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Should I Drive with Uber or Lyft? A Rideshare Company Comparison
If you’re considering becoming a rideshare driver, you need to figure out which company is best for you.
The two most obvious choices are Uber vs. Lyft – they dominate the market and have the largest customer base, meaning more frequent pickups for their drivers. And if you’d like to drive for both Uber and Lyft, that’s an option too.
Picking up and transporting passengers for either of these leading rideshare companies is a great way to make some extra cash, but there are distinct differences between the two. If you’re wondering, “Is it better to be a Lyft or Uber driver?,” or maybe “Will I make more money driving for Uber or Lyft?”, we’ll help you answer that important question with some candid poll results from some of the Uber and Lyft drivers who rent their vehicles from HyreCar.
If you are an Uber driver, a Lyft driver, or both, we’d love to hear your opinions, so we can use your feedback in future articles. Thank you! Alright, let’s get to it!
This article details the results of the poll, as well as direct quotes from ridesharing drivers who gave us expanded answers.
NOTE: Just so you know, HyreCar is not affiliated in any way with either Uber or Lyft. We’re just a bunch of fun peeps whose goal it is to provide affordable rental cars to all you rideshare drivers out there. None of the opinions you’re about to read are our own, as this article contains the honest feedback and professional preferences that our car rental customers who have driven for both Uber and Lyft have generously provided us.
Uber vs. Lyft Poll Results from Lyft and Uber Drivers:
From all of the ridesharing drivers we polled, the results favored working for Lyft vs. Uber.
- Drivers who preferred Lyft: 19
- Drivers who preferred Uber: 7
- Who is bigger, Uber or Lyft? Uber does have a larger customer base than Lyft and is available in more states than Lyft, meaning you’ll pick up more rides as an Uber driver.
- If you ask, “Which pays more, Lyft or Uber?” the answer is Lyft, by a nose. The company pays drivers slightly more, has a rider minimum, and they take less of a commission than Uber’s 20%. For example, drivers for both companies will take home between $13 and $15 an hour on average, but Lyft comes out closer to the higher range.
- Lyft is seen as being more driver-friendly than Uber when it comes to helpful customer service. Uber customer service is sometimes hard to reach, and the reps seem overwhelmed.
- It is easier to go through the Uber driver sign up than what it takes to be approved as a Lyft driver. For example, Uber allows cars from 2000 and newer, while Lyft requires a 2003 model or newer. Click here for a list of car and driver requirements for both companies.
Actual Quotes from Actual Uber & Lyft Drivers
Harry prefers driving for Lyft vs Uber, but he makes more cash working for Uber:
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I always tell people that I prefer driving for Lyft, but I make more money and get more rides with Uber. I think Lyft does a great job cultivating a driver-friendly culture though, and it shows with a lot of their features. Even before you start driving, Lyft greets new drivers with a mentor ride which allows them to get familiar with the app and meet another more experienced driver in person. Uber, on the other hand, sends you a few 5 minute YouTube videos which nobody watches (I didn’t!), and then you’re thrown to the wolves.
But regardless of which company you prefer, you’re now a business owner as a rideshare driver, and you need to diversify your income. Even if you are plenty busy with Uber, you’ll still want to have Lyft or another service as a backup for those times that you get locked out of your account or when the Uber app goes down for a couple of hours. Ultimately though, I like to support Lyft and other services as much as I can because the competition is a good thing for drivers. The more companies there are, the more options drivers will have.
– Founder at TheRideshareGuy.com
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Kingsley Nimoh
Kingley is a fan of driving for Lyft due to more tips from passengers and great driver support.
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LYFT is better! Bottom line? Tips for the drivers! This erases most of your third-party fees. You can defend a low rating given by a passenger, which by the way, is ridiculous considering we are self-employed contractors using a 3rd party app that has too much bearing on our livelihood. Great driver support. Great weekly bonus initiatives. The only thing I can complain about is there is no actual place (like Uber off Westwood) that you can go to.
I went to LYFT after I was suspended for low ratings with Uber and I’ve never been back since because Lyft has a different caliber of passenger. Uber riders expect you to cater to them as if they are paying for a top-tier black car limousine service. This is silly, considering the passenger is 75% off a taxi ride or any other concierge service. I would always pick LYFT over Uber mainly because of the ratings, also.
A note from your friends at HyreCar: For more info and suggestions regarding passenger tipping, check out our Uber Tipping Blog.
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David Thomas
David also prefers working for Lyft vs. Uber due to favorable driver policies regarding ride cancellations and appreciation for drivers.
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Hands down, the answer is Lyft. While the total dollar amount you may make driving for Uber will likely be more than your total for Lyft, you will make less per ride with Uber. So, for each ride you make driving for Lyft, you will be making more for that ride than you would have made if you were driving for Uber. It’s also worth noting that, in general, Lyft’s policies toward drivers are much more favorable than Uber’s policy toward drivers. Here’s an example: when you arrive to pick up a Lyft passenger, the passenger is charged from that point forward, while with Uber, the passenger is charged only after they get in your vehicle and the trip begins.
Another example is when you cancel a trip because a rider is a no show, Lyft will give you the full $5 cancellation fee after 5 minutes, as long as you call the rider first. Uber only gives you $4 out of the $5, but only if the Uber app indicates that you arrived on time and at the location where the rider is actually located. In other words, if the rider or system indicates an incorrect location to be picked-up, you will not receive any cancellation fee regardless of who cancels the trip. Overall, it just boils down to Lyft having a much better appreciation for their drivers than does Uber.
– Founder at Schlaf Guru
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Chad Somoza
If you ask Chad, “Is driving for Lyft better than Uber?,” he will definitely say yes for a higher class of passengers, very little Uber tipping, and less corporate commission taken from his paycheck by Lyft.
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I prefer to drive for Lyft because I have never had a bad Lyft customer in 300 rides. I have had Uber customers who bring drugs (mostly marijuana and related paraphernalia) into my car. Others have been on hardcore drugs like meth who wouldn’t stop fidgeting and shaking. One man puked in my front seat about 20/30 seconds after I picked him up (I was like, really dude?), and it ruined my night.
