I Haven’t Driven for Uber in Months!

Get real cash back from every commute, meal time, and grocery trip with the free Upside app. Frequent Upside users earn an average of $340/year. Download the free app to join them.

RSG Contributor Paula recaps?how Joe decides between Uber and Lyft

How do drivers decide which platform to drive for? What's the difference between Uber and Lyft? What earning potential do they each offer??

Ok, so it hasn’t been months upon months since Joe has driven for Uber, but he’s only driven a handful of Uber rides over the past few months. That is still a significant decline, and there is a reason why.

FEATURED YOUTUBE VIDEO

I Haven’t Driven for Uber in Months!

Watch the episode and subscribe so you don't miss the next drop!

So Why Did Joe Quit Uber?

Offers of Bonuses

For the purposes of this article, bonuses are a huge factor in this decision. Lyft has been offering solid bonuses, while Uber, frankly, has not.?

When you’re sitting down to start your day as a driver, you need to know how to make the most while doing the least.?

Suppose one platform is offering you bonuses and the other isn’t. In that case, it should be a clear decision to whom you’ll give the majority of your time, especially if the pay rate is already very similar between the two main platforms.?

Uber was also offering lower-level quests than Joe was used to from the platform, discouraging him from driving for Uber.?

Time of Day When Bonuses Are Offered

A large determining factor here for Joe is that he prefers driving during the standard work week.?

Lyft was offering great bonuses during the Monday through Thursday timeframe, while Uber was only offering bonuses on the weekends when there tend to be more drivers on the road already anyway.?

The more competition that’s out there, the less likely it is you’ll get as many requests as you need to fulfill the bonuses being offered in the first place.?

But also, in this case, it is a personal preference. Uber was obviously anticipating a need for drivers on the weekends to offer bonuses only during that time period.?

If Joe had a preference for driving on the weekends, the roles would have been reversed, and he would have focused mainly on driving for Uber to get those bonuses versus Lyft’s weekday bonuses.?

Pay attention to when you prefer driving and who is giving you better pay opportunities during the times you already drive.?

Of course, you can decide to drive on the weekends (or during the week) to switch things up and chase after those bonuses; that’s your right as a driver. But if you’re looking to keep from burning out, it’s best to have a set plan and stick with it.?

Spotting the Trends

Joe realizes that there could be other reasons why Uber is offering bonuses during less-than-ideal time slots for his schedule–they know he isn’t driving for them.?

With all the tracking that all these platforms and apps do, it’s reasonable to suspect that Uber is “punishing” him as a driver because he hasn’t been driving for them as often as he used to.?

They tend to give more bonuses to consistent drivers. That is unless they are really desperate for drivers to get back on their platform (a case in point was during the pandemic when we saw bonuses of $100 for giving three rides).?

But driver loyalty only goes so far. Joe even admits that he tended to drive more heavily for Uber until Lyft started offering these better bonuses.?

Upfront Fares Changed the Game

Lyft made some critical (almost fatal) errors in Joe’s market of Minneapolis/St. Paul when they started offering money for the distance to pick up, but in turn, slashed the overall pay rate.?

BUT then both Uber and Lyft started offering upfront fares, and the differences between the two apps are minimal at best. So, now it really does come down to bonuses and guarantees offered.?

Now, with the upfront fares on Lyft, Joe gets paid better when he takes shorter trips, which also helps him complete his bonuses. The shorter the trip, the more trips you can fit into the day. The more trips you take per day, the faster you’ll reach the bonus targets.?

Other Considerations

Another thing to take into consideration is the app itself. Which driver app is easier for you to navigate? Which app is more intuitive??

Also, the passengers. Each platform attracts different passengers. In this case, Joe tends to prefer his Lyft passengers over the ones he picks up with Uber.?

The focus of the platforms might also entice you. For instance, Joe likes the new Lyft CEO, who is rolling out initiatives to encourage drivers to get back on the Lyft platform.?

Keeping the focus on the drivers is a good way to discern between Lyft and Uber. Take care of the drivers, and you’ll create loyalty.?

RECENT PODCAST EPISODE

RSG249: David Zipper on Why Robotaxis Will be Even Worse Than Ridehail

Listen + Subscribe on Apple and Spotify!

Key Takeaways

Pay attention to what these platforms are offering you. Do the quick calculations to see if you can meet the bonus requirements and if the money is worth it for you.?

Do you prefer driving over the weekend or during the week? Keep with the platform that rewards you for the time that you prefer to be online.?

Don’t be afraid to drop off one app almost completely in favor of another. It all comes in waves. One will almost always offer better options than the other.?

Test it out week by week if you’d like a better side-by-side comparison. You might decide to change your preferences to suit the platform that you end up earning more consistently on.?

And have fun! Yes, we’re all hustling to try to make bank and pay the bills, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy what you do.

Did a friend share this with you??Subscribe here?to receive your own weekly updates on the rideshare industry.

You can also?join our YouTube channel?and?podcast community?for even more insights, interviews, and tips.

Drive Electric Sweepstakes. Enter the Hertz x Uber Drive Electric Sweepstakes for a chance to WIN BIG. Let’s Go! Enter now.