Uber is currently running a pilot subscription in San Francisco and Chicago, which combines all of its services of car rides, Eats, bikes and scooters. The subscription costs $24,99 a month but in this price the customers also receive either price protection or a fixed discount on ride hail trips, free deliveries on Uber Eats and free rides on the Uber Jump bikes and scooters.
The company is also testing even lower-priced passes in other cities that offer the customers free Eats deliveries and discounted rides that go above an yet undisclosed amount.
“From meals to wheels and everything in between, we’re always looking for ways to make Uber the go-to option for your everyday needs,” a spokesperson told TechCrunch.
While the idea might rise an eyebrow or two at first glance, companies like Uber benefit more from subscriptions than they are from regular services because it allows them to get the customers to commit to all of its platforms – if you’ve already paid for a subscription, you’re more likely to choose that company’s services than another’s even if the food might take longer or the bike or scooter would be placed further away.
This is not the first time Uber turned its attention towards subscriptions: last year, the company launched the Ride Pass subscription service, which allows the customers to lock in flat rates on the UberX and UberPool trips they take in the course of the subscription month but also to take as many rides as they want every month. Again, this move made sure that Uber’s customers won’t turn to other apps, regardless for their needs.
One of Uber’s most well-known competitors, Lyft, also offers riders an All-access plan for $299 per month, available in the U.S. The difference is that the customers get 5% off additional rides and 30 free trips worth $15 each – anything that goes over that has to be paid out of the customer’s pocket, on top of the subscription.
While that might sound like a staggeringly high amount to pay monthly, Lyft states that it’s actually less expensive than owning a car, maintenance included.
“When you spend less time driving (and parking), you have more freedom — and more savings.” Lyft said in a blog post when it announced the service. “Americans who use the All-Access Plan for all of their personal car needs can save up to 59%* per month compared to owning a car.“
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