Empower - Your Ride, Your Way Customer Service

Empower - Your ride, your way Positive Reviews

One star warningAll these reviews are bots inflating the rating of this company. The eta is off by over 10min too often. It’s like they don’t really track their drivers. They just give you an estimated BS animation of the drivers come closer to you. I just had an issue with a notification saying that the driver was only eight minutes away finally at less than one minute away I get a message from the driver saying that there was a crash on the road delaying traffic, which is understandable. However, the app is still saying that the ETA is less than one minute. And when I see where he’s at on the map, his location was significantly further away. I can’t tell if these drivers are scamming me making me cancel the ride to take the hit while they still get paid or if the developers are not patching these bugs. Either way it’s unreliable. You get what you paid for. It’s a great cheap Alternative if you‘re not in a rush but again, extremely unreliable. You’ve been warned..FrustratedappleuserVersion: 2.10.0

Wait times are not accurateI’ve been using this app for 2 months, it is cheaper than the competitor and it’s good the driver keeps the entirety of the cost. The biggest problem with this app for me is that the wait times are not accurate and i’ve had experiences with drivers not moving for many minutes. For example, it will say driver arrives in 4 minutes but 7 minutes pass and the driver is still nowhere near, other times driving away from my location, and even have cancelled when arriving to my location. This makes the app very unreliable for me, especially if you’re in a rush. I’m not sure why this is a big problem with Empower and not as much with other apps. When you cancel the ride because of these things, they don’t even give you an option to select why you canceled and immediately charge you a $4 cancellation fee. This is not always fair. They also put a hold on your card for a higher amount than what the ride is and they claim it’s for the tip (they do end up adjusting the amount later on) but when you leave the tip it’s a separate charge. This doesn’t make any sense as to why they’d hold a higher amount if the tip charge is separate. This app would be great if these things change..Drea_RDVersion: 2.11.0

Save money! Great options!I’ve used Uber and Lyft for many years. However, when Empower came on the scene four years ago in North Carolina, it changed the game in favor of not only the drivers, but the riders as well! Their options of having favorite drivers and gender match, are features that had long been requested of Uber and Lyft, yet never provided! In addition, after being tired of being burned with the incredibly high surges for both Uber and Lyft, it’s refreshing to get a ride on an app that while there may be a surge, it won’t be anything like what you see with Uber and Lyft at the same time! Additionally, new riders that sign up earn ride credits and can keep earning ride credits by using the refer a friend and refer a driver tabs in the app. Also, it’s great to see a software that lets drivers earn 100% of the fare. Drivers pay for a subscription and after that’s paid, they get to keep the remainder of their fares. You should give it a try!.TJ LaneVersion: 2.4.6

Still undecided about this app!This is only my third time “trying” to use this ride service. First time no issues. Yesterday I tried to get a ride on this service and it connected me with several drivers, and all 4 of them cancelled on me after they already accepted and started driving in my direction. And I was unable to get to my destination before end of business. I’ve been relying on these ride service apps since the motor blew in my truck until I have it replaced and back on the road. When I’m depending on the drivers who are driving for these apps I really need them to show up or if they don’t want my trip I’d prefer they don’t accept my request and let a driver who shows up take the ride and don’t have me waiting on them and counting on them actually showing up for the service. But the two positive experiences that I’ve had, today in this nasty weather being one of them, I really appreciate the service and I figure I’ll give the benefit of doubt and give Empower and their drivers another chance before I give them a 1 Star review and give up on this one..Sucks9Version: 2.9.8

Price Jump and Unprofessional DriversThis app was fine at first, but the price jumping is terrible now. I requested a ride that was $7 at first and then out of know where the ride jumped to $15. This is completely unprofessional and that money coming off my card without my consist is the issue. At least with Uber and Lyft, which has been extremely expensive lately, they tell the prices from the beginning. I am contemplating not using this app anymore due to the dishonesty and issues I am having with it. Also, THE DRIVERS FOR THIS APP ARE HORRIBLE! They speed and when I try to get in contact with the officials of Empower I can’t get in contact or I never receive a response. On multiple occasions I have been in jeopardy of being involved in an accident. I was scared out of my mind and the situations get worse and worse. This is the biggest reasons why I am contemplating of not continuing my service with them and warning others..BlondieAlejos52Version: 1.4.5

DO NOT DOWNLOAD. ONLY RATED 5 STARSS FOR ATTENDANTThis app is terrible. The UI doesn’t work. The map is inaccurate & will edit your pickup or drop off location without your consent & the drivers on here are either scammers or cannot drive. I’ve had multiple instances of drivers being rude, cancelling rides or straight up saying the ride was completed without ever picking me up. It’s not worth saving the extra $2 for a cheaper ride if you have to order another one immediately after. There is NO customer service line or email. The app lies to you saying they will be in touch with you to resolve your issue but really they won’t. Because there’s no one to take the calls or respond to emails. This app is one of the worst ride share apps I have ever used PLEASE steer clear..K.i.D Ic3Version: 2.12.1

