Uber and Uber Eats have woven themselves into our routines. Whether we’re hailing a ride to the airport, commuting to work, or heading out for an evening, Uber provides a convenient, generally safe way to travel. Its food-delivery branch, Uber Eats, has also become a go-to option for ordering meals delivered straight to our doors amid busy schedules.
The catch? The service can be pricey. Frequent Uber users could save a meaningful amount by enrolling in Uber One.
Why Are Uber Fares So High?
Where did those bargain Uber rides go — the ones that often beat any transportation option except walking? The pandemic played a big role.
After the 2020 lockdowns, when riders began returning to shared rides, fares for Uber surged in many regions. By 2021, Rakuten Intelligence reported that average prices for Uber and Lyft were 92% higher than in 2018. Fares kept climbing through 2022 and 2023, tracking general inflation.
Last year, both Uber and Lyft added fuel surcharges to help drivers offset rising fuel costs. Although those surcharges have since been removed, riders continue to feel the pinch — partly because Uber has raised prices and reduced driver pay as ways to maintain profitability.
If you’re frustrated by steep Uber and Uber Eats bills but still lean on the services, Uber One might be a solution. Possibly. Let’s review what membership provides.
What Is Uber One?
Uber One is a subscription that covers both Uber and Uber Eats, offering benefits like discounted rides and complimentary delivery. Previously, Uber ran two separate plans: Uber Pass for rides and Uber Eats Pass for deliveries.
Uber One is relatively inexpensive — $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year (roughly $8.33 monthly). For comparison, Uber Pass once cost $24.99 a month, though its perks were more generous at the time.
Weighing the Advantages of Uber One
What do you actually receive for $9.99 a month? Here are four key benefits to consider:
1. Members-Only Ride Discounts
Generally, Uber One members save about 5% on Uber rides. That’s a smaller discount than the 10%–15% range some users received with the old Uber Pass, depending on ride category. Still, Uber One costs $15 less monthly than Uber Pass did.
With a 5% ride discount, you’d need to spend roughly $200 per month on rides to offset the $9.99 fee. Spend any more, and the subscription has paid for itself.
Discounted rides are just one piece of the Uber One value proposition.
2. Free Delivery on Eligible Uber Eats Orders
The major shift from Uber Pass (phased out at the end of 2021) to Uber One is a stronger focus on Uber Eats. If you frequently order takeout through the app, Uber One becomes noticeably more appealing — a reflection of our post-pandemic ordering habits.
Arguably the headline benefit is $0 delivery fee on Uber Eats orders from participating restaurants, provided your order meets a $15 minimum. That means you’ll only pay for the food itself.
Remember that restaurants can list different menu prices in the app, and many slightly increase those prices — so ordering through the app may still cost more than picking up food in person.
Additionally, Uber One members can get up to 10% off Uber Eats order totals (discounts vary by restaurant).
And one more thing: delivery might be free with Uber One, but tipping your delivery person is still expected.
3. Free Grocery Delivery and a Grocery Discount
The “up to 10%” discount on orders doesn’t apply to grocery purchases in the same way. Instead, Uber One members receive 5% off grocery orders and complimentary grocery delivery from participating stores via Uber Eats.
There’s a $30 minimum for free grocery delivery — an easily reachable threshold given today’s grocery prices.
4. Additional Member Perks
Uber One also advertises extra benefits like access to higher-rated drivers, enhanced member support, and the Uber One Promise.
According to Uber, the Uber One Promise means members can receive $5 in Uber Cash if Uber’s Latest Arrival estimate is incorrect. The Latest Arrival estimate — shown after placing an order — is Uber’s prediction for the latest possible delivery time for a member’s order.
Though Uber’s marketing is intentionally vague, members may also gain access to “invite-only experiences” and various special offers and promotions.
Should You Subscribe to Uber One?
If you don’t own a car and rely on Uber for routine errands like grocery shopping (in-person or delivered), medical visits, and nights out, a subscription could make sense. If you frequently order fast food or takeout through Uber Eats or competitors like DoorDash, the $9.99 monthly price ($8.33 if billed annually) could be particularly worthwhile.
That said, for many average users, Uber One’s benefits may not justify the monthly charge.
If you try Uber One and decide it’s not providing enough value, you can cancel anytime — there’s no long-term commitment. Just remember to actively cancel before renewal since the subscription auto-renews.
How to Sign Up for Uber One
Open the Uber app on your phone, go to your Account via the bottom menu, and you should see an offer for a one-month free trial of Uber One. If you previously had Uber Pass or Uber Eats Pass, you might not be eligible for the free month, but you should still see an invitation to join the new plan within the app.
Uber One Compared to Uber Rewards
You might be familiar with Uber Rewards, a loyalty program distinct from Uber One.
Uber Rewards is free to join. Open the Uber app, tap Account, and you’ll find the option to enroll near the top.
The program has four tiers. You move up by taking more rides and spending more.
For every dollar spent on UberPool, Express Pool, or Uber Eats, you earn one point; for every dollar on UberX, UberXL, and Uber Select, you get two points; and for every dollar on Uber Black and Uber Black SUV, you receive three points.
Uber Rewards Tiers
- Blue: 0–499 points — entry-level status with no notable perks.
- Gold: 500–2,499 points — priority support and flexible cancellation options.
- Platinum: 2,500–7,499 points — all Gold perks plus route-specific point boosts (earn 10 points per dollar on a favorite route) and priority airport pickups.
- Diamond: 7,500+ points — includes Platinum perks, premium support, access to higher-rated drivers, a premium rides point boost, double points on Uber Eats, and occasional complimentary upgrades when available.
Uber One vs. the Old Uber Pass
Uber Pass is no longer offered in the United States; it has been replaced by Uber One. The new plan is cheaper but offers fewer perks and places a stronger emphasis on food delivery benefits.
