Source-backed analysis9
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
9 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Waymo Review
Driverless robotaxi you hail by app in a dozen-plus US cities
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Waymo suits people who live in or visit a covered US city and want a driverless ride backed by fairly detailed published safety data. The trade-offs are a limited service footprint, no public rate card, and cameras recording inside the cabin.
Best for: Residents and business travelers in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other open Waymo cities
Skip it if: Anyone outside the service areas: the app is downloadable in many countries, but rides exist only in cities where service has opened
Pros
- Runs 24/7 in 12 cities open to all riders, with Las Vegas welcoming its first riders
- Publishes safety data with methodology: through June 2026, 271.3M rider-only miles and 82.12% fewer injury crashes than the human benchmark
- App offers scheduling up to an hour ahead, up to 4 stops, Bluetooth unlock and live trip sharing
Cons
- No public price list; fares vary with busy periods
- Cameras record inside the cabin, and the privacy policy names no way to turn them off
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- Very high App Store rating: 4.97/5 from over 272,000 ratings
Cons
- Documented incidents and software recalls (Dec 2023, May 2024, May 2025) plus NHTSA and NTSB investigations in 2026
Best for
- Riders who prefer a private car without a human driver
Skip it if
- Anyone who needs a published fare schedule: prices only show in the app at booking
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What is Waymo?
Waymo is the self-driving taxi service from Waymo LLC, an Alphabet company. According to Wikipedia, the project began inside Google in 2009 and was renamed Waymo and spun out on December 13, 2016. The ride-hailing service, Waymo One, launched in Phoenix in December 2018. Riders download the app, enter a destination, and a driverless car picks them up. The official FAQ says service runs 24 hours a day and vehicles carry up to 4 riders.
Coverage and features
The FAQ lists 12 cities open to all riders: Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Metro Phoenix, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco and Tampa. Las Vegas is welcoming its first riders, while Austin and Atlanta rides are booked through Uber. The App Store description lists scheduling up to an hour ahead, up to 4 stops per trip, Bluetooth unlock, live arrival sharing and a trunk that opens automatically on exit. Waymo's blog says October 2026 added airport access at Harry Reid International (Las Vegas) and San Antonio International, plus nearly 250 square miles of new service area.
Pricing and value
The app is free; you pay per ride. Waymo posts no rate card. The FAQ says only that the price appears before booking, changes when stops are added and can be higher in busy periods such as nights and weekends. This review therefore cannot say whether Waymo is cheaper or pricier than Uber or taxis. Compare the in-app quote with the ride-hailing app you already use in your city.
More analysis
Safety and privacy
Waymo's safety impact page reports 271.3M rider-only miles through June 2026 and, against a human benchmark for Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin, 94.82% fewer serious-injury crashes and 82.12% fewer injury crashes. Waymo computes these from NHTSA-reported crashes, so read them as vendor figures. Wikipedia also records software recalls (Dec 2023, May 2024, May 2025) and a January 23, 2026 collision with a child that NHTSA investigated. On privacy, cars record video inside the cabin and the policy describes no separate opt-out.
Versus alternatives
Uber and Zoox are the closest peers in the AppDuo catalog. In Austin and Atlanta specifically, Waymo rides are booked through Uber. Waymo fits people inside a service area who are interested in a driverless ride. If you are outside the United States, it is not yet a practical option.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Waymo (app miễn phí / free app)
PersonalFree
The app is free to download; you pay per ride. Waymo publishes no per-mile or per-minute rate card. According to the official FAQ, the app shows the trip cost before you book, adding stops changes the price and the app shows the new amount, and busy periods such as nights and weekends can cost more. The fare is based on the most direct route; if the car has to re-route, the cost stays the same.
- Free plan limits
- There is no paid subscription. Service runs 24/7 within each city's service area and vehicles carry up to 4 riders. Passengers 17 and under can ride as guests; children under 8 need a car or booster seat in the back. In Metro Phoenix, teen accounts let 14- to 17-year-olds ride on their own with parental permission.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The pages reviewed (FAQ, privacy policy, both store listings) do not state a ride refund policy. For fare or trip disputes, check Waymo's terms of service and Help Center.
