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Applications like Lyft (which replaced the old Zimride), Uber, and Careem are well known around the world. However, they are not the cheapest or most environmentally friendly way to travel, whether inside or outside a city. To do this, you can use apps that are extremely useful for backpackers who want to hitchhike. With them, you can carpool and save money.
What are the best apps for hitchhiking?
It's very easy to find apps like Gett, Ola or Curb, where you can call a car to take you wherever you want. But that doesn't mean they're the best options out there. Carpooling with someone who is already going to the same place is a much more economical alternative and, in this article, we have selected the best platforms of this type to use wherever you are.
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1. BlaBlaCar
Image: App Store
Without any doubt, BlaBlaCar is one of the best apps for backpackers. Not only is he extremely well-known, but he also has a presence in much of the world. This way, you can hit the road in more than 20 countries (mainly European) and make your trip easier. When looking for rides, you can search through a catalog of thousands of destinations until you find the one that best suits you.
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With the app, scheduling a ride is quick and easy, and you can find options near you. Prices are always cheaper than more popular alternatives like Uber, for example, which helps you save money. Users can get to know drivers better by checking their profiles, and be safe on the trip, as the platform verifies everyone's reviews and identities. And, if you want to travel by bus, the app also offers that possibility.
BlaBlaCar is available at Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS.
Read too: Manage your travel expenses with these incredible apps
2. Hitch
Image: App Store
Another interesting option among apps for hitchhiking is Hitch. It is one of the essential apps for backpackers who want to visit certain regions of the USA, as it is only available in some states in the country. With it, you can find rides at surprisingly low prices, starting at $15. So you can travel to other cities with much more comfort and luggage space than a bus offers.
Furthermore, Hitch promises to make the journey faster, safer and more fun, by bringing socialization. A big advantage is that it is not necessary to book your trips on the app in advance, as long as you request one between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. If you do it this way, you can find a ride in as little as two hours. You can also choose between station-to-station trips (at specific points) or door-to-door trips (to choose where to board and disembark).
Hitch is available at Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS.
3. Moovl
Image: App Store
Are you in Australia? Then Moovl is an excellent option for looking for carpooling. Its negative point is precisely the fact that it is only available in Australia. However, it offers a solution to make car sharing easier for all types of users, whether you are a student going to class or a traveler learning more about the country in Oceania. With this app, your journeys become easier, cheaper and more sustainable.
One of Moovl's main focuses is precisely to help build a greener future by reducing an individual's carbon footprint. Additionally, it helps those who need to save for any reason, and users can choose how and when to pay. Another interesting feature is that the app tries to connect passengers and drivers who share the same interests and travel preferences, which makes the experience much more pleasant.
Moovl is available on Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS.
4. KudosCar
Image: App Store
KudosCar is one of the most useful applications for backpackers who want to hitchhike, especially due to its presence in many countries. However, as the platform is quite new, there are not many users offering rides. Still, it's an interesting option to have on your cell phone to prepare for your trip. The app promises to be the only ride-sharing platform you need on a daily basis.
This application brings several tools to improve the user experience. Firstly, drivers and passengers are verified, which protects both parties. Furthermore, the app helps you save on fuel, parking and tolls and reduces your carbon footprint. Before boarding a ride, you can check reviews left by other people about the driver.
KudosCar is available at Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS.
5. Poparide
Image: App Store
And, finishing off the best travel apps for hitchhiking, we have Poparide, available only in Canada. The app has a community of more than 1 million members, which makes it a good platform for moving between different cities in the country. It connects passengers and drivers who share the destination, and can choose who to share with by looking at reviews, profiles and connections.
In this way, Poparide helps you save money, reduce environmental impact and form new friendships. To make the experience safer, all drivers are verified and payments are made virtually. In other words, you won't need to handle physical money. Another advantage of Poparide is that the prices charged are low, starting at $15 per seat.
Poparide is available at Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS.
Get rides and save on your journeys
By using any of the apps to travel by carpool, you will be able to spend much less on getting between cities and get to know more places (and people). Thus, the entire experience is elevated, as you are exposed to different cultures. Additionally, carpooling is important to reduce environmental impact.
