Last checked: November 2026. Prices and rules change, so confirm before you go.
Grab vs Gojek, quick answer: install both. Grab is usually easier for tourists because foreign credit cards tend to work in it. Gojek is the local favourite, often a little cheaper for scooter rides, but its card payments can be fussy with foreign cards, so you may end up paying cash.
Having both on your phone means when one shows “no drivers nearby” or a silly surge price, you just open the other. Locals do exactly that.
Grab vs Gojek at a glance
| Grab | Gojek | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Singapore-based, across Southeast Asia | Indonesian (part of GoTo) |
| Foreign credit cards | Generally accepted (Visa, Mastercard, often Amex) | Hit and miss; many tourists report declines |
| Wallet | OVO is the linked wallet in Indonesia | GoPay |
| Cash | Yes | Yes |
| Scooter rides | GrabBike | GoRide, often slightly cheaper |
| Cars | GrabCar, plus larger car options | GoCar |
| Food delivery | GrabFood | GoFood |
| Who it suits | First-timers, card payers, airport rides, groups | Budget riders, short hops, people happy to pay cash |
Prices between the two are usually close. The gap shows up at busy times, when one app surges and the other doesn’t.
Which app should you use?
Use Grab if: you want to pay by card, you’re getting a car from the airport, you’re new to Indonesia, or you already use Grab elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Use Gojek if: you’re doing lots of quick scooter rides around town, you’ve got cash on you, or Grab is surging.
Honestly, the bigger decision is bike or car, not which app. A scooter ride through Jakarta or Denpasar traffic is often faster and much cheaper. A car makes sense with luggage, kids, rain, or more than one passenger. Bikes carry one passenger only.
How to set up Grab and Gojek
Before you fly
- Download both apps at home. App stores and SMS codes are easier with your home connection.
- Sign up with a number that can receive SMS. You don’t need an Indonesian number. Your home number works if it gets international texts. A data-only travel eSIM can’t receive the code, so keep your home SIM active for sign-up.
- Add your card in Grab. Try it in Gojek too. If Gojek refuses it, don’t fight it. Plan to pay cash.
- Don’t change your number later. Some travellers report card payment problems after switching their account to a new number. If you buy a local SIM, keep the app on the number you signed up with unless you have to switch.
Booking a ride
- Open the app and set your destination. Type the name of a hotel, cafe or landmark rather than a street address. Indonesian addresses are a puzzle even for locals.
- Move the pickup pin to exactly where you’re standing. Use a recognisable spot: a shop front, a minimart, a gate.
- Pick bike or car, check the upfront price, and choose cash or card.
- Check the plate number and driver photo before you get in or on. Ask “Pak, untuk [your name]?” (Sir, for [name]?).
- Drivers often message or call to confirm where you are. Many write in Indonesian, so keep a translation app handy. Send a photo of your spot if it’s confusing.
On bikes, the driver gives you a helmet. Wear it. Hold the back rack or the driver’s shoulders, keep your feet off the hot exhaust, and keep your bag on your front.
Getting a Grab or Gojek from the airport
At Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport, both apps have official lounges or pickup areas in arrivals, and they’ve moved before. Follow the current signage rather than an old blog post. In peak evening hours, cars can take 20–40 minutes to reach the pickup zone, so be patient.
At other airports, look for signs for “online taxi” or app pickup points. If you’re heading somewhere via a toll road (like the Bali Mandara toll), drivers will usually ask you to cover the toll. That’s normal, not a scam.
Bali’s no-pickup zones
In parts of Bali, local transport groups don’t want app drivers picking up in their area. You’ll see signs saying online taxis aren’t allowed. It’s especially common around some beaches, tourist strips and parts of Ubud.
What it means for you:
- Drop-offs are usually fine. Pickups are the issue.
- Walk a few minutes away from the signed area, then book.
- Don’t make your driver the target. If a driver asks you to walk to a different spot, they’re avoiding trouble, not being lazy.
- Ask your hotel what’s normal in that street.
The specific areas shift, and other islands have their own local arrangements. Browse our destination guides when you’re planning where to go next.
Common scams and mistakes
- Driver asking to cancel and go off-app. “Cancel please, I take you cheaper.” Don’t. You lose the tracking, the fixed price and any help if something goes wrong.
- “No change” with big notes. Carry small notes: IDR 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 (roughly USD 0.55, 1.10 and 2.80). Handing over IDR 100,000 for a IDR 18,000 ride invites “sorry, no change”.
- Wrong car. Always match the plate number. A random driver saying “Grab? Grab?” at the airport is not your Grab.
- Fake surge stories. The price in the app is the price. Extra stops or waiting can change it, but the app shows the updated fare.
- Tolls and parking. Tolls on car rides and some parking fees are passed on to you. Ask the driver to show the receipt if you’re unsure.
Paying cash most of the time? Browse more Travel Tips before your trip.
Tipping drivers
Not required. Both apps have an in-app tip option after the ride. Rounding up a cash fare or leaving IDR 5,000–10,000 for a good ride or long wait is a nice gesture.
Beyond rides
Both apps do far more than transport. GoFood and GrabFood deliver from warung and restaurants, and both offer parcel delivery and grocery services. In smaller cities you’ll usually find fewer cars and longer waits, so book earlier. Heading somewhere like West Java’s highlands? Our Garut travel guide is a good place to start planning.
FAQ
Is Grab or Gojek cheaper in Indonesia?
They’re close. Gojek is often a little cheaper for scooter rides. At busy times, whichever app isn’t surging wins, so compare both.
Can I use Grab or Gojek without an Indonesian SIM?
Yes. You need mobile data and a phone number that can receive the SMS code to sign up. Your home number usually works for that.
Do Grab and Gojek accept foreign credit cards?
Grab generally does. Gojek is inconsistent with foreign cards, so many tourists pay Gojek rides in cash.
Are motorbike taxis safe?
Drivers are used to traffic and carry spare helmets, and both apps have trip-sharing and emergency features. Wear the helmet, hold on, and pick a car in heavy rain.
Can I book Grab or Gojek from Bali airport?
Yes, from the official pickup areas in arrivals. Follow the signs and expect a wait at busy times.
Should I tip Grab and Gojek drivers?
It’s optional. A small in-app tip or rounding up cash is appreciated, especially for long waits or heavy luggage.
