In recent times, there has been an upsurge in the number of firms that provide cab hailing services in different parts of the world. New apps and services are continuously emerging to make the hailing transport easier. Hailing services were initially developed due to the high demand for prompt and dependable alternative to the traditional method of using public transport.
A lot of people have realised the importance of using this services and the comfort it provides to the user. Cab hailing services give people the option of traveling from one destination to the other in a simple and flexible way. As long as you have a phone and internet service, you can quickly book a ride to your destination. It also saves tourist and first-time visitors the stress of going through city maps to figure out how to get to their destination.
We’ve all heard of Uber, which is a great option because of its global availability – Careem is next, as it is available in 13+ countries. You can read their reviews on their separate pages. This feature however covers more cab services across various regions of the world.
Cab Hailing Services in Various Regions of the World
InDriver
InDriver was formed back in 2012 in Russia to offer freedom to choice when travelling in cars and that’s how it is today also.
InDriver currently operates in 37 countries and 500+ cities. The app gives the rider the freedom to pick a fair rate, car type and even driver. Mode of payment is either cash or direct bank transfer between driver and rider and hence the middleman is removed and this keeps the cost low.
InDriver app shows you the rating of each driver who replies to your ride request. The very short blurb showcases the number of trips he’s previously done, how far s/he is, the car he’s driving, and the amount he will charge.
Available on iOS and Android, if you’re planning to travel, make sure to check if they have InDriver operating there or not.
CABIFY
Established in 2011, Cabify is one of the fastest growing cab hailing services in Spain. It features a transparent rating system and offers different services.
Cabify for Business and Events was created to help corporate firms book for their business trip in advance. Some of its features are advanced booking, ride tracking, estimated pricing, safety and different payment methods.
It is currently available in many countries which include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Peru, Portugal, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Columbia. You can pay via cash, PayPal and credit/debit cards.
GRAB TAXI
Grab Taxi is gradually taking over the Cab hailing industry in Southeast Asia.
It is known to offer safety and comfort to the rider; the app is used more in Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong which is more like the commercial capital of Southeast Asia.
At present, Grab Taxi has more than 75,000 registered drivers and offers services in 21 cities. Grab Taxi is extremely versatile and very convenient for the Asian market, it is available on Android and iOS devices.
To pay, you can use in-app credits or credit card.
DIDI
Didi is currently making waves in the technology industry of China. With more than 550 million registered users, Didi covers over 300 cities in China and also operates globally in Japan, Australia, Columbia, Chile, Brazil and Mexico.
It offers taxi service, car-pool, designated drivers who will drive your car and take you where you want to go, bike sharing, bus for pick up times, luxe which offers 5 star hotel chauffeur driven luxury cars, enterprise solution which offers you to book rides under your company’s account so that the payment is made via the company account for business trips.
LYFT
Based in the United States, Lyft is one of the biggest cab hailing firm with coverage in over 60 cities in the United States.
Lyft requires all drivers to have a valid drivers license, criminal, background and DMV checks. Lyft has one of the best Apps which allows customers to book their ride, track their ride and even know their driver’s details.
It also offers three variant services, Lyft, Lyft Plus and Lyft Line, that allows users ride alone, or in a group of up to six using the Lyft Plus.
BITAKSI
This is the most popular cab haling App in Istanbul with more than 35,000 licensed drivers, and 200,000 registered users.
Bitaksi provides one of the best cab hailing service in Istanbul with an in-app credit card payment system. Some of its features are cashless payment system, provision of traffic information, drivers rating, location tracker and estimated arrival time of your driver.
In case you don’t own a card, they also offer to take cash. The app available on Android and iOS.
OLA CABS
Ola cab is the biggest and most widely used cab-hailing app in India. It has different fleets of vehicles (think bike, cars, autos, Sedans & SUVs) and covers more than 80 cities in India.
One biggest benefit of using the Ola Cabs is that it offers the lowest fare when compared to other hailing services in India. Ola Cabs drivers are appropriately verified. They also give instant confirmation after booking your ride.
The App is available on Android, iOS, and Windows mobile applications. You can go cashless by recharging the Ola account or use debit/credit cards.
LECAB
LeCab has taken over cab hailing service in Paris. With more than 70,000 active users, LeCab is the best hailing app in Paris.
LeCab also allows users rent and fly private jets to their destination while partnering with PrivateFly. The app guarantees arrival of cabs in less than seven minutes, fixed prices rides, and rebooking of a ride. It even has the option of prebooking a ride 30 days in advance!
LeCab assures you that every ride will have internet, magazines, phone chargers and iPads on board so that you don’t get bored during your trip.
It is available on Android, Windows and iOS mobile applications.
In conclusion, the Cab hailing service is the best alternative to the use of public transport, though their fare may be a bit high, it is quite reasonable when compared to the comfort they provide.
If you’re travelling make sure to check out if any of these cab services are available. If not, you’re sure to find Uber or Careem.
Make sure to check out our other travel guides because they could help you one way or another.