Back to subscription companies

Important 
Onto has entered administration and doesn't currently accept new customers.
Elmo is also not currently accepting new customers.

Onto vs elmo: What’s the best car subscription service in 2023?

Getting a car on subscription makes driving hassle-free. But when you’re depending on a third party service to provide your car — along with servicing and insurance — it’s important to choose the right car subscription provider. Onto and elmo are two of the most popular electric car subscription services in 2023 — so which one is best?

We’ve compared the features, costs, cars, usability, and customer reviews of the two car subscription competitors, so you can choose the service that best suits you.

Onto vs elmo: which car subscription service is best for you?

About Onto

Onto describes itself as an all-inclusive car subscription service — and it’s almost true. With breakdown cover, insurance, servicing, and charging included, the only thing you’ll need to pay extra for is car delivery and collection.

Onto only provides electric cars on subscription. So if you want to try an EV before you buy one, Onto is a great choice — especially since you can return the car with just 7 days’ notice. 

With a large range of cars to choose from, Onto is a popular choice with new EV drivers. You can test drive a Tesla, or choose a nippy city car like the Renault Zoe if you don’t need as much range. Cars are categorised into tiers, with lower tier cars typically being more affordable than high tier cars. Additional mileage rates vary depending on your car tier.

With a monthly commitment, 7-day cancellation period, and many different EVs to choose from, Onto is an excellent car subscription service for anyone who’s new to electric cars.

About elmo

elmo is a great Onto alternative as they also specialise in electric car subscriptions. While most costs are included — such as breakdown cover, car insurance, and servicing — there are a few additional costs to be aware of. You’ll pay a one-off delivery fee of £119 (additional fee may apply for Scotland). Also, elmo also has slightly stricter eligibility criteria than Onto.

Despite the additional costs, elmo is ideal if you want a personalised car subscription, rather than an out-of-the-box service. They offer two packages: elmoFlex and elmoSave. elmoFlex is slightly more expensive, but offers greater customisation, while elmoSave ties you into a longer term contract (minimum 12 months) but costs less. You can also see "Available from..." dates. This is great for those who want a specific vehicle, and want to know when they will be able to get it.

Be sure to check out our breakdown of electric vehicle tariffs currently available in the UK.

These add-ons make elmo a great Onto alternative for slightly more experienced EV drivers. Investing in a charge point and signing up for 6-12 month subscriptions can be more economical if you’re committed to switching to an electric car.

What’s unique about Onto?

The Onto app

Your smartphone is the key to your Onto car. You’ll use the Onto app to unlock, start, and stop your electric car, as well as find nearby charging points and check your car’s battery level. Some cars also allow you to pre-heat them or open the bonnet using the app.

Free charging

EV charging is one of the biggest ongoing expenses of driving an electric car — so free charging is a huge plus point for Onto over the alternatives. Free charging is available at 12,000+ charging points with an Onto car subscription.

What’s unique about elmo?

Physical car key included

elmo is a good Onto alternative for drivers who want to use a physical key with their car. This is ideal for drivers who don't want to rely on their phone to start their car, or for those whose operating system isn’t supported by the Onto app.

Customisable packages

While these added extras come at a cost, elmo’s customisable packages offer greater flexibility than Onto’s one-size-fits-all approach. Drivers who want to personalise their car subscription have more options with elmo.

Onto vs elmo: customer reviews and support

Customer support is crucial for any car subscription service. Drivers rely on the service provider for breakdown support, servicing, insurance claims, and all kinds of other queries. Here’s a breakdown of the customer support levels you can expect from Onto vs elmo.

Customer support access

Both service providers have extensive help pages and FAQs online, so you may find all the answers you need on the Onto or elmo site. If you do have further questions, elmo also has a phone number and a live website chat for general enquiries. Onto also has a 24/7 phone number, though this is a little tricky to find on their website. Their online messaging/email system is much more accessible. You can also get support through the Onto app.

Both Onto and elmo provide emergency phone numbers you can call to report accidents, breakdowns, and problems with your car. elmo also has a thorough, easily accessible emergency guide on its website.

What customers are saying

As of February 2023, Onto and elmo’s Trustpilot scores are:

• Onto: 4.0 (2,513 reviews) — 66% Excellent
• elmo: 4.5 (241 reviews) — 83% Excellent

While elmo’s reviews are better overall, both elmo’s and Onto’s customer service levels seem to be rated similarly in customer reviews. Recent excellent reviews for Onto commend the all-inclusive nature of their service, though there is some criticism of unexpected damage charges when the car is returned. Elmo’s recent Excellent reviews praise their efficiency and professionalism. Their negative reviews report a more complex booking process.

Which car subscription provider should you choose?

Choosing a car subscription provider often comes down to the details. Here are the key comparison points between Onto vs elmo.

Features

Onto and elmo’s features are very similar: they both specialise in providing electric cars on subscription. They both offer low-commitment monthly subscriptions, and include all the major expenses associated with driving a car: insurance, servicing, and breakdown cover.

However, there is some variation in the flagship features of each company. elmo offers greater flexibility (though the cost of these added extras can quickly escalate). Their commitment to sustainable driving is also sure to win points with EV drivers. Onto’s innovative app is great for tech-minded drivers, but it's the free charging that gives them the edge.

Cost

Onto doesn’t offer many bolt-ons — which means they genuinely offer an all-inclusive service. As an elmo alternative, their monthly prices tend to be more expensive, but you won’t pay anything more than the original price quoted (except a fee for car delivery and collection). You’ll also get free charging, saving you money each time you need to refuel.

elmo, meanwhile, has quite a few customisation options, as well as a first-time admin fee. Without free charging, your elmo car subscription has the potential to be more expensive than the cost you first see. But if you choose not to opt for any of the added extras, elmo is often much cheaper than Onto — especially if you select an elmoSave plan.

Available cars

elmo currently has more than twice as many cars listed on their site than Onto (60 vs 25 as of November 2022). However, not all elmo’s cars are available immediately — many are listed as coming soon, so you may not actually be able to get behind the wheel of your chosen car for a few weeks.

Onto’s helpful availability checker allows you to see which cars are available near you right now.In terms of brands, Onto and elmo offer a similar range. Teslas are available from both providers, as well as various hatchbacks, SUVs, and estates. There’s not a lot in it, but elmo has a slight edge, thanks to its greater range of available cars.

Usability

The Onto app has a range of features designed to make managing your car subscription really easy. You can track your battery usage, find nearby chargers, report car damage, and start your car — all from your smartphone. It may not be for everyone, but it’s certainly great for usability.

elmo’s website offers a lot, but ultimately you’ll need to use specific EV apps to find charging stations, and a physical key to unlock and start your car. It’s what we’re used to, but it’s not as streamlined as Onto’s app-based approach to EV driving.

Customer reviews

elmo wins this round thanks to its higher Trustpilot rating and easy access to help guides and support. While Onto seems to offer similar service levels to its competitor, their support access is a little trickier to navigate.