Uber, Bolt or FREENOW in Frankfurt : Which is cheaper and faster?

In short: In Frankfurt Uber and Bolt primarily connect passengers with drivers from licensed companies, while FREENOW mainly connects passengers with regular taxis. Which app is faster depends on the number of vehicles available nearby. Those who know in advance when they will be traveling, for example, after landing at the airport, benefit most from pre-booking at a fixed price.

Whether at the main train station, after the trade fair, or after landing at the airport: several apps are available in Frankfurt . Here we explain how Uber, Bolt, and FREENOW work in Frankfurt , what a regular taxi costs, and when booking in advance is worthwhile.

Gibt es Uber in Frankfurt?

Yes. Uber works in Frankfurt , but differently than in the US, for example. In Germany, private individuals don't drive via Uber. The app connects rides with licensed rental car companies, whose drivers need a passenger transport license. The app displays the price before the ride; it depends on the distance and demand.

Bolt in Frankfurt

Bolt, an Estonian company, has been connecting customers with drivers in Germany since 2021, operating on the same principle as Uber. The app also allows users to book some regular taxis. Like Uber, Bolt displays the price before the ride, and it fluctuates with demand.

FREENOW in Frankfurt

FREENOW, formerly the mytaxi app, primarily connects users with regular taxis in Frankfurt . Taxis account for approximately 90 percent of FREENOW bookings overall. Since July 2025, FREENOW has been part of the US ride-hailing service Lyft. Users of Lyft in the US will therefore find FREENOW in Germany, and there, they will usually be connected with a regular taxi.

FREENOW oder Bolt: Was kommt schneller?

It's impossible to give a general answer. The crucial factor is how many taxis or rental cars are currently available near you, and this changes depending on the time of day, the weather, and trade fairs. You can save time with a simple trick: Before ordering, open both apps and compare the displayed waiting time. At the airport, taxis are also readily available at the taxi ranks directly in front of the terminals; you don't need an app there at all.

Uber oder Taxi: Was ist günstiger?

A standard taxi in Frankfurt operates on a meter. According to the city Frankfurt the fare in December 2024 was a base price of €4.00 and €2.40 per kilometer, plus €38 per hour of waiting time. Since December 2024, Frankfurt taxis have also been permitted to offer a fixed price for pre-booked fares via app or telephone; the price per kilometer then ranges between €2.40 and €4.00, depending on demand. Depending on demand, a ride with Uber or Bolt may be cheaper or more expensive than a taxi. Therefore, compare the price displayed in the app with a fixed price.

	Uber / Bolt	FREENOW	Taxi am Taxistand	Advance booking with AT Rides & Tours
vehicle	Rental car with driver	usually a regular taxi	regular taxi	own fleet with drivers
Price	before the trip in the app, depending on demand	Taximeter or fixed price	Taximeter	Fixed price per vehicle, before booking
Frankfurt Airport → City Center	depending on demand	I'm looking for a tariff.	depending on the route and traffic	ab 35 €
Flight tracking	no	no	no	Yes, free

Wie sicher sind die Fahrdienst-Apps?

The city of Frankfurt is cracking down on rental cars without valid licenses. Following investigations into forged licenses, it has entered into an agreement with Uber, Bolt, and FREENOW 2025 to digitally verify the licenses of the vehicles they provide. Before each ride, please ensure that the license plate and vehicle match the information in the app.

Am Flughafen: wann sich eine Vorbuchung lohnt

After landing, you never know exactly when you'll be standing outside with your luggage. With an app-based ride, you only book when you arrive, and the price is valid for that moment. If you book in advance, the driver tracks your flight and waits for you if your plane lands later. AT Rides & Tours offers rides from the airport to Frankfurt city center, the main train station, or the trade fair grounds starting at €35 per vehicle, to Mainz or Darmstadt from €49, and to Wiesbaden from €55. These prices are valid for up to four people in Economy class. You pay the driver in cash or by card when booking online, and you can cancel free of charge up to four hours before pickup.

For more information on how the pickup process works, please see our guide "How much does a taxi cost from Frankfurt Airport?" .

Häufige Fragen

Gibt es Uber in Frankfurt?

Yes. Uber connects drivers with rental cars from licensed companies in Frankfurt . You can see the price in the app before your ride.

Ist Uber günstiger als ein Taxi in Frankfurt?

It depends on demand. The Uber price changes with demand; the taxi uses a meter. Compare the price in the app with a fixed price.

Ist FREENOW ein Taxi?

Mostly yes. FREENOW primarily connects passengers with regular taxis in Frankfurt and has been part of Lyft since July 2025.

Was kostet eine Fahrt vom Flughafen Frankfurt in die Innenstadt?

The price of a metered taxi depends on the distance and traffic. Pre-booked with AT Rides & Tours it costs from €35 per vehicle at a fixed price.

Quellen

• hessenschau.de, December 18, 2024: Frankfurt taxis now also available at a fixed price
• hessenschau.de: City of Frankfurt wants to take illegal ride-hailing services off the road
• Lyft, 31.07.2025: Lyft goes global: FREENOW acquisition complete