Needs better trackingThis app needs better tracking when it comes to driver pickup and sourcing because for starters the app design makes the service come across as rather suspect and even unscrupulous, which for many like myself can lead to safety concerns as there are no measures or provisions in place to offer protections against potential criminal intent, misconduct, or similar behaviors. What I mean specifically is that there are no ways to review a driver’s profile or even add a PIN to your ride like with Uber or even Lyft. The app will display a driver as being “1 min” or “2 mins away” when if you look at your map you can clearly see that a driver is halfway across town from your pickup location (which tends to be a greater distance of around 8-10 mins, sometimes 15 minutes on a single wait). This frustrating experience has made it so that getting to work while relying on this service can be more a hassle than a benefit. The app could use so many improvements based on many factors, of which includes their pricing and app design especially when compared to their competitors. I do love that Empower has more affordable rides but I do not like how a hold for a different amount than what is shown on the app is placed on your payment method until after you have your ride and the actual price is later reflected on your bank statements. So while I understand why many would give the app 5 stars (and likely for Empower’s ability to provide rides most of the time at a fraction of the cost of the same ride taken with Lyft or Uber) there is much to be desired in an app like this that is developed in the modern age, in 2025 and counting, such as Empower. I am not impressed with the layout or design and again I cannot stress enough the importance of being able to review a driver’s profile beyond who liked or didn’t like the driver, as well as being able to build on your own rider profile like you can with other rideshare apps. Do better..Manny WallaceVersion: 2.9.1

What’s stopping Empower from becoming the #1 ride share in DMVEmpower has efficiency, and cost found well for them. However they lack in customer experience and reliability. The drivers along with old and outdated technology is the area that puts Empower behind Lyft and UBER. The navigation system is never accurate. I have been using this app nearly every day for over 1 yr and still cannot get get picked up without calling the driver to explain where I am. Uber and Lyft has no issues but Empower sends the drivers to the wrong spot EVERY TIME. Secondly the drivers. Some drivers are rude, irresponsible and lack proper communication skills. They know they will no no repressions for bad behavior or reports unlike UBER OR LYFT drivers so they have a don’t care attitude. They do as they please. Cancel rides 1-2 minutes away, ignore rider requests, charge their own prices, and are sometimes rude and argumentative. Should Empower begin to hold their drivers to higher standards and fix their navigational system. They will quickly climb to the number 1 spot..GetnitVersion: 2.9.7

Great Idea and Concept; Serious Improvements NeededDownloaded the app a few weeks ago, appreciate that there is someone else entering the rideshare market to break the Uber/Lyft duopoly. In general, the drivers are kind, professional and certainly deserve the extra pay the app provides for them; I have no issues with the drivers thus far. I also appreciate that my rides are typically cheaper than said Uber/Lyft duopoly. The app, however, needs work. For one thing, the map is obscured by a large textbox with a proclamation condemning DC Councilman Kenyan McDuffie as part of an ongoing legal battle to register in DC; a worthwhile cause as McDuffie is known to be corrupt, except the textbox can’t be closed without booking a ride first. It’s fairly annoying in that respect. Moreover, the destination triangulation and route planning algorithms needs some serious calibration. It keeps sending drivers to the garage side of my building (from which it is technically illegal to do a rideshare pickup) instead of the main entrance; which is annoying to both myself and the drivers. Moreover, the app often sends drivers on residential-heavy routes with many stoplights instead of adjacent highways and other faster detours; that’s equally annoying when there are main highways that take you into DC much quicker. Again, wonderful concept, mixed execution. If I’m going to use this app more frequently, I would like it to be both more user-friendly and better calibrated for navigation..MFuzi12Version: 2.11.0

Decent alternative to Lyft and UberIll be blunt, you save an average of about 20% compared to uber and lyft depending on times. At peak times i save about 2-3 bucks which is ok i guess, i mean ill take what i can get but my main issue lies in the ride credits. As quoted from their FAQs “Available ride credits will be applied to your fares automatically. Credit amounts change depending on the market and available promotions. You can, however, view your ride credit information anytime in your Empower rider app.” This means that if you’ve got a good amount of ride credits saved up you won’t be able to determine how much is used on your next trip, its done automatically for you. This bothers me a bit because i should be given the option to either not use any credits at all or let me determine how many credits i’d like to use whether it be all of them or a few. I had 12 credits saved up and thought i’d get a good deal on a ride however only 3 were applied..Edgerunner EnjinVersion: 2.9.5

Improvements.While I appreciate the lower fares, I’m to the point that I’d rather pay the extra 20% to the other ride share companies for the peace of mind they bring. You guys need to do better background checks on your drivers. COMPLETELY update the GPS system you all use because EVERY SINGLE driver takes the longest route possible which is completely unnecessary. I had a driver pick me up a different car than what was listed on his profile. There’s no way to contact customer care to where you’ll actually get a response. No safety features for riders. I can’t share my ride with a contact in my phone so that they can watch to make sure I’m safe. You guys need to head back to the drawing board to update & add some features before trying to expand to other cities! Whatever wait time they give, expect to wait DOUBLE that. Almost every driver’s car is dirty with very FEW exceptions..NoSocialLifeEshVersion: 2.11.0

UnderstandSo the reason why I gave it a four I enjoy using Empire, but it’s not without its problems. I live in DC the rides are cheaper than Uber and Lyft. I’ve had occasional drivers that were driving too fast. I’ve had issues with empire, overcharging, and taking out unauthorized extra money which I’ve had to get refunded that right there is probably my biggest issue with Empire but the drivers, been not been bad for me. The ones that were driving fast I was able to report so yes people reporting is key. At least I’m speaking for me because I have reported anyone and everyone that has been a safety issue. Reported drivers who canceled on me five times. And I was assisted with no issues. The only issue for me is taking out extra money out of my account without my permission and I can say the money has thus far always been returned..Poke youVersion: 2.4.1

The Best in NYC!!!I have both Lyft Pink AND Uber One and I’ve been using Empower consistently for the past month and it’s soooo much cheaper than the latter two. I cannot recommend this app enough. It’s fast, reliable, and the same drivers as the other apps but a better situation for both you and the drivers. The only downside is the app is still a little glitchy in terms of showing you in real time where the driver is, but as long as you trust the process and know they’re showing up in the estimated time, you’re fine. I’ve honestly had enough of the price gouging and surge pricing from Lyft and Uber and I’m all about drivers keeping more of their fare share for their labor. Especially in this economy.Christopher "Money" RobinsonVersion: 2.9.8

