5 best car-sharing and transport apps for Windows 10

We’ve come a long way from chasing taxis around town with our hands up. Now, your smartphone, tablet or even computer can set up you a ride to literally everywhere. Whether it’s just your friend’s house that’s a few blocks away or another continent.

Technology completely changed transport and the way we approach it. No, we’re not talking self-driving cars (yet). We talk about numerous services (apps) that allow you to make your trip as effortless as possible. Whether it’s on your own or someone else’s arrangement.

In the ocean of services that can take you from point A to point B, you need to choose some to stick to, which can be tricky. So, we’ve got the job done for you, by selecting our top picks for transport apps available on Windows 10 or Windows 10 Mobile. Truth be told, the offer isn’t as rich as on some other platforms, but you still have all you need to work with.

Best transport apps for Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile

Uber

Uber is one of the most controversial apps (not just travel apps, but in general) today. This service is illegal in many cities and countries, and followed by a lot of incidents. Not exactly what you want to read when searching for the best transport app? Well, that’s exactly why putting Uber on this list was a tricky decision.

But we’re not going to talk about the controversies that surround Uber here. If you already have an opinion on Uber, feel free to move on to another app. Talking about whether Uber is good or not is a broad and complex discussion, and definitely not the topic of this article.

Now, about the service itself. Uber is de facto the most advanced and developed transport service on the market. Using Uber is simple, and there’s not much philosophy to put into describing it. You simply pick a destination where you want to go, and Uber will give you the fare before you book your driver.

The app will also show you nearest drivers, to ensure your waiting time is minimal. In practice, there are more oscillations in waiting time, so you may end up waiting longer than expected. But once again, each case is individual.

After all, the decision whether you want to use Uber or not is all yours. But we don’t recommend using Uber where it’s not legal. For the sake of your safety, of course.

You can download Uber from the Windows Store for free.

Lyft

Lyft is another popular car-sharing service. In fact, Lyft is Uber’s biggest competition on the market, as two companies constantly go after each other in various business aspects. Although you can hear various complaints and protests against it, we have an impression that Lyft is less controversial than Uber.

As for the concept, the two services are quite similar. Lyft is also used for transporting people from spot A to spot B. When you need to go somewhere, you simply enter the destination in the Lyft app on your Windows 10 Mobile, and the app will show you the nearest driver. Before you accept the ride, you’ll see driver’s picture, review, car type, and additional info. You’ll also see the estimated cost of the ride before you accept it.

As for the coverage, Lyft is, for now, only available in bigger US cities. So, you can consider using this service only if you’re living in the United States. However, Lyft announced earlier this year that it plans to expand its business to other continents, but that’s all we know for now.

You can download Lyft for free from the Windows Store.

Windows Maps

If you’re traveling on your own, the app/service you can’t go without is definitely Windows Maps. This app will be your savior in a foreign city, because you’ll never be lost. Windows Maps covers the whole planet, so there’s no chance you’ll find yourself in an uncovered area. Of course, it would be absurd to say that the app will show you the right way every single time. But the accuracy is pretty high.

Besides showing you the map of any city you’re currently at, Windows Maps also has other useful features. It’ll show you traffic and weather conditions in your area. Schedule of public transport in some bigger cities is also available, so you don’t have to worry about missing a bus.

Windows Maps can also be combined with other apps from this list, for an even better experience. If you don’t get in trouble with drivers, of course. Just kidding, the chances for that are probably the same as in a regular taxi. However, additional caution is always advisable.

Windows Maps should be installed on your Windows 10 phone or computer by default. But you can also download it from the Windows Store for free.

Skyscanner

If you need to book a flight ticket, your best bet is to use a service for it. And Skyscanner stands out as one of the best. This app allows you to search for flight tickets and finds the best possible deal. You just need to pick a destination and travel times, and the app will do the rest for you.

You can search by dates that suit you up the best, or even let the app find the cheapest option for you. Once you choose your flight, the app will redirect you to the airline’s website to finalize the booking. Truth be told, the app itself doesn’t offer the best possible experience you can expect. But, unfortunately, that’s the general problem of many Windows 10 Mobile apps. And things don’t look so promising for the future.

Besides booking plane tickets, Skyscanner can also help you find a hotel for your stay or hire a car. But, that’s not our focus here, because there are better services than Skyscanner for that purpose.

Skyscanner is available for free in the Windows Store.

Car2Go

I feel like Car2Go and other apps with the similar business model don’t get enough attention. Because the idea is great. In theory, it works perfectly. You find the nearest car, hop in and drive it wherever you want, and then just leave it in an approved parking spot. And that’s exactly how Car2Go works. In theory, that looks flawless, but in practice, well, not so much.

First thing first, you’re not driving your own car, which means you’ll have to be extra careful to not even scratch it, because damage penalties can go up to $1000. Secondly, driving a car and finding a parking spot in a big city can (and usually is) a nightmare. And since the service charges per minute, you’ll probably spend a couple of dollars extra, just for finding a parking spot.

There are also various complaints from customers about hidden fees and cars not being in a good shape and comfortable. But then again, do you really expect luxury from a car that you don’t own and would drive for more than, let’s say, 20-30 minutes. Which brings us to the conclusion that Car2Go is best for short city rides, and not worth taking for a daylong trip.

You can download Car2Go from the Windows Store for free. But there’s a registering fee, which depends on your country.

Conclusion

I have to admit that this is the weirdest review article I’ve ever written. Because one does not simply talk more about cons than pros in a TOP 5 article. But that’s just how it is. Car-sharing is still a tricky topic backed up by rather controversial services that have a love-hate relationship with their customers. And we need to keep the objectivity here.

The whole market is relatively young, and although it doesn’t look like it at the moment, maybe big businesses will find a way to satisfy more users. We still don’t see how, but that’s a question for actual players in this field. So, we’ll leave the space for new ideas to them.

What do you think about our picks for the best travel apps for Windows 10 and the topic in general? Let us know in the comments below.

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