Clicked, booked, and travelled- it's yours. 

In a world where people want instant gratification, why should booking a taxi be any different? Fortunately, there are a lot of taxi booking applications that allow a passenger to book a cab online and make it extremely easy for them to reach their destination from A to B. 

The global ride-hailing booking market is booming, and the UK contributes a noticeable share of this growth. However, with more apps to choose from than ever before and a plethora of passengers booking a cab online, due to the cost-effective option or otherwise, the cost may be worth it for the multiple options and convenience. 

Several ride-hailing apps in the UK promise to book cabs without any hassle, and some even offer special facilities such as child seats, handicap seats, and other related services. The apps also provide various services, including corporate cabs, personal rides, and pick-up-drop services. This blog will look at some of the best instant ride-hailing apps available in the UK today. Let's explore them without delay. 

An Overview of Online Taxi Booking Market in the UK 

Online ride-booking applications are trending across the UK right now due to the increasing penetration of smartphones and technology in people’s lives. Ride-hailing apps allow passengers to track their drivers, book cabs, and pay online swiftly. 

Taxi booking apps are advantageous for both customers and drivers. Users can book a cab online and schedule the ride by entering their valid time. In comparison, drivers can improve the visibility of their business and expand their reach while making handsome revenue as a side hustle. 

• The global taxi booking market was projected to reach $38.54 billion with a CAGR of 10.7% between 2017-2023. 
• If we mainly talk about the UK, Uber has been a leader since its launch and has cut-throat competition with Bolt, especially in London. 

One of the primary factors driving the market growth is the increased usage of online cab booking platforms, primarily because of the convenience they provide to customers. They also come with an extensive range of online payment options and the flexibility of choosing the pick-up and drop locations. 

Say goodbye to the long queues and welcome to online taxi booking apps. Moreover, the availability of information within the ride booking app, like reviews, online tracking features, ETA, and much more, has further increased customer preferences for online cab booking. 

UK’s Top Online Ride-hailing Taxi Apps in 2024 

The year 2024 has witnessed the emergence of new taxi-booking apps in the UK. This is because most existing taxi owners have started offering online booking services to improve their customer retention ratio.  

Now, let us peek into the popular UK taxi apps without any ado. As these apps are inspiring examples for many and even startups are hiring on-demand taxi booking app development services to exploit the market demand for ride-hailing apps.

Uber

Uber is a popular ride-hailing app based in the USA, but it has expanded its reach to the UK. It offers top-notch ride-booking services, and its services are fast and reliable. Users can even schedule a ride at their convenience. Moreover, users can also avail of frequent discounts and offers. From regular cabs to SUVs to sedans, users have multiple options while booking a taxi through Uber. 

Bolt

Bolt is another famous name in the UK taxi booking market; along with taxis, Bolt has also introduced new services such as food delivery, grocery delivery, and micro-mobility. Bolt was banned in 2017 due to some license issues but reappeared in 2019. Their list of vehicle options includes numerous options, allowing users to choose the best vehicle for them. 

Moreover, Bolt users can set up fare prices, unlike Uber, before confirming the ride. Bolt has collaborated with more than 35000 drivers, and this is what makes Bolt a popular name in the UK ride-hailing market. 

Ola

Coming in as a direct rival to Uber in India, Ola is one of the best ride-booking apps to enter the market. With claims to book a ride in just a few seconds, users can quickly get taxis at their doorsteps. The service operates in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Passengers can book a cab anytime, anywhere. 

Besides the ride-sharing business, Ola has also established their presence in various domains, such as electric vehicles, financial services, and cloud kitchens. 

TaxiApp UK

TaxiApp is launched by licensed taxi drivers themselves. It was established as a non-profit organization whose main objective is to stop the classic cabs from running out of business. 

TaxiApp is mainly funded by the membership and does not charge extra fees for passengers and drivers. The most alluring feature is that they are pet-friendly, which makes this application unique from others. Most of the cabs have opted for electricity to establish a greener environment. 

Get

Dave Waiser launched the Gett app in 2010 as the on-demand venture to offer online taxi booking services to users. The Israeli-origin Get app was used for online services like taxi and courier delivery.  The app is available for Android and iOS and runs in more than 120 countries across the UK, Russia, and Israel. 

The app is the most used, making it an ideal choice for users and drivers. 

Addison Lee 

Addison Lee has been in the market for a long time. Established as a more robust and amusing story, Addison Lee is the UK's most famous taxi booking app. To be listed first in the phone directory, the name must start with the letter “A,” though they thought this name would fulfill the requirements. 

Be it car service, courier service, or airport transfer, Addison Lee has covered everything for you. Moreover, their recent collaboration with ComCab made them famous in London. 

Wheely 

Wheely is the most popular taxi app in London, and it operates across many Russian cities and European countries. Unlike regular cabs, Wheely is mainly used for luxurious vehicles and experienced chauffeurs. Wheely’s main objective is to bring luxurious vehicles into the hiring and renting business. 

They offer their services for business tours, airport transfers, and high-end parties. Offering these kinds of services in the online cab booking market has attracted people where they get a chance to have the finest experiences. 

Via 

Via is another famous name in the UK taxi booking market. It is a New York-based company, and people from more than 20 countries use Via to fulfill their daily commuting needs. Via is an entirely different taxi booking app as it allows riders to book a cab for a group of people heading in the same direction. 

As many people share a single car, this app offers a cost-effective ride option and is also good for the environment as it saves fuel and reduces carbon emissions. 

FreeNow 

FreeNow originated in Germany and was launched in 2019 as a joint venture between BMW and Daimler Mobility. This is one of the most significant applications to book a cab across Europe. They boast a huge selection of vehicles, including scooters, mopeds,  and eBikes, by partnering with TIER, Cooltra, and others to make booking easy. 

FreeNow operates in over 150 European cities , including Spain, Paris, and other metro cities. 

Arro 

Arro is a popular taxi booking app that easily satisfies passengers' daily transportation needs. The platform comprises various tools for hailing and paying for taxis, making the user experience appealing. Arro connects passengers to the nearest available drivers in locations across the USA and UK. The app is available in both stores; users can download it and access its services seamlessly. 

End Note 

Booking cabs online has changed; passengers now prefer to book a cab online rather than waving their hands on the congested road. In the UK, users quickly adapt to online ride-booking convenience because these apps help their busy lifestyles and make transportation easier. 

We have listed some of the best ride-hailing apps, currently the top choice for booking taxis in the UK. It also helps businesses develop their brand taxi booking app to get a better idea.