I ride hire e-bikes around London most days, and the question I get asked more than any other is whether LimePrime is actually worth paying for. Lime now has three ways to pay on top of pay as you go: LimePrime (a monthly subscription), LimePass (a one-off bundle of minutes) and Lime Access (discounted rides if you hold certain travel cards). Forest and Voi both have their own subscriptions too.
So here’s the maths, with real commutes, so you can see which one saves you money.
All prices below are from the Lime, Forest and Voi apps, last checked in September 2026. Prices change every so often, so check the app before you sign up.
What Is LimePrime?
LimePrime is Lime’s monthly subscription. In London it costs £6.99 a month, and while you’re subscribed:
- Every ride up to 20 minutes costs a flat £1.70
- Rides up to 5 minutes cost just £1
- Unlocks are free (normally £1)
- You can reserve a bike for up to 30 minutes for free
It renews automatically every month until you cancel.
Lime Bike Cost Without a Subscription
To see whether LimePrime pays off, you need the normal price first. Pay as you go on a Lime e-bike is £1 to unlock, then 33p a minute.
- 5 minutes: £2.65
- 10 minutes: £4.30
- 20 minutes: £7.60
- 30 minutes: £10.90
My full guide to Lime bike costs in London has the scooter prices and how parking works.
When Does LimePrime Pay for Itself?
It comes down to how long your rides are and how many you take a month.
- 20 minute rides: you save £5.90 on every ride (£7.60 down to £1.70), so LimePrime pays for itself on your second ride of the month.
- 10 minute rides: you save £2.60 a ride (£4.30 down to £1.70), so it pays for itself on your third ride.
- 5 minute rides: you save £1.65 a ride (£2.65 down to £1), so it pays for itself on your fifth ride.
If you ride Lime more than a handful of times a month, LimePrime is worth it. If you only ride once or twice a month, stick with pay as you go or a LimePass.
LimePrime vs LimePass: What’s the Difference?
This is where people get confused, because the names are so similar.
LimePrime: a monthly subscription. You pay £6.99 every month and get cheaper rides, free unlocks and free reservations for as long as you stay subscribed.
LimePass: a one-off bundle of minutes you buy upfront, with no unlock fee. It doesn’t renew, and any minutes you don’t use by the deadline expire. The current LimePass options in London are:
- 30 minutes for £4.59, use within 1 day (15.30p a minute)
- 60 minutes for £7.69, use within 3 days (12.82p a minute)
- 200 minutes for £19.94, use within 7 days (9.97p a minute)
- 400 minutes for £36.99, use within 30 days (9.25p a minute)
Which is cheaper: on a 20 minute ride, LimePrime works out at 8.5p a minute (£1.70 for 20 minutes), which beats even the biggest LimePass at 9.25p a minute. Neither charges an unlock fee. LimePass suits you better if you only ride now and then, if you want a day of riding without a subscription, or if your rides are usually longer than 20 minutes.
Lime Access: Discounted Lime Rides
Lime Access is Lime’s affordability programme. It gives you discounted Lime rides if you hold one of these passes in London:
- 18+ Student Oyster card
- Apprentice Oyster card
- 60+ London Oyster card
- Freedom Pass (including the Disabled Persons Freedom Pass)
- Veterans Oyster photocard
- Jobcentre Plus Travel Card
- Blue Light Card (for emergency service workers)
- NUS or university student card
- National Disability Card or National Carers Card
There are a few more on Lime’s Lime Access page, including the Wandsworth Access for All card and the Southwark Presents Card.
How to apply for the Lime Access program: fill in the form on that page with the email and phone number from your Lime account, then upload your pass and a photo ID (a passport, photocard driving licence or CitizenCard all work). Lime then checks your application.
Lime doesn’t publish the size of the discount on its website.
LimePrime vs Forest FLEX vs Voi+
Lime isn’t the only one with a subscription. Here’s how the three compare.
LimePrime: £6.99 a month, then £1.70 for rides up to 20 minutes (£1 up to 5 minutes), with no unlock fee.
