Ride hailing is an on-demand transport service that lets you request a vehicle with a driver through a mobile app. You enter your pick-up and destination, request the trip, and see the price or estimated fare before confirming the booking.
In Spain, this model is widely used through platforms such as Uber, Cabify and Bolt. However, it is often confused with other shared-mobility concepts, such as ride sharing and carpooling (or shared cars). Although all of them use digital apps to organise journeys, they differ in who drives, their economic purpose and the type of trip involved.
In this article, Waiis explains what ride hailing is, how it works and why carpooling is the more efficient alternative for your regular journeys.
What is ride hailing and how does it work?
Ride hailing is a transport model in which a user books a service with a professional driver (using a VTC or taxi licence) through a digital platform.
The usual process is very simple:
- The user enters their pick-up point and destination in the app.
- The platform locates a nearby available vehicle.
- The trip is assigned to a professional driver.
- The user takes the trip and pays the corresponding fare.
Unlike transport between private individuals, in ride hailing the driver’s activity is a paid, profit-making transport service.
The process may vary depending on the platform and type of service, but it normally starts when the user requests a trip through an app. The app uses the user’s location and journey details to find an available vehicle. Once the service is accepted, the user can check information about the journey and pay through the platform itself.
Ride hailing vs. ride sharing: what is the difference?
Although they are often used as synonyms in commercial language, ride hailing and ride sharing are not the same thing:
- Ride hailing: You book a private transport service with a professional driver for a one-off journey.
- Ride sharing: A broader concept referring to sharing a journey or vehicle with other people. It can include different models, such as carpooling between private individuals.
Because of this distinction, ride hailing and ride sharing are not always completely opposing concepts: the meaning of ride sharing may vary depending on the context and platform. However, both options remain focused on paid professional transport.
Ride hailing vs. carpooling: the main differences
The difference between ride hailing and carpooling is easier to understand by comparing who drives, how the journey is organised and its economic purpose.
| Feature | Ride Hailing | Carpooling |
| Example platforms | Uber, Cabify, Bolt | Waiis, BlaBlaCar |
| Who drives | Professional driver (VTC / taxi) | Private individual (regular driver) |
| Reason for the trip | Provides a service at the customer’s request | Had already planned to make the journey |
| Economic purpose | Paid service (for profit) | Fair sharing of travel costs (non-profit) |
| Planning | On demand and unplanned | Regular or planned journeys |
| Recommended use | One-off outings, night trips or unexpected journeys | Commuting to work or university, or everyday trips |
As you can see, the key difference is that ride hailing involves booking a commercial service, whereas carpooling means sharing the costs of a journey the driver was already going to make.
Is ride hailing the same as carpooling?
No. Although both options use a mobile app to connect people, carpooling is not the same as booking private transport. In carpooling, the driver is not trying to make money by providing a service; they are sharing the fuel and toll costs of a route they travel every day. That is why carpooling is a much more sustainable and affordable option for everyday journeys.
When should you use ride hailing or carpooling?
The choice mainly depends on the type of journey you need to make.
Ride hailing may be useful for…
- One-off trips.
- Journeys when you need a vehicle at a specific time.
- Situations where you do not want to drive.
- Trips where you do not need to find someone travelling the same route as you.
- On-demand journeys within a city.
Carpooling may be a better fit for…
- Regular commutes to work.
- Journeys to university.
- Regular travel between towns.
- People with compatible routes and schedules.
- Journeys where sharing a vehicle makes it possible to split the costs.
In this last case, platforms such as Waiis help connect people who make compatible regular journeys, making carpooling easier.
It is not a question of one model being better than the other. Ride hailing and carpooling meet different needs and can even be used together.
Start saving on your everyday journeys with Waiis
If you need to travel immediately for a one-off trip, ride hailing is a good alternative. But if you are looking for a smart, affordable and sustainable solution for your daily journeys, carpooling is the answer. Carpooling with Waiis is safe because we connect you with drivers and passengers who make the same everyday journeys, so you can share a car comfortably and safely.
You may also be interested in
Carpooling: what it is, how it works and the benefits of sharing a car
Waiis explains what carpooling means, how it works, whether it is legal to charge passengers, its main benefits and why it is growing in Spain.
Collaborative mobility: what it is, how it works and examples
Learn what collaborative mobility means, how it differs from shared mobility and which models it includes, from carpooling to shared bikes and scooters.