Taxi & Ride-Hailing Services in Singapore: The Ultimate Guide (2026)

OK so if you just landed in Singapore and you’re wondering how to get around — welcome! I remember writing a similar post about Malaysia back in 2014, and a lot has changed since then (more on that below 😄). Singapore is a small but incredibly well-connected city-state, and honestly, getting around here is one of the easiest things you’ll do.

Yes, you have fantastic public transport options — the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), LRT (Light Rapid Transit), and a comprehensive bus network that runs like clockwork. And if you’re watching your budget, public transport is absolutely the way to go. But sometimes you just want a door-to-door ride, especially at 2am when you’re heading home from Clarke Quay, or when you’re dragging a suitcase through Changi Airport. That’s where taxis and ride-hailing apps come in.

Here’s everything you need to know.

---

First Things First: Taxi vs. Private Hire Car (PHC)

This is a distinction Singapore takes seriously, so let me break it down:

• Taxis are the traditional metered cabs. You can hail them on the street (outside the CBD), pick one up at a taxi stand, or book via app. Fares run on a meter.
• Private Hire Cars (PHCs) — like Grab, Gojek, Tada, and Ryde — must be booked through an app. You cannot hail them on the street; it’s illegal. Fares are quoted upfront.

If you’re outside the Central Business District (CBD), you can hail a taxi from the roadside. But in the CBD (covering areas like Marina Bay, Orchard, Tanjong Pagar, City Hall, Bugis, and Chinatown), you must use a designated taxi stand or book via app.

📝 Pro-tip: The LTA has a helpful map of all taxi stands in the CBD area — worth bookmarking if you’re spending time in the city centre.

As of December 2025, there were approximately 12,161 registered taxis and over 62,000 Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) operating in Singapore. The market has shifted significantly toward app-based PHVs, but traditional taxis remain a reliable and regulated option.

---

Understanding Singapore Taxi Fares

Singapore taxi fares are metered and regulated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Here’s a rough guide:

Flag-down (base) fare:

• Standard taxis: S$3.20 – S$3.90 (covers the first kilometre or so)
• Premium/Limousine taxis: S$3.90 – S$6.00+

Distance rate (after flag-down):

• S$0.22 per 400 metres (first 10 km)
• S$0.22 per 350 metres (beyond 10 km)

Waiting time: S$0.22 per 45 seconds when stationary.

Surcharges to Know

Singapore has a few surcharges that can add up. Don’t be caught off guard:

Surcharge	When	Amount
Peak Hour	Mon–Fri 6am–9:30am & 6pm–midnight; Weekends & PH 6pm–midnight	+25% of metered fare
Midnight	Daily midnight – 6am	+50% of metered fare
Airport (Changi)	Departing from Changi Airport	+S$3.00 – S$5.00 depending on terminal/time
CBD City Area	Trips starting from CBD	Additional surcharge applies
Booking Fee (phone/app)	When booking ahead	S$2.30 – S$2.50
Credit Card	Paying by credit/charge card	+10% administrative charge
NETS/e-payment	NETS, NETSPay, DBS PayLah!, Alipay, WeChat Pay	+S$0.30 flat fee
ERP	When passing through ERP gantries	Actual ERP charge passed on to passenger

💡 Cash is king if you want to avoid extra fees. That said, most taxis accept NETS and credit cards — just know there are surcharges for non-cash payments.

---

Traditional Taxi Companies

ComfortDelGro (CDG Taxi / CityCab)

The biggest player in Singapore by far. ComfortDelGro operates two brands:

• Comfort — the iconic blue taxis, the most common sight on Singapore’s roads. Started operations in 1970 as NTUC’s taxi cooperative with just 1,000 Morris Oxford taxis, and has grown into a fleet of over 6,500 vehicles today.
• CityCab — bright yellow taxis, the second-largest fleet in Singapore with over 2,200 vehicles. CityCab was formed in 1995 through the merger of SBS Taxi, Singapore Commuter, and Singapore Airport Bus Services.

Together, the combined ComfortDelGro fleet of Comfort and CityCab exceeds 8,800 taxis, making it the dominant taxi operator by a wide margin.