My Lyft customers tend to treat me better, so I tend to give them better service. About 50% of my Lyft riders leave me a tip, and it’s not uncommon to get $5 on even a short ride. I never expect a tip for Uber, and if I do, I generally get one or two a day out of 25 rides. I have a nicer car (2014 Hyundai Sonata) that I meticulously clean, and only Uber customers will bring greasy food in my car and think it’s okay to set it on my backseat.
With enough rides for Lyft, there is a reduction in commission, so I try and do as many as I can each week. With Uber, the rates are extremely low, and it can be hard to turn a profit.
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Xavier Vergara
Xavier does driving for both Uber and Lyft but favors driving for Lyft due to higher earnings and nicer passengers.
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I like driving for Lyft more, but I do both. Uber is just better with demand. Lyft has some dead hours during the week, but they are preferred because of higher earnings per ride and electronic tips are allowed. I like that I can see my rider’s destination if they enter it before I pick them up, and passengers tend to be nicer. Also, I can see their faces before I pick them up. I like being able to use Apple Maps for my GPS. There is also a destination filter so I can get passengers only going in my direction.
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Chris D.
Chris works for both Uber and Lyft but prefers driving for Lyft.
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I work for both Uber and Lyft. I personally prefer Lyft over Uber when I take a rideshare as a passenger because the best Lyft drivers are very pleasant and always smile. They are faster to get to me, and I am always pleased with the service. Also, Lyft takes care of their drivers better, and their cars seem nicer and more comfortable. I feel that Lyft has better drivers who take this kind of job seriously.
Also, after I make $50 of earnings as a Lyft driver, I have the option to deposit the funds after reaching that goal, which is why I prefer Lyft.
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Ulandsey Peterson
Ulandsey only drives for Uber because they offer more paths to higher income than Lyft does. He also had problems with the Lyft sign-up.
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I drive exclusively for Uber. I tried for two years to onboard with Lyft, but I ran into CONSTANT problems enrolling with them. The barriers seemed impossible to overcome, so I gave up trying to drive for Lyft.
I have picked up customers who ride with both services. Lyft customers almost always prefer to sit in the front seat, whereas Uber customers use the front seat only if there is a group during the ride. I like it when clients sit in the front seat because they tend to be a bit more friendly and enjoy conversation and music.
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I ultimately recommend Uber because they offer paths to higher income with UberSELECT, UberBLACK, and UberLUX. Drivers can earn more money in less time by driving fewer miles with a more expensive car. $200 in an UberX vehicle is 223 passenger miles, 86 miles for UberSELECT, 57 with UberBLACK, and 40 with UberLUX.
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Rosalyn Freeman
Rosalyn prefers driving for Lyft as the passengers seem happier than Uber passengers.
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I prefer Lyft, but wish they were busier. Driving for Lyft also seems a lot calmer, as the passengers seem happier… Plus, Lyft is a little bit cheaper and they are always there not only for their passengers, but for their drivers as well.
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Neena Diaz
Neena likes the tech support that Lyft offers drivers as well as Lyft reward programs.
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I love driving for Lyft better. I’ve driven for both Uber and Lyft, but Lyft tech support seems to be more helpful. I get a response the same day, sometimes in the next hour. Uber takes about three days to respond. I feel safer driving for Lyft, and I appreciate that we get to keep 100% of our tips.
Also, the rewards program for sharing your code gives us $20 versus a mere $10 for Uber. The Lyft driver referral bonus is a whopping $500 if my referral completes 100 rides.
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Daniel Geiger
As a driver, Daniel appreciates Lyft’s vision as a company, plus the pink mustache on his car helps passengers find him.
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I prefer to drive for Lyft because I like their company’s vision. I can get tips from passengers. I like the pink glowstache to help passengers find my car. I like that the Lyft app is easy to use. The app automatically updates my Waze’s destination when Lyft automatically adds a pick up location for Lyft Line. I don’t have to click an accept button like the Uber partner app. Lyft rocks!
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Carry Cannon
Carry also likes driving for Lyft for ease of using the app.
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I prefer Lyft because it doesn’t constantly ask me if I want to go offline or remain in the app when no rides are coming through, even if I’m still signed in for a while. And once I have $50, I can cash out without having to go to another bank or account number set up. This is very helpful when I’m crunched to pay a bill.
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Jay Esguerra
Jay drives for both Uber and Lyft but feels there are more surges and riders with Uber. He doesn’t like Lyft Line as much as Uber Pool.
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I’d like to say I like driving both. But as a driver, I notice Uber seems to have more riders and surges overall which makes it easier to make a living even during times when there are not as many people. Uber allows you to see surge multipliers by area, so you know what your goal is in a specific area.
Lyft Line also can be problematic compared to Uber Pool primarily because Lyft Line adds people to your route without asking if you would like to accept. Uber Pool gives you a choice, which is better, especially when you have passengers who want to change their destinations or you have drunk passengers who may not interact well in a carpool.
If you ever watched that I Love Lucy episode in the chocolate factory, Lyft Line reminds me of it. While it’s easy to accept one or two passengers, it starts getting crazy and out of control when you get 4 or 5 or 10 in one trip that you have to reroute for. Passengers also start complaining about having to slightly change route when picking people up and dropping them off along the way. Drivers will likely prefer to just drive one passenger a lot longer rather than drive and drop off multiple passengers, which often leads to minuscule wages for the hassle and headache. This isn’t a chocolate factory.
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Lynn Mooney
Lynn considers Lyft to be more driver-friendly and likes that Lyft offers discounts on various purchases to drivers.
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In general, I prefer to drive for Lyft. They’re definitely more driver-friendly. They are considerate to their drivers, not only through the ability for passengers to tip, but they also offer discount opportunities for car-related expenses (i.e. tires, but also for entertainment like movie tickets, etc). Uber offers none of these things. What one learns once they’ve driven for Uber for a while is that it’s absolutely not worth the cost to drive at all for Uber unless it’s surging, whereas with Lyft, due to the tipping offsetting the commission, it’s OK.
