How To Effectively Run Lyft App And Uber App

Our website is supported by our users. We sometimes earn affiliate links when you click through the affiliate links on our website

a rideshare driver in a car driving around a city learning how to drive for uber and lyft at the same time

Driving for rideshare apps is a great side hustle because you can easily make extra cash.

Many people wonder if they can expand their options by driving for Uber and Lyft at the same time but aren't sure if it's possible.

Can You Drive for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time?

Yes, you can drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time.

Since drivers are independent contractors, you're not legally bound to either company as an employee.

There's a lot to learn to make this method work for you.

Read on to learn how you can switch between two jobs at once.

How Much Can You Make Driving for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time?

How much you make with this side hustle depends on how much you work.

If you work smart, you won't have high gas expenses, so you'll make more per ride.

Running both apps minimizes the time you're waiting for a new passenger, so your hourly income rises.

Do Uber and Lyft Pay the Same?

Since your pay depends on how many rides you give, your income can vary from week to week.

When it comes down to each ride, Lyft pays more.

They give drivers more of the tip and often run driver promotions, so they end up paying more.

Keep in mind that both companies take a cut of the ride fares, so you never get the full amount of each fare.

How Much You Can You Make?

A study found that Uber drivers can make an average of $19 per hour depending on the city and the demand.

Lyft drivers reportedly make closer to $16 an hour.

You have to consider your expenses before you get excited about how much money you'll make.

You have to pay for gas, car washes, insurance, maintenance, and possibly tolls.

Since you're a contract worker, you also have to pay self-employment taxes.

Reasons to Drive for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time

You're not guaranteed a set amount of fares from either company, and you're not tied to them with employment contracts.

Therefore it only makes sense to use both apps to stay busy and make more money.

a rideshare driver in a car driving around a city learning how to drive for uber and lyft at the same time

1. Increase Income

When you're active on both Uber and Lyft, you have the chance to get more fares.

This means more money in your pocket.

Now that both companies offer tips, you can increase your income even more with good service.

2. Increase Efficiency

You're already driving around, so it only makes sense to increase your efficiency.

When you're running both apps, you're constantly searching for available fares.

3. Minimize Downtime

Waiting for a new ride eats into your profit.

You're wasting your time and gas by driving around with no passengers.

By refreshing both apps, you're on the lookout for a new passenger as soon as one exits the car.

Since you're using two services, you're casting a wider net.

How to Drive for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time

If you're going into this with no experience, it might seem overwhelming to drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time.

These tips help you simplify the process and make the most of your time and effort.

The Driving Setup

When you drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time, your car is your office.

That means you need the best driving setup to work efficiently.

The Right Phone

Upgrading your phone is a huge expense, but these apps run best with the newest technology.

At the very least, make sure you update your operating system so everything runs efficiently.

Some drivers use two phones—one for each app.

You can get a burner smartphone for this purpose, but the cost of an extra phone and data plan might cut into your profit too much.

Try running both apps on one phone and see how that goes before you buy a second.

The Right Accessories

Using accessories for your phone helps you focus on the road.

A phone holder for car lets you keep your hands on the wheel while staying in your sight.

It comes in handy for navigation.

If you pair the hands-free mount with a Bluetooth headset, then you're maximizing your efficiency.

You can use voice commands to operate your phone so you won't get a ticket for violating cell phone laws.

Your car might have Bluetooth integrated, which is even better!

Make sure it's connected to your phone before you start your shift.

The most important accessory is a phone charger.

You're going to drain your battery running both apps at once, and you don't want to get stuck without it.

Cellular Data

Running both apps for your entire shift uses a lot of data.

If you don't already have a killer data plan, upgrade yours before you double your side hustle.

Spending more each month for unlimited data is worth it, especially if the consequence is getting hit with overage charges.

Using the Apps Together

Before driving for both services at the same time, familiarize yourself with each app.

Drive around using the Uber app and get to know the interface.

Then try out Lyft for several fares.

Having a basic understanding of each app helps you manage your time when you're juggling both.

Starting The Apps Up

When you open your apps, keep Uber active.

If it's not at the forefront, it kicks you off, so you won't get ride requests.

Lyft will run in the background and keep you available.

If you have an Android, you can use split-screen mode to see both apps at once.

Waiting for Requests

If you're stuck without any requests, open Lyft and Uber as if you were a rider.

Check out the locations of other drivers and choose a different area, so you're not competing with them.

Acceptance and Cancellation Requests

As soon as you request a ride on one app, log out of the other.

You'll have a passenger in your car, so you don't want anyone else to book you for a ride when you're already busy.

If this happens, you have to cancel the ride, which reflects badly on your rating.

What to Do Between Rides

Take advantage of the time between rides. Some people drive around, but that wastes gas.

You can park in a safe, populated area and stay active on the apps so riders can find you.

Mystro: The App to Help You Drive for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time

Juggling both apps might seem like a lot of effort, so you can use a third-party app to do it for you.

This app was only available on Android phones, but now they have an iPhone app available for iOs.

