Lyft didn’t work when we landed in Europe—but not for the reason I expected.
Instead of showing available rides, the app told me to download something else entirely.
After a long travel day, that wasn’t exactly what I wanted to deal with. At that point, we just defaulted to the easiest option and pulled up Uber to get to our hotel.
But the next day, with a little more patience (and a lot less jet lag), I went ahead and downloaded FREENOW to see what Lyft was trying to point me toward.
What started as a minor inconvenience turned into something more interesting. Over the next few days, traveling through Germany and Austria, we ended up using both apps—and they didn’t work the same way at all.
Why Lyft Sent Me to Another App
That initial moment in Hamburg makes a lot more sense once you know what’s going on behind the scenes.
In 2025, Lyft acquired FREENOW as its way to enter the European market (Lyft announcement).
Until then, Lyft had only operated in North America, so instead of launching its own service overseas, it bought a platform that already worked there.
And that platform is built very differently than what we’re used to in the U.S.
The Big Difference: Who Shows Up
The biggest difference between the two apps was simple.
With Uber, we saw a mix of rides:
- Sometimes a private driver
- Sometimes a licensed taxi
With FREENOW, it was consistent:
- Always a taxi (at least in our experience)
That one detail explains a lot of what we noticed during the trip.
How the Experience Compared
Pickup Times
This is where FREENOW stood out.
Most of the time, cars were just a few minutes away. With Uber, we often saw longer wait times.
It makes sense when you think about how each service works. FREENOW connects directly to existing taxi fleets already on the road, while Uber relies on drivers opening the app and accepting rides.
Type of Ride
With Uber, there was always a bit of uncertainty about what would show up.
With FREENOW, there wasn’t. It was always a taxi, which meant experienced drivers who knew the area well and no surprises about the vehicle type.
Pricing
Pricing was a bit of a mixed bag.
There were times when Uber was cheaper, and other times FREENOW pricing was less expensive. We only have a few rides with each service, which isn’t enough to make any clear patten.
But in most cases, the difference wasn’t large enough to outweigh the shorter wait times.
Don’t Forget: How It Codes for Credit Cards
Since this is a points and miles blog, here’s something worth paying attention to. FREENOW charges coded just like a taxi or local transit ride—not a general travel purchase.
For example, I used my World of Hyatt Credit Card, which earns 2X points on local transit and commuting.
It’s not a huge return, but it’s better than earning just 1X—and it’s an easy win for spending you’re already doing.
Depending on what’s in your wallet, this could also be a good time to use:
- A card that earns bonus points on travel or transit
- Or one where you’re working toward a spending threshold
Why Uber Feels Different in Europe
If you’ve used Uber in the U.S., the European experience can feel a little different, and that’s not your imagination.
Ride-hailing companies in Europe operate under stricter regulations, which can limit driver supply and require different operating models.
Because of that, Uber has had to adapt:
- In some cities, it includes licensed taxis in the app
- In others, driver availability is more limited
Meanwhile, taxis are still a major part of the transportation system—and FREENOW is built entirely around that network.
So Which One Should You Use?
After using both, our approach changed pretty quickly.
We started opening both apps and choosing based on what mattered most at that moment:
- Wait time
- Price
I can’t recommend one over the other, but it makes sense to have both on your phone.
Final Thought
We went into the trip assuming Uber and Lyft would be our go-tos, just as they are at home.
It’s a good reminder that when you travel, even the apps you take for granted might not work the way you expect.
And if you’re going to be using it anyway, you might as well earn a few extra points along the way.
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
