Taxi apps have become an integral part of our lives, haven’t they? Be it reaching our offices on time or going out on a casual trip, we prefer taxis to self-driving because of the comfort they offer. But one of the significant turnarounds in the taxi industry happened with the advent of Uber. People were feeling more comfortable and safe with taxi apps. We needn’t wait for taxis or bargain with drivers. In simpler terms, rides and lives were made simple!
The ship was cruising smoothly until COVID-19 happened. The catastrophic damage has brought it to a standstill. But people are returning to the ‘new’ normal, and it undisputedly involves taxi rides. Safety is paramount, but so is the economy. With researchers suggesting that the Coronavirus might become endemic, several nations have initiated the reconstruction phase.
In this blog, let’s look at the top 10 popular ride-sharing apps worldwide. Besides, we’ll also shed light on survival strategies that can be adopted by an entrepreneur who aspires to develop a ride-sharing app.
Here’s a list of top 10 on-demand taxi apps
1. Uber
When you talk about taxi apps, you can never take Uber out of the picture. A pioneer in the online taxi and transportation industry, Uber has expanded its operations over 630 cities across the globe. With over 7 million active drivers, Uber is, by far, the benchmark for other taxi apps. Uber comes with distinctive features and functionalities, including
- Instant sharing of ride details
- Fare splitting options
- Sync user calendars etc.
Not to mention the fact that Uber was valued at $82 billion by mid-2019.
2. Lyft
One of the greatest competitors of Uber, Lyft, is the second-largest carpooling service provider based on the ridership volume. This US-based giant provides services over 600 cities in the US and Canada. One notable talking point about Lyft is that its driver verification process is much more regulated than Uber. Some of the stand-apart aspects of Lyft includes,
- DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) checks for drivers
- Autonomous riding facility
- Generate ride reports etc.
Lyft had ventured into the bike-sharing sector as well and has gained reasonable success.
3. Gett
People in the UK and Israel are well-acquainted with the Gett app. Gett registered a firm position in the ride-sharing market by offering rides at economical prices. Operating at over 100 cities in Europe, Gett is considered to provide services on-par with Uber and Lyft. Some of the notable aspects of Gett includes,
- Reasonable fares
- Tipping option for drivers
- Schedule rides well-in-advance, etc.
Although Gett has terminated its services in the US recently due to regulation issues, the platform has partnered with Lyft to aid its US customer base.
4. Curb
This US-based taxi app registers a place in customers’ smartphones by the fact it never charges surge pricing fees. Spread across 65 cities in the US, the taxi platform was acquired by Verifone Systems, a company that focuses on electronic payment services. Curb is known for,
- Fully-insured drivers
- Attractive referral codes
- Avail wheelchair accessible vehicles, etc.
At present, Curb has more than 50,000 fleets under its belt.
5. Grab
If you are from South-East Asia, you’ll inevitably know the popularity of Grab. This Singapore-based startup has gained a firm position among the target audience of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. Grab later turned into a ‘Super App,’ culminating multiple services into a single app. Grab is best known for,
- Efficient vehicle sharing system
- Instant fare and time estimation
- Affordable prices, etc.
Within just five years since its launch, Grab turned out to be the largest ride-hailing platform of South-East Asia.
6. Wingz
What started off as simple airport rides initially later transformed into around-town rides, as well. Wingz lets users schedule taxi rides from airports two months prior without any hidden charges. Besides, unlike many taxi apps, the platform enables users to pick drivers from the available ones. Some of the significant facets of Wingz include,
- Advanced scheduling
- No hidden charges
- Pick and favorite drivers, etc.
The San Francisco-based startup is currently operating in 22 airports and 16 metro areas.
7. Ola
This Indian-based platform surpassed Uber in the Indian subcontinent. The taxi platform is considered one of the most rapidly-growing startups in India. With over 450,000 vehicles spread across 65 countries, Ola has gained a significant share in India’s taxi market. Some worth-mentioning functionalities of Ola include,
- In-app wallet
- Free Wifi
- Lucrative offers and discounts etc.
The ride-sharing platform manages to clock 1 billion rides annually.
8. Bridj
For people looking for top-class comfort rides, Bridj offers 14-seat luxury shuttles with leather seating. The platform connects people who are heading towards the same destinations. This way, the app plays a significant role in reducing the overall time of travel. Bridj is best known for multiple aspects like,
- Pick-up from central points based on customers
- Onboard Wifi
- Convenient rides, etc.
One interesting fact about Bridj is that it was established by Chicago & Washington DC transportation department head, Gabe Klein.
9. Via
For people looking for carpooling services, Via can be their one-stop destination. The platform is currently extending its services to 20 countries worldwide. One of the significant advantages of Via is that you’ll get a cab ride 24×7. Some of the noticeable aspects include,
- Reasonable cab fares
- Carpooling
- Time-conserving rides, etc.
To gain a stronghold of the New York market, Via has joined hands with Curb in the region.
10. Juno
One of the most preferred ride-sharing apps for drivers is Juno. This enhanced preference is because the platform levies only a 10% commission rate compared to Uber’s 30%. The app operates with more 30,000 drivers in New York. The app is known for significant aspects like,
- Reduced pick-up time
- Multiple ride options
- In-app tipping, etc.
The platform’s motto, ‘After all, a happy driver, means a happy rider’ can inspire numerous entrepreneurs to reduce their commission rates.
Survive the COVID-19 pandemic with your taxi booking app
These are tough times for the taxi and transportation industry. The graph has experienced a steep decline ever since the lockdown norms were announced. However, the taxi market is everlasting. It will regain its lost market once things return to normal. Some of the strategies you can adopt to enhance your Uber Clone app’s sustainability include,
- SaaS model: Instead of opting for the traditional aggregator model, you can prevail in the pandemic with the Software as a Service (SaaS) model. By renting out your software to public transit agencies, you can gain a steady income until the situation stabilizes.
- Corporate rides: Specific organizations may still need people to appear at offices. You can join hands with those corporate firms and offer them hassle-free and safe rides.
- Autonomous cars: If you own a car rental agency, you can introduce autonomous vehicles. By eliminating drivers from the ecosystem, the chances of disease transmission are reduced to a considerable extent.
Summing up,
There has always been a neck-to-neck competition in the taxi industry. Entrepreneurs, looking to develop a ride-sharing app of their own, need to analyze their competitors. Strategies like the SaaS model, renting or leasing cars, etc., can help taxi apps survive the pandemic. This is the ideal time to sharpen your axes as the situation is returning to normalcy. Introduce your Uber Clone app with the perfect safety standards, and take your rivals by storm.
