A rideshare company connects passengers with transportation for hire via an app or website. Ridesharing is typically thought of as getting a ride in someone’s private car that they drive, but the term now encompasses other forms of electronic ride-hailing or transportation booked via an app.
“In our industry, it’s also been called e-hailing because it’s like hailing a taxi electronically,” Jason Gross, vice president, head of mobile at Curb, told Built In. “And then some people call it ride-hailing.”
Whatever you want to call it, the point is that the application will connect the rider with the closest vehicle to get them from point A to point B.
Below, we list 15 rideshare companies leading the way.
Rideshare Companies to Know
- Uber
- Lyft
- ARRO
- Via
- Hitch
- Curb
- Flywheel
- Wingz
- Gett
- Grab
Top Rideshare Companies
Uber is the largest ridesharing company. It also offers a variety of mobility solutions including Uber Eats for food delivery, Uber Connect for same-day deliveries and Uber Business. Uber has committed to becoming a fully electric, zero-emission platform by 2040, with 100 percent of rides taking place in zero-emission vehicles, on public transit or with micro-mobility.
- Notable benefits: Variety of delivery services; its Uber One membership program offers food and grocery discounts; covers over 10,000 cities across 70 countries.
Lyft is a rideshare company that offers users access to a wide range of car types for rides. Lyft also offers bike and scooter rentals and rental car services, as well as Lyft Business for companies. Lyft Pink is the company’s transportation membership for all of its rideshare, car, bike and scooter services. For $9.99 a month, riders get priority pick-up, minimum 5 percent discounts, relaxed cancellations and other benefits.
- Notable benefits: Connects users to different forms of transport; Lyft Pink provides benefits like priority pickup; driver bonuses during peak times and in busy areas.
ARRO is a taxi app that provides a fare estimate, route preview and an ETA for the nearest available driver. At the end of a trip, the fare is paid automatically in the app. Passengers can also pay for cab rides using the ARRO app even if they hailed the taxi the old-fashioned way. They can enter a seven-digit check-in code from the taxi’s screen and automatically pay in the ARRO app. ARRO is available in New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Houston, Miami and London.
- Notable benefits: No surge pricing; wheelchair-accessible vehicle option; drivers are locally licensed and trained for safety.
Via works with over 600 global partners to help users find convenient transit options in their local areas. The company’s software can find cars and other vehicles that meet the needs of specific customers, who select their preferred ride in the Via app. Clients can also work with Via to design static routes that meet the needs of specialized audiences, including college students, health patients and those living with disabilities.
- Notable benefits: Offers a range of travel options; caters to groups like students and people with disabilities; operates in over 50 countries with a strong presence in the United States.
Hitch connects riders and drivers headed to the same city. Hitch riders get pick-up and drop-off services near their desired locations, and Hitch Premier customers get door-to-door drop-offs. Hitch rides can be scheduled up to 60 days in advance, and all drivers are background checked and required to drive vehicles no older than 2012 or smaller than a four-door sedan. Hitch provides rides in Texas, Oklahoma and Florida.
- Notable benefits: Door-to-door drop-offs with Premier plan; supports inter-city travel; drivers are screened for safety; users can schedule trips up to 60 days in advance.
Curb is a taxi-hailing app that enables riders to hail, pre-schedule and pay for their cabs. Curb riders can also pay for a cab they hailed on the street through the app’s “Pair and Pay” feature. Passengers will be driven by licensed and insured professional taxi drivers. Curb also provides fleet management services — offering payment solutions, digital meters and dispatch management for taxi companies — as well as Taxi TV for in-car entertainment and marketing.
- Notable benefits: No surge pricing; drivers are required to have a TLC license; option to request rides in advance; users can pay in-app for cabs they hailed on the street.
Flywheel is a taxi-hailing platform where riders can hail, track and pay for trips in one app. Vetted, professional drivers pick up passengers. Flywheel Business offers service for fleet partners, as well as logistics management for corporate partners. Flywheel Government provides regulators with access to data and advanced analytics about taxis, and Flywheel Foods provides restaurants with food delivery services. Flywheel operates in San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale, Washington, D.C., and Houston.
- Notable benefits: Riders can hail taxis in the app and in the street; drivers are vetted for safety; flat fee for food deliveries.
