Earlier this week, the city of Chicago announced that Arro and Curb will be the official cab-hailing apps for taxi companies in the city. That means Chicago cabbies will be required to use one of the two services whenever on duty starting February 1.

By our count, that means there are now six different rideshare and taxi apps to navigate for people looking to get around Chicago. Here is a quick summary of what they are and how they differ.







Lyft offers regular rides for groups of up to 4, with a Lyft Plus option for groups of up to six. Last month, the company also introduced Lyft Line, which lets riders carpool in many Chicago neighborhoods.

With its flat $5 fee to get anywhere within the service’s coverage area, Via is a great alternative when your trip doesn’t line up with buses or the L. The low cost is made possible by an algorithm that pairs up travelers headed in the same direction, picking each rider up along the way. As an added bonus, you can pay for your Via with your commuter benefits card if your employer offers one. Via is only available on weekdays between 6:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.





Founded in San Francisco in 2009, Uber is probably the best known ridesharing service available to Chicagoans. The standard Uber ride is for a single rider or group of riders, but UberPool, a carpooling option, is also available in certain locations. There’s also an SUV options for larger groups.





Curb

One of Chicago’s two official taxi apps, Curb has been in the city since 2009. Curb connects riders with cab drivers, with pricing determined by Chicago’s official fare rates.





Arro

Currently only available in New York City, Arro will be launching in Chicago this month. Like Curb, Arro will be an official taxi app connecting riders with Chicago’s 12,700 licensed cab drivers.

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