Book via: CDG Zig app (iOS/Android), or call 6552 1111

The CDG Zig app lets you choose between fixed fare (ComfortRIDE) or metered fare — a nice flexibility. Comfort taxis reliably accept credit cards too, which I appreciate at the end of a long day.

Website: www.cdgtaxi.com.sg

---

Strides Premier (formerly SMRT Taxis + Premier Taxis)

In mid-2023, SMRT Corporation merged its taxi operations (rebranded as Strides Taxi) with Premier Taxis to form Strides Premier, making it Singapore’s second-largest taxi operator. You may still spot some of the old magenta SMRT taxis or Premier Taxis’ Silvercab on the road — they’re all transitioning to the Strides Premier brand with its distinctive bright green livery.

Book via: App or call 6555 8888 (former SMRT number)

Website: www.stridestransport.com.sg

---

Trans-cab

Founded in 2003 with just 50 cabs, Trans-cab has grown into one of Singapore’s major taxi operators with a fleet of around 2,000 vehicles, recognisable by their red bodies and white tops.

Trans-cab is being acquired by Grab, and its taxis can be booked via the Grab app under the “meter taxi” option. In fact, when you select a metered taxi on Grab, there’s a good chance you’ll get a Trans-cab given their fleet size.

One heads-up from personal experience: although Trans-cab taxis should accept cards, I’ve occasionally had drivers tell me otherwise. Best to confirm before you start the journey. If you booked via app with a card on file, you’ll be fine.

Book via: Grab app (meter taxi option), or call 6555 3333

Website: www.transcab.com.sg

---

Prime Taxi

A smaller operator with copper-coloured taxis. Prime Taxi launched in 2007 and operates a more modest fleet. Their booking fee is slightly higher than other operators at S$2.50 (vs. S$2.30 for most others).

Book via: App or call 6778 0808

Website: www.primetaxi.com.sg

---

GrabCab (New — launched July 2025)

Yes, Grab now has its own taxi brand! In April 2025, GrabCab — a subsidiary of Grab — obtained a 10-year street-hail operator licence from LTA, becoming the sixth taxi operator in Singapore. Their taxis started appearing on the roads in July 2025 with a distinctive dark green livery. GrabCab vehicles can be booked directly through the Grab app.

Book via: Grab app

---

Yellow-Top Taxis (Legacy — disappearing fast)

You might spot a rare black-and-yellow taxi that looks like it’s from another era. These are the privately-owned Yellow-Top taxis, the oldest type of taxi in Singapore. No new private licences have been issued since the 1970s, existing licences are non-transferable, and licence holders must retire at age 75. As of December 2025, there are only five individually-owned Yellow-Top taxis still operating. They’re a piece of history — if you spot one, consider yourself lucky!

---

Ride-Hailing Apps

Now for the fun part. Since 2018, Singapore’s transport landscape has been completely transformed by app-based ride-hailing. Here’s the story and where things stand today.

A Brief History: What Happened to Uber?

If you used Uber in Singapore before 2018, you might be wondering where it went. Here’s the short version: in March 2018, Uber sold its entire Southeast Asia business to Grab in exchange for a 27.5% stake in Grab. The Uber app shut down in Singapore on 8 April 2018, and all riders and drivers were migrated to Grab. This effectively gave Grab near-monopoly control of the ride-hailing market overnight.

Singapore’s Competition and Consumer Commission (CCCS) later found that this transaction substantially lessened competition, fined both parties over S$13 million, and imposed directions to restore market contestability. The ruling opened the door for new players to enter the market — which is why we now have Gojek, Tada, Ryde, and others.

Note: Uber does not currently operate in Singapore or anywhere in Southeast Asia.

---

Grab

The big one. Grab is the dominant ride-hailing platform in Singapore and across Southeast Asia — it started life as “MyTeksi” in Malaysia in 2012, expanded to Singapore in 2013, and never looked back. After absorbing Uber’s operations in 2018, it became the undisputed leader here.

