How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Turo gives the widest vehicle choice, because owners set their own cars and daily prices.
- Kyte and Flexcar suit people who want delivery or a monthly car without a long lease.
- Traditional rental brands still win for airport trips, one way travel, and large fleets.
- Hourly city use, daily trips, and monthly use have very different cost structures, so match the service to the trip length first.
- Availability varies sharply by city, so check coverage in your exact area before you rely on any one service.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Turo | Widest vehicle choice | See website | No |
 Kyte | Delivered rental cars | See website | No |
 Flexcar | Monthly car subscription | See website | No |
 Enterprise CarShare | Hourly business and city use | See website | No |
 Sixt | Airport and premium rentals | See website | No |
 Hertz | Large fleet and loyalty perks | See website | No |
 Avis | Business and airport rentals | See website | No |
 GIG Car Share | One way city trips | See website | No |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best Zipcar alternatives
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Turo works as a peer to peer marketplace, so you rent a car from a private owner rather than from a company fleet. That model is the main reason the choice is so wide. You can pick an exact model, a convertible for a weekend, a truck for a move, or an electric car to try before buying. Joining is free, and each host sets the daily price, so the same city can show a large price range on the same dates.
The trade off is consistency. One host may offer free delivery, flexible pickup, and high mileage, while another sets strict limits and extra fees. Read the trip details before booking, including mileage, protection plan, cancellation terms, and delivery cost. Turo fits planned multi day trips best, where picking a specific car matters more than walking up to a nearby car within minutes.
What we like- Huge range of cars, from economy models to luxury and specialty vehicles
- Daily, weekly, and monthly trips
- Hosts in many US cities and airports
Watch out for- Prices and rules vary by host
- Mileage limits and fees differ from trip to trip
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Kyte removes the rental counter from the trip. A driver brings the car to you and collects it at the end, which suits travelers who dislike airport queues and city dwellers without a nearby lot. The fleet is managed by the company, so the car condition and pickup process tend to be more uniform than on a peer to peer marketplace. That uniformity matters when you book for work or for a family trip and do not want surprises.
Check whether Kyte serves your city and your exact pickup area, because coverage is the main limit. Delivery also needs planning, since you agree a window rather than grabbing a car on demand. For multi day rentals where convenience is worth a premium, Kyte is a strong Zipcar alternative, especially for people who would otherwise pay for a taxi to a rental branch.
What we like- Car delivered to your door or office
- Company managed fleet
- Daily and longer rentals
Watch out for- Limited city coverage compared with national rental brands
- Delivery windows may not suit last minute needs
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Flexcar answers a different question from hourly sharing. Instead of asking how to get a car for a few hours, it asks how to have a car for a month or longer without buying or leasing. The subscription model bundles costs that owners usually handle separately, which makes monthly budgeting simpler. It also suits people between cars, on a temporary work assignment, or waiting for a new car delivery.
Do the math before signing up. If you drive only a few days each month, hourly or daily options will usually cost less. Flexcar makes sense when you drive most days, need reliable access, and want to avoid a multi year lease. Confirm what is included in your city, including mileage, insurance terms, and swap rules, because plan details vary.
What we like- Monthly subscription with insurance and maintenance included in many plans
- Swap cars as needs change
- No long lease
Watch out for- Monthly cost can exceed hourly sharing for light users
- Vehicle choice depends on local stock
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Enterprise CarShare is the most direct replacement for Zipcar style use. You reserve a car by the hour or day, pick it up from a designated spot, and return it to the same spot. Fuel and insurance are typically part of the rate structure, though exact terms depend on the plan and location. Business accounts make it useful for teams that need occasional cars without managing a fleet.
The limit is geography. Enterprise CarShare does not cover every city where Zipcar operates, so it works best where a location sits near your home, office, or campus. It also suits drivers who prefer a company fleet over a private owner car. If you need one way trips, look elsewhere, because most CarShare bookings are round trip.
What we like- Closest model to Zipcar, with hourly booking
- Backed by a large rental company
- Business accounts available
Watch out for- Coverage is concentrated in selected cities and campuses
- Vehicle choice is narrower than Turo
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Sixt is a traditional rental company with a modern booking app, and it fits travelers who want a reliable car at an airport or in a major city. The fleet includes economy cars, SUVs, vans, and premium models, so it covers family trips and business travel better than a small sharing fleet. Sixt also operates in many countries, which helps if you travel abroad and want one familiar brand.
For short city errands, Sixt is usually less convenient than hourly sharing, because you book by the day and deal with a rental location. For a weekend away or a week long trip, the daily rate, larger fleet, and roadside support can outweigh that friction. Compare the total price, including insurance, mileage, and airport fees, rather than the headline daily rate alone.
What we like- Strong airport presence
- Premium and larger vehicles
- App based booking and pickup options in many locations
Watch out for- Prices rise sharply at peak times and popular airports
- Extra fees for young drivers and add ons
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Hertz suits drivers who value scale. With locations at most major airports and in many cities, it is easier to find a car on a busy travel weekend than with a small sharing service. Loyalty members can often skip the counter, which removes the worst part of traditional renting. The range covers small cars, SUVs, trucks, and luxury models, and one way rentals are widely available.
