Key Information
Origin and Services
Launched as GetTaxi in Israel in 2010, Gett’s app now connects riders to taxis in 100+ cities, offering options like wheelchair-accessible and eco-friendly vehicles.
US Availability
Through partnerships with Lyft and Curb, Gett operates in 644 US cities and 12 Canadian cities. They also acquired NYC-based Juno which expanded their US presence.
Gett’s Unique Position
Unlike Uber and Lyft, Gett exclusively hails taxis. This attracts corporate travelers due to consistent pricing and efficient hailing, saving them time and effort in the long run.
Future Uncertainty
Gett is contemplating selling Juno and exiting the US market. Their primary investor, Volkswagen Group, has halted further investments, raising concerns about Gett’s long-term viability.
What Is Gett?
Gett is an international on-demand rideshare company that first launched in Israel as GetTaxi in 2010. While the company is lesser known in the United States, this launch date makes it one of the earliest contenders in the industry, predating Lyft and coming just a year after Uber.
Gett’s primary service — the Gett app for iPhones and Androids — is actually a taxi-hailing app that connects riders to professional cab drivers on demand.
Much like Easy Taxi in Latin America, this smartphone app boosts the convenience of local taxi and black cab rides by helping you access cashless trips just by inputting your pick-up and drop-off locations.
What makes it unique is that you can also select wheelchair-accessible, environmentally friendly, and XL vehicle options on top of a basic taxi with four seats.
The Gett app is currently available in over 100 cities across Israel, Russia, and the United Kingdom, including Tel Aviv, Moscow, and London.
Where is Gett Available?
Today you can find Gett in countless cities spanning from Israel to Europe to North America. Thanks to strategic partnerships with companies like Lyft and Curb, Gett provides transportation for riders in six hundred and forty-four US cities and twelve cities in Canada.
In the United Kingdom, Gett connects drivers and riders in these seven cities:
- Bristol
- London
- Coventry
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Manchester
- Newcastle
You can also use Gett in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the two largest cities in Israel.
How Gett Got Its Start
In the summer of 2009, Gett CEO Shahar Waiser got stuck outside the Palo Alto airport in California. During his half-hour wait for a taxi cab, the Israeli entrepreneur conjured up an idea for a new type of service.
Originally named Get Taxi, Gett launched as one of the first on-demand business transportation services in 2010.
Some of the company’s first clients were big names like Disney and Google. These blue-chip companies were quick to recognize the usefulness of Gett’s potent business combination
During the Summer of 2011, Gett started a beta version of its business travel ride service in Tel Aviv and another in London. By the Spring of 2012, Gett Inc. opened offices in Moscow and New York.
That same year investors provided over $30 million in funding for the new company, and Gett would raise $25 million more in 2014. 2016 saw another round of massive investments, including 0 million from the Volkswagen Group.
Gett’s Acquisition of Juno
Founded in New York City in 2016, the Juno rideshare app functions more similarly to Uber, connecting riders to nearby drivers in their cities.
One of the main draws of this platform has been and continues to be stated within its main tagline: “Juno treats drivers better, drivers treat you better.”
As a testament to this tagline, Juno offers the best commission rates in the industry (taking only 16.67% of fares and 0% of tips) and only allows the highest-rated drivers on its platform.
Drivers and riders also have three service options:
- Bliss, the equivalent of UberX
- Lux, the equivalent of Uber Black
- SUV, the equivalent of UberXL
While Gett already had some presence in New York City, its $200 million acquisition of Juno allowed the company to transition all of its U.S. operations to the Juno platform.
Despite the confusing, sudden change, this allowed Gett to hone in on Juno’s great reputation for being the driver-forward “anti-Uber.”
Since the acquisition, new regulations for all rideshare companies have limited Gett to accepting drivers with professional TLC licenses in New York City.
However, everyday drivers can still earn in the New Jersey market.
The Future of Gett and Juno
It’s worth noting that the future is murky for both of Gett’s services. Gett is seeking a buyer for Juno, which reportedly began losing $1 million per day, and is planning to exit the U.S. market.