Beyond just rides, Grab has evolved into a super-app covering food delivery (GrabFood), groceries, package delivery, and financial services (GrabPay). For most visitors to Singapore, Grab will be the first app you download and probably the most-used.

Services available in Singapore:

• GrabCar (standard private hire)
• GrabTaxi (book a metered taxi)
• GrabCar Plus / GrabCar Premium (larger/nicer vehicles)
• GrabShare (carpooling)
• GrabFamily (with child seats)
• GrabCoach (for larger groups)
• GrabPet (pet-friendly rides)

Payment: GrabPay (in-app wallet), credit/debit card, cash (select options)

App: Available on iOS and Android

Website: www.grab.com/sg

---

Gojek

Gojek is Grab’s most serious competitor in Singapore. Originally from Indonesia (where it started as a motorcycle taxi service in 2010), Gojek entered Singapore in 2019. They’ve invested heavily in driver incentives and regularly offer competitive pricing.

Gojek focuses on point-to-point private hire rides in Singapore. In my experience, they tend to be cheaper than Grab during off-peak hours and often have promotional vouchers available. The app experience is clean and straightforward.

Services: Standard rides, 6-seater options Payment: Credit/debit card, GoPay (in-app)

App: Available on iOS and Android

Website: www.gojek.com/sg

---

Tada

Tada launched in Singapore in late 2018 — just months after the Grab-Uber merger — and it’s been carving out its own niche ever since. The platform is built on a philosophy of fairer economics: lower commissions for drivers and a commitment to avoid excessive surge pricing.

By 2025, Tada holds around 13–15% market share in Singapore, which is significant for a challenger brand. They’ve been expanding internationally too, now operating in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, and even launched in Denver, USA in July 2025. New York City is next on their expansion list.

One of Tada’s more memorable marketing moves? Running ads on Singapore MRT trains and bus stops that read: “Download TADA. Singapore’s second, sometimes third favourite ride-hailing app.” The self-deprecating honesty was brilliant, and it got people talking.

If Tada is new to you, it’s worth downloading just to compare prices — it’s often on the lower end.

Payment: Credit/debit card, in-app wallet New in March 2026: Tada introduced a S$2.50 cancellation fee for passengers who cancel after the driver has been en route for at least 3 minutes and is within 500m of the pickup point.

App: Available on iOS and Android

Website: www.tada.global

---

Ryde

Ryde is Singapore’s homegrown challenger in the ride-hailing space. Their standout feature is RydeX (standard rides) and RydePool (carpooling with non-commercial drivers going the same way), which can be significantly cheaper than solo rides.

Ryde tends to be competitively priced and is popular with budget-conscious commuters. The trade-off is that driver availability can be more limited than Grab or Gojek, especially at odd hours.

Services: RydeX (solo), RydePool (carpool), RydePet, RydeXL (larger vehicles) Payment: Credit/debit card, in-app wallet

App: Available on iOS and Android

Website: www.rydesharing.com

---

CDG Zig (by ComfortDelGro)

ComfortDelGro launched its own app-based platform called CDG Zig, which lets you book both traditional metered taxis and fixed-fare rides. Because Comfort is the largest taxi fleet in Singapore, this app gives you access to a very large pool of vehicles — useful when Grab surge pricing is sky-high.

For fixed-fare bookings (called ComfortRIDE), you get a price upfront similar to Grab. For metered bookings, you pay what the meter shows. The app also allows you to specify pick-up at taxi stands, which is handy.

App: CDG Zig on iOS and Android

Website: www.cdgzig.com

---

Geolah (Newer entrant)

Geolah was founded in 2020 as a Singapore-based mobility platform powered by AI. It originally offered limousine bookings and parcel delivery, and expanded into ride-hailing in 2025. It’s a smaller player still building up its driver network, but worth watching as competition in the market continues to heat up.

Website: www.geolah.com

---

Special Services

MaxiCab / 7-Seater Taxis

Travelling in a group of 5 or more? You need a MaxiCab. Both ComfortDelGro and other operators offer 7-seater options (usually a Toyota Alphard or similar). These cost more than standard taxis but are essential for larger groups or bulky luggage.

