Ride-hailing in Malta: eCabs, Bolt, Uber and Ryde compared

eCabs, the long-standing local company

Founded in 2009, eCabs is Malta’s original ride-hailing pioneer. With a strong local presence, it lets you book a ride in advance or in real time through its app, and describes itself on the App Store as the “leading ride-hailing platform in Malta”. On the island, eCabs vehicles are usually black, which makes them easy to spot.

Its fleet is the most varied on the archipelago: vehicles adapted for passengers with reduced mobility, pet-friendly cars, child seats, luxury cars and minivans for groups, all available 24/7 across Malta and Gozo. Fares are competitive, with fixed prices quoted up front, and you can pay in cash or by card.

eCabs runs its own call and booking centre in Malta, a real bonus if something goes wrong. The company also offers Maltese-speaking drivers and a female-driver option (“Women +”), a reassuring choice for female passengers, along with bespoke services for businesses.

Even though it loses market share year after year, eCabs remains the best value for money on the archipelago.

Bolt, the market leader in Malta

Bolt (formerly Taxify) made a splashy entrance onto the archipelago in 2017. The Estonian company now has the largest presence in Malta by number of drivers, the result of an aggressive recruitment strategy, and it remains many visitors’ first choice for its prices.

Bolt drivers are everywhere, even in the most out-of-the-way spots. Working independently, they must meet strict criteria, but ride quality varies a great deal from one driver to the next. Some juggle several apps at once, which can throw off the displayed waiting times, and customer support can be hit-and-miss.

The fleet spans several tiers and plenty of categories: child seats, pet transport (Pets), electric vehicles (Green), Maltese-speaking drivers (Rikba), private driver and hourly hire. Of all the ride-hailing apps on the island, Bolt remains the surest bet for finding a driver nearby.

Uber, the global name with still-limited coverage

Uber launched in Malta in June 2022. The world’s ride-hailing leader is therefore present here, but with coverage that is still limited, albeit steadily growing. It targets tourists and business travellers above all.

The service focuses on the most touristy areas: Valletta, St. Julian’s and the airport. You get the app’s familiar interface, with fares generally close to Bolt’s, but payment is by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay only (no cash).

Vehicle availability remains the weak point: when you first arrive on the island, it is often hard to get a driver for lack of sufficient numbers, and waiting times can exceed 20 minutes on the outskirts or at night.

Ryde, the fully electric local service

Ryde (Ryde Technologies Malta) is a Maltese company launched in 2020 as a local alternative to the international giants. Its intuitive app lets you book a vehicle in seconds, with drivers available 24/7, and the company favours partnerships with local drivers to support the island’s economy.

What sets it apart is its fully electric fleet, some models of which echo the style of London’s wheelchair-accessible black cabs: a clearly eco-friendly stance that reduces the archipelago’s carbon footprint.

Instant or scheduled bookings, fares set in advance in the app to avoid nasty surprises, standard vehicles or roomier ones for groups and families: Ryde covers the essentials and plans to extend its services to Gozo soon.