Softwr

Travel · head to head

Bokun vs Bolt

Bokun logo

Bokun

Travel

Tour and activity booking platform tied to Viator distribution, from free to $499 a month

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bolt logo

Bolt

Travel

Estonian ride hailing app with dense coverage across Europe and expanding operations in Africa, positioned as a lower-cost Uber alternative

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bokun viator bookings are exempt from the booking fee while your own direct bookings are not, so the pricing structure rewards selling through the parent marketplace rather than through your own site.; Bolt coverage, while broad across Europe and expanding in Africa, does not extend to North America, most of Asia or South America, so it is unavailable as an option in large parts of the world.
  • They diverge on capability: Bokun covers Channel manager, Bolt covers Ride hailing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bokun and Bolt actually diverge.

Attributes where Bokun and Bolt differ
AttributeBokunBolt
Pricing modelPer month plus a booking feeFree app, pay per ride with dynamic pricing
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidiOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Travel).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bokun

  • Channel manager
  • Booking widgets
  • Marketplace
  • Product and availability setup
  • Offline bookings
  • Vouchers and redemption

Only in Bolt

  • Ride hailing
  • Bolt Food
  • E-scooters and e-bikes
  • Lower driver commission model
  • Bolt Business
  • Scheduled rides

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bokun

  • An operator already doing significant Viator volume who wants that channel to cost nothing in software feesnot Bolt
  • A city tour company reselling partner products and taking commission through the Bokun marketplacenot Bolt
  • An operator wanting a fixed monthly subscription rather than a percentage of every booking as FareHarbor chargesnot Bolt
  • A business taking most bookings by phone, which incur no Bokun booking fee at allnot Bolt

Bolt

  • A rider in Europe or Africa wanting a lower-cost alternative to Uber where both apps operatenot Bokun
  • Someone in a city where Uber does not operate but Bolt does, particularly in parts of Central and Eastern Europe or Africanot Bokun
  • A business traveller whose company uses Bolt Business for expensed corporate ridesnot Bokun
  • A rider wanting e-scooter or e-bike rental in a supported European city through the same app used for ridesnot Bokun

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bokun

  • Viator bookings are exempt from the booking fee while your own direct bookings are not, so the pricing structure rewards selling through the parent marketplace rather than through your own site.
  • The booking fee sits on top of the monthly subscription, so an operator on Start pays $49 plus 1.5% of direct online revenue and the plan price alone understates the cost.
  • The free plan is limited to a single user and constrained features, so any business with staff has to move to a paid tier almost immediately.
  • Adopting it deepens commercial dependence on Tripadvisor and Viator, which is uncomfortable if your strategy is reducing OTA commission exposure.
  • Reporting and back-office depth are lighter than dedicated operator platforms, so businesses with complex resource scheduling or multi-site operations often need workarounds.

Bolt

  • Coverage, while broad across Europe and expanding in Africa, does not extend to North America, most of Asia or South America, so it is unavailable as an option in large parts of the world.
  • Fares are dynamic with demand-based surge like the rest of the category, so the lower-cost positioning against Uber does not hold on every route or at every time of day.
  • Feature availability, especially Bolt Food and micromobility rental, varies considerably by city, so the app experience is inconsistent across the markets it operates in.
  • As a smaller company than Uber globally, driver and vehicle availability can be noticeably thinner in some cities, particularly outside major urban centres.
  • Bolt has faced regulatory and labour scrutiny in some European and African markets over driver classification and commission structures, similar to the challenges other ride hailing platforms have faced.

Pricing, plan by plan

Bokun

Free
  • FreeFree
    • One user
    • No monthly fee
    • No Bokun booking fee
  • Start$49/month
    • Up to 5 users
    • 1.5% booking fee on direct online bookings
    • No booking fee on Viator bookings
  • Plus$149/month
    • Up to 10 users
    • 1.25% booking fee on direct online bookings
    • No Bokun fee on Viator bookings
  • Premium$499/month
    • Unlimited users
    • 1% booking fee on direct online bookings
    • No Bokun fee on Viator bookings

Bolt

Free
  • BoltFree
    • App is free; riders pay per trip at dynamic, demand-based fares
    • Fares often positioned lower than Uber in overlapping cities, but not guaranteed on every route
    • No published flat rate card, fares vary by city, time and route

Which should you pick?

Choose Bokun if

  • You need channel manager.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want booking widgets.
Bokun review

Choose Bolt if

  • You need ride hailing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want bolt food.
Bolt review

Questions people ask

Is Bokun or Bolt better?
Neither clearly leads. Bokun starts at Free and Bolt at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bokun or Bolt?
Bokun starts at Free and Bolt at Free.
Does Bokun or Bolt run on more platforms?
Bokun runs on Web, iOS, Android. Bolt runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Bokun for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Bokun best used for?
Bokun is most often used for an operator already doing significant viator volume who wants that channel to cost nothing in software fees, a city tour company reselling partner products and taking commission through the bokun marketplace, an operator wanting a fixed monthly subscription rather than a percentage of every booking as fareharbor charges, a business taking most bookings by phone, which incur no bokun booking fee at all. Of those, an operator already doing significant viator volume who wants that channel to cost nothing in software fees and a city tour company reselling partner products and taking commission through the bokun marketplace are not what Bolt is typically brought in for.
What can Bokun do that Bolt cannot?
Bokun covers Channel manager, Booking widgets, Marketplace, Product and availability setup. Bolt covers Ride hailing, Bolt Food, E-scooters and e-bikes, Lower driver commission model.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bokun: Are Viator bookings really free of Bokun fees?

Yes on the paid plans. Direct online bookings through your own widget carry 1% to 1.5% depending on tier.

Bolt: Where does Bolt operate?

Primarily across Europe, with particularly dense coverage in Central and Eastern Europe, plus an expanding presence across African markets including Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

Bokun: Can I pass the booking fee to customers?

Yes, on the paid plans the fee can be added to the customer price rather than absorbed.

Bolt: Is Bolt cheaper than Uber?

Often, in cities where both operate, but not guaranteed on every route since both use dynamic, demand-based pricing that varies by time and location.

Bokun: Who owns Bokun?

Viator, which is part of Tripadvisor.

Bolt: Does Bolt deliver food?

Yes, Bolt Food operates in many but not all of the cities where the ride hailing service is available.

Bokun: Is the free plan usable in a real business?

Only for a solo operator. It is one user with limited features.

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