All the major ride-hailing apps offer XL or 6-seater options too — Grab has GrabCar XL, Gojek has 6-seater options.

For dedicated MaxiCab services:

• Maxicabnow — popular for airport transfers, praised for punctuality and professionalism. www.maxicabnow.com
• Maxi Cab Singapore — specialises in group airport transfers (7–13 passengers)

---

Airport Transfers (Changi Airport)

If you’re landing at Changi Airport, taxi stands are located at the Arrival Hall of Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4. There is an airport surcharge on top of the metered fare (the amount varies depending on the terminal and time of day — typically S$3 to S$5). You will also pay the full metered fare on top of that.

Alternatively, the MRT (Changi Airport station) connects to the city in about 30–40 minutes for a fraction of the cost.

💡 Tip: Pre-booking a taxi the night before an early morning flight is worth it. ComfortDelGro’s fixed-fare option via CDG Zig gives you price certainty, and you won’t be caught hunting for surge-priced Grabs at 4am.

---

Wheelchair-Accessible Taxis

Singapore takes accessibility seriously. ComfortDelGro (Comfort and CityCab) and Strides Premier offer fully wheelchair-accessible taxis that must be booked in advance. Call or book via the respective apps.

---

Limousine Taxis

For a more premium experience, limousine taxis (typically Mercedes-Benz or similar) are available. Flag-down rates start higher, and distance charges are steeper, but you get a more comfortable ride with leather seats and more legroom. Handy for business trips or airport transfers when you want to arrive in style.

---

Practical Tips

• Always note your taxi registration number and driver name for safety. Your driver’s details are automatically available in ride-hailing apps.
• In the CBD, you cannot hail a taxi on the road. Head to a taxi stand or use an app.
• Check your app’s estimated fare before confirming. During peak hours or rain, Grab and Gojek can show significant surge pricing. This is a good time to check Tada or Ryde as an alternative.
• Ride-hailing apps require mobile data — make sure you have a local SIM or a working roaming plan.
• Child seats are required for children under 1.35m tall. Grab has GrabFamily for bookings with child seats. For traditional metered taxis, three children below 12 years old count as two adult passengers for capacity purposes.
• Tipping is not expected in Singapore. Taxi drivers don’t expect tips, but you can round up to the nearest dollar if you’ve had a great ride.
• Singapore drivers speak English — communication is generally easy.
• Don’t get confused by dual-brand taxis — CDG Zig sometimes allocates CityCab taxis to your booking even though you may have expected a Comfort taxi. Both are owned by ComfortDelGro, so no worries.

---

Quick Reference: Who to Call / Download

Service	Type	Contact / App
ComfortDelGro (Comfort & CityCab)	Taxi	CDG Zig App / 6552 1111
Strides Premier	Taxi	App / 6555 8888
Trans-cab	Taxi	Grab app / 6555 3333
Prime Taxi	Taxi	App / 6778 0808
GrabCab	Taxi	Grab app
Grab	Ride-hailing	Grab app
Gojek	Ride-hailing	Gojek app
Tada	Ride-hailing	Tada app
Ryde	Ride-hailing	Ryde app
CDG Zig	Taxi + PHC hybrid	CDG Zig app
Geolah	Ride-hailing + limo	Geolah app

---

Final Thoughts

Singapore’s transport ecosystem is genuinely impressive — and it’s constantly evolving. A decade ago, the conversation was about metered taxis and whether to call for one. Today, you’ve got a rich mix of traditional taxi operators and ride-hailing platforms competing for your business, which is broadly good news for passengers.

The two apps I’d say every visitor should have are Grab (for its coverage and features) and Tada or Gojek (to compare fares and avoid surge pricing). For late nights or airport runs, a pre-booked ComfortDelGro taxi via CDG Zig gives you peace of mind.

Safe travels, and enjoy Singapore! 🇸🇬

---

Information accurate as of April 2026. Fare structures, surcharges and operators may change — always verify with LTA (www.lta.gov.sg) or the respective operator for the latest updates.