The upstart rideshare service Empower is undercutting industry leaders Uber and Lyft on pricing by an average of nearly 30%, stated a new report from Obi, the global real-time aggregator for rideshare prices.
The report, “Empower Takes on New York: Rideshare Wars are Heating Up in America’s Largest City”, analysed 7,876,228 associated ride offers as well as receipt data, taken from within the Obi app in New York City. The findings suggest that NYC riders are increasingly prioritising lower fares and predictable pricing as rideshare costs continue to rise.
“New York riders are clearly searching for alternatives as rideshare prices continue climbing. The data shows Empower has tapped into two frustrations simultaneously: riders feel they’re paying too much, and drivers feel they’re earning too little,” said Ashwini Anburajan, Obi’s CEO.
Empower, which uses a driver subscription model instead of a commission structure, is currently operating without a Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) licence in New York City and faces mounting regulatory scrutiny. NYC officials have alleged the company is operating illegally and is avoiding fees and surcharges required of licensed operators.
Yet it continues to grow in popularity in New York within the Obi app, rising from 21% of weekly ride requests in January to 40% by the end of March 2026, surpassing both Uber and Lyft within the Obi app ecosystem.
“Empower riders take the longest trips on average, more than seven miles per ride, while still paying significantly less per mile than competing services,” Obi commented further while pointing out Empower drivers keeping a larger share of fares. The receipt analysis shows drivers retain roughly 94% of fare and tip revenue (before any subscription costs) compared to about 82% on Uber and Lyft.
“Pickup times remain competitive, with Empower averaging just 9 seconds slower than Uber despite being substantially cheaper. Consumer loyalty is strengthening, with 70–80% of daily Empower users appearing to be repeat riders by the end of Q1,” the global aggregator observed.
Obi’s analysis suggests those avoided fees may contribute significantly to Empower’s pricing advantage: Currently, the average Empower ride in New York is roughly USD 32 per trip, compared to USD 40-USD 46 for Uber, Lyft, and the yellow cab hailing app Curb.