On the flip side of that though, Uber will offer promotions that are more frequent, varied, and easily achieved than Lyft. As an example, in the last few weeks, I’ve received promotions from Uber where over the course of the week, I’m guaranteed between 1.3x – 1.8x the regular fare rate regardless if it’s surging or not.
I’m very fortunate due to the fact that I have total flexibility in when I drive, so I’m able to take advantage of promotions than someone who’s not able to. As I said earlier, unless there is a promotion or it’s surging, you’re lucky to make minimum wage after gas costs while incurring the wear and tear on your car while driving for Uber.
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Martin Smigelski
Lyft driver Martin loves the Lyft instant pay option.
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I prefer to drive for Lyft. The instant pay option is awesome, and overall they treat me better. They keep their word and honor their promotions. I’m still battling Uber for the $1000 sign-up bonus I was promised.
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Justin Robinson
Justin has driven for both Uber and Lyft but prefers Lyft as there is a minimum for rides, unlike Uber.
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I have driven for both, and I prefer to drive Lyft, as there is a minimum for rides, unlike Uber, which is better protection for drivers that get a lot of short rides. There is also Express Pay, so I don’t have to wait a week to get my money, which lets me make a minimum of $50 before I can cash out.
This keeps gas in my car all week and is good for surprise expenses. Also, the Lyft passengers seem more laid back and friendly than most Uber riders. I am also not bombarded with ads and “incentives” to get my friends to buy a car. I don’t like some of Uber’s marketing.
Note: Try using an expense or mileage tracking app to help manage expenses. A good example is Hurdlr, which was built with this purpose in mind. Not only does it auto-track mileage and expenses, but it also offers real-time views of earnings and potential tax deductions.
Click HERE to download Hurdlr on iOS and Android.
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Scot Free
Scott prefers driving for Uber more than Lyft because he can go to an Uber office and talk about issues with real live people, unlike Lyft.
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I’m listed on both Uber and Lyft platforms, but I find myself preferring Uber more often. There are several reasons why Uber is more appealing to me as a driver. They have an instant pay option which has been a lifesaver in this expensive city. I have the option to access my earnings the very instant I’ve completed a ride or delivery.
They offer Uber driver support with actual live people in an office. I can go there and discuss anything about my account and any issues that I may have as a driver. Lyft does not offer that. They also have relationships with car dealerships and have offers specifically for Uber drivers.
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A note from your friends at HyreCar: Click HERE for more info about Uber Driver Support
John L.
John L. likes how Lyft drivers receive tips in the app, which encourages passengers to leave a gratuity.
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I’d much rather work for Lyft as the drivers are able to receive tips in the app, so it is almost, in a way, encouraged. This reminds riders that it IS AT LEAST an option for them to tip. Uber still does not offer this option. In fact, there is even misleading info on Google when you search for “should I tip my Uber driver?” Often an article is mixed up, and something that is actually referring to UBERTaxi is quoted for UberX. I think it states something about the tip being included with the fare.
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Cody Flies
Cody drives for Lyft because passengers are friendlier.
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Lyft because they are the first ones to come out with express pay, and they have a great company philosophy. Most of the time, Lyft passengers are way friendlier than Uber passengers. Also, Lyft drivers are usually better than Uber drivers. Plus, what could be cooler than a colorful light up mustache on your front grill?
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Bonnie Geary
Bonnie loves driving for Uber because of income incentives and less stringent car requirements.
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I love Uber! I looked into how to sign up for Lyft, but my car is a 2003, and they require a year newer. Lyft could lower vehicle requirements just the year as that would be great! Uber has a lot of incentives; they are very honest with pay. Also, they respond to issues very promptly!
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Charles Styles
Charles drives for Uber and Lyft but prefers Uber. He doesn’t like Lyft’s pink mustache on his car, among other things.
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I’ve driven for Uber and Lyft and maintain an active account on both. My preference is to drive for Uber.
- Lyft required me to meet with a mentor, taking my photo, doing a ride along, etc. I found this to be pretty corny, and scheduling our meeting took several days.
- I like Lyft’s ability to withdraw earnings in excess of $50 early, but Uber recently enabled the ability to withdraw at any time.
- Lyft has a destination filter. When I was ‘done’ driving for the night, I would turn to Lyft and set a destination filter picking up anyone along my route. Uber recently added the same functionality.
- My first ride with Lyft was a pool ride, and I found the experience awkward. Uber’s pool rides have increased significantly in the last few weeks, so I’m not sure there’s much of a difference anymore.
- Lastly, I’m not so keen on the pink mustache. I prefer the marketing of a tech says letter U over the cutesy mustache.
Those things being said, I recommend anyone doing rideshare sign up and maintain both. Try both and see which you prefer but keep the other as a backup. I’ve been in a position where Uber was verifying my updated insurance, and I was unable to use the app for a few hours, so I turned to Lyft.
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Todd Brock
Todd sees advantages to both Uber and Lyft.
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I drive for both in the Provo, Orem, and Salt Lake areas of Utah. There are advantages to both Uber and Lyft. Lyft pays better and has the option to have customers tip through the app. Uber pays a little less because of the app’s popularity and marketing. So more customers use it. I’d say I’m busier through Uber.
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Vivica Whitehead
Vivica prefers driving for Lyft over Uber because Lyft passengers tip more.
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Hello, I’ve been driving for Lyft and Uber since August of last year. Although I love both, I prefer Lyft over Uber. Riders are usually more upbeat and friendly, plus I love the tips, which usually balance out the 20% Lyft fees from the rides. Drivers keep 100% of their tips. Not to mention the option for Express pay. When I use it, my money is in my bank account within the hour. Love it!!!!
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Baron Stewart
Baron is a satisfied Lyft driver. Better pay. More tips and social events for drivers.