Privacy
Waymo's website privacy policy (last updated October 19, 2026) lists the rider data it collects: video recorded inside the vehicle during trips, audio during voice calls with support teams, pickup and drop-off locations, the vehicle route, device location (precise location only with permission), account and payment details, and trip history. Data may be shared with service providers, advertising and analytics partners, third parties you consent to, law enforcement where legally required, and successors in a merger. You can access, correct, delete and export your data and opt out of "sales" or "sharing" via the Do Not Sell or Share link or a Global Privacy Control signal. The policy describes no separate opt-out for the in-vehicle camera or audio and points to the Help Center for in-vehicle details.
Waymo alternatives
7.3/10Grab
Southeast Asia's superapp for rides, food, groceries and payments
7.1/10Uber
Global ride-hailing app that also covers delivery, hotels and car rental
Frequently asked questions
Which cities does Waymo operate in?
Per the official FAQ: Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Metro Phoenix, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco and Tampa are open to all riders. Las Vegas is welcoming first riders; Austin and Atlanta rides are booked through Uber.
How much does a Waymo ride cost?
Waymo publishes no rate card. The app shows the trip cost before you book; it changes when you add stops and can be higher in busy periods.
Can children ride in a Waymo?
Passengers 17 and under can ride as guests. Children under 8 need a car or booster seat in the back seat. In Metro Phoenix, teen accounts let 14- to 17-year-olds ride on their own with parental permission.
Does the car record riders?
Waymo's privacy policy lists video recorded inside the vehicle during trips and audio during voice calls with support. It describes no separate opt-out for the camera and points to the Help Center.
Review evidence & sources9
Scores
- Ease of use
- 8.6
- Features
- 8.0
- Value for money
- 6.8
- Performance
- 8.5
- Support
- 6.5
- Privacy & security
- 6.0
Why this score
A short flow: enter a destination, the car arrives, tap Start Ride on the in-car screen. A 4.97/5 App Store rating across 272,789 ratings points to a well-liked app, though it rates the app rather than every ride.
Why this score
Scheduling up to an hour ahead, up to 4 stops, Bluetooth unlock, trip sharing, teen accounts in Phoenix, Waymo for Business, and pickup at some airports such as Harry Reid and San Antonio. Few choices of vehicle type or fare tier.
Why this score
No list price to compare with Uber or taxis; fares can rise at busy times and show only after entering a destination. The score is held down by the lack of public pricing data, not by a verified high or low fare.
Why this score
Waymo's own figures: 271.3M rider-only miles through June 2026, 94.82% fewer serious-injury crashes and 82.12% fewer injury crashes than the human benchmark. These are Waymo-computed, though based on NHTSA-reported crashes. Points deducted for three software recalls and the 2026 investigations.
Why this score
Riders can reach Rider Support at any time from the app or the in-car screen, and there is a Help Center plus a phone line (1-844-261-3753) for privacy requests. There is no driver on hand when something goes wrong, and little independent data on support quality.
Why this score
The policy acknowledges in-cabin video and call audio and says data may go to advertising and analytics partners. Offsetting that are rights to delete and export data and to opt out of sale or sharing.
What users say
- Apple App Store (US)5.0/5 · 272,789
Sources
- Vendor-providedOfficial FAQNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial privacy policyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial safety impact pageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial Waymo blogNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listingNov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- pressInsideEVs (2026-03-26)Nov 10, 2026
- pressElectrek (2026-07-08)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: WaymoNov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Waymo LLC (Alphabet)
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2018
- Category
- Travel
Capabilities
- Mobile app
- Integrations
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- English
- Spanish
- French
- German
- Portuguese
- Japanese
- Korean
- Chinese
Integrations
- Uber (Austin, Atlanta)
- Waymo for Business
- Ramp
Support
- Live chat
- Phone
- Help center
Change history
- Launch.Fully driverless service began in Las Vegas; Denver, San Diego and Tampa were named as next.
- Feature.Waymo announced 500,000 paid rides per week across 10 US markets, double the level of under a year earlier.
- Company.Waymo raised $16 billion at a $126 billion valuation.
Full change history (8)
- Launch.Full commercial service launched in Los Angeles.
- Launch.Full commercial service launched in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Launch.Full commercial service without safety drivers opened to the public in Phoenix.
- Launch.Waymo One launched in Phoenix for passengers, with safety drivers on some rides.
- Company.Google's self-driving car project was renamed Waymo and spun out as an Alphabet company.
About the author
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