Whether you need a safe ride to get home or somewhere else, there is little reason to call a cab anymore as there are services cheaper than taxis. Uber and Lyft are two ride-sharing apps that have taken over the job of taxis in most cities. Uber was founded in 2009 and Lyft in 2012. Here is what you need to know about the two different services, and how to choose between them.

Uber and Lyft apps are different and one of the main differences between the two services includes the kinds of rides you can choose. Both services offer carpooling, which provides riders with a lower-cost ride by sharing the car with another passenger. 

Here’s how the service works. A person requests a ride, the driver automatically gets directions to their destination, and then the payment for the ride is charged through the debit or credit card saved in the app. Uber and Lyft’s rates are comparable in many U.S. cities, and both services charge users more during times of high demand, such as holidays or popular sporting events. A reporter for CNET states, “Uber’s surge pricing and Lyft’s prime time can go into effect as large numbers of users commute to work.”

When choosing which app to use, another important consideration is which service is available where you live or are traveling. Both Uber and Lyft are available in cities across the U.S. and around the world, though Uber is available in more cities than Lyft. Kyla Redmond, an eighth-grader at McAuliffe Middle School, uses both driving services and states that “Lyft is a better driving service because the driver’s don’t talk to you.” 

At the end of the day, both services are unique in their own way and will continue to make improvements. When it comes to transportation, these services have made getting from A to B more convenient for many people all around the world.