Neither app is better for every driver. Uber and Lyft both show most fares before you accept and both pass on 100% of tips, so which one pays you more depends on how busy each is where and when you drive. Uber is larger and runs in far more places, while Lyft now caps its own fee at 30% of what riders pay each month. Many drivers sign up for both, and a two-week test with your own numbers settles it for your city.
How Uber pays drivers
Uber shows an upfront fare in most US cities, based on a base amount, the estimated time and distance, the drive to the pickup and any surge. Some cities pay per minute and per mile instead. Uber keeps the difference between what the rider pays and your earnings, and says its share changes by trip and by week; its earnings page doesn’t mention a cap.
Extras include surge, occasional Boost+ areas and Quest bonuses for a set number of trips. How much do Uber drivers make? covers Uber pay in more detail.
How Lyft pays drivers
Lyft also shows upfront pay in most cities, based on the estimated time and distance, the drive to the pickup and how busy the area is. In Washington state, New York City and Portland, Lyft pays per minute and per mile instead.
Since May 1, 2026, Lyft has capped its fee at 30% of what passengers pay in a month, before external fees such as insurance, taxes and airport or city charges. If its fee goes over 30%, Lyft pays you the difference after the month ends. This replaced the weekly Earnings Commitment from 2024, which promised at least 70% of rider payments after external fees. Because the cap is checked over a month, a single ride can still carry a higher fee. Lyft says its fee averages around 14%, and tips stay outside it.
Lyft’s extras include Turbo, which adds 10% to 40% per ride at busy times in select regions, Flash Turbo zones on the map, and Ride Challenges for a set number of rides.
How much do Lyft drivers make?
Lyft’s most detailed published figure covers the second half of 2023. In February 2024, Lyft said the median US driver earned $30.68 per engaged hour including tips and bonuses, or $28.07 without tips. After Lyft’s estimate of per-mile costs for fuel, maintenance, loss of value and cleaning, about $0.31 a mile, the median was $23.46. Car payments and personal insurance weren’t subtracted.
Engaged time means driving to a pickup or carrying a passenger, so waiting isn’t counted. Lyft later gave $31.10 gross for early 2024, about $24.25 after expenses. Uber’s closest figure is a $33 median per utilized hour for late 2023, before costs. The periods and definitions differ and none is recent, so treat them as background, not a forecast.
Uber and Lyft side by side
Here’s how the two compare on the features drivers ask about most, as each company describes them. Fees and programs vary by city, so confirm them in your own app.
| Feature | Uber | Lyft |
|---|---|---|
| Fare shown before you accept | Upfront fare in most cities | Upfront pay in most cities; per minute and mile in Washington state, NYC and Portland |
| Company’s share | Changes by trip and week | Capped at 30% of monthly rider payments |
| Promotions | Surge, Boost+, Quest | Turbo, Flash Turbo, Ride Challenges |
| Tips | 100% to you | 100% to you |
| Wait time pay starts | After 2 minutes on most trips | After 1 minute |
| Instant cash-out | $1.75 to a debit card, up to 6 a day; free with the Uber Pro Card | $1.75 per transfer, up to 5 a day; free with the Lyft Direct card |
| Free weekly deposit | Usually Thursdays | Sent Tuesdays |
| Your driver rating | Average of last 500 ratings | Average of last 100 ratings |
| Rating a rider low | 1 star stops future matches | 3 stars or lower stops future matches |
| Rewards tiers | Uber Pro: Blue, Gold, Platinum, Diamond | Lyft Rewards: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Elite |
| Where it runs | More than 15,000 cities worldwide | Over 650 cities in the US and Canada |
Requirements and where each app runs
The requirements are similar. Both ask for a minimum age set by your city (Lyft lists 21 to 25 depending on the region), a valid license with at least a year of driving experience in many places, a four-door car that meets local rules, insurance in your name and a background check.
Size matters most. Uber says it’s available in more than 15,000 cities, while Lyft lists over 650 cities in the US and Canada. The two count cities differently, but outside large metro areas, check that Lyft runs where you live before you sign up. Uber’s Driver app can also offer Uber Eats deliveries where you’re eligible, which some drivers use in slow ride hours.
Why many drivers use both
Running both apps gives you more requests to choose from, which helps most in quiet hours, and both companies allow it. The safe routine is one ride at a time: compare requests while you’re free, accept one, go offline in the other app, and finish the trip before looking again. How to drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time covers the setup step by step.
Using both also means you don’t depend on one company’s promotions or fee changes, at the cost of two ratings and two weekly statements to track.
Compare them in your city with a two-week test
Averages won’t tell you which app pays better on your streets, but two weeks of your own records will. These steps keep the comparison fair.
Giga Driver can help with the record keeping: it shows pay per mile and per hour on each Uber and Lyft ride offer, grades it against your goals and keeps an offer history you can review each week. You still accept or decline in each app yourself. The free Grade your offer calculator works for any offer you enter by hand.
Match your shifts
Pick the same days and hours in both weeks, such as Monday morning, Thursday evening and Saturday night. Drive only Uber on those shifts in week one and only Lyft in week two.
Record the same things every shift
Note time online, trips, odometer miles, and earnings split into fares, tips and bonuses. Add how long you waited between requests.
Work out pay per online hour after costs
Subtract fuel and wear for your miles and divide by hours online. Check pay per mile too, since long empty pickups can flatter a busy app.
Then try both together
Once you know each app alone, run both on a few similar shifts and compare the result with your better single app.
Key takeaways
- Uber and Lyft both show most fares upfront and pass on 100% of tips.
- Since May 1, 2026, Lyft caps its fee at 30% of monthly rider payments; Uber’s share varies by trip and week.
- The latest earnings figures either company has published date from 2023 and early 2024 and leave out waiting time.
- Uber runs in far more places, so check that Lyft operates where you drive.
- A two-week test with matched shifts shows whether Uber, Lyft or both work best for you.
Common questions
Does Lyft pay more than Uber?
There’s no general answer, because fares depend on demand in each city at each hour. Lyft publishes a ceiling on its fee and Uber’s driver pages don’t mention one, but a lower fee doesn’t help if you wait longer between rides. Compare what you keep per online hour after costs.
How much do Lyft drivers make per ride?
Lyft shows upfront pay on most requests, and the amount varies with distance, time and demand. For your own average, divide a week’s ride earnings by the number of rides, with and without tips. Lyft says tips made up 8% of driver earnings on average in 2023.
Do Lyft drivers get paid hourly?
No, Lyft pays per ride. In Massachusetts, Lyft guarantees at least $34.48 per engaged hour as of January 2026, and in California at least 120% of minimum wage plus $0.37 per mile for time booked with a passenger. Waiting for a request isn’t paid in either state.
Can you drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time?
Yes. Uber says drivers can use other rideshare apps at the same time, and Lyft’s terms let drivers provide similar services for other companies. Accept one ride at a time and go offline in the other app until you finish it.
Is Lyft worth it for drivers?
Use the same test as for Uber: what you keep per online hour after gas, wear, insurance and taxes, compared with your other options. Is driving for Uber worth it? walks through the costs and a three-shift test that works for Lyft too.
