When it comes to ride services, Uber and Lyft are considered two of the biggest contenders in the market. Both companies provide convenient, on-demand transport services to millions of users around the world.
But when it comes to choosing between the two, which service stands out? Let’s take a deep dive and compare Uber vs Lyft to find out which ride service comes out on top.
At the most basic level, both Uber and Lyft offer ride-hailing services. Both companies enable riders to quickly and conveniently book rides through user-friendly apps.
Of course, there are a few differences that are worth mentioning. For starters, Uber has been around for much longer — it was founded in 2009, compared to Lyft’s launch in 2012.
Uber is also known for its car-pooling service, UberPool, while Lyft has a similar service called Lyft Line.
Overall, since both companies provide a similar service, choosing one over the other comes down to what matters most to the user.
Uber
When it comes to user convenience, Uber has two services which stand out.
First, UberRush. UberRush is a service that allows customers to order products on demand. In major cities, customers can order food, shopping, and more and have it delivered right to their door.
The second service is UberPool. UberPool is Uber’s car-pooling option, which enables riders to share a ride with up to three other riders traveling along the same route. This is especially useful for riders looking for a more affordable option.
In addition to convenience, Uber has some other points that make it stand out. Uber riders can track their drivers in real time so they can estimate the time it will take for their ride to arrive.
Uber also offers discounts for disabled users, seniors, and people from certain low-income areas.
Lyft
Similar to Uber, Lyft offers popular ride-hailing services. Lyft also has a car-pooling option, Lyft Line, and is also rolling out a product delivery service called Lyft Direct which, like Uber’s UberRush, will enable customers to order products and have them delivered right to their door.
Unlike Uber, Lyft provides more personalization options including the ability to customize the color of your requested vehicle with the preset options.
Perhaps the most attractive feature Lyft offers is the ability to tip drivers in-app. Unlike Uber, Lyft encourages customers to tip their drivers and makes it easy to do so, allowing drivers to earn more.
Moreover, Lyft also offers a premium service which allows customers to request high-end vehicles for their ride.
Pricing
When it comes down to it, cost is a major factor when choosing a ride service.
Let’s compare pricing between Uber and Lyft.
The base fare for Uber is $2.55 with an additional $1.45/mile and $0.25/minute. However, prices can fluctuate with surge pricing — higher fares during peak times.
Lyft’s base fare is slightly lower at $2.00, with an additional $1.05/mile and $0.20/minute. Lyft also uses surge pricing, but it appears to be considerably less than Uber.
Safety
Safety is perhaps the most important factor for riders, so when comparing Uber vs Lyft it’s essential to consider the security measures each offers.
Uber has improved its driver screening process over the years. All drivers must pass an extensive background check as well as meet certain safety requirements such as having a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
Uber also partners with local law enforcement agencies in select cities to provide additional security measures.
Lyft also runs a rigorous background check on all of its drivers and offers in-app emergency support. In addition, Lyft requires that all drivers have an updated photo in the app and offers real-time ride tracking so users can monitor their ride.
When it comes to Uber vs Lyft, both companies offer convenient and reliable ridesharing services.
If customer convenience is the most important factor, Uber provides two major services — UberPool and UberRush — that set it apart.
Uber also has more discounts and promotions than Lyft.
In terms of cost, Lyft has a lower base fare than Uber but both companies use surge pricing, so depending on the time it could be more expensive to take an Uber or a Lyft.
In terms of safety, both companies take extra measures to make sure riders are secure.
At the end of the day, choosing between Uber and Lyft depends on what matters most to the user — convenience, cost, safety, or some other factor.