The downside is the classic rental experience. Prices move with demand, and add ons such as extra drivers, GPS, and child seats add up fast. Hertz works best as a Zipcar alternative for planned trips of a day or more, especially when you need to pick up in one city and drop off in another. Book early for holidays and check the fuel policy before you drive away.
What we like- Very large US and international network
- Loyalty program with faster pickup
- Wide vehicle range
Watch out for- Counter queues at busy airports
- Pricing and fees vary by location and season
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Avis is a practical pick for business travelers and anyone flying into a city and needing a car for several days. The booking process is familiar, one way trips are standard, and corporate programs help frequent travelers manage receipts and preferences. Avis also offers a range of vehicle classes, from economy to luxury, so a team can match the car to the trip rather than taking whatever a sharing lot has left.
Avis is not a like for like swap for hourly Zipcar use. Daily rates, location hours, and return rules make short errands awkward and often expensive. It earns its place here for longer trips, airport arrivals, and road travel, where fleet depth and national coverage matter more than hourly flexibility. Check for discounts through employers, clubs, or loyalty membership before paying the standard rate.
What we like- Strong airport and business travel network
- One way rentals
- Corporate and loyalty programs
Watch out for- Less suited to quick hourly errands
- Daily pricing can be costly for short trips
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
GIG Car Share, operated by AAA, solves the main frustration of round trip sharing. You pick up a car in one part of the home zone and leave it in another, which fits cross town trips, airport runs within the zone, and errands that do not end where they started. Pricing is typically per minute or per hour, so short trips stay affordable. The app handles booking, access, and payment, which keeps the process quick.
Coverage is the catch. GIG operates in a limited set of cities, and trips outside the home zone are restricted. If you live inside a served area, it is one of the closest experiences to Zipcar with added one way freedom. If you travel often or live outside those zones, pair it with a national rental brand for longer trips.
What we like- One way trips within a home zone
- App based access
- No need to return to the starting point
Watch out for- Limited to selected cities and zones
- Fleet size is smaller than national rental brands
How we chose
We compared fleet owned sharing services, peer to peer marketplaces, monthly subscriptions, and traditional rental companies, because Zipcar users switch for different reasons. Some want hourly city cars, others want a specific car for a trip, and others want a car for a month. We checked each service for current US availability, booking model, vehicle range, and pricing structure from vendor pages and recent comparison coverage, and we left out services that shut down US operations, including Getaround in the United States.
What to check before you switch
Price alone does not settle this choice. A low hourly rate can hide mileage charges, while a higher daily rate can include fuel, insurance, and roadside help. Start with trip length. Hourly sharing fits errands under a day. Daily rentals fit weekends and holidays. Monthly subscriptions fit near daily driving.
Coverage in your area
Check the map for your home, office, and frequent destinations. A service with a great app is useless if its cars sit across town. Look at lot locations, home zones, delivery areas, and airport availability.
Total cost, not the headline rate
Add membership fees, delivery fees, mileage overage, fuel policy, insurance, and young driver surcharges. For peer to peer rentals, add trip fees and protection plan costs. A short test booking, stopped before payment, often reveals fees that marketing pages omit.
Insurance and mileage
Confirm what liability and damage cover is included and what deductible applies. Peer to peer protection tiers vary widely, and traditional rentals often push extra cover at the counter. Mileage limits matter most on road trips, so check the daily allowance and the per mile charge beyond it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Turo a good Zipcar alternative?
Turo is a good alternative when you want a specific car for a day or longer and you plan ahead. It is less suited to instant hourly errands, because you book a host car rather than walking to a nearby fleet car. Check mileage, fees, and host rules before confirming.
What is the closest service to Zipcar?
Enterprise CarShare is the closest in model, with hourly bookings from designated spots and a company fleet. GIG Car Share is also close for one way city trips, but only in its served cities. Availability in your city decides which one is practical.
Can I use these services without owning a car?
Yes. All eight services are built for people without a car, though each requires a valid driving licence, a payment method, and in some cases a minimum age or driving history check. Peer to peer hosts and rental companies may set their own age and eligibility rules.
Are Zipcar alternatives cheaper than owning a car?
They can be, if you drive infrequently. Hourly and daily costs add up fast for daily commuters, while ownership costs include insurance, maintenance, parking, and depreciation. Monthly subscriptions sit between the two, so compare your real driving days per month.
Do I need a membership for these services?
Turo, Kyte, Sixt, Hertz, Avis, and GIG generally let you book without a long term membership, though loyalty programs are optional. Enterprise CarShare and Flexcar use membership or subscription models, so read the plan terms before joining.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.turo.com
- https://www.kyte.com
- https://www.flexcar.com
- https://www.enterprisecarshare.com
- https://www.sixt.com
- https://www.hertz.com
- https://www.avis.com
- https://www.gigcarshare.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.