It’s that time of the year again … time to look back at 2021 driver earnings, and then crunch the numbers to determine the best rideshare service to work in 2022, Uber vs. Lyft.
Using the real data collected from hundreds of thousands of Gridwise drivers, we’ll cover these topics:
- Which pays more, Uber or Lyft?
- Which rideshare company has better incentives?
- Top ways to maximize your Uber or Lyft earnings
- And ultimately, what’s the best rideshare service to work for in 2022?
Let’s drive.
Which pays more, Uber or Lyft?
To help drivers understand which rideshare app pays the most, we took a look at 2021 monthly driver earnings for Uber and Lyft. While earnings fluctuate and depend on location, demand, and other factors, here are the big takeaways:
Hourly Uber and Lyft driver pay is almost equal. In 2021, Uber drivers made an average of $22.49/hour and Lyft drivers made an average of $22.16/hour.
Uber drivers make more per trip than Lyft drivers. Uber drivers made an average of $14.28/trip while Lyft driver pay was $12.95/trip.
Both Uber and Lyft driver pay is highest in April. During April 2021, Uber drivers made $25.96/hour while Lyft drivers made $24.30/hour.
If we assume that Uber and Lyft driver earnings will remain relatively constant for 2022, both apps seem to pay about the same for full-time drivers. However, part-time rideshare drivers might see the highest per-hour earnings with Uber.
Here’s the complete data for the year.
Does Uber or Lyft have better incentives?
Both Uber and Lyft offer bonuses for new drivers as well as drivers who are active on the platform. In theory, these are a great way to bump up your earnings.
For example, Uber Quest allows drivers who complete 40 trips in a week to earn an additional $40. Uber’s Consecutive Trips incentive allows drivers to earn more when they work during peak times: A driver can earn an extra $6 for three trips in a row between 4 and 6 p.m.
Lyft offers similar incentives. Drivers can earn more for ride streaks or for driving in “Bonus Zones.”
But there seems to be a catch.
Many drivers report that incentives are mostly designed to bring new users onto the platform. If you’re already driving regularly, or plan to start, incentives won’t factor as heavily into your earnings.
What’s your experience with Uber or Lyft driver incentives? Let us know below or share it with our exclusive driver community!
What are the best ways to maximize your Lyft and Uber earnings?
If you’re looking at the average earnings and find yourself thinking that you could be making more, here are a few tips to maximize what you earn (whether you’re driving delivery or rideshare).
- Take advantage of driver discounts on gas and maintenance. There are a number of programs available to help you keep your vehicle running well without breaking the bank. It’s always wise to create a schedule for regular maintenance. This can help prevent major issues that will seriously cut into your earnings.
- Invest in your rider experience. Air fresheners, tablets, interior signs, and other small touches can make a big impact on your rider and lead to higher tips. Plus, your vehicle is your office while you’re on the road, so it’s worth creating a workspace that suits you.
- Track miles/earnings carefully – paper/spreadsheet isn’t always reliable if you forget to check the odometer.
Tax Tip: Tracking your mileage and other expenses you incur while driving can actually help you keep more of your earnings at tax time when you track them accurately. Use Gridwise Tax Help to stay on top of everything and make sure you keep more of the dollars you earn.
- Minimize small costs. Packing your own snacks and beverages might not seem like much, but those $3 gas station drinks add up quickly.
For a complete breakdown of Instacart vs. Shipt, read our recent blog post. And if you really want to find out which app is better for your business, always drive with Gridwise.
Gridwise automatically tracks Uber and Lyft driver earnings and shows you which one earns you more money in your area in real time. The Compare Services feature allows you to see across rideshare and delivery services to find out which drivers in your city are making the most.
So what’s the best rideshare for 2022?
Based on our driver data, Uber and Lyft driver earnings are pretty similar on average. But Uber has a slight advantage in hourly pay, and driver incentives don’t seem to factor in as much after the first few hundred miles.
Ultimately, it’s up to you and where, when, and how you want to drive that will lead you to find the best rideshare gig around. But you can count on Gridwise to help you do that by giving you the information you need.
On the HIGHLY unlikely chance you don’t have the Gridwise app already, download it now.
