Uber dominates ride-sharing, taking in roughly 70 percent of US riders spending and leaving Lyft with the rest. But this week's earnings reports revealed a much sharper divergence between the two companies than we've seen in the past, namely around side hustles.
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Uber now has 74% of the US rideshare market, up from 62% in 2020, according to market research firm YipitData, while Lyft's market share slipped to 26% from 38% during that same period. Meanwhile, Lyft stock has plunged nearly 90% since it went public in 2019.
63% of ridesharing customers in the US exclusively use Uber. A further 27% of consumers only book rides through Lyft. Just 10% of US customers use both Uber and Lyft.
Lyft is a great choice in times of high demand or when there is a driver nearby and you need a low cost ride fast. If you need a ride that looks good, Uber has a better selection of vehicles. If Uber is your choice, then you will pay less with UberPOOL.
Rider DemographicsAge: 49% of Lyft's users are between the ages of 18 and 34. Income: The median household income for Lyft riders is $55,000. Education: 20% of Lyft's active riders are currently students.
The company reported an adjusted Ebitda loss of $248 million during the final three months of 2022. Lyft attributed the loss to a regulatory disclosure change that requires companies to count insurance reserves, cash set aside to pay for claims and other insurance expenses, in financial measures.
The Bottom LineIf you're a rider, you will probably switch between Uber and Lyft depending on factors such as availability, convenience, and cost. If luxury is a priority, Uber is the obvious choice.
Reputation Isn't EverythingIt does look like these factors have registered in the minds of US consumers — Uber had a much lower company reputation score than Lyft. By some distance it was the lowest in the apps category, and one of the lower scores across all sectors.
A secret Uber program internally dubbed “Hell” allegedly spied on arch-rival Lyft to determine which drivers were working double shifts for both companies, letting the cab-hire app steer more work towards them in an attempt to deprive its competitor of workers.
US rider demographicsLet's take a closer look at the demographics of Uber users in the US. Unlike the drivers, male and female users are nearly an even split for riders. The majority of Uber users fall in the 16-34 age range. But 35% of riders are over the age of 35.
The unscientific sampling showed that, of 10 rides, drivers with Uber received an average of 56 percent of what I paid; of 10 with Lyft, drivers received an average of 47 percent of what I paid. Of all 20, drivers took home an average of 52 percent of what I got charged.
But, the deal actually never went through, obviously, since the two apps still co-exist. What happened? Well, as predicted, Uber didn't want to spend the $9 Billion that Lyft was asking for. In 2014, Uber tried to acquire the app with no success.
Like any other business, tipping your Uber or Lyft driver is a common courtesy rather than an obligation. Tips of anything between 10% to 20% based on how well the drive was and the length of the trip, and overall ride cost. For the average Uber or Lyft ride, this translates to anywhere from $4 to $6.
Lyft drivers report earning more per trip, but Uber drivers have a higher pay due to the greater user base. If you can't decide on a platform, consider driving for Uber and Lyft at the same time. It requires a lot of focus and some juggling, but you'll stay busy if you're searching for rides on each app.
Given Lyft's liquidity position and cash burn rate, I do not believe it will survive through 2024. Lyft may eventually find an activist or strategic buyer, but it may lack sufficient strategic value in today's economy.
Lyft began the year mired in the same ditch it ended in last year, with its ride-hailing service struggling to recover from a pandemic-driven downturn that triggered a change in leadership and layoffs that wiped out a quarter of its workforce.