Ride-sharing and -hailing apps like Uber and Lyft have gone mainstream nowadays. Although convenient services, those can’t substitute long-term transportation needs. To elaborate, the said apps aren’t exactly the best option for weekend getaways or cross-country trips. What can you rely on if you want a car for rent, then? It’s simple— use apps like Turo.
Among all the apps like Turo in the market, which ones are top-notch? Go through our list below to find the leading picks.
Also read: Things to Know About Turo
Inside This Article
11 Apps Like Turo to Try
The best car rental apps like Turo should be easy to use, provide you with a range of vehicles to choose from, and help you find legitimate and budget deals. Discover one that fits the bill here.
1. Alamo
Let’s start our list of best car rental apps like Turo with Alamo. It’s reliable, straightforward, and has many car types you can rent for almost any occasion. You can choose from regular sedans and compact cars to SUVs and bigger vehicles. The car rental app also allows you to make reservations based on your location. Hence, you don’t have to waste time traveling too far only to get to your rented car.
Apart from those, the app’s interface is incredibly convenient to use. It’s neat, showcasing each car’s image, mileage, and rental information such as pick-up or drop-off times and map directions back to the branch. There’s also a feature on it that conveniently points out the nearest gas stations in case your rental car runs out of fuel.
Alamo presents low prices, which gives it an edge over other apps like Turo. You can book a car without breaking the bank for your weekend trip. You can even save 5% on certain bookings if you register for an Alamo Insider account. To top that, the app also provides 24/7 customer support. Whether the concern is safety or only a random question, you’ll get the assistance you need.
2. Carngo
Next in line in our list of best apps like Turo is Carngo. Unlike other apps like Turo, Carngo doesn’t act like a standalone car rental app. It is a middleman between partner rental apps such as Hertz, Sixt, Priceline, and more. Of course, you can still book a car easily through the app – it just won’t provide you with anything proprietary.
Now, don’t think that makes Carngo weaker than its competitors in any way. What’s great about its business model is that the app lets you compare the cost of multiple services. Thus, you can get the car you want to rent for the lowest price. Of course, you can also cancel a reservation easily (subject to terms and conditions) if you change your mind.
Additionally, the app provides all the basic features you might find from other car rental apps like Turo. You can conveniently filter searches by car type, class, price, and more. The app even allows you to rent unconventional vehicles such as trucks for out-of-the-ordinary use cases.
Furthermore, Carngo has a strong international presence, unlike other apps like Turo. Therefore, you can easily rent a car without downloading a separate app whenever you’re outside the US. Lastly, Carngo offers round-the-clock customer support to help you with any issues. You can contact its support team via chat or call its hotline numbers for emergencies.
The only con this app has is its interface that looks outdated compared to the others. Nonetheless, if you want something free with all the right features, this is the app to go with.
3. Enterprise
Searching for the best rental cars can be time-consuming if you don’t know where to look. That’s why Enterprise is a godsend for when you’re trying to find a reliable service. Via the app’s map, you can easily book a car from a nearby branch. Once you find an Enterprise branch close to your area, you can start adding filters for your rental searches.
Like other apps similar to Turo, Enterprise also has handy in-app tools that enhance your experience. For example, those that let you modify reservations and pick-up or drop-off locations. Moreover, it is possible to check your car’s rental information, access roadside assistance, or call 24/7 customer support service in-app.
Apart from those, Enterprise has branches in over 7,800 locations globally. The only problem with the app is that it doesn’t provide extra liability insurance to its users. Moreover, it doesn’t offer many promotional benefits for loyal customers. Nonetheless, it’s worth a try if you’re looking for a trusted brand with a worldwide reach.
4. Expedia
One of the best apps like Turo that helps people quickly find rental cars is Expedia. It’s fast, easy, and even leads to savings because of its occasional special deals. Some of those deals are exclusively on mobile, so downloading the app has a lot of incentives.
What’s also great about Expedia is that it’s not just a regular car rental app like the other alternatives. It offers other booking services besides land transportation. With the app, you can book hotels, plane rides, or even vacation homes for when you’re out on a trip. The app is versatile enough for travelers looking for an all-in-one travel planner.
