Travel App-tastically: The Taxi App Shootout
The man at the head of things at Uber says he wants people to stop, buying cars. Makes sense. But how dependable are these services? There's only one way to find out – a SHOOTOUT.
Uber
Perhaps, the most convenient and easy to use hire-a-taxi app out there. The app isn’t just convenient to use, it employs high-end luxury cars, and the reason we gave it a try. The app only works for real-time bookings for those who need a cab instantly and gives the ‘book a cab later’ option a clear miss. There are no receipts, no physical money involved and the charges are automatically debited from your credit card account (you have to enter your credit card details to use this app). Though, we’re still a little hesitant in sharing bank details over a server, it works great if you are in a hurry and does away with the hassle of looking for change. The app tops this list, as it goes out and meets all the safety measures to make sure you have a safe trip, especially the girls - on booking a cab, the app sends you the driver details like his picture, car model and registration number. This, coupled with the in-app facility to share the same details with your near and dear ones with a single tap, makes this app one of the most professional service providers out there. All this comes to the users at barely any premium. The difference between using other radio taxis and an Uber booked radio taxi only came in around a hundred bucks or two more.
Ola cabs
The app rides high on the wide appreciation of its ‘Ride Now’ feature that allows the users to hail the nearest cab. The app is ergonomically built on the line of one-tap features: letting you book a single/multiple cabs with a single touch. Similarly, a ‘Ride Later’ features helps you schedule a cab pickup at a later time. Aided by the location settings, a user can see the nearest cab and track its assigned cabs movement on the map. A built-in rate card gives you a heads up of the charges you will incur for the service.
To keep you coming back to the app, the developers have deployed an in-app incentive-based referral system that lets you earn rewards when you refer the app to friends. The virtual money earned can be redeemed for future travel made via the service. Wait, did we mention they charge a nominal waiting charge - only one rupee to be precise.
Meru Cabs
Almost as painful as their call center attendants is how we’d like to describe this one. Though the company claims that you can book a cab in 60 seconds, and rest assured to get one of cab from their 5500 strong fleet, that clearly isn't the case . If at all you are lucky enough to book a cab, then you might not be able to get the cab on time, and in-case you do get the cab on time, most certainly you have to pay more than what was initially confirmed to you.
Easycabs
Just like any other app, this one lets you book, track and know the details of the cab. In addition to all this, it feeds you live updates from Traffline.com, informing you of the state of traffic on the route you are taking. Also, Easycabs lets you create and manage a personal profile, reserve cab service; tag favorite locations so as to get frequent reservations to those places. It also lets you modify, as well as cancel reservations and finally, view history of the previous reservations.
Third Party Vendors
Just Cab It
This taxi service is a multi-operator Radio Taxi booking app. The taxi booking is sent directly to all drivers belonging to different cab operators like Mega Cabs, Meru Cabs, Easy cabs and several other small operators. This way, you can get a cab you want quickly. Economy taxi, Economy plus taxi, regular radio taxi and premium/SUV taxi can be called through the app. The app service is available in the Delhi NCR region currently and during our trials, we managed to get a cab in no time.
Taxi Cab Hire
This is one of India's prominent apps service incorporating a number of operators. The services of major meter radio taxi operators in Indian cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi NCR, Pune, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad can be accessed through the app. Some of the operators under the Taxi Cab Hire India service are Viira and ForShe (women only cab service in Mumbai), Meru, Olacabs, Getmecab, Traveltime, Easycabs, Tabcab etc.
Taxi Stand
By now you know, why most of these apps are listed here, so lets take you straight to the key highlights of this app. This is one stop-shop to check listed vendors, corresponding prices and availability all in one space. Just download, select your city, the mode of travel and you get an exhaustive list of all cab vendors and the prices. This is actually one of the smartest travel apps we have used.
Only on Android
Taxi For Sure
When everyone wanted to jump on the fast growing cab-for rent bandwagon, this startup took a different approach. Instead of tying up with the prominent taxi services, this company taps the local vendors, who are relatively easily available. Moreover, the app is by far the most intuitive as it tracks your traveling history and accordingly suggests similar travel routes on logging-in the next time. This service also turned out to be the most affordable.
Tab Cab
Similar interface to other apps, with a map and location enabled booking system. What stands out is the the Airport pick up tab that showcases the airport (both international and national terminals) and books a pick up right from there. If you are a frequent flier then this is the app for you. Also, one tap canceling and call the driver feature adds up to the peace of mind.
Meter Down App
Still bugged with that feeling of being duped on the actual meter reading no matter how many times you’ve taken a cab? Fret not, head to your app store and download this simple app. Open the app, set in the corresponding meter reading and never feel cheated again. Only on iOS.
Don’t want to take a cab, hop on a car-pool.
Folksvagn
How it works: FolksVagn saves the hassle of exchanging money and provides you the flexibility similar to your own vehicle. It works on the wallet feature; the site won't let you book rides if you don’t have money in your online wallet. It charges ₹3.50 per kilometer from each passenger and keeps the amount in escrow until the ride is finished and is approved by both parties. ₹3 is paid to the owner of the car and remaining 50 paise is charged by FolksVagn. The app shows all the people riding on your route and you can select the person with whom you want to travel. There is no membership fee and charges are per ride basis.
From the August 2014 issue of FHM India.
Spotted a mistake, or your photo used without permission? Report a correction
in your inbox