Great app but needs so much tweaksIts a great app but the app NEEDS: - To show you the ride distance 😭 BEFORE u order the ride. I would assume this is common sense but i’m annoyed of having to go to google maps, seeing the car distance and then ordering the ride PRAYING its the same. that’s ridiculous. - Stop taking the money BEFORE the ride is completed. Im tired of ordering a car, seeing its 17 minutes away, cancelling it immediately and then seeing the app still took the $40 for the ride…. my last $40. Meaning I cant order another car till they return the amount they took… I have been left stranded twice because of this. 😭 - A more accurate pickup system. Half my drivers pick me up 5 minutes away from where im actually located. - STOP SHOWING A FAKE PRICE. Just PLEASE include the tax and fees before I order it..Kelly belly 21Version: 2.7.0

Cheaper rides but GPS needs workI really enjoy the thought behind this app and that it is more fair to the drivers, however, the GPS on this app is pretty terrible. Ive tried this two ways - I’ve allowed the pick up location to default to “current location” and almost every time the driver ends up down the street or around the corner. Then, I have tried to enter the exact address for pick up and again, drivers still either end up behind the building, down the street, on opposite sides of the street, etc. and never at the correct location. It leads to me calling the driver and trying to chase them down. I live in New York City so these buildings should be easy to find on a map, and are easy to find with uber and Lyft. Again, I prefer to use empower over the other ride share apps but PLEASE WORK ON THE GPS.NYC JacksonVersion: 2.11.0

Driver never picked me up but still charged for the rideFollow Up: Sending an email to customer support on their website (Contact Us Page) was reliable and timely and I was able to get a full refund. Most Empower rides have been good but this one experience was very annoying and frustrating. I ordered a ride and waited by the pick up location. The driver drove near the pickup location and marked that I was en route even though I was never in the car. He then ended the ride saying I was dropped off. I tried contacting customer support via phone but no one responded. Terrible driver service and terrible customer service. There needs to be a confirmation from rider AND driver that the ride started and ended..Vidusha RaoVersion: 2.0.1

Needs Improvements and ClarityI appreciate this app for the better prices compared to Uber/Lyft and similar competitors. The app could use better clarification on those prices and communication regarding drivers. I am consistently charged at least a dollar more than was shown on the booking and have drivers not communicate at all and cancel. If the price has gone up in the thirty seconds since I opened the booking that should be reflected in the app or whatever is causing the price to consistently be more should be shown to the user. There should be options to reflect situations such as a driver clearly driving to some other destination or being completely stopped somewhere else. These things make the app undependable so I end up giving myself way more time just to make it on time to my destination..Queen of NothingsburgVersion: 2.7.0

Decent service with many issuesI like the concept but the app and service continues to have many glitches. 1. Arrival times are almost never what is estimated. They might estimate 5 minutes, but once a ride is confirmed it says 9 minutes, and the drive arrives at 12 minutes. This is frustrating when you’re in a time crunch. 2. Frequently, though not always, the charges turn out to be higher than estimated once a driver is assigned. For example, $16 instead of $13. Though it never goes lower than the estimate. Once it quoted $12 but it was changed to $35 once a driver was assigned and I did not catch the difference until I was already in the car. 3. Little enforcement over the car or drivers. I’ve had many situations where a driver with a completely different car and license plate shows up. Also, Empower cars tend to be in worse shape than Lyft or Uber. It’s not unusual to see a selection of yellow and red dashboard lights permanently on, or a suspension begging for some maintenance. 4. The gps function of the app has unresolved glitches. The driver’s location doesn’t always update in real time. For example, the app sometimes freezes and says the driver is 4 minutes away when the driver has already arrived..667675TaVersion: 2.2.1

Good alternative but unreliableEmpower definitely does usually have lower prices than uber and Lyft (and that’s coming from someone that pays monthly for uber). Only problem is this is the only app where drivers constantly ghost you. They will accept the ride and have u waiting for 10+ minutes just to randomly cancel the ride. One time a driver pulled up and was acting strange when I opened the door so I didn’t feel comfortable getting in so I reported it as a safety concern in the ap, they canceled my ride and still charged me for the full amount. So idk. The few times I’ve actually been able to use this ap to get from point a to point b, it was great but at this point, most of the time it’s not worth it because the drivers on this app will leave you hanging and make u late to wherever you’re going.JasP1014Version: 2.9.1

Aiiiinh - this ridesharing app serves other male customers betterGood luck getting the benefits that this ridesharing app says it would rollout publicly when you jump through hoops doing when requested. As other spaces have limited to no rolling benefits, this ridesharing app is a quid-pro-quo legacy wheelpuller. I ain't the only individual to get rolling blackouts of service to this ridesharing app or another competitor from certain neighborhoods that I roll into, but customer service surely helps out in a cinch on a 9x out of 10 basis. I can't speak for the good majority of Washington, DC-suburban riders, but with any rideshare service, (shouts out to my NC-relatives out there, hello!) if you look like a indigent cave traveler, regardless of if you have any sense, the drivers will rate the riders with impunity towards your next rides. Check also out the two-dollar incremental ride credits, which this ridesharing service would not lumpsum your credits redeemed into one ride. ANOTHER THING THAT NEEDS ANOTATING, PLEASE %*%*^ Tip your drivers, regardless of sex. It really helps the drivers socially score you, and appreciates them with their safety and health to keep helping riders of the same drivers after you, as well as implicitly maintain the durability and reliability of their vehicles..Tim the Merlin Bonafide RunMDVersion: 2.4.7

