Uber is currently dominating the drive sharing market over the world. You may imagine Uber is the best because it is the biggest and gets the most press (albeit not all of that positive). But Lyft is no lightweight. Lyft reached half of Uber’s revenue by operating only inside the US. So clearly they are doing something right. Many drivers choose to work for both Uber and Lyft to earn more money, and they are both popular with. So how do we resolve the question of which is best? Or, if overall quality is similar, are there details in the execution that might make one preferable to the other for certain people or certain circumstances? Let’s start investigating the answer.
Lyft VS Uber: Sign-up bonus
Lyft vs Uber
Both Uber and Lyft offer sign-up bonuses for drivers and riders. But Lyft is offering up to $50 in free ride credit which is double that of Uber’s $25 free ride credit. The new driver bonus is same. Both drive sharing giants offering up to $1000 sign-up bonus for new drivers. And the terms are pretty similar – for both riders and drivers, the bonus amounts for both companies varies depending upon the city, and are subject to change over time.
Hot deal: Want to get up to $75 ($50 Lyft and $25 Uber) free ride credit? Open a rider account through my Lyft and Uber link to grab the offer. New drivers can earn up to $2000 ($1000 Lyft and $1000 Uber) sign-up bonus by registering through my Lyft and Uber referral link.
Note: Bonus amount varies with the cities for both companies. Drivers need to complete their cities required trips for the first month to get the sign-up bonus. Existing Uber drivers/riders aren’t eligible for the Uber sign-up bonus, and existing Lyft drivers/riders aren’t eligible for the Lyft sign-up bonus
Uber VS Lyft: Pricing
Uber and Lyft have different fares based on cities and services. But we found that both companies are offering essentially the same fare rates. Even the base fare is same for the main services. You can verify this for yourself by if you compare Uber’s fare estimate with Lyft for the same trip in your city.
Lyft vs Uber: Surge Pricing
Lyft vs Uber surge pricing
Both companies implement surge pricing to handle the high demand of ride requests during busy times. Uber calls it “Surging” and Lyft calls “Prime Time Shootout.” Uber’s surge amount can raise up to 700 percent base on demand where Lyft’s maximum Prime Time rate is only 200 percent. So, Uber’s surge pricing is great for drivers but not for passengers in the busiest areas/times. That means Lyft can be cheaper for riders at peak hours.
Uber app vs Lyft app
The functionality and User interface of the apps are about the same. Both apps are user-friendly, but the Lyft app allows the rider to get a better idea of the total costs of their ride. Additionally, the Lyft app has a feature that allows passengers to tip their drivers, which is absent from the Uber app.
Lyft vs Uber: coverage areas
Uber vs Lyft
Uber is available in 58 countries and 540 cities around the world and still expanding. Lyft is only available in 37 US states. Uber is a worldwide drive sharing service whereas Lyft is operating their service inside the US only.
Uber VS Lyft services
Uber has a variety of different car services where Lyft has only 4. Both Uber and Lyft services are based on budget and different requirements. You can get a decent idea about Different Uber and Lyft services from the table below:
| Uber | Lyft |
| UberX: Seats 4; Budget Sedan | Lyft: Seats 4 (Same as UberX) |
| UberXL: Seats 6+; Budget SUV | Lyft Plus: Seats 6+ (Same as UberXL) |
| UberSelect: Seats 4; Entry level luxury Sedan | Lyft Premiere: Seats 4; Luxury Sedan; Only available in LA, SF, NYC |
| UberPool: Ride-sharing service like Lyft Line. | Lyft Line: Least expensive; Passengers share ride with other passengers who are headed in the same direction (Same as UberPool) |
| UberBlack: Seats 4; Luxury Black Sedan. | |
| Uber SUV: Seats 6+; Luxury SUV | |
| Uber Lux: Seats 4; Most luxurious and glamorous Uber service | |
| Pedal: Seats 4; Car has a bike rack (Only available in Seattle and Portland) | |
| UberFamily: Seats 4; 1 children’s car seat and 2 booster seats. | |
| UberEspanol: A version of UberX for Spanish speaking riders who request for Spanish speaking drivers | |
| UberAssist: Seats 4; Driver specially trained to help disable/elderly person, fold wheelchairs, Help in and out, etc. | |
| UberRelief: Seats 4; Only works after disasters. Same as UberX but donates $1 or more per ride to local red cross | |
| WAV: Seats 4; Wheelchair accessible van (1 can be in a wheelchair) |
Conclusion: Which drive sharing service is best for me?
The answer is – “It depends upon your requirements and location.” If you need a luxurious service, then Uber would be the right choice for you. If you are in a surging area then Lyft would be more cost effective for you than Uber. Lyft and Uber both offer a similar experience for budget cars, but Uber is the only choice for luxury car drivers and riders.