Want to save on transport fees and do your part in saving the environment? We test-drive three carpool apps to see which will best help you jump on board the bandwagon.
Want to save on transport fees and do your part in saving the environment? We test-drive three carpool apps to see which will best help you jump on board the bandwagon.
Ease of use
GRABHITCH This lets you make a booking up to seven days in advance and even choose the gender of your driver. The downside is that you have to constantly check the app to see if there’s a match – it doesn’t notify you until 30 minutes before the ride. Also, only the driver’s name is provided, which means you have to wait for him or her to call before knowing which car to hop into. Rating: 3/5.
SWIFTBACK We like the simple, user-friendly interface. You can book and confirm multiple advanced and last-minute rides easily, and readily communicate with the driver via the app’s message tab. You can even see the ratings and reviews of your confirmed driver, view photos of him or her, and get details of the car, including the model, colour and license plate number. Cash and card payments are accepted. Rating: 4/5.
RYDE The mechanics are easy enough: Simply post a request for a ride or view rides offered by drivers near you, then get matched with one going your way. However, you have to purchase credits (five for $5, 20 for $10, or a year’s unlimited credits for $20). One credit will be deducted as a booking fee upon each successful match. You then pay the driver separately in cash at the end of the ride. Rating: 3/5.
Experience
GRABHITCH You can link your Facebook account to the app, and check if you and the driver have mutual friends – a great icebreaker. One of our drivers turned out to be a friend’s colleague. Of all the apps, this is the easiest one to get a match on. Rating: 5/5.
SWIFTBACK The chances of getting a match varies depending on your destination – sometimes, you may even have to readjust your pickup time to find a match. On the plus side, all the drivers we met were very friendly and all rides went smoothly. Rating: 4/5.
RYDE Of the three apps we tested, it was the hardest to get a match on this – one of us couldn’t even get a match despite trying for over a week! Apart from this, the carpool rides went without a hitch. Rating: 3/5.
Cost
GRABHITCH For a ride that usually costs $20 in cab fare, we spent $8. Rating: 4/5.
SWIFTBACK This was the cheapest option among the three apps. We spent only $6.40 for a ride that usually costs $20 if we take a cab.Rating: 5/5.
RYDE We spent $6.50 (excluding credits) for a ride that typically costs about $20 in cab fare. Rating: 4/5.
Overall rating
GRABHITCH 12/15, SWIFTBACK 13/15, RYDE 10/15.
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