Forest FLEX (beta): £6.99 a month, then every ride is 30 minutes for £1.70 or 10 minutes for £1, with no unlock fee.
Voi+: £2.99 a month, then £1.70 for rides up to 20 minutes, free reservations up to 30 minutes and free pauses up to 10 minutes. Voi doesn’t charge an unlock fee on any ride.
Forest also has Forest PLUS at £69.99 a month for 1,200 minutes, which is aimed at people who ride a lot. My Forest bikes guide covers Forest prices in full, including the free minutes on many bikes, and my Voi guide has all of Voi’s bundles.
Real Commutes: Which Plan Is Cheapest?
Here’s what a month of commuting costs, riding there and back 20 days a month (40 rides). The Forest pay as you go figures assume the bike has no free minutes attached.
20 minutes each way:
- Lime pay as you go: £304
- Forest pay as you go: £304
- Voi pay as you go: £216
- LimePrime: £74.99
- Forest FLEX: £74.99
- Voi+: £70.99
10 minutes each way:
- Lime pay as you go: £172
- Forest pay as you go: £172
- Voi pay as you go: £108
- LimePrime: £74.99
- Voi+: £70.99
- Forest FLEX: £46.99
30 minutes each way: pay as you go is £436 on Lime or Forest and £324 on Voi. Forest FLEX is the only subscription where a 30 minute ride is still inside the flat £1.70 fare, so it’s £74.99 for the month. On LimePrime and Voi+, anything over 20 minutes goes onto a per-minute rate.
Forest free minutes: many Forest bikes come with 1 to 30 free minutes. If the bike you pick has enough free minutes for your whole ride, pay as you go costs just the £1 unlock, which beats every subscription here. You can’t count on finding one every day, though.
The takeaway: for a typical 20 minute commute, all three subscriptions cost about the same, and Voi+ edges it because the monthly fee is lower. For short hops, Forest FLEX wins. Any of them is a huge saving on pay as you go. If you’re choosing between the two biggest operators, my Lime vs Forest comparison goes into coverage and bikes as well as price.
Verdict: Is LimePrime Worth It?
Yes, if you ride Lime more than a few times a month. On 20 minute rides it pays for itself by your second ride, and on a daily commute it takes the monthly cost from around £300 down to about £75. If Lime is the bike you find most often near you, it’s an easy yes.
If you only ride occasionally, a LimePass or pay as you go makes more sense. And if you hold a Freedom Pass, Student Oyster, 60+ Oyster or one of the other eligible cards, apply for Lime Access first.
FAQs
What is LimePrime?
LimePrime is Lime’s monthly subscription. In London it’s £6.99 a month for £1.70 rides up to 20 minutes, £1 rides up to 5 minutes, free unlocks and free 30 minute reservations.
Is LimePrime worth it?
If you ride Lime more than a few times a month, yes. A single 20 minute ride on pay as you go costs £7.60, so LimePrime pays for itself by your second ride.
What’s the difference between LimePrime and a Lime Pass?
LimePrime is a monthly subscription that gives you cheaper rides for as long as you’re subscribed. A LimePass is a one-off bundle of minutes with no unlock fee, from 30 minutes for £4.59 up to 400 minutes for £36.99, and unused minutes expire.
Is there a Lime bike subscription?
Yes, that’s LimePrime, Lime’s monthly subscription. It costs £6.99 a month in London.
How do I cancel LimePrime?
Open the Lime app, go to the Wallet page and cancel in the LimePrime section. Do it at least a day before your next billing date to avoid being charged for another month. You keep your LimePrime benefits until the end of the month you’ve paid for.
Who can get Lime Access?
Anyone who holds an eligible pass, such as a Freedom Pass, 18+ Student Oyster, 60+ Oyster, Apprentice Oyster, Jobcentre Plus Travel Card, Blue Light Card, student card, or the National Disability or Carers Card. You apply on Lime’s website with your pass and a photo ID.
How much are Forest bikes?
Forest pay as you go is £1 to unlock, then 33p a minute, with 1 to 30 free minutes on many bikes. Forest FLEX is £6.99 a month for 30 minute rides at £1.70.