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I prefer Lyft. The pay is better with tips, and also they give drivers the ability to make 10 and 20 percent bonuses. They even have cool events for the drivers where they give away prizes and have pizza. Overall they treat their drivers better.
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Linda Laucus
Linda likes Uber driving better than Lyft because there is usually an Uber driver bonus available.
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I prefer driving for Uber over Lyft for several reasons:
- Uber is better known, at least here in this area. When I would work both apps at the same time, I would get 3 times more calls than with Lyft; and even if it seemed Lyft paid better, adding tips, overall, I made more money with Uber.
- Several months ago, Uber sent out a questionnaire asking if we, the drivers, felt like we were important to the company. I added many comments at the end, pretty much saying I get the idea you don’t care and don’t even know we exist. Within just weeks, Uber responded by inviting drivers in for appreciation pizza, ice cream, and in-person details about where the company is heading and other things that concern us. The local Uber people took notes on what we thought may help improve Uber for us as drivers. After that, I also received several calls from Uber San Francisco asking for more input if I had any. Most companies I have worked for in the past have sent around questionnaires such as these but never has anyone ever responded to them like Uber has.
- Uber has offered me some unbelievable monetary incentives at various times that made driving for them very profitable.
- The customer service is great. Every time I have ever had to contact them, they have answered me within a half-hour and were more than professional.
- When I first started Jan. 2016, I thought the app was okay, but a couple of months later, they did an entire overhaul on it, and it is so much easier to navigate to find any answer, and they improve it weekly.
- I don’t need it very often, but the cancellation fees are better – $10 rather than Lyft’s $5 when a rider cancels or is a no-show.
- Lyft doesn’t allow you to cancel a ride and charge the customer after a certain period of time. For example, I drove around an apartment complex for 20 minutes trying to find the rider who requested me. I made several calls and texts to him that weren’t answered. Finally, when the guy answered, he said he had made a mistake, so I had to cancel the ride, and I was out my time, gas, and money. The only other way I could have made any money would have been to start the ride as soon as I was at the apartment complex, and then he would have been charged while I drove around looking for him, but how do you think he would have rated me if he didn’t even take the ride? A “one” and a complaint, probably. He said he accidentally must have hit the app. If it had been an Uber call, 5 to 10 minutes later, after he did not answer calls or texts, at least I would have made $7.50 instead of nothing, and Uber customer service would have handled it, and I would have kept my high ratings.
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Bo Williams
Bo drives for both but leans toward Lyft due to pleasant customers and cash-out availability.
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They’re both great companies, but I prefer and drive for Lyft more. The passengers tend to be more relatable and nicer, and I also like that Lyft gives you the option of cashing out after you’ve made a certain amount. Nice when you’re strapped for cash.
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Kayla M.
Kayla prefers driving for Lyft due to the user-friendly Lyft app but is appreciative of Uber’s different levels of income.
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First off, I would like to start by saying thank you to HyreCar for the company you started, which gives me an opportunity to drive other vehicles when my car is in the shop. It’s really helpful to keep the bills paid. So now to the question: I personally prefer Lyft better just because I felt the app was more user-friendly, and I felt comfortable in general with the prices consumers were paying, considering I was a Lyft customer as well.
However, Uber now is my favorite mainly because of the wide range they are trying to cover and the different job opportunities they are making available in Austin. I didn’t often go out and have drinks or enjoy night-outs downtown prior to rideshare services because taxis were just too high priced and inconvenient. Once Lyft came around, I got to enjoy several nights with my friends, having a safe ride to and from home at a low cost.
Last but not least, there was a week when my restaurant had a small kitchen fire, and we had to close for business. Having Lyft and Uber to drive for and make a little extra cash during that time was really, really helpful. I hope you are able to expand HyreCar and the other ride-sharing that’s coming available to Austin.
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Uber vs. Lyft FAQs
What are the requirements to drive for Uber and Lyft?
The requirements to drive for Uber and Lyft vary depending on the city. Generally, you will need a valid driver’s license and insurance. You may also need to pass a background check.
Can I drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time?
Yes, you can drive for both Uber and Lyft at the same time. Many drivers do this to maximize their earnings. You can use both apps on your iPhone or Android device simultaneously.
You’ve discussed Uber vs. Lyft; what other driving and delivery app companies do you rate?
You can check out our other guides on driving and delivery apps companies and how they compare on our blog, such as our comparison of Doordash vs. Uber Eats.
Can I use my own car to drive for Uber or Lyft?
Yes, you can use your own car to drive for Uber or Lyft. However, you will need to meet the requirements set by each company (e.g., have a certain number of seats, be within a certain age range, etc.).
So which is best, becoming an independent driver for Lyft or Uber?
Both Lyft and Uber offer great opportunities for independent drivers. However, which one is best for you depends on your individual needs and preferences. Take your time to read the quotes from the 26 drivers who have taken the time to share their experiences. Many of the drivers drive for Uber and Lyft, so you get honest pros and cons for both.
That’s my opinion I think that should not be no Uber and Lyft drivers because when when I drive for Lyft I do it as my career job I tell people how lift is what it is I talk to people and make them feel comfortable I give him water I do things I make them laugh then you got Uber driving for Lyft and Uber is talking bad about Lyft see that not fair it should only be live drivers drive for Lyft only and it should be over drivers that drive for Uber only people that believe in what you are talking about Lyft that’s why we’re getting less and less people texted us are picking up some up we’re getting mostly Uber driver on BART Station Airport San Jose after I got license commercial driver for Lyft I’m trying to tell people that this is what I do this is what I have I have license and everything we are safe we are fully coverage then he got over talking about it this is what I hate about it
They’re both good platforms, but I tell people I prefer lyft to uber. And it comes down to the app. The lyft app is a little bit more user friendly for the driver. You as the driver notify the rider that you’ve arrived with lyft. But with uber the app sends a notification when you reached a certain proximity to the passenger. Lyft passengers tend to be a little more friendly but you can make a little more with uber because it’s a far more popular app. Lyft is nice cause the riders can tip on the app and once you hit 50 you can cash out instantly. With rider tips it can sometime offset lyfts fees and you make a lot more. With uber once you reach 25 rides you qualify for instant pay using GoBank (so long as you’re not in the car leasing or cell phone renting program) which is nice. I use that for gas and food most of the time. Once lyft gets more popular it’ll probably be 50/50 on earnings. Overall their both good companies and I recommend driving for both. No day is the same and you make your own hours. But it requires a lot of discipline to make it your full time gig. So be prepared.
