Find out if Australia's newest ridesharing app, DiDi, will win you over from Uber as a passenger.
Uber is a long-time favourite as the original ridesharing app but with more apps making their way into the Australian market it's time to take a closer look at which offers the best deals.
Chinese app DiDi made an appearance in Australia in mid-2018 and the company is delivering prices that are very competitive.
We took a closer look at fees, deals, locations and more to help you decide which ridesharing app is best for you.
TL;DR: Our verdict
The winner: Uber wins overall as it's more widely available and offers a range of cars, including maxi cabs for larger parties. If you're in Melbourne, Geelong or Newcastle though and simply searching for a cheap ride, DiDi wins hands-down.
Uber vs DiDi
| Feature | Uber | DiDi | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where is it available? | Major Australian and regional cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Townsville and Geelong. | Melbourne, Newcastle and Geelong. | Uber |
| Which types of cars can I book? | Sedans SUVs Luxury sedans Vans Larger vehicles (Uber Assist) | Sedans SUVs | Uber |
| Does it take cash? | No | No | Both |
| Does it take card? | Yes | Yes | Both |
| Does it deliver food? | Yes, through the Uber Eats app. | No | Uber |
| Does it allow dogs? | Assistance animals are accepted. Yes, so long as the driver confirms their permission. | Assistance animals are accepted. Pets are accepted at the discretion of the driver. | Both |
| Do fares include GST? | Yes | Yes | Both |
| Does it have child seats? | No | Not as a standard. | Both |
| Does it pick up from airports? | Yes | Yes | Both |
| Does it have maxi cabs? | Yes | No | Uber |
| Catch your rideshare | Ride with Uber | Ride with DiDi |
Which offers the best price? Fees compared.
We compared Uber and DiDi side by side to see which app came out as the cheapest.
Fees were calculated on the most economic fares in Melbourne.
| Uber | DiDi | Which is better? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base fare | $2.00 | $1.98 | DiDi |
| Booking fee | $0.55 | $0.00 | DiDi |
| Minimum fare | $7.50 | $6.98 | DiDi |
| Charge per minute | $0.35 | $0.30 | DiDi |
| Charge per kilometre | $1.15 | $1.08 for the first 7kms, dropping to $0.98 after | DiDi |
| Cancellation fee | $10.00 | $6.00 | DiDi |
The verdict?
DiDi offers extremely competitive prices, so if you're looking for the cheapest ride then DiDi is easily the first choice.
What are the deals like?
DiDi offers riders $20 off their first ride whilst Uber has $12 off for first ride. Uber and DiDi also give riders the chance to earn free rides by sharing referrals.
UBER
$12 off first ride
Valid on your first Uber ride anywhere in Australia (T&Cs apply). Only available through Finder.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
DiDi
Get $20 credit
Get $5 off each of your first four rides in Melbourne and Geelong. Valid on all dates for new users. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Popular UBER coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 30 May 2019 | Get $20 credit | FIN**** |
| 31 May 2019 | $12 off first ride | ******** |
Uber vs DiDi: Which won?
Uber is the winner as it's available in all major cities and has a wide range of vehicles and services, including maxi cabs and food delivery.
Here's a list of both of their winning points:
Uber
- Available in all major Australian cities
- Wide variety of vehicles including maxi cabs and assistance vehicles
- More than just a rideshare, Uber also delivers food
DiDi:
- DiDi offers cheaper fares across all aspects including booking fee, minimum fare and charge per kilometre