Definitely cheaper but needs polishDefinitely cheaper than Lyft or Uber but the app is extremely buggy, especially the map view. While both waiting for the driver and during my trip the car frequently disappears from map, or teleports around the map. This is particularly frustrating while waiting for the driver as, while it’s teleporting around the map, it will say “5 minutes away”, then 10, then 5 again, and suddenly the car will be on top of you, the app says the car has arrived, but the driver actually doesn’t show up for several minutes. Very annoying since you have no idea where the driver really is. The teleporting car, along with the fact that once the route is drawn on the map it doesn’t change, is a major safety issue since it’s hard to tell where you are on the route and if the driver is taking you somewhere else (even if by accident.) Speaking of safety features, there is no way to share your trip with someone. I’ve been using it for a few months and there hasn’t been any updates which I find odd; It’s not like the app is perfect as is. Please fix the map and add the ability to share your ride status!.NolageekVersion: 1.9.10

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Empower - Your ride, your way Negative Reviews

Unsafe pick ups, incomplete rides, no refundI am extremely disappointed with Empower and the repeated safety issues l've experienced using this app. One incident involved a driver who parked across a highway instead of coming to the correct pickup side even though I have ordered rides to this exact location several times and drivers always arrive on the proper side. When I texted him asking where he was and pointed out that he was across the highway, he responded, "This is where it took me." I had to run across a highway to reach the car. That is extremely unsafe and unacceptable. Another time, a driver placed all of my bags on the ground instead of handing them to me or assisting properly, which was unprofessional and disrespectful. Most recently, a driver hit a curb while driving straight, popped his tire, and ended the ride early. He told me to order a new ride and did not complete the trip yet I was still charged full price. I had to walk 15 minutes to work and pay for a ride that was never finished. I have messaged customer support multiple times about these recent incidents and have received no response. The only time I received a reply was about a lost item a month ago. There has been no accountability and no refund for a ride that was not completed. I have never had this many problems with drivers until using Empower. Between the safety risks, unprofessional behavior, and lack of support, this experience has been extremely frustrating and disappointing..Cansycane06Version: 2.12.0

DO NOT USEThese people are ridiculous! I’ve been using empower for a while, and then one day when I try to book a ride, they randomly tell me my account has been locked due to fraudulent activity. I review my rides and see they are all accurate, no fraud. I email them telling them my rides are correct and there is no fraud and they say “ Your account has been locked due to suspected fraudulent transaction activity and is subject to deactivation. Please note, Empower reserves the right to take steps necessary to reverse or undo the impact of any fraudulent transactions. If you wish to provide any information, please do so by responding to this email.” I respond telling them there isn’t any fraudulent activity and the rides are correct, so I have no information to provide. They then respond saying “ Unfortunately, we can only advise that we are unable to unlock your account at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.” I keep asking why and they won’t give me any information at all, just telling me they can’t unlock my account and can’t provide any further information at this tune. It’s extremely frustrating because I’ve used them often, and I keep telling them my rides were all accurate!! It’s not like a filed a dispute with my credit card company or something. They just locked me out and won’t let me create a new account for no reason!!.AshleyyyyloveVersion: 1.6.7

Apps needs to updateIn the last 2 rides I used these for, the drop off location cannot be changed at all!!!! I was going to Loyola university fitness & aquatic and it literally dropped me off almost a 5 minute walk from the university??? The driver was extremely rude too and yelling. I’m 17 years old, it was lower than 20 degrees outside and I was trying to get him to drop me off at the parking lot which was less than a 2 minute drive…he just needed to turn right and drive up a bit and I would be at the university. But he was so rude and I just asked him to drive up a bit to the light where he’d need to turn right and if he could drop me off so I could walk the rest of the way. He didn’t want to drop me off and yelled about needing to go home… he had to drive forward anyways and all I asked was to let me stay in so I could walk the rest of the way. The drivers aren’t as kind as they are on uber. There was another time when I put in an address and the pickup location was completely different??? I tried to get in contact with the driver and there was no way to, they ended up canceling and I just got an uber instead because I can choose where to pick me up from. There needs to be an easier way to contact someone and a better way to pick the location drop off and pick up..Marilyn780Version: 2.10.0

Unsafe / Stay AwayMy 7 year old daughter and I were picked up around 10:41P on March 11 to be dropped off at the Ritz Carlton-Pentagon City in VA. When the driver was on his way I noticed in the Empower app he wasn’t following the suggested route on the map. We met him outside with luggage and he agreed to let me use his trunk. My daughter hopped in the vehicle as the driver popped the trunk from the drivers seat and I started to walk to the back of the vehicle with the suitcases but he forgot to put the car in park so the vehicle started to roll back. He hopped back in the suburban and slammed on the brakes then shifted gears. My daughter was frightened and I was in shock. We finally are on our way and he again is not taking the suggested route on the map. His music is way too loud and he’s joking with my daughter that he’s going to to take her home with him. We get to the Ritz Hotel and he’s taking the luggage out. He hands me the large suitcase and he was about to hand over the mini suitcase to my daughter but hesitates and asks her, “I thought you were coming home with me. You aren’t coming home with me?” So I go to grab the suitcase from him and he actually has a slight grip on the handle but he sees my intent and finally let’s go saying, “Have a good night” and leaves. I emailed Empower twice and tried to call but have not heard back. The safety of their customers doesn’t seem to be a priority! Stay away!.NicSerrVersion: 1.3.4

