Ride-Hailing Apps by Country: What to Download and What to Prepare

Ride-hailing apps show the route and an estimated fare before you get in, cut down communication problems with drivers, and suit someone new to an unfamiliar city. The real problem is that each app works only in certain countries, and each city has its own laws. Some apps are restricted or change how they operate in some cities. This guide gives the broad picture and how to verify it, not a list guaranteeing an app is always available.

The regional picture

Before you go: account and payment setup

The most common problem is people downloading an app at the airport and finding the verification code does not arrive or the card is rejected. Doing it at home reduces this.

1. Download the app and create the account with a number that can still receive SMS while you are abroad.
2. Add a credit or debit card that supports foreign payments, and ask your bank whether overseas online payments are enabled.
3. Read the app's identity-verification terms; some may ask foreign users for additional information.
4. Set the app language and save your accommodation address in advance.
5. Screenshot your accommodation's address in the local language, in case you need to show a driver.

If the app you want is region-specific, check that it works when you travel. Use our can-I-use-this-app-abroad tool, and read our guide on apps that do not work abroad.

Getting online when you hail a ride

Ride apps need internet to locate you, match a driver and take payment. Without mobile data from the moment you land you must rely on airport Wi-Fi, which may require sign-in or have limits, and receiving OTP codes through it can be awkward. An eSIM or data plan installed before the flight lets you open the app straight away. Keeping your main SIM for bank or ride-app SMS works if your roaming terms allow it.

Coverage and speed depend on the plan and area and cannot be promised. In some countries such as China, foreign apps are often blocked on local networks; some roaming plans route traffic abroad so these apps often open, but it depends on the plan and nobody can guarantee it.

Airport pickups: what to know

Many airports set a pickup point for app-booked cars that differs from the regular taxi rank. Some restrict or bar certain vehicle types. This information is in the airport's notices or in the app itself; read it before booking and allow time to walk to the pickup point.

Fares, tips and payment

The price shown before the ride is often an estimate and can change with time and demand. Check whether the app shows a total or an estimate, and whether tolls or route fees may be added later. When paying with a Thai card, see how it charges foreign-use fees. Cash may be an option in some countries but not everywhere. Whether you can tip through the app varies by country; see our tipping guide.

Fallbacks when the app is not an option

1. 1Metered taxi from the official queueUse the taxi rank the airport or station provides, and make sure the meter is on before departure. Ask your accommodation for a rough fare so you know a reasonable range.
2. 2Airport train or busMost cities have an airport-to-city link. Check timetables for your travel date, especially for late arrivals.
3. 3Pre-booked transfer through your accommodationAsk whether your accommodation offers transfers or a recommended driver, and confirm payment terms before the day.

If you will use ride apps often, see our guide to travel apps for abroad to prepare maps and translators at the same time.

Safety habits

• Share your trip with someone you trust if the app has this feature, especially at night.
• Match the name, car and plate to the app before getting in.
• Sit in the back when alone, and use a public landmark as the destination when you can.
• Keep the trip record in the app in case of a dispute over fare or a lost item.

Check whether an app works abroad