Even after this exit, it’s unclear whether Gett will truly be able to make a profit.
Volkswagen Group, Gett’s biggest financial backer, recently decided to end its continued investment due to the failure of Gett to become a prominent rideshare competitor.
At least for now, riders and drivers still have the option to choose Gett and Juno for ethical improvements on mass market rideshare.
How Much Do Gett and Juno Cost?
It’s hard to say exactly how much Gett costs, since pricing structures and rates vary immensely from city to city.
For example, in London, you’ll be charged on a meter (which can be tracked through your app) based on taxi meter fares set by the city.
In Russia, on the other hand, trips in some cities may be charged by time, distance, or both, while others may offer flat fares.
Juno offers more consistent pricing structure that’s similar to Uber’s, with rates largely based on your selected vehicle type and your city. In NYC, rates are as follows:
- Bliss: $5.39 minimum fare + 50 cents per minute + $1.09 per mile
- Lux: $10.10 minimum fare + $5.22 base fare + 63 cents per minute + $2.05 per mile
- SUV: $16.16 minimum fare + $9.53 base fare + 85 cents per minute + $2.91 per mile
Juno’s rates in New Jersey are about 50% higher and include service fees that range from $1.80 to $2.35.
Juno also charges high-demand pricing, which is their version of Uber’s surge pricing.
Time-based charges on both platforms begin two minutes after your driver arrives, and cancellation fees will apply.
If you choose to contribute to Gett or Juno’s Carbon Offset Program, you can add a small extra per-mile fee to every trip — currently 0.007 cents in NYC and 20 pence in London — which fully goes toward protecting and planting trees.
You can opt in or out from the “Settings” section of your app.
Suggested Read: How much to tip taxi drivers
Gett vs. Uber and Other Transportation Services
Uber and other transportation apps work similarly to Gett in that you can use their mobile apps to book a car service that comes to pick you up. That is where most of the similarities end.
Gett differs from these transportation services because Gett only hails taxis. Unlike services such as Uber and Lyft, Gett does not employ regular people and their private vehicles.
While these other transportation options might be cheaper for your average rider, corporate travelers save more using Gett because they spend less time and effort hailing rides in the long run.
Gett prices are easier to track and budget as well and they provide several features so you can keep track of all your ground transportation expenses with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Even if you’ve already signed up with Gett or Juno, you may have additional questions about using the platforms. Here are our answers to some common questions to help you out:
1. What is Gett’s loyalty program and how can I join?
Gett users are automatically enrolled in Gett’s loyalty program, which allows you to earn points for when you complete rides, invite friends, rate drivers, and share your status on social media.
As your points increase, you gain new titles like “Fan,” “Pro,” “Top Rider,” and more.
You can track your current title just by opening your menu.
While none of these titles actually provide any guaranteed benefits, having a higher rank means you’ll be targeted for more deals that will make Gett even more affordable.
2. Do Gett and Juno offer sign-up bonuses?
Juno is currently the only platform offering sign-up bonuses.
All new riders automatically receive a 30% off promo that expires in two weeks, a 20% off promo that expires in a month, and a 10% off promo that expires in eight weeks.
However, both Juno and Gett offer referral bonuses. You can learn about the bonus for your market by tapping the gift icon on the upper right corner of your app.
3. Where will I have to go for my in-person appointment when I sign up to become a Juno driver?
If you’re invited to an in-person appointment with Juno, you can meet your representative at a designated Marriott Hotel location.
For New York drivers, this will be the hotel’s location near LaGuardia Airport in East Elmhurst. For New Jersey drivers, this will be the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Newark.
You can get parking directions here.
Start Earning on Your Schedule
Gett’s taxi app and Juno’s rideshare app are both changing the rideshare industry by committing to fair pay and conscious efforts to help the environment.
Whether you’re riding or driving, you can feel good about the platform you’re joining, while earning cash or getting the ride you need.
While it’s unclear what the future holds for either of these platforms, you can depend on the services to fulfill your transportation or money-making needs today.
Interested in weighing your options before signing up? Check out these nine rideshare app options available within the United States.