DisappointingI tried this ride share company for the first time today. I was encouraged by the reviews and the lower fares. However, I used the app this afternoon to order a ride to midtown. The wait time was 10 minutes. About 7 minutes later, the driver cancelled the ride. The app got me another driver (another 7 minute wait) and they cancelled when they were supposedly 3 minutes away. After the second cancellation, the app didn’t even bother to try to get me another driver. Since I was already late, I took my chances and ordered another driver. This time the driver arrived and was pleasant enough, but the car was old, the interior was falling apart and he didn’t take a direct route to my destination. And since I didn’t tip him right away, there’s no way to leave a tip for him now. I guess you get what you pay for but I’m really disappointed with my experience. I’m a senior citizen and it was really cold out today. Leaving customers waiting outside for over 20 minutes in freezing weather is a poor business model. Having drivers whose cars are not in good working order is a recipe for disaster, especially because the customers and the drivers are not covered by insurance if there’s an accident. I don’t have a rating so it didn’t have anything to do with me being a difficult passenger. I will not be using this company again..LBridget1223Version: 2.9.8

Needs workI want this app to succeed as I believe in its mission to be more inclusive for drivers while also letting them walk home with a larger share of the fare - while committing to keeping fares lower than competitors such as Lyft and Uber. However the app needs substantially more work and quality improvements and in the last year or so I’ve been using it, none of the persistent issues have been addressed. The quoted fare while requesting a ride and then getting a ride accepted are often different - it’s simply a scam and against the value proposition of this company to advertise a $8 ride and then charge $16 for it, which is often higher than what Lyft would cost. In the last few months, the prices have also converged with competitors. The navigation / GPS are terrible and I almost always have to call the driver to figure out where they are - not their fault as the app shows them a different pickup place than my location. Finally, there’s a much higher incidence of distracted driving or cars in suboptimal shape on this app than the competitors - and a higher share of canceled or delayed rides as well. Overall this app needs to prioritize quality and cost improvements than its current relentless focus on survival and lobbying (multiple emails a week!) - otherwise it will simply not be sustainable..DD_66666Version: 2.5.7

If you are a woman DO NOT USEAt first I loved empower. The prices were good and it was simple enough to book. Then I had one driver who was completely unprofessional keep me in his car for 20+ minutes in my drive way rambling. Eventually I just got out in the middle of whatever he was saying. (For context I am a woman in my mid twenties) The next day at work I am finishing my closing duties and then I hear my name. I turn around and it was my driver from the previous night. I asked him if he wanted to order a drink or food but he declined. He stated he just came to see me. Very freaked out I get my manager to stay at my station with me. He gets up to leave and then says how “he is going to wait around to see if I need a ride home”. Which I obviously declined. I tried to report him on the app which it did not give me an option for. I’m did give him a thumbs down though. I also tried to get into contact with empower’s customer service and I was sent to voicemail and never heard back. The other night I tried to get a ride somewhere thinking since I at least gave him a thumbs down I wouldn’t be matched with him but with in thirty seconds I do. I obviously canceled the ride. I am still freaked out. I have had some great drives but for my own safety I can no longer use this app..Pink 5555Version: 2.3.1

HORRIBLE!! DO NOT GETOk the only pro about this app is that it is slightly cheaper than Uber or Lyft, but this app has soooo many cons, for starters most of the drivers are all slow and seem uneducated, they are super rude and always have an attitude, I had an incident where my driver canceled the ride and hung up the phone on me when I was trying to guide him to where I was. They have no patience. Another con is empower will give you a estimate on how much the ride will cost then when you finally get a driver after at least 5-15 minutes of waiting for someone to accept your request they will bump the price up at least $5-$10 more which is crazy, then you’ll have to cancel because who wants to pay $15 for a 8 minute drive, and you’ll have to find a new driver. Another HUGE con is their thieves, they stole over $95 in the span of 2 days from me because they decided they wanted to start taking $15 from your account as a “hold” to make sure the drivers get paid, but they charged me for the ride already and still take $15 that I still haven’t received back. This makes no sense because why take $15 when the persons card will decline if they don’t have enough funds! This whole app is trash and their company, I need to find a new ridesharing/riding app ASAP!.CocodazeeeeVersion: 1.5.2

TERRIBLE- SCAMMERSThis app has the potential to be an amazing app but instead it is TERRIBLE. You frequently have drivers scamming and accepting rides but never picking you up. Arriving in cars not listed on the app. They also will cancel randomly for no reason, even if you are standing outside. You get no sort of credit, refund, nothing. You can’t reach customer service so don’t expect any resolution. App will say drivers are 6 minutes away, the gps after accepting the ride will say 6 minutes away, and it will take them 15 minutes to arrive so don’t use this app if you are in a rush. Maybe it’s good in suburban areas but for cities/ urban areas? Just forget it. The app gps is also extremely outdated and does not give drivers the correct address often leading to further delays, I have seen this for myself. The drivers are often rude even when you try to be reasonable and as mentioned they will cancel at any given moment. The only good thing about this app is the prices… sometimes. sometimes it has the nerve to be higher than uber or Lyft where at least if you pay more for a ride, you have a better quality ride..No emojis??Version: 2.9.8

