The 8 best NYC rideshare apps for every traveler

NYC rideshare apps are a dime a dozen and even though several have consolidated, there are still at least seven to choose from. If you’re visiting New York City and depending on Uber and Lyft to get around, you may as well throw money out the window. These apps are notoriously overpriced and you may better off using one of the other NYC rideshare apps to get around.

Some of these other apps do a better job of catering to large groups, luxury travelers or those looking for faster transportation options (i.e. helicopter). Here’s a closer look at some of the best rideshare apps in New York City.

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Best rideshare apps in New York City

Whether you’re looking for a quick hope around the city or a ride to one of New York’s airports, ridesharing apps can make the experience more comfortable, convenient and affordable. Here’s a look at the best NYC rideshare apps:

• Cheapest NYC rideshare app: Empower
• Best for tourists: App recommendations for easy navigation and sightseeing.
• Best Uber alternative in NYC: Lyft
• Best for electric cars: Revel Rideshare
• Best for luxury rideshares: Luxy Ride
• Best for groups: Snow Limo
• Best for helicopter rides: Blade
• Best NYC taxi app: Arro

Empower: Cheapest NYC rideshare app

• New user promo: Get $10 ride credit when you sign up with my link (promo code 8YM1WY).

A lot has been said about rideshare apps exploiting while reaping the lion’s share of rewards. The Empower rideshare app is driver-owned and one of the most affordable options in New York City. Not only does 100% of the fares go directly to drivers, but riders save money too.

During a test booking for rides from New York City airports, I found Empower’s fares to be nearly half of what other rideshare companies charge. Even premium XL cars were cheaper than most other NYC rideshare apps.

So if you want to save money on NYC rideshares and support the drivers rather than a large corporation, go with Empower. The app also allows users to specify the driver’s gender and designate “favorite” drivers for future rides. This provides added safety and peace of mind.

• Empower fare from New York-JFK Airport to Manhattan: $52.13
• Empower fare from La Guardia Airport to Manhattan: $34.73
• Empower fare from Newark Liberty International to Manhattan: $77.08

Note: The Drivers Cooperative is another driver-owned app serving NYC, but it kept crashing. After multiple tries, I couldn’t get it to work so I had to delete it. If you’ve used the Coop app and have any feedback, please share in the comments.

Uber: Best NYC rideshare app for tourists

• New user promo: Receive 70% off two Reserve trips (save up to $85 per trip)

Uber is the best NYC rideshare app option for tourists, since most people already have this app on their phones and it’s familiar. So there’s no learning curve involved. In New York City, Uber is generally cheaper than Lyft – sometimes by 20% or more. However, you should always compare fares before booking one or the other.

You might also want to use Uber if you have an American Express® Gold Card, which comes with a monthly $10-$15 credit. Meanwhile, The Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders receive $15-$20 in monthly Uber credit. So be sure to factor these credits into any fare comparison while comparing rideshare apps in New York City. Terms apply.

To receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States.

• Uber fare from New York-JFK Airport to Manhattan (Grand Central): $76.93
• Uber fare from La Guardia Airport to Manhattan: $52.91
• Uber fare from Newark Liberty International to Manhattan: $78.90

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Lyft: Best Uber alternative in NYC

• New user promo: Get 50% off two rides.

Lyft is the best Uber alternative in New York City and even got a boost following the massive Uber boycott seven years ago. Back then, Lyft was much cheaper than Uber but that seems to have changed in recent years,

Still, a ride that would have cost $72 ended up being just $35. Minus a $10 Lyft referral credit, it cost me just $25 to take Lyft from the airport to Hell’s Kitchen. I tipp the driver $15, but it still ended up way cheaper than any other rideshare option (that I was aware of at the moment). Lyft Line has since been discontinued, but you might be able to save by riding Lyft Green and/or opting to wait longer for a ride,

It’s also worth noting that Lyft surge fares are generally lower than Uber’s. This can save you a lot of money if you’re in town during a busy period.

