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Singapore Ride-Hailing Fee Hikes: What It Means for Riders, Drivers and Your Wallet

ByBrian

If you use ride-hailing apps in Singapore, you probably noticed something creeping up in your receipts lately: platform fees. In February, both Gojek and Ryde bumped up their platform fees — Gojek from Feb 1 and Ryde from Feb 17 — joining earlier increases from Grab and ComfortDelGro in January. Small on their own, but they add up if you ride a lot. Here’s the lowdown, what it means for riders and drivers, and a few sensible tips to keep your transport bill from ballooning.

What changed (the facts)

Short version:

  • Gojek raised platform fees by 20 cents. Where fees used to be between $0.90 and $1.50, they’re now between $1.10 and $1.70. The change took effect on Feb 1.
  • Ryde will raise its platform fees from Feb 17 by 11 cents. Trips costing $18 or less now incur a $1.25 platform fee (up from $1.14). For trips above $18, the fee is now $1.47 (up from $1.36).
  • Grab and ComfortDelGro already raised fees on Jan 1. Grab’s platform fee is now $1.20 (up from $0.90). ComfortDelGro’s app-based booking fees are now between $1 and $1.30 (up from $1 to $1.20).
  • Tada hasn’t changed its fees so far.
  • Separately, Gojek also increased its minimum fare and trip start fare by 50 cents each from Jan 1 for most GoCar services (except GoTaxi), as communicated by the National Private Hire Vehicles Association on Dec 17, 2025.

Why are they doing this?

Platforms point to operational costs and upcoming regulatory requirements. Ryde explicitly said the fee increase helps support its operations and “fund ongoing innovations that enhance the experience for both driver-partners and passengers.” They also noted periodic reviews to ensure sustainability and compliance, including obligations under the Platform Workers Act.

The Platform Workers Act (which took effect Jan 1, 2025) increased CPF contribution rates for younger platform workers (born on or after Jan 1, 1995). Worker contribution rates can rise by up to 2.5 percentage points a year for five years, and platform operators’ contribution rates can rise by up to 3.5 percentage points a year. In short: platforms have higher statutory costs for CPF, and one way they’re spreading the cost is to adjust platform fees.

So how much does this actually hit your wallet?

On a per-ride basis, these are small amounts — often just a few dimes. But if you ride frequently, it stacks up.

  • Example: If you take two rides a day, five days a week (10 rides/week):
    • Gojek (+$0.20 per ride) = $2/week extra ≈ $8.67/month
    • Ryde (+$0.11 per ride for trips ≤ $18) = $1.10/week extra ≈ $4.77/month
    • Grab (+$0.30 per ride vs old $0.90) = $3/week extra ≈ $13/month
    • ComfortDelGro (up to +$0.10) = $1/week extra ≈ $4.33/month

Not huge individually, but across millions of trips these adjustments matter for platforms’ revenue and for riders’ monthly budgets.

What this means for drivers

The stated intent is to cover higher CPF contributions and keep platforms sustainable. In theory, that helps drivers because platforms can continue operating without cutting driver pay to absorb regulatory costs. But the real-world effect depends on how platforms balance margins, incentives, and driver earnings. If platforms push more costs onto riders while trimming driver incentives, drivers could still feel the pinch. The opposite could happen too — platforms might use fee revenue to improve driver pay or offer better tools.

Practical tips to keep your costs down

  • Compare apps before you book: For short rides the extra charge is a fixed amount, so the cheapest platform can change depending on base fare and surge pricing.
  • Use promos and subscriptions: Look out for monthly passes, credit bundles, loyalty promos or coupon codes that offset platform fees.
  • Carpool or share rides where possible: Pooling can cut your per-person cost even if platform fees apply.
  • Time your rides: Off-peak fares and avoiding surge times help more than chasing tiny fee differences.
  • Consider alternatives for short trips: Walking, cycling, or public transport might be cheaper for very short distances.
  • Watch in-app notices: Platforms said they’ll communicate fee reviews transparently — keep an eye on announcements.

My two cents

These fee changes aren’t dramatic individually, but they signal a broader shift: platforms are adjusting pricing to cope with higher operating and regulatory costs. For riders, the immediate impact is small extra cents, but regular commuters should take note and shop around. For drivers, the hope is that these changes help platforms meet CPF and compliance obligations without eroding driver earnings — though we’ll need to watch how incentives and pay evolve.

If you’re feeling the pinch, try a few of the tips above and consider leaving feedback with the platforms or consumer groups. Transparent communication and sensible regulation should balance the needs of riders, drivers, and platforms — but for now, it’s worth being a little more mindful each time you hit “Book Ride.”

What have you noticed on your receipts? Seen any app promos or weird fee lines lately? Drop a comment below or share this post — let’s compare notes and stay savvy about our transport choices.

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