Worst Driver AppThis app is not worth it, use it at your own precaution . If you want to find to ride, use Uber or Lyft not Empower as cons far outweigh the pros of using the app. The only two good things about this app is 1. There’ll be a driver near you sometime of the time (though Uber and Lyft drivers are close sometimes too) and 2. Prices are somewhat cheaper majority of the time. But let’s talk about the first few issues aka pricing. 1. The prices for every ride is false. It’ll say it’s $7 or $9 but in actuality the app will 4 more dollars due to tax resulting in the actual price being $11 or $13. 2. Prices have the chance to increase to absurd price, higher than Uber and Lyft sometimes which insane. 3. (Which correlates well with the next category) You can get robbed. Now what I mean by that is that unlike Uber in which you pay after getting a ride or Lyft in which you pay for a ride, with Empower, all the money goes to the driver, now if driver decides to, they could cancel the ride and take your money, leaving with less money and no ride. This next category is drivers. As a huge problem is 1. Drivers have access to your number, there is no secure line that protects your identity, the driver will know your face, name, number, address (if they’re picking you up or dropping you off home). Another issue is 2. Time left for drivers is false, the app will say they arrived but in actuality they didn’t and they’re 5 minutes away, the map would glitch out, even worse they’re at different pick up location. Which leads me to 3. You can’t decide where you want to get pick up like the other apps. The app will automatically pick for you and drop off spots are bad but worst of all, where you are supposed to meet the driver is completely different from where they’re supposed to meet you which would lead to major confusion and you having to call them..Grantson AVersion: 2.11.0

Horrible customer serviceI am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction with the level of customer support provided by your company. On September 1st, I experienced a ride cancellation issue with one of your drivers, resulting in a discrepancy between the ride status on my end and the driver's end. Despite providing thorough evidence and explanations, I received an initial response on September 5th that merely stated I would be contacted within 24 hours. It's now September 9th, and despite sending two follow-up emails, I have yet to receive a substantive response or resolution. I expect a higher level of professionalism and responsiveness from a company that values its paying customers. The lack of urgency and communication has led to a significant loss of trust. I am still awaiting a refund for the ride, which was not completed as intended. I request that this matter be prioritized, and a full refund be processed immediately. I urge you to review your customer support processes and prioritize timely, effective communication to prevent similar experiences for other customers. However, at this point, it's unlikely I will continue to use your services in the future..Andrelaya KirbyVersion: 2.7.0

DriversI have been using this app for about a few months. At first u it worked well with me and I had no complaints. Fast forward to note, worst freaking thing invented. My first Internet was when a driver came to pick me up and his car smelled like pure cigarettes. After I got out of the vehicle, I had a full-blown asthma attack and had to go to the hospital. When I reached out to file a complaint not an email call or text would responded back to. I stopped using the app for a few weeks. Then again today which January 29, 2026. I use the app to call a ride because I needed to make it to my mark train on time and I knew that call an Uber was going to take a little longer than I had time for. I let the driver know that I was a block away from her. She purposely stopped a block and a half away from me and proceeded to let or confirm that she had arrived at my destination. She then would not answer the phone and subsequently blocked me and cancel my ride. This resulted in the app holding a $4 cancellation fee on my card which I will not get back. Shut it down. They are the worse and will only get worse..BIGGLAYY EEEEEEVersion: 2.9.5

Horrible Ride Share CompanyI’ve been riding with empower for about 2months . An I can only say I’ve had 5 decent rides, for starters the ride amount ALWAYS goes up an takes money off my card with out my consent. For example I’ll call an $10 ride an I’d charge my card $15 or even $20. The drivers cars are ALWAYS ALWAYS horribly kept an have bad smells drivers don’t answer the phone a most likely is RUDE FOREIGNERS WHO HAVE NO SENSE OF DIRECTION AN don’t want to take my advice on where I’m directing them to go. I’ve had drivers start rides as if I were in them an finished the trip when in all reality they couldn’t find me an gave up but didn’t want to lose out on there money. I’ve had multiple rides where the pick up time is one time maybe 5 minutes they’ll take more then that an won’t even call or answer when you call to see where they are or do they need them with directions. I’m so sick of this app I’m deleting it as today an I will let anybody I know not to ever use it it’s a low quality ride share who steals money. I’m honestly debating on filing a lawsuit me typing this review is making me upset all over again..Semaj BBBVersion: 1.8.0

Absolute garbage!I’ve used it all of three times, and that’s enough for me. At first I really liked the concept. Drivers pay what amounts to a subscription service at the start of the month, and in turn are allowed to keep the entirety of the ride cost. Long story short, I had an issue with a driver on my third ride. The process of contacting customer service is next to impossible. I sent a message through the extremely vague help section, and never received a response. I also have a pair of holds which have been on my debit card for going on a week. This was for a ride that I cancelled within 15 seconds of seeing how far the driver was (about 6 miles). I drove for both Uber, and Lyft for several years, so I have a really good understanding of what drivers, and riders face on a daily basis. I’m not one to complain unless the driver was a nightmare. The whole experience, as well as the two (nearly week long) holds, and zero response from customer service, have led me to delete the app entirely despite still having available credits. This app is absolute garbage, and I couldn’t recommend it any less..Broses00Version: 2.9.8

Slow connectionsI’ve used this app three times and my first time, it was great! I got a driver instantly and he was nice, with minimal talking. I will admit, the ride was cheap too! However, the second and third time i tried to use this app, it took me forever to connect me with a driver. I was almost late for work and figured I’d order a ride really quick to to get me there in under ten minutes. WRONG! It took me ten minutes to even find a driver and after the eleventh minute, I canceled the ride all together. Then, just now i had to get to an appointment and i wanted a cheap ride. I order the car ride and it takes over 11 minutes AGAIN to find me a driver. It kept showing me cars near my location but none of them were apparently available to accept my ride request. It’s ridiculous! It should not take twenty minutes to find a driver when i requested the ride an hour ago :/ …would not recommend to other people. Maybe if they plan their rides 3 hours ahead, yes, but not if they’re looking for something quick..Kitty45helloVersion: 2.3.3

