New research finds that only checking one rideshare app by default is costing you real money. 

It's New Year's resolution season, which means your social feeds are full of ambitious plans: hit the gym daily, learn Italian, finally organize that junk drawer. But here's a resolution that requires zero willpower, takes two seconds, and saves you money:

Check Lyft and Uber before you book your ride.

Sounds too simple, right? But new research¹ from Harvard and Johns Hopkins economists shows that this one habit could collectively save rideshare users hundreds of millions of dollars. 

The Hidden Cost of "Calling an Uber"

Here's a question: When was the last time you told someone to "call a Lyft"?

A recent survey from Candid Counsel² found that 2 in 3 riders use "Uber" as a catch-all term for rideshare, even when they actually mean both Uber and Lyft.

You've probably done it yourself: "Just take an Uber from the airport." "I’ll call you an Uber home”  The problem? When we default to saying "Uber," we can forget to check if there's a better option.

The $300 Million Problem

Here's where it gets expensive.

A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research analyzed millions of rideshare trips in New York City in 2024 and found something striking: there's an average 14% price difference between Uber and Lyft for identical trips—but which platform is cheaper changes constantly based on driver availability, demand, and time of day.

The researchers estimated that if every one of those NYC riders simply checked both apps before booking, they'd have saved an estimated $300 million in 2024, collectively. 

This study suggests savings of $177 for the typical New York City rider who took 100 rideshare trips in 2024. That's three months of your streaming services. Or 35 fancy lattes. Or a really nice dinner. All from a habit that takes literally two seconds.

How Rideshare Pricing Actually Works

Here's what's happening behind the scenes:

Uber and Lyft operate completely independent marketplaces. So at any given moment:

Think of it like checking gas prices at two different stations on the same block. It changes throughout the day based on their individual supply chains, pricing strategies, and costs. Neither is always cheaper—which is exactly why checking both matters.

The Check Lyft Resolution

It's this simple: Before you book your next ride, open both apps, and check. It takes 2 seconds.

That's it. No complex spreadsheets. No price tracking apps. No elaborate hacks.

Over the course of a year, this micro-habit compounds into real savings. 

Common Questions About Checking Lyft

"Isn't this just adding friction to my life?" It's two taps. Literally 2 seconds. 

"What if I have credits or a corporate discount?" Fair! Factor those in when comparing. But even with credits, it's worth checking—sometimes the base price difference outweighs a small credit.

"Which rideshare is cheaper?" It depends! That's the whole point. Sometimes Lyft is cheaper. Sometimes Uber is. It varies by location, time, and real-time marketplace conditions. The only way to know is to check both.

The Bottom Line

Look, we're not saying Lyft is always cheaper. We’re saying it sometimes is. And the habit of not checking both apps is costing you money.  

Check Lyft this new year. Your 2026 budget will thank you.

Download the Lyft app | Read the NBER Research