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NYC rideshare apps are a dime a dozen and even though several have consolidated, there are several options to choose from. If you’re visiting New York City, Uber and Lyft might be your go-to options, but they’re not the cheapest options. In fact, you might be paying twice the fare by using Uber over a lesser-known competitor.
Taxi apps in NYC can offer fantastic value if you want a classic experience, or you might want to hitch a helicopter ride with Blade to avoid traffic.
Some of NYC’s rideshare apps do a better job of catering to large groups, luxury travelers, or those looking for faster transportation options. Here’s a closer look at the best rideshare services in New York City.
Table of Contents
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:
- Best for tourists: Uber
- Best Uber alternative in NYC: Lyft
- Best for luxury rideshares: Luxy Ride
- Best for groups: Snow Limo
- Best for helicopter rides: Blade
- Best NYC taxi app: Curb
Uber: Best NYC rideshare app for tourists
- New user promo: Receive 50% off two trips with referral code 4uk3gqn3c31t (up to $10 per ride)
Uber is the best NYC rideshare app option for tourists, since most people already have this app on their phones. It’s familiar and there’s no learning curve involved. In New York City, Uber is generally cheaper than Lyft – sometimes by 20% or more. Uber also offers the most fare options, with 13 different fare types and public transit pricing included.
If you’re traveling alone and are willing to share a ride, Uber’s shuttle can be a great way to save on rides to anad from the airport. Just give yourself a little extra time to get to the airport, since these shuttles make numerous stops.
You might also choose Uber if you have an American Express Gold Card, which comes with a monthly $10-$15 credit. Meanwhile, Amex Platinum cardholders receive $15-$20 in monthly Uber credit. But beware: Users have noticed a fare spike when applying these credits, so be sure to compare them before booking your ride.
To receive the Amex benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version 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.
Sample Uber fares between NYC airports and Manhattan
| New York-JFK Airport (JFK) to Manhattan | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Manhattan | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Manhattan | |
| Uber Shuttle | $24 | $20 | $19.29 |
| Uber X | $56.93 | $32.85 | $47.15 |
| Uber X VIP | $56.93 | $34.15 | $47.18 |
| Uber Electric | $56.93 | $32.85 | N/A |
| Uber WAV | $56.93 | $32.85 | N/A |
| Uber Pet | $61.39 | $37.29 | $50.35 |
| Uber Comfort | $73.32 | $42.14 | $58.38 |
| Uber Comfort Electric | $76.43 | N/A | N/A |
| Uber XL | $80.78 | $46.18 | $57.58 |
| Uber Black | $90.58 | $56.68 | $118.98 |
| Uber VIP | $95.38 | $59.68 | N/A |
| Uber XXL | $96.82 | $55.44 | $64.99 |
| Uber Black SUV | $127.60 | $81.90 | $141.98 |
Uber One
If you join Uber One for $8 per month or $96 per year, you can earn 6% back in Uber One credits. You’ll also qualify for exclusive offers and premium support.
Lyft: Best Uber alternative in NYC
- New user promo: Get 50% off one ride with referral code ARIANA431.
Lyft is the best Uber alternative in New York City, though it can be slightly pricier. You can save by taking advantage of a referral code and $10 monthly credit from the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Reserve for Business, and J.P. Morgan Reserve cards.
Lyft offers 12 different fare types ranging from Standard to Black SUV. While Lyft doesn’t offer a shuttle service like Uber, Lyft’s surge fares are lower. This can save you a lot of money if you’re in town during a busy period.
Lyft fares between NYC airports and Manhattan
Be aware that Lyft uses dynamic pricing based on your data. This means the algorithm might raise prices based on what it determines you’re willing to pay. As usual, compare fares before booking.
| New York-JFK Airport (JFK) to Manhattan | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Manhattan | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Manhattan | |
| Lyft Standard | $59.30 | $32.70 | $44.10 |
| Lyft Wheelchair | $58.82 | $31.75 | N/A |
| Lyft Green | $59.30 | $32.70 | $44.10 |
| Lyft XL | $77.82 | $48.37 | $58.35 |
| Lyft Pet | $63.10 | $37.45 | $47.90 |
| Lyft Extra Comfort | $77.35 | $47.90 | $57.40 |
| Lyft Black | $88.10 | $56.55 | $115.10 |
| Lyft XXL | $93.55 | $59.30 | $71.65 |
| Lyft Black SUV | $119.60 | $72.75 | $115.55 |
Lyft Pink
You can save on Lyft rides in NYC and elsewhere with a Lyft Pink membership. Members get a 10% discount on Lyft Black, Black SUV, and XL rides. Plus, you’ll receive free bike rentals and discounts on ebikes. Lyft Pink costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year.