False pick upI tried to give them a chance but they are horrible. You can’t update your phone number without multiple emails and phone calls. And I still have not had my number updated yet. They do not go to the location that you put in to pick you up. They just stop in the general area or at the popular location near by. When you try and call or text the driver you get no response and it says the driver has restrictions on the phone so your call won’t go thru. My driver cancelled my ride because he was 3 stores down and and not at the location I requested and they charged me even though I had to call another ride. My so called driver today said he picked me up and dropped me off as I was standing on the platform recording I had not been picked up and still waiting. Yes I was charged. They won’t refund me for there mistakes I can’t get in touch with a representative because they have no working phone number. I hope this platform get shut down because this is inexcusable behavior and poor service.CPR00$Version: 2.9.7

No Customer Support When Things Go WrongI have used Empower for 28 rides since February, so this review is based on 6 months of firsthand experience rather than a single bad trip. Unfortunately, it has been one issue after another. The small amount of money saved compared to Uber or Lyft is simply not worth the frustration. On multiple occasions, drivers have started and ended rides without me ever getting into the vehicle, resulting in charges that were extremely difficult to dispute because there is virtually no customer support. Emails only receive automated responses stating that the company is behind on responding, and I have never received an actual resolution. I’ve also experienced drivers taking routes that differed from the route shown in the app in order to avoid tolls, yet I was still charged for those tolls. In other cases, a driver who appeared to be only 2 minutes away suddenly began driving in the opposite direction, turning a short wait into a 20+ minute wait. And when I canceled the ride, I was still charged a cancellation fee. I sent an email and never got a response. The biggest issue is the lack of customer support and accountability. The system seems to allow drivers to take advantage of these flaws with little to no oversight, leaving customers to absorb the cost. After 28 rides over the past few months, I can confidently say that the modest savings are not worth the risk, inconvenience, and inability to get issues resolved. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this service..Ashia96Version: 2.13.0

FRAUDULENT THIEVES DO NOT USE!!!!So i requested a ride to work On April 6 which arrived on time and seemed promising. Before i entered the car i told the driver i left my house keys and can i grab them. He told me he doesn’t have time for that and as I go to grab them drives off and cancels my ride. Cool i disregard and order a reliable Uber. Four days later after the charge post to my account i contact customer service a rep by name of Richard and explain this to him the driver canceled my ride. Richard continued to tell me the ride says complete and i rode from 8:57 to 9:23 Provide my phones gps, my Uber ride and receipt and everything that shows i left from my house at 9:20 to go to work and arrived at 9:42. I show the proof is no way i could be dropped off at 9:23 if I’m in an Uber leaving my house 3 minutes before the drop off. Once i show apples gps proof of there i actually was they just stopped responding. So don’t use them they will steal your money highly unprofessional and will ignore you. Uber and lyft aren’t great but they’ve never stole money from me..EX-Empower RiderVersion: 1.7.7

Deleting my accounts todayI’d been looking for an alternative to Uber/Lyft’s terrible platforms and I had hoped that Empower would be a robust contender. I signed up after hearing success stories from a friend who currently drives for them. Unfortunately I am stuck in the onboarding process and there is zero communication from the Empower team besides automated messages. The underdeveloped UI and lack of support has made the past few days feel like pulling teeth. Adding to the frustration is the fact that I’ve already used Empower as a rider and the ride quality was wildly inconsistent. Less than 10 rides and already had to “thumbs down” at least two drivers that picked me up. One vehicle was literally falling apart and unsafe to be on the road and the other driver turned around and demanded to see my phone before I exited the vehicle. He was aggressive and insisted on it. He made up some excuse along the lines of checking the settings on MY phone on MY side of the Empower App and wanted me to physically hand him the phone. I think he was trying give himself a “thumbs up” to artificially boost his rating. How are these guys on the road when I can’t even get activated? I’ve recommended Empower to other rideshare drivers and passengers in the past, but I’m done after this. As a rider, I’m gambling with my safety and I guess I’m just not welcome as a driver. Deleting both my Empower driver and rider account. Back to being a slave for Uber, I guess..Unhappycustomer11312748Version: 2.12.1

Job accepted but drivers don’t show upThe first time I used the app, I was quoted a very nice price so I ordered the ride. I waited in the rain in cold weather for the driver to arrive only to be notified that he had to cancel and that another driver was on the way. The price now went up by $2.00! What??? But as I was freezing and it was raining, I didn’t cancel it. Now the wait time increased. Still I waited. Finally, I see the car and he just keeps going and doesn’t stop. I called him and he said he wasn’t going to drive me and just hung up. I had to take a Lyft. I’m happy to pay more for honest service. My second ride with empower was good but now my third one, again a no show. I cancelled it after I waited over 5 minutes for him when the app said he was arriving in less than a minute. The saving grace is that they reversed the $4.00 cancellation fee. I don’t think I will be taking a ride from them again. Feels like a scam is going on..ElleCDT2Version: 2.10.1

Hit Or MissI’ve had about 50% success rate with this app. When it works well, it’s great (even though one of my drivers once lamented to me that most of the fare wasn’t going him). When it doesn’t work well, you end up wasting time or spending a lot more money. On one occasion, the Empower app sent me to a totally different address then I requested. I only figured it out bc I got out of the cab and couldn’t find the spot, so had to order another Empower to the destination I was going. The same driver picked me up and showed me his map, asking why I ordered again when we’re right here. Fortunately for me, I knew the area, but one could find themselves in a precarious situation if this software issue sends them to a totally different location at random like it did me. On another occasion, at midnight, I found a driver who was 13 minutes away from for a $10 fare. After waiting 20 minutes, and the driver a couple of minutes away, he canceled the ride. I had to find a new fare, this time at $25. Not only did I waste 30 minutes, I had to spend an extra $15. This would never happen with another rideshare app (their other problems aside). Empower was not that helpful when I complained. Empower could be great, but they have too many issues. And more importantly, debatable whether they’re actually giving their drivers as much as they claim they are.LeftistListener00Version: 2.3.3

