February 25, 2024

Lyft vs. Uber ' Who Pays More?

•

min read

Have you ever wondered about what who pays more: Lyft or Uber? Working out the best platform to use can be hard, but one of the most common considerations is who pays more. Luckily, our friendly experts are on hand today to help you find out a little more about Lyft vs. Uber driver income to help you find the ideal strategies for your own earning goals.

WHO PAYS MORE: LYFT OR UBER?

When deciding which gig app to work on, the rate of pay is one of the deciding factors for many people. Sure, additional perks such as the availability of jobs, working opportunities, perks, and the like are welcome, but it's usually the money we think of first.

So, how does this compare between Lyft and Uber? Well, there's no single way to determine which of the platforms is better since a lot of your earnings as an Uber or Lyft driver come down to luck ' although this can be alleviated by integrating a gig management app such as Para.

Uber Pay Structure

Although Uber is currently in the works with updating its pay structure, for 2022, the Uber pay structure is generally as follows. The bulk of a driver's pay comes from their Standard Trip Fare, which includes both a per-mile and per-minute rate.

In addition to this, surge pay offers increase the basic rate of pay in high-demand areas, increasing the pay. Finally, there's also income from promotions, tips, pool income, and the like. The pool system is exclusively for drivers with larger cars capable of taking multiple groups of passengers at once, which offers a simple way for passengers to split the cost of the bill while keeping drivers moving.

Remember: any time that you're not actively moving is a time you won't be earning money, so this is definitely worth avoiding where possible.

Lyft Pay Structure

The Lyft pay structure is generally very similar to Uber's but with a slightly easier-to-understand structure. The basic pay is calculated on a per-mile and per-minute basis, with promotions and tips also increasing a driver's earnings. Importantly, Lyft also places a limit on the minimum and maximum rates, meaning that any rides above this max distance will be automatically declined.

What App Pays More Per Hour: Uber or Lyft?

In terms of the hourly rate, Lyft is generally considered to pay slightly more than Uber. However, there is no set hourly rate for either app since drivers are paid instead on a piece-rate basis. As such, this is important to consider as part of your decision since the hourly rate will likely vary.

With that being said, a large-scale review of Lyft and Uber drivers found that hourly income for Lyft is usually around $2 more than Uber. For example, Lyft's average incomes are around $18 per hour, while Uber's average income can sometimes average as low as $15 per hour. With this thought in mind, at the outset, you may be able to earn slightly more with Lyft; this may be because Lyft riders are generally more likely to pay a tip than Uber riders.

LYFT VS UBER: OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER

In addition to the rate of pay, you should consider many other factors when deciding which app to drive with. Each person is likely to have different priorities, but considering the main differences will definitely help with your decision.

A Brief History of Lyft and Uber: Which is Older?

Lyft and Uber are two of the best-known brands in the ridesharing field, but of the two, Uber is slightly older. Lyft started life as part of 'Zimride' in 2012, which was originally focused on long-distance drives, with Lyft being just an additional service. Meanwhile, Uber started life several years earlier, in 2008, under the name of UberCab, although the app didn't come out for mobile until a couple of years later, in 2010.

As such, in terms of experience, Uber is the leading brand, but only marginally. Therefore, it's safe to say that both teams have honed their services over the past decade, making either a good option.

A person and person in a carDescription automatically generated with low confidence

Where Do Lyft and Uber Operate?

Both Lyft and Uber operate within the United States. However, Uber generally has better coverage overall within the US, which may influence the number of rides you can take on; the number of locations covered by Uber is drastically more than Lyft, making it open for almost any driver. Furthermore, Uber also operates in a larger number of countries outside of the USA.

What Services do Uber and Lyft Offer?

When considering whether Uber or Lyft is likely to be a better fit for your delivery driving goals, it's definitely important to keep services in mind.

Overall, Uber is the clear winner in this regard since it offers a broader range of services ' offering new earning opportunities for drivers and riders alike. In addition to ridesharing, Uber has also launched its Uber Eats platform for food home delivery; if you don't feel like taking passengers that day but still want to increase your side hustle income, this could be a great option.

Of course, that's not to say that Lyft is bad in terms of its range of services. However, of the two, Lyft is a little more restricted in terms of the number of orders. As such, this may influence your choice of platform.

Which App Offers Better Promotions: Lyft vs Uber?

Promotions can be a little tricky to compare since they typically change regularly, which may influence how you drive with Lyft and Uber. However,

Which Has More Users: Lyft or Uber?

Uber has significantly more users than Lyft, which may make it better suited if you're looking for a sole-driving app to make money. After all, idle time and waiting time are not paid, so you want to ensure you're on the road as much as possible to increase your earning potential.

Something as simple as cutting down on waiting time for around five minutes per hour could increase your rate of pay by almost 10% without requiring any extra investment or effort on your part, particularly. As such, it's easy to see how crucial regular riders are to make ridesharing pay well.