I love having the option to drive for either lyft or uber, or even run both apps at the same time .. as long as I remember to turn one off after I’ve accepted a ride on the other.
I’ve driven for lyft much longer than uber due to onboarding problems with uber at the start. 9 mo with lyft and over 2360 rides. 3 months with uber and just completed 200 rides.
Lyft:
The clientel with lyft tend to be friendlier and about half of the customers that use both platforms will sit in the front, which I like. The option to tip is nice, as is the express pay option and destination filter. Unfortunately, there are fewer lyft customers than uber so, I’m forced to switch over if I want to stay busy.
Uber:
Obviously there are no qualifications to be an uber passenger other than having a credit card. They tend to be very demanding and treat you like a taxi driver vs a human being with a brain, or a life outside of serving them. Uber support used to suck but has gotten better in the last couple months. Until recently, it seems they would rather hemorrhage money on recruiting new drivers than support existing drivers. “Tips included” is a joke. Net income per ride is lower on this platform due to fees to the driver (isn’t 20% enough?) and cancelling a ride after calling a no show passenger nets you nothing for your efforts. They recently started an instant pay feature however, its not “in app” so you have to gyrate for that one. They recently started a destination filter but you have to be logging off to use it. Not that very many people put in their destination anyway.
Summary:
Both platforms have their unique advantages. I have a new respect for taxi drivers after seeing only the best of the worst they are required to accept. All that said, I prefer lyft over uber.
I prefer Lyft over Uber and I think Lyft drivers are more on top of things and besides I have,and maybe more drivers of Uber,a complaint with Uber given the fact that they showed on my 1099 tax statement that I made a much greater amount than they deposited in my account in which it was the amount that they kept but show that I made it so they do not have to claim it and pay their share of taxes by trying to show that I did, nice try see you in IRS court.
I have been a driver for both for 1.5 years here in Orlando Fl and have gone back and forth on which one I preferred but have finally settled on Uber. Uber now has the option to cash out immediately at any amount over a dollar. (not that most would for a dollar but maybe 10 if you need gas) They also give you a 100 dollar credit for gas which they deduct from earnings. Also they have stepped up their speed in responding to issues which is great. When I updated my insurance 6 months ago it took 2 days to update, this past Sunday 2 hours. If only Uber would do an option for tipping and perhaps a picture of the customer. Although even on Lyft some customers do not put their pics.
I am interesting in driving for Lyft. What do I need to do?
Hi Kevin,
If you need a vehicle you can rent one on our platform by heading to HyreCar.com > Rental process is typically less than 24 hours. Other than that, becoming a driver with Lyft is quite easy, just head to their website and sign up.
I’m a lyft mentor and have to say that my time with lyft which is about a year, has been a very positive experience. The person who said they drove around for 20 mins and couldn’t get paid for the canceled ride, that’s completely untrue. The passenger gets charged $5 if they are a no show and that fee goes to the driver. Lyft does have more requirements than uber to become a driver, but I think that’s why passengers trust lyft more. Lyft doesn’t want to send new drivers out blind. They need to know how to use the app and what to expect. It’s also important to make sure that the driver is who they say they are and their vehicle is in good shape. If that makes someone not like lyft, then we wouldn’t want them as a driver anyways. I have heard a lot of horror stories on uber from passengers about how much they upcharge for rides and how rude some of the drivers are. I’ve also heard from drivers how much nicer and respectful lyft passengers are. There are lots of opportunities with lyft to earn bonuses plus tips so there is no reason a driver can not make as much if not more than an uber driver if they put time and effort in to it. Lyft also does not take their share of a ride if that amount is not over $5. There being a minimum per ride is also nice. Lyft is also great about taking suggestions and getting back to you within 24 hours. They show a lot of appreciation for their drivers.
I have been driving for both. I get more rides with Uber, but Lyft passengers do seem to be a bit more friendly. The biggest issue I have with Lyft right now, is that I keep getting pinged to drive 20-25 minutes away for a fare. It does not make economical or good business sense to accept that ride, and because of that, I am hurting my acceptance rate.
As of the moment, I am fairly content with both. But if I had to pick one over the other… I would say Uber for the greater percentage of rides.
Lyft is by far the better driver experience. Not only do I keep a greater percentage of my earnings (80% with Lyft, 75% with Uber) but if I drive a ton I keep even more of my Lyft earnings. Uber has no sliding wage scale. The tip option is outstanding with Lyft vs Uber. That extra $5 (and I get $5 tips often) can easily increase the total ride earnings by 25-50%.
The one negative I find with Lyft is that I am asked to take distant pick ups (greater than 20 miles / 20 minutes out) and if I decline, it is a “ding” against my acceptance percentage. Acceptance percentage is a factor that goes into bonus money.
I have driven for both companies for over a year…. I have 1200+ rides with uber, and about 250 with lyft…. uber dominates the market (everybody has at least heard of uber, not so with lyft), which means more users/ rides which means more money.
Yeah Yeah, lyft is more “driver friendly”…. but I’m not here to make friends (although I quite frequently do) I’m here to earn a living (or at least make my car payment)..
Bottom line for earnings… not even close… I average $1500 weekly when I work three looooooonnggg days (12-15 hrs) with uber. I’ve never cracked $500 with lyft.
I drove for both. For the reasons expressed in this article, lyft is by far the best. Although the more competition in this space will only drive to price even further down. Drivers will continue to make less and less. When I drove in Chicago I got more rides with Uber at first but after a while I got more rides with Lyft. Now living in Florida I find that Uber gets more rides. But the tips are better with Lyft.
