Compare ride-hailing apps for drivers in the UK, including taxi and private hire drivers. We look at driver fees, availability, driver feedback, licensing fit and practical ways to get more bookings.
Looking for other tools for your business? Explore more software and apps for taxi and private hire.
Quick answer
Uber is our top pick overall for UK drivers, with broad private hire coverage, worker protections and access for London Black Cab drivers. Bolt is a very close alternative, with published commission rates for private hire drivers and a competitive Black Cab model in London. Freenow is particularly worth considering for licensed taxi drivers in the cities it serves.
London Black Cab drivers should also compare Gett and jump, which take very different approaches to app-based work.
Not every app works the same way for every driver. Availability, fees and requirements can vary by licence type, city and individual trip.
Compare our top picks
We compared ride-hailing apps for drivers on fees, coverage, licensing fit, app feedback and practical ways to get more bookings.
| App | Best for | Viaqo score | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uber | Overall | 89/100 | Variable* |
| Bolt | Runner-up | 88/100 | 15–20%* |
| Freenow | Taxi drivers | 84/100 | 18% → 20%* |
Fees shown are simplified. Uber’s standard service fee can vary by trip, city and other factors. Bolt’s 15–20% rate applies to its standard commission model; London Black Cab drivers pay £2 per completed journey. Freenow’s standard taxi commission is currently 18% including VAT and increases to 20% on 14 September 2026. Its private hire payment model works differently.
Driver-app ratings shown are from the UK Apple App Store where available. Google Play ratings can vary by country, device and other factors, so we use Google Play primarily as an additional source of driver feedback rather than relying on one fixed score.
How we scored ride-hailing apps for drivers
We scored ride-hailing apps using the Viaqo methodology:
- 30% — Independent user reputation: driver-app ratings, review volume and recency.
- 25% — Fit for the profession: how useful the platform is for taxi or private hire work.
- 20% — UK essentials: licensing fit, UK availability and practical driver protections or requirements.
- 10% — Ease of use and mobile experience.
- 10% — Works with other tools and ways of working.
- 5% — Price and value: including the clarity and level of driver fees.
Affiliate commissions do not affect our scores or rankings.
Uber — Best overall
Viaqo score: 89/100
Why we like it
Strong UK presence. Uber is available to private hire drivers across many parts of the UK and requires drivers to hold the appropriate private hire licence. London Black Cab drivers can now also take trips through Uber.
Useful UK worker protections. Uber drivers have worker status in the UK. This includes holiday pay, access to a pension and a guarantee of at least the National Living Wage while on Uber trips. Drivers remain self-employed for tax purposes.
Large amount of driver-app feedback. The Uber Driver app currently scores 4.3/5 from around 54,000 ratings on the UK App Store. Google Play shows an even larger global review base.
Interesting current offer for London cabbies. Uber is currently advertising 0% Service Fee for new London Black Cab drivers until the end of 2026, although this is a promotional offer and should not be treated as permanent pricing.
Things to know
Private hire fees are not a simple fixed percentage. Uber says its service fee can vary from one trip to another depending on the trip, city and other factors. This makes direct cost comparisons less straightforward than with a platform publishing one fixed commission rate.
Worker protection does not mean employee status. UK Uber drivers remain self-employed for tax purposes, and the minimum earnings guarantee relates to time spent on Uber trips rather than simply every hour the app is switched on.
Who should choose Uber?
Uber is a strong choice if you want access to a large ride-hailing platform and value its UK worker protections. It is also increasingly relevant to London Black Cab drivers.
Who may prefer another app?
Consider Bolt if you prefer a more clearly published standard commission range. Licensed taxi drivers may also want to compare Freenow, Gett and jump.
Bolt — Best alternative
Viaqo score: 88/100
Why we like it
Clearer standard commission. Bolt publishes a commission of 15% to 20% depending on the city for its standard driver model. The commission applies to cash and card rides and cancellation fees, but not to tips, bonuses or additional airport and toll charges.
Broad UK availability. Bolt currently operates across London and a substantial number of other UK areas, including Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Greater Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Strong driver-app ratings. Bolt Driver currently scores 4.7/5 from around 40,000 UK App Store ratings. Google Play also provides a large volume of driver feedback, but displayed ratings can vary by country and device, so we do not use one fixed Google Play score in our ranking.
Competitive option for London Black Cabs. Bolt says Black Cab drivers receive the full metered fare. Bolt charges the driver £2 per completed trip, while a £2 booking fee is added to the passenger’s fare.
Things to know
Commission depends on location. The 15–20% range means you need to check the actual rate applying where you work rather than assuming every UK driver pays the same amount.
Driver reviews are generally strong overall, but recent Google Play feedback also contains complaints about areas such as payments, navigation and app reliability. We take both the high overall score and recent negative feedback into account.
Who should choose Bolt?
Bolt is particularly attractive if you want a major alternative to Uber with a published standard commission range and strong driver-app feedback.