Furthermore, Expedia has a reward points system in place. You might even get a free hotel or car ride if you earn enough points on the free app.
5. Getaround
For the price-conscious renter, we recommend checking out Getaround. Why? Unlike other apps like Turo, Getaround doesn’t rent out proprietary cars from a large company. Instead, it connects renters with individual car owners willing to lend their cars for reasonable prices.
With that, Getaround car rent can go as low as $5 per day. That makes the service a good substitute for ride-hailing and carpooling apps that charge high prices depending on the time. Moreover, the app has a wide range of car types (simple to high-class brands) you can pick from.
Getaround also offers online liability insurance to lessen its users’ stress. Thus, you’re able to ride freely and comfortably. The only disadvantage this app has is the subpar customer service. Moreover, navigating the app and booking services isn’t as easy as on other apps like Turo.
Nonetheless, Getaround is a great alternative to ride-sharing apps and other apps like Turo.
6. Hertz
Also making it to our roundup of the best apps like Turo is the Hertz app. With it, you can access all the basics you’ll ever need from a car rental service. You can rent a car, edit reservation details, search for locations, and get discounts and special offers on rentals that are competitive compared to other apps like Turo.
Additionally, Hertz is one of the most convenient apps on the market because it operates across and outside the US. Therefore, you’ll easily find a rental service nearby regardless of the state or when you’re abroad.
Hertz also touts a handy feature that you will wish other apps like Turo had – finding parking locations. You can also earn rewards through the app if you sign up for a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership. The more you ride with the app and fulfill requirements, the more you earn.
What also makes Hertz a top choice is its user interface. Of course, that might not mean much if the features aren’t all that great. However, the interface is one of its best points, considering how other apps like Turo are frustrating to navigate. The only downside is that the app doesn’t have a convenient map for providing directions to the drop-off location.
If you like Hertz, you can install it for free on your smartphone.
7. Kayak
Have you gone abroad and asked, “Is there a car rental near me to help me get around?” If that has been a concern for you, we recommend checking out the Kayak app.
Kayak, despite the name, won’t let you borrow kayaks. Instead, it offers you access to tons of travel-related booking services such as flights, hotels, restaurants, and car rentals.
The app is a must-have for avid travelers. Through it, you can book rides and create an in-app itinerary; you’ll never need another travel planner again. It even has a support service for business trip advisers.
In addition, the app also allows for offline access, so you can conveniently travel around without using mobile data. The only problem with Kayak is that it doesn’t account for your departure city when booking flights. Moreover, the app has a few bugs when changing hotel check-out dates.
If you like the idea of a nearly all-in-one travel app, Kayak is the app to try. It’s free to install.
8. Priceline
Kayak isn’t the only all-in-one travel app on this list of apps like Turo. Priceline is also a decent competitor, especially if Kayak doesn’t meet your expectations. Using the app, you can book car rentals, hotels, or flights, and plan your entire vacation in one go.
Priceline’s car rental service competes well against other apps like Turo because of the variety. You can book almost anything from typical vehicles to luxury cars when you’re feeling fancy. Moreover, Priceline works like Carngo because it doesn’t provide proprietary cars. Instead, it links you to 290 other rental services and cross-checks the prices to give the best option.
Also, Priceline has over 28,000 accessible car rental locations. You’ll certainly find one near you. Another edge the app has is that it lets you book hotels and flights besides cars. If you like the service, you can download it now for free.
9. SIXT
Why can’t transportation services, particularly for car rentals and ride-sharing, come in one handy app? If that’s your main complaint, then SIXT is worth checking out. This multipurpose app lets you rent a car, book a carpool, or hail a cab. With it, you can solve almost any transportation need and book cars for long- and short-term trips.
Moreover, SIXT operates in more than 100 countries internationally. It is great if you dislike using other countries’ public transportation systems.
