As ride-hailing continues to shape urban mobility in Kenya, three major players dominate the market in 2025 — Uber, Bolt, and Little Cab. Each has its own features, pricing models and user experience. Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help riders and drivers make informed decisions.
1. Coverage and Availability
Uber: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru. Most widely used with consistent service coverage.
Bolt: Major cities including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. Bolt has a strong driver base and faster pickup times in busy areas.
Little Cab: Kenyan owned and focused on Nairobi and a few other towns. Popular with corporate users due to business and lady-only rides.
2. Pricing and Affordability
| Platform | Base Fare (Approx) | Price per KM | Minimum Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uber | KES 100 | KES 27 | KES 250 |
| Bolt | KES 70 | KES 25 | KES 200 |
| Little | KES 80 | KES 24 | KES 200 |
Note: Prices may vary based on surge pricing, time of day and city.
3. Driver and Rider Incentives
Uber: Bonuses for trip milestones but has faced criticism for high commission fees (25%).
Bolt: Regular discounts for riders and referral bonuses. Drivers face lower commission rates (15–20%) than Uber.
Little: Drivers keep up to 90% of the fare and have access to fuel discounts, insurance and phone financing.
4. Unique Features
Uber: Scheduled rides, safety toolkit and premium options like Uber ChapChap and Uber XL.
Bolt: Affordability and fast pickups with newer features like Bolt Food and Bolt Business.
Little: Ride-hailing, corporate solutions, Lady Bug (female drivers for female riders), Wi-Fi in cars and even electric car options.
5. Safety and Customer Support
Uber: Strong focus on safety with driver background checks, SOS button and ride tracking.
Bolt: Emergency features and rate-a-driver system but sometimes criticized for slow customer support.
Little: Good customer service especially for corporate clients. Promotes gender inclusivity through Lady Bug service.
Conclusion
Choosing the right ride-hailing app in Kenya is all about your priorities:
Uber: Best for coverage, reliability and international consistency.
Bolt: For cost conscious users and fast pickups in busy areas.
Little: For supporting local businesses, unique services and high driver earnings.
With more competition in 2025, riders get more options, better prices and better services. Try them out and see what works for you.