• Lyft fare from New York-JFK Airport to Manhattan: $80.99 ($76.95 with Lyft Pink)
• Lyft fare from La Guardia Airport to Manhattan: $55.69 ($52.91 with Lyft Pink)
• Lyft fare from Newark Liberty International to Manhattan: $80.87 ($76.83 with Lyft Pink)

Revel Rideshare: Best for electric cars

• New user bonus: Get 70% off the first ride and 25% off the following three rides (code ARIANA8199).

If you want to ride around New York City while being environmentally friendly, Revel Rideshare is a great choice. Revel NYC is an all-electric rideshare service. Their cars are hard to miss, with its bright blue Teslas driving all over town – no more guessing which car pulling up to a busy curb might be yours. 

I signed up for Revel a few years ago when they had a system error and were giving away hundreds of dollars in free rides. They honored this mistake and I went to New York the next week, expecting to ride around the city for free. I was wrong.

Either the app was blacklisting code users or demand was too high – in any case, I could never find a driver to pick me up. Revel Rideshare has become much more ubiquitous around NYC, so you’ll probably have an easier time finding a driver on the app.

• Revel fare from New York-JFK Airport to Manhattan: $74.76
• Revel fare cost from La Guardia Airport to Manhattan: $62.98
• Revel fare cost from Newark Liberty International to Manhattan: $103.76

Luxy Ride: Best for luxury rideshares

• New user promo: Use code luxy20 to save $20 on your first booking.

Luxy was one of the most problematic NYC rideshare apps I tested. I signed up and confirmed my account, but I wasn’t able to log back in. Was I typing in the wrong password? No, because when I tried to reset it, I received a message stating that the email address was not on file. So I made another account using the same username and password – I still couldn’t get in.

But the good news is that you can still search fares in guest mode. Luxy markets itself as a luxury rideshare option in NYC. Users can book a luxury sedan or an extra-large SUV with room for six passengers. Luxury offers a travel agent program that includes a 10% commission on client ride bookings. Plus, with the $20 discount on first bookings, Luxy can work out cheaper than other NYC rideshare apps and provide a more comfortable experience.

• Luxy fare from New York-JFK Airport to Manhattan: $86.38 for a 3-person sedan
• Luxy fare from La Guardia Airport to Manhattan: $79.70
• Luxy fare from Newark Liberty International to Manhattan: $116.15

Snow Limo: Best NYC rideshare for large groups

• New user promo: None.

If you’re traveling to New York City with a large group, Snow Limo might be your best option. Snow Limo specializes in large (and luxury) vehicles. The company offers everything from a two-person sedan to six-person luxury SUVs, fourteen-passenger vans and limousines with room for ten people. 

Snow Limo allows users to select women-only drivers, child seats and wheelchair-accessible cars. Rides may be more expensive than other rideshare companies, but since they specialize in large vehicles, you’re more likely to find one that fits your large group.

• Snow Limo fare from New York-JFK Airport to Manhattan: $128.98 for a two-person sedan, $154.37  XL SUV (6-person), $203.76 for a ten-person van, $223.15 for a 14-person XL Van, $349.34 for a 10person stretch limo

• Snow Limo fare from La Guardia Airport to Manhattan: $72.90 for a two-person sedan, $87.60 XL SUV (6-person), $126.30 for a ten-person van, $135 for a 14-person XL Van, $226.50 for a 10person stretch limo.
• Snow Limo fare from Newark Liberty International to Manhattan: $122 for a two-person sedan, $147.17 XL SUV (6-person), $196.26 for a ten-person van, $214.35  for a 14-person XL Van, $335.24 for a 10person stretch limo.

Blade: Best for helicopter rides

• New user promo: Get $50 off your first Blade helicopter ride (code ArianaA053)

Blade is known as the “Uber of helicopters,” Blade offers helicopter rides between Manhattan and New York City airports. While chartering a helicopter will normally set you back $2,000 or more, Blade lets you book a seat on a shared helicopter ride for only $195. If you sign up with a referral code, you can save $50 on your first ride. Make additional referrals and you’ll get more $50 savings on future helicopter rides.

