Uber review: one app for rides, food and errands, with the savings kept for members

Uber's rider app, in brief

Uber is Uber Technologies' app for booking a car, a taxi or a scooter, and it now handles food delivery, parcel drop-offs, car hire and group coaches from the same screen. It is a sound choice for anyone who wants one account for getting around and getting things delivered, provided they accept that the app itself is free and the services inside it are not.

The app has passed 1,000,000,000 installs on Google Play. This is the passenger side of Uber. Drivers use a separate app, Uber Driver, and none of the earning tools are in this one.

Choosing the car

The core job is booking a ride, and the range of options is wide. UberX is the standard private car. UberX Priority, according to the company, gets you a faster pickup. UberXL takes groups of up to 6, and Comfort promises newer cars with more legroom.

At the top end there are Black and Premier, which Uber describes as luxury rides with professional or highly rated drivers. Electric and Comfort Electric put you in zero-emission cars. Uber Pet lets a pet travel with you, and a Taxi option lets you hail an ordinary cab through the app.

For short trips there is a 2-wheels option for finding a scooter. Uber Hourly keeps a car and driver with you for several hours, which suits a day of meetings or a series of errands better than booking a new trip each time.

Knowing the fare and sharing it

Uber says it shows an upfront price and an estimated arrival time as soon as you enter a destination. For a rider, the practical point is that the fare can be checked before committing, rather than worked out from a meter afterwards.

There are three ways to bring that fare down. UberX Share pairs you with other passengers going the same way. Group Rides puts friends in one car. Split Fare divides the cost evenly between riders while the trip is still under way.

Rides can also be reserved in advance for a set time. That is the feature that matters for early flights or appointments, when waiting to see whether a car is nearby is not an option.

More than a taxi app

Food delivery runs through Uber Eats inside this app, along with groceries, pharmacy items, convenience goods and pet supplies. The standalone Uber Eats app also exists, but people who already use Uber for rides do not need a second app to order dinner.

Uber Connect sends items across town the same day without any contact, for example a care package or something sold online. A Transit feature covers public transport planning, which the company presents as a way to avoid confusing timetables and transfers.

Car rental is offered for trips where you would rather drive yourself, such as a weekend away or an airport run. Uber Charter books high-capacity vehicles seating 14 to 55 passengers, including limo buses and coaches, for weddings, teams or company outings.

What it costs, and what Uber One adds

The app costs nothing to download. Every ride, delivery, rental or charter is paid for when you use it, so the real cost depends on how often you travel and which tier you choose.

Uber One is the company's membership. Uber says members pay a $0 delivery fee, get up to 10% off eligible delivery and pickup orders, and receive 6% Uber Cash back on eligible rides. The company adds that other fees and terms apply.

The wording matters. The savings apply to eligible orders and rides rather than to everything, and the cashback comes as Uber Cash to spend in the app, not as money back to your card. The membership only pays off for people who order and ride often enough for those percentages to cover what it costs.

Families, groups and businesses

Parents get an Uber Car Seat option, but it comes with clear limits. Uber says it provides one forward-facing seat, for a child at least 2 years old, 22 pounds and 31 inches tall. Families with babies or with more than one young child will need another arrangement.

For companies, Uber for Business puts travel and meal programmes on a single dashboard so spending can be managed and tracked. Uber also says it includes in-app VoIP calling, so riders and drivers can reach each other during a trip. The company says it has built safety features for both riders and drivers.

Who should look elsewhere

Anyone who only wants a taxi now and then may find the app more than they need. Food, groceries, parcels, rentals, coaches and business accounts all share space with ride booking, and the member offers are aimed at people who use several of those services.

Occasional riders should skip Uber One, since its value depends on frequent eligible orders. Parents of infants should not rely on the car seat option. For regular travellers who also order delivery, the range of ride tiers, upfront fares and ways to split costs make it a strong single app, on the understanding that the best prices come with a membership.