Straight to your inbox
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.
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, Newcastle, Geelong, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast or Perth though and simply searching for a cheap ride, DiDi wins hands-down.
| 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, Geelong, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. | Uber |
| Which types of cars can I book? |
|
| 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 |
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 | $0.36 | $0.30 | DiDi |
| Charge per kilometre | $1.16 | $1.08 for the first 7kms, dropping to $0.98 after | DiDi |
| Cancellation fee | $10.00 | $4.00 | DiDi |
DiDi offers extremely competitive prices, so if you're looking for the cheapest ride then DiDi is easily the first choice.
DiDi offers riders up to $20 off its 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.
Contiki
Up to 25% off last-minute tours worldwide
Available for travel on select dates from July 2020 onward. Book a range of last-minute Contiki tours, from week-long jaunts to month-long journeys, to destinations including Italy, France, Germany, Iceland, Greece, Vietnam, Thailand, USA, Canada and more.
Last verified
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2020 | Up to 25% off last-minute tours worldwide | ******** |
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.