Lyft Pink also includes GrubHub+ membership, which is great for delivering food to your hotel when you’re too tired from walking all over the city.
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.
Luxy fares between NYC airports and Manhattan
With the $20 discount on first bookings, Luxy can work out cheaper than other NYC rideshare apps and provide a more comfortable experience.
| New York-JFK Airport (JFK) to Manhattan | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Manhattan | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Manhattan | |
| Standard | $86.38 | $79.70 | $116.10 |
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.
Snow Limo fares between NYC airports and Manhattan
Snow Limo 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.
| New York-JFK Airport (JFK) to Manhattan | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Manhattan | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Manhattan | |
| Two-person sedan | $128.98 | $72.90 | $122 |
| XL SUV (6-person) | $154.37 | $87.60 | $147.17 |
| 10-person van | $203.76 | $126.30 | $196.26 |
| 14-person van | $223.15 | $135 | $214.35 |
| 10-person stretch limo | $349.34 | $226.50 | $335.25 |
Blade: Best for helicopter rides
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 $25 toward future helicopter rides.
Blade advertises 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 fares between NYC airports and Manhattan
It’s worth noting that Blade flights out of Newark are limited. Most of the time, you’ll be prompted to book a chartered helicopter for $1,850.
| New York-JFK Airport (JFK) to Manhattan | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Manhattan | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Manhattan | |
| Standard | $195 | N/A | $195 |
Blade also offers helicopter service from Manhattan to Atlantic City, The Hamptons, Montauk, and other destinations. If you want convenience, Blade is the way to go.
Curb Taxi app: Best for taxis
- 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 fares between NYC airports and Manhattan
| New York-JFK Airport (JFK) to Manhattan | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Manhattan | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Manhattan | |
| Standard | $73.34 | $46.76 | $116.48 |
Honorable mention: Arro
- 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 fares between NYC airports and Manhattan
| New York-JFK Airport (JFK) to Manhattan | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Manhattan | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Manhattan | |
| Standard | $77 | $45 | $75 |
How to find the cheapest rideshare 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, 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.
- Discounted gift cards: Costco sells $100 Uber gift cards for $79.99, allowing you to save around 20% on rides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper in NYC taxi or Uber
NYC taxis are generally cheaper than Uber. Taxi apps like Arro don’t impose surge pricing, while Uber does.
How do I call a Taxi in NYC?
You can call a Taxi in NYC by using the Curb or Arro apps. You can also hail a ride on the street and then use the Arro app to pay for it.
Is Curb cheaper than Lyft?
Curb doesn’t have surge pricing, so it’s sometimes cheaper than Lyft, depending on where you’re going and when. However, Lyft has more vehicle options and if you have Lyft Pink, you can save quite a bit on your rideshares
What is the best Uber alternative in NYC?
The best Uber alternative in NYC is Lyft, which has cheaper fares. Lyft also has a large network and transportation options, including accessible rides.
Which rideshare is best in NYC?
Lyft is the best rideshare app in NYC thanks to the lowest rates. But if you want more high-end vehicles, you might want to check out Luxy. Additionally, Blade is the best option for fast rides to the airport.
Is Via still in NYC?
Unfortunately, Via is no longer in New York City. Via stopped operating in December 2021.
My recent email to via: Dear Via,
After a couple of years of excellent riding with via, I am deeply disappointed by your imminent demise. Now, when I try to book a ride, the delays are usually over 15 minutes and the price is not competitive with a yellow cab. Why would anyone choose a ride share under such conditions? Sorry to see you go.
Richard Novick
I miss Via rideshares so much!! So reliable and cheap! Is there anything similar still around?
Via was awesome! There are lots of great alternatives. I personally think Empower is the best one. Low fares and the drivers get the lion’s share of it.
Now I think I need to visit NYC! Thanks for all the tips!!
You do! Let me know if you want a list of recs.
Thanks Ariana, very helpful information as always.
May I be so bold to request an update on how to liquidate my Staples/OD-OM $200 Visa and MC gift cards at WM or other. Nobody seems to want to touch this subject online.
Love Ya, Bye
That’s very much a YMMV scenario, unfortunately. I know officially WM doesn’t allow it anymore but some people report exceptions in different regions. There is also Kwik Stop gas stations and the odd grocery store where you can liquidate gc’s on a hit/miss basis.