Blade promises a 5-minute ride to JFK Airport, though in reality, it ends up being closer to 20 minutes. That’s because you’ll be dropped off at a helicopter pad near the airport and then driven to your terminal. Still, it beats sitting in traffic for an hour or more on peak days. In fact, the $145 discounted fare is pretty close to what a ride to the airport costs during rush hour, so it can be worthwhile. You’ll get to enjoy the Blade Lounge, see the city from above and save precious time. 

Blade also offers helicopter service from Manhattan to Atlantic City, The Hamptons, and other destinations. If you want convenience, Blade is the way to go. 

• Blade fare from New York-JFK Airport to Manhattan: $195.
• Blade fare from La Guardia Airport to Manhattan: N/A.
• Blade fare from Newark Liberty International to Manhattan: $195 (limited. Most of the time, you’ll be prompted to book a chartered helicopter for $1850).

Arro: Best NYC Taxi app

• New user promo: None.

New York City cab rides can be cheaper than Uber and Lyft, but less convenient to hail. With the Arro taxi app you can hail a ride quickly from your phone. Arro doesn’t impose surge pricing, though it does carry a $2 booking fee and a $3 charge on pre-booking rides up to 48 hours in advance. 

If you still want to hail a cab in an impossibly stylish fashion a la Carrie Bradshaw, you can. Arro is both a ride-hailing and ride-paying app. So you can grab a cab the old-fashioned way and then simply use the app to pay the driver. 

• Arro fare from New York-JFK Airport to Manhattan: $77 for a four-person taxi
• Arro fare from La Guardia Airport to Manhattan: $45
• Arro fare from Newark Liberty International to Manhattan: $75

Honorable mention: Curb Taxi app

• New user promo: Get $10 off your first Curb ride.

After Uber disrupted the transportation industry, taxi companies struck back with their own app: Curb. The Curb NYC taxi app partners with every yellow and green taxi company in New York City. 

Taxi companies partnering with Curb in New York City include NYC Yellow Cabs and NYC Green Cabs. I didn’t personally use the Curb App while in New York, so I can’t comment on functionality. However, if you don’t mind taking taxis, you may appreciate getting $10 off your first Curb ride. 

The great thing about Curb’s referral program is that referral credits don’t have to be used on a single ride. If your ride ends up costing less than $10, the remaining balance can be applied to the next ride.

• Curb fare from New York-JFK Airport to Manhattan: $74.34
• Curb fare from La Guardia Airport to Manhattan: $46.76
• Curb fare from Newark Liberty International to Manhattan: $116.48

How to find the cheapest rideshare fares in NYC

With so many NYC rideshare apps and taxi services, finding the cheapest ride can be a chore. Luckily, there’s an app that can help you compare prices – it’s called Obi. Simply enter your departure point and destination, and Obi will show you fares for multiple rideshare and NYC taxi apps.

You’ll get the most accurate pricing by linking your rideshare accounts to Obi. This way, discounts like Lyft Pink and Uber One get factored into the fare estimates.

You can toggle between the “cheapest” and “fastest” NYC rideshare options. You can even narrow down your options by vehicle type (standard, XL, Luxury, other). 

Obi displays fares from Carmel, Curb, Lyft and Uber. While Obi excludes key services like Snow Limo and Revel, it can still cut down the amount of time spent comparing fares between these four services. 

How to save on NYC rideshare apps

Aside from comparing fares, you can save on New York City ridesharing apps by taking advantage of promotions and credit card offers. 

American Express Uber credits: The Amex Gold and Platinum cards both offer monthly Uber credits that can save you money on NYC ridesharing. These credits don’t roll over, but they do get issued every month. 

Lyft Pink with Chase: Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get two free years of Lyft Pink membership, which includes ride discounts and 10X points. You must activate your membership by Dec. 31, 2024 and it’s valid through March 2025.

Refer a friend: Most NYC rideshare apps have referral programs that reward members who spread the word. It’s worth signing up for these programs with a referral code ahead of time and then sharing it with friends and family after. I’ve added my own referral credits throughout this guide – thank you for your support!

Ongoing promotions: If you opt-in to receive email alerts from rideshare companies, you’ll be notified of ongoing promotions. No one likes spam, but having a separate email account for promotions like these things can help you score the odd Uber free ride code or discount.

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