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Grab and Gojek help to avoid being scammed by taxi drivers in Asia and Vietnam

Southeast Asia Rideshare Apps – Review and Guide 2024

Ride-Hail and Share Apps

In the articles, we cover everything you want to know and need to know about ride-hailing and sharing apps in SE Asia. We tell you which app to use in each country and the advantages and disadvantages of each app.


We also tell you which app is best for your situation – cheapest or on a budget. Lastly, we also review the three main apps and then do a comparison of the key features, which you will either love or hate.


We also give you the best tool for choosing and booking travel between cities and provinces, that allows you to compare all the options in one place.


Jump straight to the app for the countries you are visiting by checking out this table of rideshare coverage in Southeast Asia.

Which Ridehail or Rideshare App Should I Use?

Thanks to the fair competition and open markets created by the internet, there are at least 9 ride-hailing and sharing apps available in Southeast Asian countries, which are similar to UBER or DIDI that you might find at home.


We’ve listed them below in a handy table, along with a link to the official website to grab the app for your phone, tablet iPad etc. These links will take you to the official sites which have links to the Apple app store or Google’s Play Store depending on your device.

Rideshare and Ridehail Apps Used in Southeast Asia by Country Coverage Table

Ride-Sharing Apps Review

Grab Review

Grab is the leading ride-hailing platform operating in Southeast Asia. It offers a complete on-demand transportation service. It connects users with many vehicle options, like taxis, motorbikes, cars, and scooters. This happens through a user-friendly mobile app. The platform makes cashless transactions easy. It also has extra features beyond transportation. It offers food delivery and other on-demand services. Get the Grab App Here from their website.

Grab and Gojek help to avoid being scammed by taxi drivers in Asia and Vietnam

Pros:

  • Grab has the most coverage in Southeast Asia and the most features in its app. These include in-app chat, multi-stop booking, cashless payment, and many vehicle options.
  • Experienced Drivers: Grab is known for having a pool of experienced and professional drivers. Might be a priority for safety-conscious riders.
  • Frequent Promotions: Grab often offers promotions and discounts. This makes it a budget-friendly option at times.

Cons:

  • It might cost more. Grab has more features and reach. But, its base price might be slightly higher than competitors, especially without promotions.
  • The super app may not appeal to all. Some users love the super app with food delivery and other services. But, others might prefer a simpler ride-hailing app.
  • Potential Surge Pricing: Grab can be hit by surge pricing during peak hours. This can greatly raise fares.

Gojek Review

Gojek is a prominent ride-hailing and on-demand multi-service platform in Southeast Asia. Like Grab, it offers a simple mobile app. The app connects users with various transport options. These include motorbikes, cars, and SUVs. Gojek offers more than transportation. It also has food delivery, digital payments, and other on-demand services. These make a complete super app for users. Get the Gojek Official App here from their website.

Pros:

  • Gojek is known for its competitive pricing. They often have frequent promotions. Motorbike rides can be very affordable too.
  • Super App Features: Like Grab, Gojek integrates other services. These include food delivery and digital payments. This makes for a convenient super-app experience.
  • Gojek is strong in key markets. It’s strong in Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand. It’s a good option in those regions.

Cons:

  • Driver quality may vary. Gojek has good drivers, but they might not be as consistent as Grab’s.
  • Limited Reach in Some Areas: Gojek is less available than Grab in rural areas.
  • The app interface might feel busy. Some users might find the Gojek app cluttered, like the Grab app. It has many features compared to simpler apps.

Be Review

Be is a ride-hailing service provider in Southeast Asia. Be’s app is not as big as competitors like Grab and Gojek. But, it offers user-friendly mobile booking for motorbike and car rides. The app focuses on low prices, especially for motorbike rides. The app interface may be more streamlined compared to other platforms. Grab the official Be App here from their website

Pros:

  • Budget-Friendly Rides: Be is generally considered the cheapest option, particularly for motorbike rides.
  • The Be app is simple and straightforward. It’s known for its user-friendly and streamlined interface. It makes booking a ride easy and fast.
  • Be is expanding in Southeast Asia. It offers a good option in some regions.

Cons:

  • Be has fewer features than Grab and Gojek. It focuses only on ride-hailing. Additionally, their reach might be less extensive, especially for car options.
  • Be users might have higher driver cancellation rates. This would be compared to other platforms.
  • English language support for drivers might be limited on the Be app. This might cause communication problems.

Grab vs Gojek vs BE Feature Comparison

Grab, Gojek and BE Comparison – Key Features Table

The best choice depends on your priorities and location. We suggest you download all three apps. Then, compare their prices and features for your specific needs.

Which Rideshare App is best for you?

  • Price-conscious rider: Be
  • Convenience seeker: Grab
  • Super app experience: Gojek

Best Travel App for Longer Journeys

City to City, Province to Province

So far we have shared several options for you to book and safely travel on short to medium-length journeys in Asian countries, whilst also avoiding travel scams. In this section though we are going to help you travel from region to region, province to province, city to city and even inter-country. For this we highly recommend that you take a look at 12Go, which is an awesome hap, which brings together, ferries, buses, trains, plains and vans making it easy to see the options you have for your next leg.

In all our travels around South East Asia, when we need to organise longer journeys between regions, capitals and countries, we have generally used 12Go to assess the options. They have a handy feature, which allows you to check the options and manage your travel bookings to get you from place to place on one page.

Powered by 12Go system

Tip – Alternative Rideshare Apps to Consider in Southeast Asia

Grab, Gojek, and Be are major ride-hailing players in Southeast Asia and 12Go covers your longer journeys. But, there are other options to consider based on your location and priorities. Here are some other options:

  • 12Go is a great service to book your travel tickets between any locations you are travelling for instance town to town. They also offer Train, Bus and Plane tickets. Be sure to check them out.
  • For tours check out services like Get Your Guide, Viator and Klook, which all allow you to pay online. Many tours will pick you up from an agreed location avoiding the need for a taxi.
  • Regional ride-hailing apps operate in specific Southeast Asian countries. For example:
    • FastGo is a growing ride-hailing app in Cambodia. It offers low prices and many vehicle options.
  • Some traditional taxi companies offer booking apps. They provide a more formal experience. These might be good options if you prefer licensed taxis. You won’t mind potentially lower fares. Here’s an example:
    • Easy Taxi operates in many Southeast Asian countries. It allows booking rides with licensed taxis through their app.
  • Car rental services aren’t everywhere. They aren’t for everyone. But, they offer the flexibility of having your own car. Keep in mind factors like traffic, parking availability, and international driving permits.

Remember: It’s good to research ride-hailing apps and car rentals at your destination. You can find the latest on availability, pricing, and user reviews. Also, ask your hotel what they recommend. They may have specific advice or services worth considering, which may not be discussed here.

Essential Travel Toolkit

🚖 Rideshare Apps – The most complete guide to Rideshare, Ride-hailing and taxis in Southeast Asia.

🚞 12Go.com – The easiest way to book transport, public or private in Southeast Asia, Japan and Beyond.

🏨 Trip.com – Consistently great accommodation and hotel deals.

🛩️ Trip.com – Get the best flight deals.

🚙 Trip.com – Find your perfect rental car.

🗺️ Getyourguide.com – Looking for an amazing local guide or tour. Get Your Guide will have something for everyone.

🗺️ Viator.com – Easily book tours and experiences at the lowest rate. Amazing options all over the world.

👨‍💻 NordVPN.com – Reliable VPN service that is guaranteed to keep you and your data safe anywhere in the world.

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