I drive for both and for many reason everyone above mentioned I enjoy Lyft more. Tips, quality of passengers and its driver support. Uber doesn’t offer tips and they are more customer focused than driver. I have found that the disparity of riders for either mostly depends on which app is more popular in your area. For example I live in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and I find that it is a larger number of Lyft riders in Raleigh and Uber in Durham and Chapel Hill. Either way I do enjoy Lyft more than Uber minus the the sometimes further ride request because with Uber they pinpoint pick ups no more than 10-15 min away. Lyft has been known to do 20+ at times. A con to both there is no fare for coming to pick someone up. As with a taxi once the rider is in there is a base charge then the ride fee. I understand the reason they don’t however it seems that rides usually cost more in gas and mileage or other vehicle upkeep necessities that neither accounts for.
Wow how times have changed. I drove for Uber back in 2012 they had us go to the Atlanta office where I lived and still live. We ondoarded there they did inspection of the cars. Gave us iphone4 and even gave us the option to use it as a phone. I made usually about $2-250 a night working 3-4 hours and on that New Year’s Eve I made $2000 in 6 hours my bosses were always texting me. It’s a different beast now. Back then you made $45 a trip to the airport and it didn’t really go into the suburbs
After a couple months of driving for both Uber and Lyft in the Phoenix area, I would say that Lyft, overall is a better driver experience. That said, I make far more money with Uber. In Phoenix, most riders use Lyft for local rides. To the drugstore, to the airport. Uber riders tend to go longer distances so the transactions are more and if you’re left in some far-off suburb, you can usually find a quick passenger back as Uber has a larger customer base throughout Metro Phoenix. Uber makes it easy to get the next ride before you’ve finished the last drop off and redirects you to a closer rider if it’s available. This can be good and bad. If you’re chatting with a customer or watching the road you can miss the next early request, which counts against your acceptance rate. Another pitfall of the early ride acceptance is you there are variables from the current ride tha can effect the next ride. You can run in to traffic, a chatty rider, luggage drop off, etc…which can take more time to get to the already waiting customer. This can quickly drop your ratings.
The crappy part of driving for Uber is the ratings. I keep a 4.98-4.99 with Lyft and I’m barely hanging on to a 4.85 with Uber. This in part has to do with the 500 vs 100 last rides for the rating system as it takes longer for a poor rating to drop. That said, more than anything it’s the expectation of passenger. I give the exact same level of service for both Lyft and Uber but in the end, the ratings tend to be lower with Uber. Why? I couldn’t begin to tell you but when I figure it out, I’ll let you know.
I have driven for both over the past two years. Currently I drive for part time for Uber because it has the option to pick up riders that are going in my direction. Lyft has this option but it never worked. Ubers option allows me to make a few extra dollars on my commute. However, I have round that Uber is making it next to impossible for people to make money and they tend to favor the happiness of the passengers over the happiness of the drivers. Trying to contact Uber for any reason is very difficult and they tend to be unpleasant. I will use this for now, but will probably drive Lyft when not commuting.
Driving in Orange County CA, Uber has been better for me. I don’t drive full time, just on the weekends mostly, so maybe Lyft is better for full time – don’t know. For me, Uber just has way more demand and the bonuses are not as stressful as Lyft’s. Ya, Lyft has the option to tip in the app, which I have always had contempt toward Uber for not having. But Uber’s bonuses kinda make it up though. Ya, Lyft has bonuses also but the Power Driver you would need to drive full time at least, and their hourly guarantee requirements are so out of your control it just stresses you out as a driver. Uber’s bonuses are straight forward and their current ones are pretty nice. I do drive for both though, Lyft mostly as a backup, as any driver should do. I have to admit though, a little bit of me is rooting for Lyft because of the tip option. But at the end of a long shift or shifts, driving for Uber has always been more payout. This is why I like Uber better.
HyreCar is an excellent service and I highly recommend them if any of you up and coming Uber/Lyft drivers are in need of a car.
I drive for both Uber and Lyft in San Francisco and I make an absolute killing. My brother and I are developing a website that shows our income and expense reports. I make anywhere from $1,750 – $2,100 a week driving for both platforms. If you want to see my 2017 weekly paystubs visit
http://sixfiguredrivers.com/weekly-earnings/
Glad you enjoy our service! Awesome to hear you’re working hard and seeing the results!
Hi Sean. I came across your post while reading the reviews. I was interested in your earnings statements but the webpage link didn’t work. TJ
I prefer Uber over Lyft. I receive four to five Uber ride request for every one Lyft, and when I do receive a Lyft ride request, it is always 15 to 20 minutes away. Also, in my area, the Lyft customers doen’t tip very well. My biggest issue with Lyft was that I was in an accident while picking up a Lyft passenger. They sent me 25 minutes away to pick up a passenger. Lyft’s customer service had always been real nice until then. The insurance company was horrible. A woman left me a VM. I returned her call several times, but her mailbox was always full. A person finally sent me an e-mail asking for an estimate and my personal insurance information. I sent them the information with a list of questions. They never answered. I had to turn it in to my personal insuarnce company. I can’t say if Uber would have been any better in this situation, but my experience left a bad taste in my mouth when I think of Lyft. I won’t drive for Lyft any more, and I won’t recommend Lyft to any customers in my area.
Thanks for sharing your story Lee!
Thankyou for Sharing Your Information, it makes it good for people to decide which one or both thanks, Frank
Thanks for the praise, Frank!
I drove for uber and lyft. I did not enjoy the gradeing system or the rydes i had to pick up and the fuel spent. In short lots of. Work very little money. Sothis is what i did i started ryde america. Why schudled apts. Car constantly in motion. 10 mile radius to pick up customers. A repeat customer base. No waiting. No inturupting the driver when on the road. In short. Even though this company charges the same as uber and lyft. More money is made. Located in north carolina.