You’ll decide to stick with it knowing that the app is user-friendly. You can filter your searches by car model, capacity, and so much more. Also, sorting the results by price or popularity before booking is possible.
The only problem is that the app isn’t exactly the best at providing customer support. Also, there have been glitches when generating receipts and processing payments. Other than that, it’s great for getting to and from places.
10. Skyscanner
Among the best apps like Turo for frequent travelers is Skyscanner. Like Kayak, you can book flights and hotels apart from car rentals using the app while you’re abroad. Another good thing about Skyscanner is that it doesn’t have hidden fees when you’re booking a service. Moreover, it has neat filtering features for narrowing down your search to the smallest detail.
Apart from vehicle bookings by type and fuel, Skyscanner yields notifications if it finds a listing with your preferred price. With it, you can view a car’s rental price, fuel policy, insurance information, user rating, price, number of seats, and more.
Like other apps like Turo, though, Skyscanner isn’t perfect. For one, its worldwide exploration feature for finding affordable flights doesn’t always work. Also, the app glitches when you’re making car payments. Lastly, the user interface could use a bit of a revamp because of how poor the navigation system is.
Despite the hiccups, Skyscanner is still a good all-in-one travel booking app.
11. Zipcar
Another easy way to get transportation is by using Zipcar, one of the most convenient apps like Turo. Through it, you can book a car more than once daily. And the cars you book will all come fully loaded with gas, have liability insurance, and more. The app can also point Zipcar drivers to the service’s exclusive parking spaces.
Furthermore, Zipcar has a pretty neat and straightforward unlocking system. Once you become a member of the service, you can get a Zipcard in your mailbox. Afterward, just rent a car in-app. It’s a convenient and flexible system that’s perfect if you like hassle-free renting.
Zipcar also covers all the necessities car rental apps provide. It has several car types and brands you can choose from, including vans. Whether you want a regular Toyota or a high-end BMW, Zipcar has the vehicle you want. The app also makes it easy to filter your searches based on your preferences.
Unfortunately, Zipcar isn’t perfect and does come with a couple of issues. For example, the app can be buggy when users log in. Moreover, billing issues sometimes arise, according to a few user reports. Still, we think the pros outweigh these few cons. If you agree, then get the app now.
Car Renting, Carpooling, and Ride-Hailing: The Differences
Now, you may be wondering why we didn’t include apps like Uber or Lyft on this list. That’s because both Uber and Lyft don’t offer car rentals. They are limited to ride-hailing and carpooling. What are the differences between the three services, then?
Firstly, ride-hailing apps are mainly for calling a cab or taxi. There’s no need to suffer in long taxi queues if you have them. Once you book the taxi, you only have to wait for it to arrive at the exact spot you’re in.
Something similar happens when it comes to carpooling apps. You’re allowed to book a ride via the app to get you from point A to B. However, what makes the experience different is that you can split the cost of the ride with strangers. Of course, that means you have to travel with people going the same way. While the said apps aren’t ideal for privacy, they’re great for saving money.
Meanwhile, car rental apps like Turo are different because they don’t provide drivers. Through those apps, you’ll have to drive a borrowed vehicle by yourself to your destination of choice. The perk you get is that you can use the car longer. Some apps even allow you to rent a car for up to a month.
With the differences laid out, you can pick the right type of app you need. If you like driving for long periods, we recommend car rental apps. Otherwise, it makes more sense to go back to Uber or Lyft if your trip is only a one-time commute.
The Bottom Line
The demand for car rental, ride-sharing, and -hailing apps has skyrocketed in recent years. That’s understandable because car ownership rates have dropped in the millennial generation. Most people prefer to pay one-time fees for renting or commuting because car ownership costs a lot. Moreover, it’s more expensive to maintain a car’s good condition.
Thankfully, the market has adjusted, and there are now plenty of apps like Turo to meet transportation needs. Of course, you can use Turo itself if you already like the brand and its services. However, you’re not limited to just Turo and many apps like it that can even be a better fit for you. You only have to know where to search for more options.
Need more travel-related services? See our list of must-have travel apps, too!