What is Mystro?

Mystro is an app that switches between the Uber and Lyft apps while you focus on driving.

You can set preferences to ensure it gives you fares that pay the most.

How Does Mystro Work?

The app automatically switches from Uber to Lyft to keep you active and help you find passengers.

Once you accept a ride, Mystro logs you out of the other app.

Why Should You Use Mystro?

This app is like having a personal assistant on your dashboard.

Not only does it keep you available on both platforms, but it signs you out after accepting a ride so you aren't penalized for turning down passengers.

The best part is it filters jobs so you're always getting the highest-paying fares.

You can sort passengers by pick-up location as well as the final destination.

What Does Mystro Cost?

Start with a free trial to see everything this app has to offer.

After that, you can choose from several different plans, customized to suit your gig work.

Weekly plans are $4.95 a week
Monthly plans are $11.95 a month
Annual plans are $99.95 a year

These levels ensure you're not paying for the app when you're not driving.

If you only pick up fares sporadically, you don't want to fork over the funds for an annual plan.

Pay for the app during the weeks you're driving to lower your expenses and increase your profit.

Tips for Driving for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time

The whole point of driving for Uber and Lyft at the same time is to maximize your profits.

Make sure you're following these tips to earn the most money.

1. Don't Chase Surge or Prime Time Pricing

Surge and prime time pricing are enticing for new drivers because they think they'll make more money, but that's not always the case.

Instead of constantly searching for these bonuses, check for bonus pricing when you first start your shift.

It's not worth the time and gas of driving to an area with surge pricing just to pick up one fare and then drive back across town.

Remember, you're not the only one chasing these surges.

Other drivers will see them, so you might not even get one fare because other drivers are getting the rides.

If there are nearby surges, you can take advantage, but don't go out of your way to find one.

2. Choose the Closest Pickups

If you don't have a passenger in your car, you're not making money.

Therefore you want to pick up anyone who's closest to you at the time.

It's worth picking up a nearby passenger for a short ride rather than waiting for a longer trip and losing out on money in the meantime.

Since you don't get paid for time spent waiting on fares, it's better to drive anyone where they need to go, and then see if you can get another passenger at that destination.

3. Stick with the Busier App

When one app is busier than the other, stay active on that one.

You'll waste time toggling back and forth between two when you can get consistent fares from one.

If it takes a few minutes to find a fare, then you can open the other app to get a passenger.

If Uber has a lot of passengers requesting rides, it's best to keep that open and not even check Lyft.

Otherwise, you could miss an Uber request when you're on Lyft, which will lower your approval rating.

4. Pay Attention to Bonuses

Both companies are offering bonuses to prevent driver shortages.

New drivers can earn bonuses after giving their first ride, but it's also possible to earn incentives by giving a certain number of rides per week.

Are There Downsides to Driving for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time?

It can be stressful to monitor two apps at once.

You need to keep your eyes on the road to drive, but you have to monitor the apps to make money.

Be sure to pull over when you need to use your phone so you won't get tickets or have an accident.

If you forget you're logged into both, you might accidentally miss fares, which affects your rating.

Accepting a ride on one app without logging out of the other can also cause you to reject rides.

Both companies might deactivate your account if you miss or reject too many rides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding how to drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time empowers you to take control over your earning potential.

If you have lingering doubts, check out these frequently asked questions.

If you drive for both Uber and Lyft at the same time, how do you decide which trip to take?

You have the freedom to choose the highest paying fares or what's closest to you.

When you're toggling between both apps, you see more passengers, so you can be a little choosy.

Just remember to log out of the other app once you accept a new job.

During COVID-19, who is charging more: Uber or Lyft?

Both Uber and Lyft are charging more per ride during Covid-19.

There's a driver shortage because people want to protect their health.

Prices aren't the only thing that's higher—wait times are also increasing.

Because fewer drivers are on the roads, passengers have to wait longer to get picked up.

Can I drive for food delivery services like Uber Eats at the same time I'm driving for a rideshare service?

Yes. Uber encourages this by using the Uber partner app for both Uber Eats and passengers.

If you don't have a paying customer in your car, you can check out Uber Eats requests and pick up an order in your downtime.

You can juggle multiple food delivery apps as you do with ridesharing apps, as long as you can keep up with the demand.

Remember, you need to have happy customers to stay in good standing.

If you can pick up and deliver multiple orders while the food's still hot, you can drive for several services at once.

Do I need a separate Schedule C for Uber and Lyft?

No. Filing taxes as a rideshare driver is different from standard self-employment taxes.

If you have multiple side hustles, like running an Airbnb in addition to driving, then you file a separate Schedule C for the other business.

Since both Uber and Lyft are rideshare services, you can file them on the same Schedule C.

You combine your earnings, expenses, and mileage on the same form, whether the rides were through Uber or Lyft.

Wrapping Up

It might seem like a lot to take on to be driving for Uber and Lyft at the same time.

But these tips will help streamline your process to exponentially increase your income.

Give it a trial run and see how much more money you make when you drive for both Uber and Lyft.