Alternatives to Uber: Apps to use if Uber is banned

Uber is under threat with the company's private hire licence denied by Transport for London. The ride-hailing service has become the darling of most Londoners, but in a city filled with Black Cabs and minicab firms there are plenty of alternatives out there.

There are several major competing cab hire apps that offer competitive rates compared to Uber, and if you shop around plenty offer introductory deals and rates to save cash immediately.

To compare the apps, we took a standard London cab journey from Clapham Junction to Bank station and checked the prices. On Uber, this would cost between £14 and £19 according to the app's online fare calculator - although under surge pricing this could easily go beyond £25 or more.

At a glance | Uber licence denied in London

Gett

Gett started out as a similar service to Uber in Israel, but has since become a major Black Cab app in London, offering users a fixed fare charge for their journey. Gett says it has no minimum fares for its journeys, unlike Uber, and users can choose to pay what is on the meter and pay in cash.

It also says users can get two minutes waiting time, so the meter will not start running until you are in the taxi. Users get a three minute cancellation window on their Black Cab, while they can also enable a tipping feature on the app.

Fare estimate Clapham Junction to Bank: £28

myTaxi

Another app seeking to capitalise on London's 21,000 Black Cab drivers, myTaxi formed recently through a merger of Hailo and car maker Dailmer's app. 

The app says its fares are set by local regulators - so it follows the same rates as TfL. However they do offer plenty of price cuts for users, such as £10 off your first order with the code "myfirstmytaxi", half price London Airport trips and flash sales.

Using TfL's fare estimates, a myTaxi ride would cost between £17 - £23 on our route. Given its links to the Black Cab trade, myTaxi has unsurprisingly been celebrating the fall of Uber in London.

Fare estimate Clapham Junction to Bank: £17-£23

Kabbee

A minicab app that has been around for a few years now, Kabbee compares deals on its app for local cab companies in London. It has no surge pricing and offers fixed fee fares at rates comparable to Uber.

For example, a minicab from Clapham Junction to Bank station can be secured from one of several minicab firms for just under £20, although currently rides don't appear to arrive as fast as Uber's service. Users can also get £10 off with the code "Hurray10".

Fare estimate Clapham Junction to Bank:£19

Addison Lee

Car hire firm Addison Lee pitches itself as a more premium car hiring experience. It offers fixed fee fares through its app and has no surge charges. Users can choose from a range of vehicles for their pick up, including Standard, Executive, Large and Cycle friendly cars. Users can also bag £10 off their first journey, while it has a £7.50 minimum fare.

Fare estimate Clapham Junction to Bank: £21.20

MiniCabit

This minicab comparison app and website lets you choose and book from a range of private hire companies, setting your preferred route and choosing a car hire firm. It operates around the country, and while some of the shorter routes we tested came up as more expensive than Uber, MiniCabit offered several very cheap deals to London airports compared to competitor apps.

Fare estimate Clapham Junction to Bank: £27

BlaBlaCar

French founded app BlaBlaCar has been around for more than a decade and offers a carpooling service, which is great for travelling between cities. The app lets users offer free rides and pair up with drivers and get free rides. It has an in-app messaging service to let you contact riders and share petrol costs.

Taxify

Taxify launched itself weeks ago specifically billed as a challenger to Uber. It threatened to undercut Uber's main prices and offered to pay its drivers better.

However, Taxify has had its own inglorious run in with TfL. Unable to secure a private hire licence, Taxify bought a local cab company and offered them use of its app. Under threats of legal action, however, Taxify was forced to suspend its London operations after just three days, but it says it will return.

Uber controversies timeline