Wingz lets riders book private, scheduled and fixed-price rides. Wingz focuses on airport rides and provides scheduled, personalized rides for those in senior facilities. In addition, drivers must undergo health and safety training and are equipped with health and sanitation gear by the company. Compliance with these health precautions and CDC guidelines is a must for Wingz drivers. Wingz operates in 11 metro areas and at 19 airports in the U.S.
- Notable benefits: Users can book rides months in advance; flat rates and no surge pricing; drivers are required to follow health and CDC guidelines.
Gett is a corporate ground transportation management platform. It aggregates more than 2,000 existing transportation providers, including corporate fleets, ride-hailing companies, taxis and limos, into one platform. Gett offers 24/7 support and real-time tracking. Gett in central London gives the option to select electric cars for every ride, and with a ‘ride greener’ option, riders can donate to environmental charity projects. The company’s ultimate sustainability goal is to achieve zero emissions by 2027.
- Notable benefits: Offers electric car rides; ‘ride greener’ option lets riders donate to environmental charities; drivers are fully licensed.
Grab is a ridesharing app with a strong presence in Singapore and Southeast Asia. With the app, customers can book quick taxi rides, private car rides for up to six passengers, larger carpools and premium rides for business executives. The company also offers services catered to food and grocery orders. And those seeking to deliver packages can ship items between one pound and 110 pounds through GrabExpress.
- Notable benefits: Offers various services from rideshare to delivery; users can choose between different rideshare options; users can track rides and their ride history.
DiDi provides ridesharing services in China, starting with its standard Didi Hitch service. Didi Select provides a more private experience and comes with higher-end vehicle options. However, riders can choose the Didi Express Carpool option to share a ride for a reduced rate. For riders who want a premium option, DiDi Luxe promises rides in higher-end vehicles driven by the company’s own chauffeurs.
- Notable benefits: Cost-efficient and higher-end rideshare options; drivers undergo background checks for safety; offers services in 15 countries.
zTrip is a rideshare app offering pre-scheduling for rides and no surge pricing, plus 24/7 support. Customers can also personalize their experience by leaving notes in the app before pickup, selecting their favorite driver as their preferred driver and paying for their ride with cash or another payment option. zTrip operates in cities across the U.S. from Albuquerque east to Baltimore.
- Notable benefits: No surge pricing; users can save favorite drivers; users can select the type of vehicle they prefer; users can input driver instructions when booking a ride.
BlaBlaCar offers a carpooling service in the United Kingdom and a bus service connecting travelers to over 300 European cities, including popular destinations like Amsterdam and Paris. Users can book a ride via a mobile app or the company’s website, with the option to schedule a trip months in advance. In addition, BlaBlaCar checks profiles and online reviews to ensure its drivers and bus partners deliver a smooth experience.
- Notable benefits: Users can travel to more than 300 European cities via bus; users can schedule trips in advance; drivers and bus partners are screened.
Cabify is a rideshare service in Spain and Iberoamerica. Users can select from a variety of ride options, including classic rides, high-end cars, cars friendly to those with limited mobility and cars with child seats. Cabify also tracks each trip, lets users send their location to a trusted contact and provides a safety button in case of emergencies, giving users extra peace of mind while on the go.
- Notable benefits: Users can choose from many vehicle options; safety button connects users to emergency services; company is carbon neutral.
Scoop develops carpooling networks, connecting riders and drivers headed in the same direction on its app. Once users enter their pickup or driver info, Scoop’s algorithm determines the optimal route based on nearby carpoolers and travel information. If plans fall through, users can get reimbursed for Lyft rides as a backup. The app works well for individuals, but businesses and healthcare systems can also work with Scoop to provide their employees with a sustainable and reliable method of transportation.
- Notable benefits: Occasional promotions are offered; Lyft rides are reimbursed as backup options; plans cater to employees at the same companies and healthcare systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular ridesharing company?
While Uber is the largest ridesharing company in the world, the most popular ridesharing company can vary by region. For example, Uber may capture 70 percent of the U.S. ride-sharing market, but Grab dominates Southeast Asia with a 73 percent market share.
Are there alternatives to Uber and Lyft?
Alternatives to Uber and Lyft include ridesharing companies like Curb, Via, Wingz and Flywheel.
