quick taxi service R5.

Pick Lyft if

Pick Lyft if you are looking for a ride-sharing service with generally good driver quality and a widely available platform in the US, despite occasional issues with pricing and wait times .

Evidence note: Freenow by Lyft has significantly fewer reviews than Lyft, leading to a less comprehensive picture, especially regarding its overall consistency across all supported regions. Many Freenow reviews focus on specific European cities, making it difficult to generalize its performance.

Frequently asked

Is Freenow by Lyft reliable for international travel?
Freenow by Lyft's reliability for international travel is highly inconsistent; it is praised as dependable and easy to use in cities like Athens, Rome, and Barcelona R5, but users report it working horribly or being useless in Spain, Ireland, and parts of Italy, with difficulties finding drivers and inflated costs R4R16R31.
Does Lyft have issues with ride cancellations or long waits?
Yes, Lyft frequently has issues with ride cancellations and long waits; users report drivers cancelling after waiting 10 minutes R76, the app taking 20 minutes to find a ride only to say no drivers are around R73, and estimated arrival times being inaccurate, with drivers taking much longer than initially stated R63R75.
Are there hidden fees or price changes with Freenow by Lyft?
Yes, Freenow by Lyft frequently has hidden fees and price changes; users report unexplained service charges of 5 euros R3, additional fees of 3 euros in Ireland R4, and final charges being double the taxi meter or significantly higher than the initial quote R10R13.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Freenow by Lyft 4/5 · US Option for app: One thing that might be helpful is right before you hit confirm pickup, you can also review your time and date option. Other than that the app is easy to use and have enjoyed it.
  2. [R18] Freenow by Lyft 3/5 · GB OK ish, many bugs though: This is a basic app with many bugs, some of which can be material (like changing your home address and sending the taxi 10 minutes away). Don’t use when the journey is important, it’s too risky. Kisses many functions of higher quality services like Uber, Bolt, inDrive and Kareem.
  3. [R27] Freenow by Lyft 3/5 · GB So frustrating to use: Doesn’t remember previous searches, endlessly tries to spellcheck what you type, which is useless when it’s place names! I gave up after a couple of tries in disgust.
  4. [R29] Freenow by Lyft 5/5 · US Works well: Works like Lyft. The The GPS and ride assignment works better than the other taxi app I tried.
  5. [R1] Freenow by Lyft 1/5 · US driver cancel sometime and charge $5: no where to complain and find help , I tried find support and no one every responded , asked for human assistance and then no more response.
  6. [R5] Freenow by Lyft 5/5 · US Great App - Must Have in Athens: This was amazing to have, and it allowed my family, and I had to travel flawlessly throughout the city on our four-day vacation.
  7. [R7] Freenow by Lyft 1/5 · US App Lies Don’t bother: Downloaded the app. Went to book a ride and the app said we have a driver and they are 5 mins from you. Great let’s book. Sorry no drivers available. I made plans based on the promise of a ride. If it would have been honest I could have planned around that but it decided getting a new customer was more important than accurately letting me know if a ride would be available. I
  8. [R12] Freenow by Lyft 3/5 · US Prebooking doesn’t prebook!?: Very frustrating experience on vacation. We pre-booked a taxi for 8 AM the day before. The app says we will get driver details by 7:50 AM. At 8 AM we get a notification that all drivers are busy, but the app is “working hard to find us a driver. “ I canceled and walked 30 minutes instead.
  9. [R3] Freenow by Lyft 3/5 · US Added charges about service charge not explained: 5 euros added to bill above service charge. Should I switch to it taxi? I’m thinking so.
  10. [R4] Freenow by Lyft 2/5 · US Don’t use in Ireland: If you use this in ireland be prepared to pay for 3 Euros fee plus artificially inflated cost for the ride. Try to hail a taxi if at all possible as they are then required to charge you what shows on the taximeter. 90 percent of the cabs won’t even start taximeter if u call them via freenow app and they charge you the max price show on the app. Don’t be fooled by the range sh
  11. [R10] Freenow by Lyft 1/5 · US 2x fare: The fare on the meter was 12.20 eur and free now charged me 22 eur
  12. [R13] Freenow by Lyft 1/5 · US Taxi meter does not match what you’re charged.: (Italy) Every ride we took, the amount I was charged was double what the taxi meter read. €9 ride? €20. €20 ride? €48. The price breakdown doesn’t actually break down the fare, it just notes the overall cost as “trip value,” and “intermediation cost,” with no additional information as to how they came to that number. I reached out to support through
  13. [R9] Freenow by Lyft 3/5 · US Car condition: The driver didn’t use air conditioning of the car, despite very hot weather.
  14. [R14] Freenow by Lyft 5/5 · US Prompt pickup...clean vehicle and pleasant driver.: I would use this app again. Lots of traffic but driver maneuvered through it well. We were dropped off a block before our destination due to "no vehicle " restrictions, but he gave us good directions. Love this app. Good driver.
  15. [R17] Freenow by Lyft 5/5 · US Very Flexible: Great driver. Very flexible.
  16. [R20] Freenow by Lyft 5/5 · US Very friendly: Quick to arrive and friendly interaction along the way. Made the process effortless and comfortable.
  17. [R22] Freenow by Lyft 1/5 · US SCAM: The driver to whom they connected me charged me by their meter instead of by the app. When I tried to contact Support, I was trapped into an endless loop with their chat bot, no matter how many times I requested a human.
  18. [R34] Freenow by Lyft 1/5 · US Beware! Dishonest drivers gaming the system: Used this app 4 times in London with only minor issue on last ride, but got scammed twice in Italy. The estimates were fine, but the drivers overcharged what their meter displayed at the end of the ride. First time was resolved quickly but it happened again when I pre-booked a ride to airport; it has been 2 weeks and still have not gotten a response fro
  19. [R16] Freenow by Lyft 2/5 · US Bad in Spain: Works horribly in Spain. Can never get drivers to pick up the ride requests, and when they do they take forever. It is way easier to just hail a cab from the street.
  20. [R31] Freenow by Lyft 2/5 · US Not good in Spain: Had some decent experience with this app in UK in the past but terrible in Madrid and Valencia - never got a ride even at quiet times
  21. [R63] Lyft 3/5 · US The App has gotten terrible!!: I order Lyfts 3-4 times a week and have noticed it getting worse lately. When ordering it will say the driver is 10 minutes away, and after paying the drivers are closer to 25 minutes away. I just ordered one tonight at the airport at 9:48pm and the driver was 15 minutes away, so I should have been picked up about 10:03pm. Instead, I finally got picked up at 10:20
  22. [R73] Lyft 1/5 · US app should be shut down immediately: when i requested a ride they took 20 minutes to try and find one just to tell me there were no drivers around. then i try to get my money and they still haven’t sent it back as im writing this. support is very unprofessional and takes very long to type back. this app is a cancer and i pray to god it gets shut down one day. i wish i could give 0 stars.
  23. [R75] Lyft 3/5 · US Hit or miss: Lyft seems to be consistently cheaper than Uber for me (though not for everyone), but the experience is hit or miss. The initial estimated time to get a driver is not always accurate and even when it says a few more seconds, it could actually be several more minutes (or even a cancellation of the ride). Not great when you’re in a hurry.
  24. [R76] Lyft 1/5 · US Cancelled rides: Was at a Concert Venue at Geodis in Nashville and exited the venue early, about 30 minutes before it ended. Set up a ride and waited 10 minutes and then the driver cancelled. As the app was setting up another ride, it was showing cars in my immediate vicinity but none of them accepted the fare because they were sitting there in front of me waiting for the rates to go up. I believe

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store