Which city in both Los Angeles County or Orange County has the most passengers or would you make more money working for Uber or Lyft?
It depends on the time you are driving and how many hours you are working as well. For LA county a few suggestions would be Downtown LA and Santa Monica. For OC county a few suggestions are Newport Beach/Costa Mesa and Irvine.
I drive for both Lyft and Uber in the Detroit and Toledo areas. I took a recent look at the ride fares and found that Uber takes more 50% on short trips. I have to have a trip of around 10 miles or more before I, as the driver get more than Uber. Looking at several recent rides, here is what I found. On a minimum ride (2.6 miles), Uber charged the customer $6.52 and my share was $3.20. On a 10.3 mile ride, Uber charged the customer $16.73, and I got $9.14. On a 52 mile ride, Uber charged the customer $54.45 and I received $37.68. The percentages ranges from the short ride where I got 49% of the fare, a 10 mile ride where I got 54% to a long ride where I kept 69% of the customer fare.
Lyft, on the other hand, takes 25% of the fare regardless of the distance or time.
In this market, Lyft charges $0.72 per mile while Uber charges $0.60. Lyft’s per minute charge is a couple of cents higher than Uber.
I recently had an experience where I had toll charges on a trip that were not addressed in either the customer charge or reimbursed to me. All I got from Uber are excuses as to why the wouldn’t pay. First, it was that the toll names didn’t match, next it was because the toll fares didn’t match (I use I-pass) and finally I was told that I waited to long.
If asked, I tell my riders of these situations and, if not enrolled, encourage them to use Lyft. Uber has enough problems without ticking off their drivers. That said, I prefer driving for Lyft. They are more responsive to issues and the pay is slightly higher
I’m a uber driver already I just need to rent a car
That is great! Visit us at https://driver.www.hyrecar.com/ to begin your rental.
Why can’t I find my posting on this website. Did hyrecar hid my posting?
-Albert-
Hi Albert, thanks for reaching out. When did you list your vehicle?
((READ)) I drive for both and Customer demand wise I would work for Uber.. But customer behavior wise I would definitely go with Lyft.. Even though lyft & uber takes away more ?from drivers in ways that drivers don’t realize. Uber recently lowered rates, with more back to back rides. Don’t be fooled. Uber gives more back to back rides so drivers don’t see, how much each ride cost making room for Uber to pay what they Want to pay you and not what you actually deserve for each trip.. Lyft on the other hand offers tips option for drivers to get.. Don’t be fooled!! Lyft made this option available for passengers to give out more money to their drivers.. ((Beware)) this option makes room for Lyft to pocket the tips that should be 100% for drivers to make and not for the company to take.. When drivers cash out lyft takes all tips and takes the remaining fee balance off your bank roll.. LYft and uber takes fees away from each ride and then slaps drivers with their 25% when you cash out..** Cancellation fees** When passengers cancels a trip after a certain amount of time. The passengers gets hit with a $5 cancellation fee.. Who do you think gets the cancellation fee? Not the driver.. But the company pockets the fee.. It’s sad that the concept of ride sharing is good .. But the flaw is that the company taking away from all drivers.. If you were to keep track of each ride and cents and ask passengers how much each ride cost them. You will see a major discrepancies . Also both companies don’t always give accurate surges on app. They do this so drivers don’t realize that the trip that is costing passengers a lot of money is paying drivers the minimum.. This makes a whole lot of room @ L.A.X when passengers trying to get home and both companies know this and rips off their hard working drivers, by paying the minimum.. My true opinion is that Both companies are the same one..
Having worked for both, I prefer Lyft because of the 25.00, 60.00, and 150.00 bonuses for various levels of performance. 25 for accepting more than 90 percent requests, 60 for surge fairs over a certain number, and 150 for more than 20 rides. It makes my earnings grow by leaps and bounds. Lyft work 3 days. Uber 9 months. Oh yeah, I really took a beating on taxes with Uber.
[…] you’re trying to get the most out of ridesharing and wondering if Uber or Lyft provides you with the best opportunity to do so, you might actually be asking the wrong question. […]
[…] Sooner or later you’re going to require a cab and there just won’t be any in sight. Save yourself time now and proceed and download Lyft. Operating generally in most major cities (and some not-so-major ones), Lyft will come pick you up whenever and wherever you need them, often for less cash than the usual traditional taxi. Watch out for surge pricing, though. If rides come in high demand then prices often double, and can reach more than ten times their regular rate. If Lyft isn’t in your town, or you only want to try another flavor of ride-sharing, there’s always Uber, but Lyft treats drivers better. […]
Uber is more way better than lyft. To know this, just drive 40 hours for both and you will know what I’m saying is true.
Thanks for the feedback!
I prefer Uber vs Lyft. Lyft sends you all over to get a ride where Uber keeps you in the general area you are in. I drove for lift and uber when I first started and I kept getting long pickups and cancellations with Lyft or short rides after going 20 minutes to pick someone up. Uber generally does not do this. Better earning transfer to their Go bank money card, they are improving all the time, app is easier to use.
Thanks for the feedback!
[ have been both a uber and lyft driver, presently driving for lyft,i am a 1000 mile driver with 4,85 rateing,i belive im the oldest driver in the country @78 yrs old,there is no comparison lyft by all measures,main reason is contacts i do not think there are any humans working at uber ,drove with them for 1 yr never ever got a response to any of my questions or problems with lyft every time i contact i get a response within 24 hrs they are the best if anyone knows of a older driver please let me know
Thank you for the feedback!
Thank you All! This is VERY HELPFUL and Informative and greatly appreciated!
Glad we could help!
I tried both and ended up sticking with Uber to get the sign up bonus. Main thing is that there are more uber passengers in general which helps to reduce any risk of down time. I didn’t have much interaction with Uber and felt much more like a hired hand with limited affiliation – much more like a taxi.
I certainly appreciated the adoption of tips by Lyft much more and the general whimsical nature of the pink mustaches and networking events.
