Bolt vs Uber: Complete Driver Earnings Comparison for 2024

My phone screen was a battleground.

On one side, the Bolt app, glowing with a bright red 1.8x surge near a university campus. On the other, a notification from Uber: a request for a long trip to the industrial area, no surge. I was parked at a known hotspot on a Tuesday morning, and my mind was racing, trying to do the math.

Do I take the guaranteed long trip on Uber? Or do I switch back to Bolt and hope to catch that profitable, but potentially short, surged ride?

I gambled on Bolt. I ignored the Uber notification and quickly switched apps, my thumb hovering over the "Go Online" button.

And waited.

Five minutes later, the surge on Bolt disappeared. The campus emptied out as students went to class. I ended up with a short, base-fare trip that paid less than a quarter of what the Uber ride would have. I didn’t just lose that fare. I lost time. I wasted fuel. I made a bad business decision based on a guess.

This is the pain we all feel.

The constant, nagging question: Bolt or Uber? Which platform will actually make me more money today? We are caught between two giants, both promising better earnings, both demanding a piece of our hard work. The frustration is real. You feel like you’re constantly being played, forced to accept low fares while your costs for fuel and maintenance keep rising. You finish a 12-hour day exhausted, look at your total earnings, and after deducting the commission and expenses, you’re left wondering if it was even worth it.

It’s time to stop guessing.

It’s time to stop gambling with your business.

The choice between Uber and Bolt isn't about loyalty. It's a strategic business decision. Today, we’re going to do a complete comparison. We will break down the facts on commission, passenger demand, and driver support, so you can build a strategy that puts more money in your pocket.

Round 1: The Commission Battle - Who Takes a Smaller Bite?

Let’s start with the most important number: the commission rate. This is the percentage the app takes from every fare you complete. For a long time, this was a major point of conflict, with rates feeling punishingly high.

The good news? Things have changed.

Thanks to pressure from driver associations and new government regulations, there is now a legal cap on commissions. Both Uber and Bolt are required to cap their take at 18% per trip.

On paper, this makes it a tie. But in practice, it’s more complicated. The final amount you take home can be affected by how each platform handles taxes, fees, and other deductions. Bolt has been very public about its 15-20% rate depending on the city, while Uber sticks to the 18% cap.

My honest take? The difference in the final commission amount is now very small. The real battle for your profitability is not won here. It’s won in the other areas.

The only way to know for sure who is leaving more money in your pocket is to track it yourself. I use the RiderPal app for this. I log every single trip, making sure to tag whether it was an Uber or Bolt ride. At the end of the week, I go to the Reports tab and look at my "Income by Platform" chart. The numbers don’t lie. This is the only way to get a true, personalized comparison of your earnings.

Winner: It’s a draw. The regulated 18% cap has leveled the playing field.

Round 2: Passenger Demand - Where Are the Customers?

This is where the two platforms show their real differences. Understanding who uses each app, and where, is critical to your strategy.

Uber: The Corporate and Premium Choice

Uber has been in Kenya longer. It has built a reputation as the more "premium" or "corporate" service.

This is their strength.

You will find that Uber has more demand in:

• Business Districts: Westlands, Upper Hill, and the CBD during working hours.
• Affluent Neighborhoods: Lavington, Kileleshwa, Gigiri.
• Airports and Hotels: Uber is often the default choice for tourists and business travelers.

These are often high-value trips. The passengers are less price-sensitive and more likely to tip for good service. If your strategy is to hunt for airport rides or position yourself near major hotels, Uber is your stronger bet.

Bolt: The People's Champion

Bolt entered the market with an aggressive pricing strategy. It captured a huge segment of the market, especially among younger, more budget-conscious riders.

This is their power.

You will find Bolt is stronger in:

• Residential Estates: Donholm, Roysambu, and most areas outside the main business hubs.
• University Campuses: Where students are looking for the most affordable option.
• Off-Peak Hours and Weekends: Bolt’s lower prices often mean more consistent demand when business travel slows down.

Bolt also has categories like "Bolt Lite" which can keep you busy with short, frequent trips, though the fares are lower. If your strategy is to minimize idle time and maximize the number of trips per hour, Bolt often has the edge.

Winner: It depends on your strategy. Uber for high-value, premium trips. Bolt for consistent, high-volume demand. The smart driver uses both.

Round 3: Driver Support - Who Answers the Phone?

When something goes wrong—a dispute with a rider, a payment issue, an accident—you need to know that someone has your back. Driver support is a crucial, and often frustrating, part of this business.

Uber: The In-Person Advantage

Uber has invested heavily in physical support centers, their "Greenlight Hubs." If you have a complex problem that can’t be solved over the phone, being able to talk to a real person face-to-face is a huge advantage. They also have a 24/7 phone support line that is generally reliable. Their system feels more structured and corporate.

Bolt: Improving and Listening

Historically, Bolt’s support was seen as weaker, relying mostly on in-app messages and email. This was a major pain point for many drivers.

However, this is where I’ve seen the biggest change.

Bolt seems to be working hard to earn back drivers' trust. Their response times on the app have improved, and they are becoming more active in engaging with the driver community. While they may not have the physical footprint of Uber, there’s a growing sense that they are listening more closely to drivers' concerns. This is a smart move and it's making a difference.

Winner: Uber, for its established, multi-channel support system. But Bolt is a close and rapidly improving second.

At a Glance: Uber vs. Bolt for Drivers

The New Players and the Final Verdict

It’s not just a two-horse race anymore. New apps like Weego and inDriver are entering the market, trying to attract both drivers and riders. While they don’t have the demand of the big two yet, they are worth keeping an eye on. More competition is generally good for us—it forces the big players to stay competitive with their commissions and fares.

So, who wins the Bolt vs. Uber battle in 2026?

The truth is, neither.

The driver who wins is the one who stops being loyal to an app and starts being loyal to their own business. The winner is the driver who uses data, not guesswork, to make decisions.

My strategy is now simple and logical:

1. I use Uber when I’m hunting for high-value airport and hotel trips in the mid-morning.
2. I use Bolt when I’m working in residential areas in the evenings or need consistent trips to hit my daily goal.
3. I track everything in RiderPal. I know my numbers. I know my profit per kilometer for each platform. I know which strategy is working.

Stop thinking like a driver and start thinking like a CEO. Your car is your business. The apps are just tools. Use the right tool for the right job.

The debate in the driver WhatsApp groups will never end. Some swear by Uber. Others are loyal to Bolt.

Let them argue.

You have a business to run. The real winner of this comparison is the driver who uses information to their advantage. The one who knows their numbers inside and out. The one who adapts their strategy to the time of day and the part of the city they are in.

Be that driver.

Download RiderPal today. Stop guessing, start tracking, and build a more profitable driving business.