The Ride-sharing apps in Nepal & their concept are not very old. Tootle ignited this concept in 2017 and was successful in a short span. With a growing number of smartphone users, affordable data packs & digital payments, ride-sharing apps in Nepal have become very popular. Pathao came a year later after Tootle and is currently the most popular one in Nepal. Today, we are listing the top 5 ride-sharing apps in Nepal, including the best features of each.
Table of Contents
Pathao
The first on our list is Pathao, the well-known app among Nepalese. Pathao started its journey in Nepal in 2018 against the likes of Tootle which came a year ago Pathao. With the rising number of ride-sharing app users, Pathao got popular within a year. Typical naming is also one of the helpful parts of being popular among Nepalese people.
Pathao offers bike, cab, and food delivery services now. Initially, it started with motorbike services only. The company commenced its bike services on 24 September 2018, car services on 9 August 2019. Also, it started delivering food on 2 October 2020. The company also provides insurance for riders & users. Also, the App layout is polished and easy to use. With time being, people have gained trust & it has arguably become the number one ride-sharing platform in Nepal.
Ride-sharing apps in Nepal are revolutionizing how people commute, making travel more accessible and affordable.
- Country of Origin:- Bangladesh
- Starting Date in Nepal:- September 2018
- Services: Bike, Cab (Taxi) & Food Delivery
- Notable Features:- In-App Games, Refer & Earn, Discount Vouchers, Insurance Policy, Riders Icon on Map
- Downloads & Rating in Playstore: 5.5 Million (Downloads in Bangladesh & Nepal), 3.3 Stars Rating
Tootle
The rise of ride-sharing apps in Nepal has provided a safe and convenient alternative to traditional transport methods.
The second on our list is Tootle, the app that ignited the concept of Ridesharing in Nepal. Also, Tootle is a Nepalese start-up company that was established in 2017. Expensive taxis in Kathmandu got their worthy competitor when people started booking rides on their smartphones via Tootle. The app became popular within some months. Of course, it was a unique medium of transport to get to the destinations faster than on public buses & expensive taxis.
Tootle is another major player among ride-sharing apps in Nepal, catering to the needs of local commuters.
Tootle also initially started with bike services and later added taxi services. Also, it is a bit cheaper than Pathao. It also has a wallet for digital transactions where you can load money via eSewa or Khalti. The app performance is halted with crashes while canceling a ride. Besides that, there are no significant problems.
- Country of Origin:- Nepal
- Starting Date in Nepal:- 2017
- Services:- Bike & Taxi Services
- Notable Features:- Tootle Wallet
- Downloads & Rating in Playstore:- 100K + Downloads, 3.4 Stars Rating
This ride-sharing app in Nepal ensures that riders have access to competitive fares and reliable service.
Also Read:- Pathao Vs Tootle, Which Ride-Sharing Platform is Better?
Sahara
Sahara comes at third on our list. This Ride-sharing app was released in Dec 2019 on Playstore. Sahara is also a Nepali startup company providing bike, taxi & food delivery services like Pathao. Sahara has also recently announced its insurance policy for both riders and users (passengers). Also from January 2022, the riders are given 100% of what the users pay for the right. The 0% commission rate is commendable for the riders.
inDrive is an innovative addition to the ride-sharing apps in Nepal, allowing users to negotiate their fares.
Sahara also features its e-wallet, which is known as ‘Sahara Wallet’ for cashless transactions. The app layout is also impressive with a white and orange-red accent. There are also the options of promo codes and referral codes for in-app rewards which can be used for the ride. Sahara Prime, a premium membership feature is coming soon.
- Country of Origin:- Nepal
- Starting Date in Nepal: -December 2019
- Services:- Bike, Taxi & Food Delivery Services
- Notable Features: Sahara Wallet, Sahara Prime (Coming Soon), Insurance
- Downloads & Rating in Playstore:- 50K+ Downloads, 3.6 Stars
inDrive
The fourth on the list is inDrive. It was founded in Yakutsk, Russia, the coldest place on earth. This app recently made its way into the Nepalese market. Coming with a unique feature, the app lets you put your price fare for your destination. In other words, you can bargain for the best fare which is quite handy for the users. The recommended fare is provided as per the app’s calculation from which you can deduct the fare.
Furthermore, Taximandu adds to the growing list of ride-sharing apps in Nepal, focusing specifically on taxi services.
The app user interface is plain and simple to use. As an international app, it also boasts intercity rides for users to travel from one city to another. Here, you can choose your destination and book as per your traveling date. Also, you can set the offered fare. It can be cheaper than the bus & regular taxis.
- Country of Origin:- Russia
- Starting Date in Nepal:- 2020
- Services: Bike and Taxi Services
- Notable Features:- Setting Up Own Fare Price, Intercity Ride Booking, Drivers (Riders) Marking on Map
- Downloads & Rating in Playstore:- 50 million + Downloads (WorldWide), 4.7 Stars Rating
Taximandu
Overall, these ride-sharing apps in Nepal are improving urban mobility and catering to a variety of transportation needs.
Many other ride-sharing apps in Nepal continue to emerge, suggesting a promising future for this sector.
Last but not least is Taximandu. Just as the name implies, Taximandu is all about cabs (taxis). Introduced in 2019, it saw the potential of a regularized taxi booking service for both taxi drivers and passengers. There are two options in the app; booking a ride and renting a cab. So basically, you also rent a cab for your required day of travel and period.
Consumers are increasingly relying on ride-sharing apps in Nepal for their daily commute and transportation needs.
Taximandu also has a wallet that can be loaded via eSewa. Digital transactions are increasing day by day, thanks to ride-sharing apps as well. The app’s logo also indicates that it will also soon provide food delivery services as well. This taxi-focused app has also lured local taxi drivers for a well-managed service.
- Country of Origin:- Nepal
- Starting Date in Nepal: -October, 2019
- Services:- Taxi Services
- Notable Feature: Taximandu Wallet, Renting Cab
- Downloads & Rating in Playstore:- 10K+ Downloads, 3.4 Stars
Other Apps
Besides the aforementioned apps, there are other apps in the market too such as, Metro Online Taxi, Sarathi, and Pokhara Taxi (Pokhara Specific) to name a few. There used to be Eddy Cab too which is no longer available now.
The ride-sharing platform is seemingly getting better and better with competition in the market. The rise in Digital Payments has also aided a lot in easy payments. Also, traveling on a crowded bus in COVID situations is also making people opt for easy ride-booking apps with reasonable pricing. Bike services are faster and save time in case of urgent travel. Even though it is not that safe, the insurance coverage provided by Pathao & Sahara does help people. This has also guided a way for other companies to follow. Furthermore, the government needs to form a rule regarding mandatory insurance for all ride-sharing companies for both riders and users.
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So, what do you think of Ride-sharing platforms in Nepal? Are you satisfied with their services? Do you often use such apps for traveling? Do write us your thoughts below in the comment section.