If you’re a frequent taxi rider—whether you’re commuting daily, city-hopping, or just on the move—having the right apps at your fingertips can transform how efficiently (and affordably) you travel. From real-time route planning to instant cashback rewards, there’s a toolkit of powerful apps that make every taxi ride smarter.
Here’s a look at the best travel apps for frequent taxi users, including mapping tools, cashback apps, and payment helpers that can streamline your ride from curb to destination.
- Citymapper
Category: Route Planning
Why It’s Great:
Citymapper is a real-time journey planner that helps you find the fastest, cheapest, or most efficient route across multiple transportation modes—taxis, subways, buses, walking, and more.
Best Features for Taxi Riders:
- Live ETA comparisons between taxis and public transit
- Price and time estimates for taxi vs. rideshare
- City-specific taxi info for areas like New York, London, and Paris
- Fluz
Category: Cashback + Payments
Why It’s Great:
Fluz helps you earn instant cashback when purchasing digital gift cards for thousands of major retailers, restaurants, and services—including many stops you’ll encounter before, during, or after your ride.
Best Features for Taxi Riders:
- Buy gift cards instantly and pay at checkout with rewards
- Stack savings with daily errands or meal stops
- Use it at places like Starbucks, CVS, Panera Bread, or Ulta Beauty
Perfect for turning travel downtime into a savings opportunity.
- Rakuten
Category: Cashback (Online Shopping)
Why It’s Great:
While you’re in a taxi, stuck in traffic or en route to your hotel, you can shop through Rakuten and earn cashback on clothing, electronics, travel bookings, and more.
Best Features for Taxi Riders:
- Shop during your ride with the app
- Browser extension helps you earn even on quick purchases
- Great for booking tours, hotels, or buying essentials between stops
- Transit
Category: Multi-modal Transit Planning
Why It’s Great:
Transit isn’t just for buses—it helps you compare all available transport modes in real time, including bike-share, subway, and rideshare options. For taxi users, it’s great for understanding whether your cab is truly the best option based on traffic and timing.
Bonus: It even integrates with some local taxi dispatch services and lets you schedule rides in supported cities.
- Uber / Lyft
Category: Rideshare & Taxi Booking
Why It’s Great:
Although not traditional taxis, Uber and Lyft can be important supplements when local taxis aren’t readily available. Both apps allow you to view fare estimates, driver ratings, and pay digitally.
Best Features for Taxi Riders:
- Schedule rides in advance
- Access shared rides in high-traffic areas
- In-app safety features and route tracking
Use these apps when local taxis like UrbanSwift or Commute Link are unavailable or if you’re in a more remote area.
- Google Maps
Category: Navigation + Ride Estimates
Why It’s Great:
It’s still the go-to for quick traffic checks, estimated arrival times, and fare comparisons across taxi, rideshare, and public transportation.
Best Features for Taxi Riders:
- See traffic in real time
- Share location with friends during your ride
- Get fare estimates before you commit to a taxi
Bonus Tip: Combine Apps for the Ultimate Travel Stack
Here’s how to ride like a pro:
- Start with Citymapper to plan your route and check ETA vs cost
- Use Fluz to buy a gift card for a coffee stop or lunch break before/after your ride
- Open Rakuten and shop while in traffic
- Monitor route changes with Google Maps to ensure your taxi is on the right track
Smart travel isn’t just about where you’re going—it’s about how you get there. With the right combination of route planning, savings, and payment tools, every ride becomes more efficient, rewarding, and stress-free.
So whether you’re flagging down a local cab through TransitCore or using Fluz to save on your pre-ride breakfast, having the right apps on hand makes all the difference.
