Pay less for your rides: 7 simple habits
No app is the cheapest every time. Savings come from a few habits: compare before every ride, look at the options, wait for demand to drop and check the price before confirming.
There is no magic trick for paying less. There are habits, easy to pick up, that add up over a month of rides.
1. Compare before every ride, not once and for all
The app that was cheapest yesterday is not necessarily the cheapest today. Prices follow demand, minute by minute. Sticking to one app out of habit means paying more some of the time. Our 26 September reading shows a €21.15 gap on a single trip.
2. Look at the options within one service
A single company offers several products. Some are cheaper if you accept a slightly longer wait. In that same reading, Uber Wait & Save was €3.08 cheaper than UberX. That is what OptiRide’s ride type filters are for.
3. If the price is high, wait a few minutes
Surge pricing caused by high demand is temporary. The end of a concert, a rain shower or a match pushes prices up, then they come back down. If you are not in a hurry, run the search again a little later.
4. Walk away from the hot spot
When everyone orders from the same place, prices rise there. Walking a few minutes out of the busiest area can lower the fare, and often makes pickup easier.
5. Link your accounts to see your promotions
Apps regularly send personal discounts. In estimate mode, OptiRide cannot know about them. With your accounts linked, the prices shown include them. The difference between the two modes is explained in this article.
6. Look at waiting time too
The lowest price is not always the right choice. A cheaper ride with a fifteen-minute wait can cost you more than it saves. OptiRide lets you sort by speed: check both rankings before deciding.
7. Check the price before you confirm
The final price is the one the partner app shows at confirmation. Take a second to read it. If it has changed, you can still go back and pick another offer.