Who may prefer another app?
Uber may suit drivers who place more value on its UK worker protections. Taxi drivers who want a more taxi-focused platform should also compare Freenow.
Freenow — Best for taxi drivers
Viaqo score: 84/100
Why we like it
Strong taxi focus. Freenow currently operates its UK taxi service in nine cities: London, Edinburgh, Brighton, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading, Derby and Leicester. It says more than 1.5 million UK passengers use the service.
Useful driver features. Freenow offers weekly or daily payments, a local Driver Care team and features designed specifically around professional drivers.
Excellent UK Apple rating. The Freenow driver app currently scores 4.8/5 from around 12,000 ratings on the UK App Store.
Things to know
Google Play ratings can vary by country, device and other factors. We therefore use the UK App Store as our clearest regional rating source and consider Google Play driver feedback qualitatively rather than relying on one fixed score.
Taxi commission is increasing. The standard taxi commission is currently 18% including VAT. From 14 September 2026, it increases to 20% including VAT.
Private hire works differently. Freenow’s London PHV model does not present a traditional commission percentage to drivers in the same way. The driver sees the payment they will receive for the trip.
Who should choose Freenow?
Freenow is particularly worth considering if you are a licensed taxi driver in one of its supported UK cities and want additional app bookings alongside your existing work.
Who may prefer another app?
Private hire drivers looking for broader UK coverage may find Uber or Bolt a better fit. Drivers who are particularly sensitive to commission should also compare the alternatives available in their city.
Also considered
Gett
Gett remains a strong option for London Black Cab drivers, particularly if corporate bookings are important to you. It offers daily payments, access to business customers and 24/7 driver support.
Its standard driver commission is currently 20% including VAT in London and 10% outside London.
We did not place Gett in our top three because independent driver-app feedback is limited: the UK App Store currently shows 3.3/5 from only 98 ratings.
Worth considering if: you drive a licensed taxi or London Black Cab and value corporate work and daily payouts.
jump
jump takes a very different approach. It is designed specifically for London Black Cab drivers using the Taxiworld system. Taxiworld says jump jobs carry no additional driver fee, with only the normal card-processing charge applying if the passenger pays by card. Cash fares are kept in full.
Taxiworld currently says more than 6,000 London Black Cab drivers use its system and can receive jump jobs.
The reason we do not rank jump alongside Uber, Bolt and Freenow is not its pricing — which is extremely attractive — but the much smaller amount of independent feedback and its very specific London Black Cab focus.
Worth considering if: you are a London Black Cab driver already using, or willing to use, the Taxiworld system.
Which ride-hailing apps for drivers should you choose?
For most private hire drivers: start by comparing Uber and Bolt. Uber has the advantage of its UK worker protections, while Bolt offers a clearer published standard commission range.
For licensed taxi drivers: Freenow deserves serious consideration, particularly in the UK cities where its taxi network operates.
For London Black Cab drivers: the choice is now much wider. Uber and Bolt both accept Black Cabs, while Gett remains an established taxi-focused option and jump offers a no-additional-driver-fee model through Taxiworld.
Many drivers do not need to choose only one platform. Subject to the terms of each service and your licensing requirements, using more than one app can give you more ways to find work.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best ride-hailing apps for drivers in the UK?
Uber is our best overall pick, with Bolt very close behind. The best choice depends on where you work, your licence and the fees that apply to you.
Is Bolt cheaper than Uber for drivers?
Bolt publishes a standard commission range of 15–20% depending on the city. Uber’s service fee can vary between trips, so it is not possible to say that Bolt will always be cheaper for every driver.
Can London Black Cab drivers use Uber?
Yes. Uber now accepts London Black Cab drivers and is currently offering qualifying new Black Cab drivers a 0% Service Fee promotion until the end of 2026.
Can London Black Cab drivers use Bolt?
Yes. Bolt has a dedicated London Black Cab service. Drivers receive the metered fare and Bolt currently charges £2 per completed Black Cab journey.
Is Freenow only for taxis?
No. Freenow also works with private hire drivers, including PHV drivers in London. However, its taxi offering is particularly prominent across its UK network.
Can I drive for more than one ride-hailing app?
Often, yes. For example, Uber explicitly allows drivers to work with other operators. You should still check the current terms and licensing requirements for each platform you use.
Sources checked
- Uber — UK driver requirements, worker protections, fees and London Black Cab programme.
- Bolt — UK driver requirements, commission, coverage and London Black Cab pricing.
- Freenow — UK driver coverage, taxi fees and driver information.
- Gett — UK driver information and driver fee policy.
- Taxiworld / jump — driver fees and how jump jobs work.
- Apple App Store — UK driver-app ratings and user feedback for Uber, Bolt, Freenow and Gett.
- Google Play — user feedback for Uber, Bolt, and Freenow. Displayed ratings may vary by country and device.
Last checked: 8 September 2026
Last updated: 8 September 2026