Grab & Gojek: A Guide to Bali’s Online Taxi Apps

Taxis have been a common way of getting around in Bali for many years, but online ride-hailing apps Grab and Gojek have made it easier than ever for tourists to book taxi rides safely and at affordable prices.

After using Grab and Gojek hundreds of times, we’ve compiled this quick guide with tips for using online taxis in Bali and some important things to be aware of.

In a rush? Download the apps here: Grab (Apple | Android) or Gojek (Apple | Android)

What Are Grab & Gojek?

Grab and Gojek are two popular ride-hailing apps, also known as online taxis, in Bali. Similar to Uber, these apps allow you to quickly order a taxi on your phone from almost anywhere on the island.

Online taxis work best for simple A-to-B-type journeys such as visiting a single attraction, going to a restaurant, etc. For full days out with several stops, we prefer to hire a private driver.

Here are some of the main benefits of using Grab or Gojek:

Where Can I Use Grab & Gojek in Bali?

Getting a Grab or Gojek From Bali Airport

The process of getting an online taxi from Bali airport is slightly different due to airport regulations.

When you land, you'll need to head to either the Grab Lounge or the Gojek Lounge, which are both located outside after arrivals (pictured above). Staff at the lounges will help you order your car and direct you to the correct driver.

The lounges have Wi-Fi which is useful if you haven’t managed to get an e-sim in advance or the airport WI-FI is being slow (which it often is!).

Although on one occasion, our flight arrived late at night due to a delay and the lounge had already closed with the Wi-Fi switched off. So try not to rely on this too heavily. We did still manage to order a taxi on the app.

Keep in mind that the prices of Grab and Gojek from the airport are inflated due to their agreement with airport authorities. You can also book a private airport transfer for a similar price.

Are Grab & Gojek Safe?

Yes, Grab and Gojek are very safe. Drivers are pre-vetted and all rides are tracked through the app. Before your driver arrives, you can see their name, a photo, and their review score.

Both apps have built-in safety features such as alerts for unexpected stops or route changes, and speed monitoring to promote safe driving. You can also hit the SOS button in the app at any time.

While Grab and Gojek are both very safe, it's always a good idea for women travelling alone at night to make use of the app feature that allows you to share the journey with a friend or family member.

How To Use Online Taxi Apps

1. Ensure you have mobile data

If you plan to use online taxis, having access to the internet wherever you go on the island is essential. Check our guide to getting a SIM or e-SIM in Bali for more information.

2. Install and set up the app

Here are the download links for each of the apps: Grab (Apple | Android) or Gojek (Apple | Android)

Once installed, you’ll need to create an account. As part of this, you’ll be asked to verify your phone number. Both apps are now easier than ever for tourists to set up as you can do this via WhatsApp.

3. Connect your bank card [optional]

While you can pay for your rides in cash, we've found this quite difficult. On several occasions the drivers didn’t have enough small notes so we had to go into local shops to ask for change.

It’s more convenient to connect your bank card to the app so you never have to worry about cash payments.

4. Call a taxi

That’s it, you can now order a taxi. Remember to select whether you want a car taxi (GrabCar or GoCar) or scooter taxi (GrabBike or GoRide).

Is Grab or Gojek Better?

Both Grab and Gojek have the same core features for ordering taxis and are similarly priced, so it doesn’t make much difference which one you use. As they say in Southeast Asia, same same but different.

Surge pricing doesn’t always occur at the same time on each app, so we like to have both installed to compare prices. We spend a lot of time in Bali so these savings can add up, but for a short vacation, just having one should be fine.

If you’re travelling to other Southeast Asian destinations during your trip, Grab is a better option as they operate in 8 countries in the region, whereas Gojek only operates across Indonesia.

Tips For Using Grab & Gojek

1. Be aware of no-Gojek zones

You won't be surprised to hear that some local taxi drivers aren’t too fond of online taxi apps, as these platforms have limited their ability to overcharge tourists. This is a common issue faced in many countries worldwide.

In some areas of Bali where local taxi drivers have significant control (we call them the "taxi mafia"), they have managed to ban online taxis from picking up - although drop-offs are still allowed. These are called "no-ojek zones".

Some no-Gojek zones to be aware of include:

• Padangbai Port (for getting to the Gili Islands)

• Sanur Port (for getting to the Nusa Islands)

• Echo Beach, Canggu (near La Brisa Beach Club)

• Pandawa Beach, Uluwatu

2. Always wear a helmet on bike taxis

All Grab and Gojek bike taxis are required to carry an extra helmet for passengers. They may not always offer this to you as it could be stored inside the seat, but make sure you ask for one. Even with an experienced local driver, Bali’s roads are chaotic and accidents can happen.

3. Scooter taxis are hard to get when it's raining

We've had several experiences where we've struggled to get an online scooter taxi when it's raining as many drivers prefer not to drive in wet weather. During this time, more people resort to car taxis which can also make them harder to come by.

Unfortunately, there's little you can do in these instances other than wait for the rain to pass. You could try flagging down a taxi, but we try to avoid this for reasons outlined earlier.

4. Make use of scheduling

If you need to pre-book a ride for an early morning trip, you can use the scheduling feature to book rides up to a week in advance. This can help secure a ride during times of high demand too.

Although both apps are supposed to have scheduling features, we've only ever seen the option on Grab.

Related Questions

Is There Uber in Bali?

No, Uber does not operate in Bali, Indonesia, or anywhere in Southeast Asia. However, Uber does own a large share of Grab.