Ride-hailing users often check both Uber and Lyft to find the cheapest or fastest option, which requires manually entering pickup and drop-off locations in both apps and comparing prices. This process is inefficient, especially during peak hours or in unfamiliar areas. Price disparities between the two services can be significant, but users may miss savings due to the hassle of switching apps.

How It Could Work

One way to address this problem is by creating an app that integrates with Uber and Lyft’s APIs to fetch real-time ride options and prices for a given route. The app could display a side-by-side comparison of prices, estimated arrival times, and ride types, then recommend the cheapest or fastest option. Users could then book the selected ride directly within the app, eliminating the need to switch between Uber and Lyft. Additional features might include saving frequent routes, tracking loyalty points across services, or alerting users when surge pricing ends.

• For users: Saves time and money by automating price comparisons.
• For Uber/Lyft: Could drive incremental bookings through affiliate partnerships.
• For developers: Revenue could come from affiliate fees, subscriptions, or ads.

Execution Strategy

A possible approach would be to start with a basic price comparison tool (MVP) that redirects users to Uber or Lyft for booking via deep links. This would validate demand without requiring API access. If successful, the next phase could involve partnering with Uber and Lyft to enable in-app booking. Finally, premium features like multi-stop comparisons or loyalty tracking could be added to enhance value.

Comparison with Existing Solutions

Current apps like RideGuru compare prices but don’t offer booking, while others like Mystro target drivers rather than riders. Citymapper includes ride-hailing but focuses primarily on public transit. This idea stands out by automating the entire process—from comparison to booking—specifically for ride-hailing.

The key challenge would be gaining API access and building user trust, but starting with a simple comparison tool could mitigate early risks while proving the concept’s value.