How do Uber and Lyft Pay Drivers?

Uber and Lyft drivers have several different payment options to choose between, depending on their preferences.

As standard, Lyft pays its drivers weekly on a Tuesday morning directly into their bank account, although this may take up to two days to arrive. They also offer a direct payment option, when payment is made immediately after the ride is completed, and an express pay system, which allows for rapid payment processing with a $0.50 fee.

Similarly, Uber also offers a weekly payment system, which requires users to set up a direct debit. Alternatively, Uber drivers can receive their pay by requesting a cashout, which takes around two to five days to appear in the driver's bank account.

Overall, these are both very similar. However, Lyft offers more options for payment compared to Uber, which may make it a little more versatile in this regard. It also pays slightly quicker than Uber, which could be helpful for drivers who need cash in their accounts a little more quickly.

A picture containing car, person, outdoor, vehicleDescription automatically generated

Do Uber or Lyft Cover Driver Expenses?

One of the biggest blows for many new rideshare drivers is the cost of providing services. Indeed, an income of around $20 per hour sounds pretty nice until you consider that many drivers have expenses of around $5 ' that's one-quarter of the total income! Surely there's a way for Uber and Lyft to pay for this?

Well, unfortunately, there is no specific fuel payment for either Uber or Lyft. This is because you work as an independent contractor on both platforms. However, Uber's recent changes in March 2022 have helped make it the more appealing option marginally from a fuel perspective; a fuel surcharge is now added to riders' bills of roughly $0.50, which helps reduce your expenses a little.

However, Lyft comes through in terms of the big bills, offering vehicle services through its partnerships with repair team brands to help ensure that drivers' vehicles are in good condition at all times.

Lyft vs. Uber: Driver Requirements

When choosing the best gig apps for your side hustle, ensuring you meet the driver requirements is crucial ' after all, you won't be able to apply if not, anyway!

The main requirements for Lyft are that you'll need to complete a criminal and driving history background check, hold an active driver's license, hold all necessary insurance to use your car, and own a four-door car or rental vehicle.

The requirements for Uber are slightly more, but only marginally. Similarly to Lyft, you'll need to meet your city's minimum driving age, hold an active US driver's license, have access to a four-door vehicle, and be able to provide vehicle insurance as necessary. Uber will also complete driver screening, as with Lyft. However, you'll also need to upload proof of residency and a driver photograph to begin working on the platform and have at least one year of driving experience.

Overall, Lyft vs Uber is very similar in terms of driver requirements. As such, this is unlikely to greatly impact your final decision.

CAN YOU DRIVE FOR BOTH UBER AND LYFT?

If you're not sure which suits you better ' Uber or Lyft ' you could always consider driving for both! Indeed, there's nothing to say you can't drive for both since you are an independent contractor; this means you are free to work on multiple apps whenever you want. So, feel free to take on rides from as many companies as you would like rather than being tied to just one! This can also offer unique opportunities for streamlining your driving plans, helping increase your hourly rate.

How to Streamline Multiapping on Uber and Lyft with the Para App

If you'd like to streamline your earning opportunities, there are plenty of excellent options you could consider. Crucially, the best way to do this when it comes to rideshare driving is to consider multiapping.

Now, multiapping isn't a simple process. It takes a lot of thought and juggling to make it work ' but when you multi-app with Para, it suddenly becomes incredibly easy!

Multiapping with Para helps you take on the best ride offers rather than the ones that will leave you feeling out of pocket. In turn, this can substantially increase your earning potential, allowing you to enjoy a far better pay rate for your gig driving. It also displays all of the information that you need to know in one place, making it an ideal personal dispatch tool. And, after all, why do you deserve any less?

Trying to earn a stable income with just a single delivery app isn't always reliable or predictable. And, in these uncertain times, this can be a real blow for delivery drivers, potentially being the difference between making a good income and wasting your time.

In addition to this, Para also offers a brand new system ' ParaWorks ' that offers an excellent solution to help grow your income. So, why not give this a try? You might find it's exactly what you need to streamline your efficiency while driving for rideshare apps.

May be an image of text that says "Features may vary slightly by platform. Subject to change. Para Features Offered With Each Platform Each GH Auto Accept Decline Uber Uber Eats Estimated Total Payout lyft Food Ready-By Time Dollar Per Mile Total Drive Time & Mileage Apt. vs. House Passenger Rating Flagging Feature Drop Off Address Pickup Address"

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you've been looking to find out who pays more: Lyft or Uber, today's guide should have given you some ideas as to which app is better. However, it's well worth considering that there are many other differences between Uber and Lyft.

As such, it may not be immediately clear which of the two is the right one to choose. Luckily, if you're feeling unsure about whether Uber or Lyft is the right option, you can absolutely drive for both Uber and Lyft if you'd prefer. Better still, the Para app makes this effortless, so you shouldn't have to worry about making your time worthwhile. Give it a try ' it could transform how you make money on the side going forward.

Extra Reading: