Only a few years ago, hailing a ride meant standing on a street corner, waving your arms and whistling for a taxi that you could only hope would stop. The boom of the “rideshare industry,” has changed everything. Trailblazers Uber and Lyft are the rideshare industry leaders and each offers a compelling product.
Both companies are privately held, headquartered in San Francisco and use custom apps to connect passengers with drivers. Each company also offers 24-7 on-demand services with only a few minutes of waiting time.
Uber dominates the space currently with cars servicing 250 cities in 53 countries while Lyft only covers 65 US cities in 30 states, according to Investopedia. In smaller cities, however, it might prove more difficult to obtain a ride during off-hours from either company.
Reputation is important to both services, and they utilize a rating system to keep their drivers on point. Too many low ratings will cause a driver to be ousted from either company.
Difficult passengers also might find themselves without a ride if they receive bad scores from drivers. Regardless, the goal of these businesses is to match you with a driver through the app’s GPS as quickly as possible.
This is where the main similarities stop. The corporations have developed rideshare personalities as diverse as their passengers. To decide which company is the best might depend upon your comfort level when hopping inside a stranger’s car and what you perceive as comfortable. As the saying goes, it is about the journey more than the destination.
The company name means exceeding the limits of its kind or class. So if it is class you want, then Uber is your best choice. Their professional drivers consist of many ex-cabbies dressed in more formal attire as they open your door or load your luggage. You can slide inside the back seat without much further interaction with the driver.
Most Uber drivers, however, are friendly and willing to engage in conversation if you are in the mood to initiate it. Otherwise, you are generally able to just sit back and enjoy the ride without interruption.
Considered to be more relaxed and chummy, Lyft drivers want to be your easy-going buds who came out to give you a…lift. Its nonprofessional drivers are mostly regular folk who are there to create a welcoming and pleasant experience for you. The company has received recognition for designing a community that makes rideshare fun.
Passengers are encouraged to sit in front with their driver and chat. Part of Lyft’s strategy is to create trust among its users so to overcome the awkwardness of riding in an unfamiliar person’s vehicle.
Lyft has gone one step further in establishing a sense of ease by outfitting each car with a signature 5-inch pink “glowstache” displayed on the driver’s dashboard.
Advantage: Tie. Whether riding next to your new BFF or getting the VIP treatment, it’s good to have options for ride culture.
Like its drivers, the Uber app is more professional and formal in appearance, but it has some shortcomings. The sleek design only provides a thumb-sized driver photo and vehicle info, including license plate number (but no picture).
Some reviewers feel the interface is more difficult to use in requesting a driver. It is necessary to tap on the small arrow next to the desired choice and then tap the request button at the bottom.
The bright, cheerful layout sets the mood for the experience the company hopes to have in store for you. Drivers and travelers have the ability to add personal info into their profiles (such as music preferences) to help build a connection between them.
Once you confirm a selection, the driver’s name, rating and photos of himself and his car appear. The “single-step” method of tapping on the large “Request Lyft” button sends the driver on his way to you. The generous-sized photos make it easier to recognize the driver when he arrives.
Advantage: Lyft. It is easier to use and its happy design gives the impression that you’re in for a good ride. Also, the larger photos make it easier to see who is behind the wheel ahead of time.
Uber’s app displays the fare estimator and more accurate driver ETA. There is no wondering about your fare because Uber provides a prediction of the cost before you arrive at your stop.
Tips are not part of Uber’s ecosystem. Drivers are encouraged not to accept them and passengers are told not to tip their drivers, making the ride more affordable.
Unlike Uber, the Lyft app does not do the math for you on the trip’s cost. In fact, you won’t see the actual price until the ride is over. Additionally, you are expected to tip your drive when using Lyft’s service.
Advantage: Uber. The service not only provides more pricing information, but also discourages tipping. Beware that both companies charge extra for your ride during “prime” or “surge” times of high demand.
Cab companies and their outdated software paved the way for a new transportation model in Uber and Lyft. The convenience of pressing a Smartphone app button for a driver and then tracking the driver’s whereabouts are only some of the benefits.
As for which service is superior, that really depends on what you value the most.
