Freenow to disappear in Poland as Lyft takes over the brand
Lyft will replace the Freenow name in Poland from early 2027, bringing its rivalry with Uber to the Polish market and targeting 15-20 smaller cities.
The Freenow brand is set to vanish from Polish roads. Lyft, which acquired the platform in 2025, plans to move customers to its own app and name, starting in the first quarter of 2027.
"Ultimately, we will be heading towards one global Lyft brand," said Krzysztof Urban, managing director of Freenow by Lyft in Poland. He stressed that the migration will not happen overnight, but that the Freenow logo and name will eventually disappear from cars on Polish streets.
Two apps in parallel
For a period, both apps will work side by side, so passengers can keep ordering rides as usual. During the coming year, the company will encourage users to switch to the Lyft app. According to Urban, the goal is to "get customers in Poland and across Europe used to the new brand". Lyft wants people in Warsaw, Barcelona or New York to use one integrated ecosystem.
Expansion and market outlook
Lyft also wants to strengthen its position in Poland's big cities and enter another 15-20 smaller ones. Urban said the aim is to double the number of rides completed in the country.
He pointed to steady demand: ride volume in Poland is growing by 5-10% a year, driven by rising mobility needs and incomes. In his view, app-based rides have become very affordable, with no barrier to entry, and a taxi is no longer a luxury but an everyday means of urban transport, used for commuting, evenings out or trips to the airport.
Rivalry with Uber arrives
Lyft competed with Uber in the United States, while until now only Uber was available under its own name in Poland. When Lyft bought Freenow in 2025, there was no talk of dropping the old name. The rebranding now moves the American rivalry onto the Polish market, where Lyft will go head to head with Uber under its own brand.
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