Uber built the model Snapp and Careem came from, and still runs the widest ride-hailing network in the world. Its app works the same in every country, but surge pricing at busy times can multiply the fare.
Best in City and fleet coverageBest in Reliability and safetyBest in Predictive routing
Founded
2009
Based in
San Francisco, United States
Business model
Ride-hailing and food delivery
Available in
41 countries: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, India, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana
Score by criterion, against the category
The tick on each bar is the category average; the signed number is the distance from it.
City and fleet coverage95+13
Fares and price transparency72-1
Reliability and safety88+6
Predictive routing88+7
Support and refunds74+4
Good fit for
Travellers who move between countries with one app and one account
Anyone who wants an upfront price and a precise receipt
Airport runs and short intercity trips
Less suited when
People in Iran; Uber does not operate there
Peak hours, when surge pricing drives fares up
Strengths
Present in dozens of countries and hundreds of cities with one account
Upfront price and route before you get in, with a precise receipt
In-app safety tools: trip sharing, emergency button and driver verification
Uber Eats and courier in the same app
Opportunities for improvement
Can improve by smoothing peak surge pricing multipliers for more predictable passenger fares
Opportunity to provide easier access to live agent support for journey issues
Room to tailor fare competitive positioning against regional rivals in specific markets
Verdict
For the international traveller it is the safest choice; in your own city, compare the price with the local rival.
What Uber actually is
Uber created the ride-hailing model in San Francisco in 2009, the model Snapp and Tapsi in Iran and Careem in the Middle East drew on. Uber bought Careem in 2020.
What you pay and what you get
The fare is shown before the trip and rises with a surge multiplier at high-demand times. Most countries also offer cheaper shared and pricier premium options.
Where it is strong
Network breadth and a consistent experience across countries are the main advantages: same app, same payment, same safety tools. Wait times in large cities are usually short.
How it can improve, and what we could not verify
Support runs mostly through forms and automated replies. The exact city list keeps changing; the countries listed here are only those where Uber's presence was clear. Uber does not operate in Iran.
Questions about Uber
Does Uber operate in Iran?
No. In the Iran view, Snapp and Tapsi are the main options.
Is Uber better than Careem?
Where both operate they are close; Uber is wider, Careem offers more services in one app in the Middle East.
Why does Uber sometimes cost several times more?
Surge pricing, when demand outstrips available drivers.
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Disclosure: Seemerce is developing products in some of these same areas (Seemerce Infinity). Scores are editorial assessments by Seemerce based on public information. Companies can send corrections or a reply to mahdiparto94@gmail.com. Names and logos belong to their owners and are used only to identify them; Seemerce is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
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