Rideshare in Melbourne works the same way it does anywhere: open the app, request a ride, watch the driver’s dot crawl toward you, and pay through the app rather than the driver’s hand. In Victoria’s regulatory language, every rideshare trip is a “booked service”, the same category hire cars and limousines sit in, which means it isn’t fare-capped the way a metered taxi is and every driver has to hold a Commercial Passenger Vehicle Driver Accreditation.
Who’s actually running in Melbourne right now
Melbourne’s rideshare market has thinned out since the early 2020s, when half a dozen apps were fighting for the same drivers. A few names that used to be on every “best rideshare apps” list have quietly disappeared, so it’s worth knowing which ones will actually get you a car.
- Uber: still the biggest operator by far, with UberX, UberXL, Uber Comfort, Uber Pet and Uber Green (EV) options across metro Melbourne.
- DiDi: Uber’s main rival here, and its profile has only grown, DiDi was the official ride share partner of the Australian Open in 2026. Generally competitive or slightly cheaper than Uber on price.
- Shebah: a women-and-children-only service, drivers and riders are all women or accompanied children. It went through voluntary administration a few years back but kept trading under a creditor deal, so it’s worth checking the app on the day for driver availability in your area rather than assuming instant coverage.
- ingogo: technically a taxi-booking app rather than a rideshare app (it connects you with licensed taxi drivers, not private rideshare cars), but it’s still active in Melbourne and worth having installed alongside Uber or DiDi for airport runs.
Two names you can stop looking for
Ola abruptly pulled out of the entire Australian market in April 2024, so the app no longer works here even if it’s still on your phone. GoCatch has also stopped operating, after years of declining driver numbers and an ownership dispute with Uber that ended up in the Supreme Court. If either app is still installed on your phone, delete it and use Uber, DiDi or ingogo instead.
What to expect on price and pickup
Rideshare fares move with demand, so a Friday night surge around the CBD or after a big event at the MCG or Marvel Stadium can push prices well above the quoted “usual” rate. Checking two apps before you request often pays off, since Uber and DiDi surge independently of each other. At Melbourne Airport, rideshare pickup is from a dedicated zone rather than the general taxi rank, and both major apps will direct you there automatically once your flight lands.
For a fare-capped, hail-on-the-street option, see our Taxis guide, and if you want a driven car for a wedding, formal or corporate trip rather than an on-demand ride, see Limousines.