Onboarding (signing up, insurance/registration paperwork, and car inspection) for both were straight forward though Uber had more physical registration sites in the SF bay area and was faster. (That being said, the Jiffy Lube they used didn’t even look at my car – both times I brought it in.)
Thanks for the feedback, Jeff!
How do you receive your money and how soon do you have acsess to it?
Drivers will be getting paid through the Uber and Lyft driver apps, separately from HyreCar. If you are a car owner, you will simply set up your ACH info on your HyreCar dashboard and get paid at the beginning of every rental period while your vehicle is being rented out.
Nice
Not one driver for either company has mentioned driving and the cost of gasoline. Is it cost worthy to drive ? Please expand on that. Safety and cost of gas to me is first. I also heard of incentives of a $1,000 to $1,200 or around there for either company but I haven’t heard of those since I’ve considered driving in the last couple weeks . Yes I’d like to have a pleasant rider that goes without saying saying but I’m in it fir the money . So is it to my advantage to be driving will I make all the pick ups I need to off set gas prices . Also is the apps easy to use especially if you’re not a savvy smart phone user. What about the maps is that fir sure or will I be lost in a strange city and therefore be late or the ride longer than it should be making mad customer .
Of course with ridesharing will come the cost of gasoline, but if you are making enough money to cover that expense, it will totally be worth it! Full time drivers in high demand areas are making upwards of $1000/week.
And yes, Uber and Lyft both offer driver bonus incentives periodically, so you will need to stay aware of that. And yes, the Uber and Lyft apps are very user friendly, so you shouldn’t have too hard of a time with them. You will simply need to use a reliable navigation app on your phone to get you from point A to point B for your rides. Check out this list of great options: https://www.hyrecar.com/best-uber-navigation-app/
[…] https://www.hyrecar.com/blog/uber-vs-lyft/ […]
I had Uber for 4 months before starting Lyft. I’ve had Lyft for 2 months. Keep in mind I only do this maybe 2/3 hours each day and use this as side $ so it’s not for some one who does 40 hours a week to judge, because on both platforms you will make decent $ doing 40 hours a week. Lyft will be more. But if living in a countryside or rural areas then Uber will properly the only thing worth driving because it’s the most popular. Uber’s rides ping more frequently than Lyft.
What I can say is Lyft is better all around. Uber’s driving bonuses for signing up is cool but after that it’s really no significant bonus’s outside the random surges during your driving days.
The minimum you get paid for a ride with Uber is 3.66. I’ve never gotten less than that wether the ride was just Half a mile or the actual time it would take to have 3.66 paid out. But also there are times you will drive for 10min and still get 3.66. With Lyft the lowest I’ve seen is 4.60 I believe. But definitely well over $4.
Lyft I’ve only competed about 100 rides in the last 2 months but I’ve made 753.88. My last 100 rides from Uber tallied up to 568.12. That’s a $195 difference. Keep in mind most of Uber’s income was surges because I took them only while online and during late holiday hours. Which leads to Lyft s bad surging opportunity. I’ve never gotten a surge ride from Lyft. I see it form time to time but I haven’t received one.
The Lyft riders are more relaxed and it’s actually the rider who requests. It was a lot of times Uber riders request a ride and it’ll be a diff person and they’ll have a lot of extra baggage with them. Not literal baggage either. So that’s uncomfortable for me as a rider. Because as far as my safety is concerned, the person in the car isn’t who is on the app and anything could happen.
Also Uber is quick to reactive your account off of little things out of your control or off unrealistic customer complaints and then when they see you were in the right, they’ll take forever to reactive your account.
My DL was suspended for 1 day because of a $20 ticket I forgot to pay from 3 years ago. Uber and Lyft texted me to tell me, I contact the dmv, I paid it the same day. 2 hours later Lyft texts me that I am able to drive again. But Uber made me send in snap shots from the dmv database to prove so, and then took 2 weeks to reactive my account. It puzzled me because they knew it was suspended so why should I have to proof I got it back they have access to the dmv database.
Or a actual drunk rider, got in the car. It was a smooth ride, she was talking laughing. Gave me a tip even lol. I’m on the next ride, and after I drop them off my account gets on hold because a rider said I was driving drunk and they felt scared of they life. Before that I had not worked for 2 weeks. The drunk lady was my first ride before my second who they cut my account off on right after I ended the ride. So it had to be her, and I’m just explaining to Uber… y’all pay 3.66 a ride. I use my 2013 Benz .. do you think I’m going to risk my life and my 40k car and someone else’s life driving drunk for 3.66? That shit does not make sense. And that took them a week to realize it was actually the rider who lied on myself and a few other drivers and I was told her account was suspended. Uber suppose to make you feel like you work on your time and you’re safe but they don’t enforce it.
They care for the riders safety more which I understand but the driver behind the wheel is just as important. I could be some one who takes care of a family off Uber and can’t do anything else… I would hate for that to happen to anyone in that predicument.
GO FLR LYFT
Lyft generally takes a smaller cut than Uber. But Uber’s signup bonus is often bigger. In general, drivers report making more money per hour driving for Lyft due to increased tips, better Prime Time pricing, and the smaller cut compared to Uber.
According to a recent survey of close to 1200 drivers, rideshare platforms revealed that Lyft drivers averaged around $17.50 per hour, close to $2 more per hour than Uber drivers. Lyft and Uber drivers earn approximately the same average per month, but the tips and earnings per trip are higher for Lyft
Average trip costs for both Uber and Lyft are roughly similar. The average cost of a rideshare ride is $2/mile, trips starting at $1, costing roughly $1/mile and $0.25 per minute.
another thing good about Lyft is that Lyft carries liability coverage for its drivers, but the coverage levels depend on whether there is a passenger in the car. … Here is a quick look at what Lyft insurance covers: Period 1: Liability limits are low and comprehensive and collision coverage are not offered.
I really appreciate this survey. I drive for Lyft, but will probably drive for Uber in the near future as backup. It’s just smart to have plan B.
Nice blog
Amazing