GPS is awfulThey need to Update their GPS in the app. Theres no reason the drivers and riders should have this much confusion just trying to find each other. I’ll spend the $3-5 extra on Lyft or uber rather than deal w this unnecessary BS. Stressful af for no reason, the drivers will literally pull up at some random incorrect location and expect u to get out of their car and it’s all because this app has a terrible map system. Get it together or get lost. Uber and Lyft would never. Paying the driver more but wasting the riders time, I’ll just give my money to the big corporation instead of dealing with this BS. I’m happy it’s good for the drivers but it’s a hassle and a loss for the rider to take. They don’t even have customer support so u WILL end up getting scammed and over charged w no one to even speak to about it. They don’t bother to email back when u contact support. Just keep Lyft or uber and skip this app. Theres a reason it’s only available in select cities..WhocaresitsalaundryappVersion: 2.10.0

Bad wait times and changing pricesI’ve booked quite a few rides at this point and have been using the app for a while and one of the biggest disappointments has been the wait times it will say a driver is less than a minute away before you book then after all of a sudden it will say 8 minutes away but they will take 10-20 minutes getting to you. Out off all the rides I’ve booked none have ever picked me up or dropped me off on time. Do not use this app if you have to be somewhere at a certain time because the estimates are not accurate at all. On the chance that the driver canceled on you I’ve also noticed that when it rebooks a new driver the price goes up without any notice and you don’t get to agree on the new price. I’m thinking of switching back to lyft or uber because while the prices are low it’s not 20% off the price of it’s competitors the way they advertise..BroccoliniheadVersion: 2.1.0

Sketchy app- ScamThis entire app is off-they charge your card multiple times even if a driver canceled within a few seconds, they will charge you. I got charged five times for one ride. I’m still fighting with the company to get my money back- they place holds and holds & holds on your funds, they charge your bank like it’s a game- customer service is nonexistent and won’t respond to your emails - this app looks and runs like it hasn’t been updated in 20+ years. They make it extremely difficult to get your money back. This whole app is off and a scam- do yourself a favor and stay away from Empower, it’s worth staying on uber and Lyft- stay away from this app, you’ll spend more time trying to get your funds after charges then you will money, worst app I’ve ever downloaded and I regret it beyond. (I’ve had multiple colleagues who ran into the same issues with them as well. And took them months to get their money back).ZakmankVersion: 2.11.0

WARNING DO NOT USE THIS APP!! Unprofessional drivers, terrible unreliable customer serviceAt first I enjoyed the alternative to Uber and lyft as the prices were significantly cheaper and they gave me a $30 credit. Then i started to this app for what it really is … IT IS PURE TRASH! They lie about the prices just to get you to accept it and then suddenly it jumps from $7 to $17 when it’s finally booked. The drivers are rude, their cars tend to be dirty, smelly, look like they just got out of an accident, broken windows , etc… the customer service is THE WORST IVE EVER EXPERIENCED of ANY APP! I lost my wallet one day and reached out to them it took them two -three days to respond and their process was very slow .. with lyft and Uber u can get connected right to the driver in the event u lose something like a wallet time is money, LITERALLY! Then after I complained about how slow they were with responded back to my wallet being lost suddenly my account has been closed and when I asked why this was the response…. David (Empower Support) Sep 13, 2021, 6:02 PDT “Hi Jordan, Thank you for reaching out. I reviewed your account for you and found that we cannot reopen your account at this time. We're constantly working on expanding options for our users so please check back later. ​​Please let us know if there is anything else we can help with. “ DO NOT WASTE UR TIME ! Stick with Uber and lyft !.Jr12290Version: 1.4.8

NOT WORTH IT. Locked out of account for no reason. Poor customer service.I had only used this app a few times before I was suddenly locked out of my account for “fraudulent activity”. This was a mistake so I reached out to the customer service team asking why this was. They responded and only told me I will remain locked out of my account. I asked them again why I am suspected of fraudulent activity and got the same answer. Don’t recommend using this app. We should all probably be using public transportation anyway. UPDATE: When I asked customer service to please delete my payment information from the app since I will no longer be using it. They replied that it is “not possible to delete my payment information” but that I will remain locked out of my account indefinitely. This app isn’t worth it and is managed poorly. Not to mention I began to see significant price jumps before I was locked out of the account..Emwoods16Version: 1.4.8

Price jump, cancellation rate and unprofessional driversI CANT STRESS this enough if u have somewhere to be ON TIME do no use empower. I’ve gotten my ride canceled when my driver was in front of my crib so many times it’s so frustrating. I swear not even them waiting 2 mins and they will cancel it. I’ve missed busses (to go back home) I’ve been late to a few events I should’ve been early/ on time to if the driver never canceled. When they cancel it takes an extremely long time to find a new driver and for them to get to you. Also when looking for a ride the fare would be let’s say $10 but then when u confirm the ride the price would go to $15 out of nowhere and you can’t do anything about it because they have had charged your card. This has been happening more recently and It’s really a scam. I only recommend this app if you have to be somewhere but not by a certain time AND if it’s cheaper than Uber and Lyfts..LL StanVersion: 1.6.4

Looking for cheaper rides, gave it a tryUber and Lyft have been crazy expensive lately. They know they have the market cornered and since metro and bus are closing early, they hike their prices up to $30/$40 for me to get home, which is an 8 minute drive away & less than 2 miles. I was excepted to try this app. The app gives you a price before you order the ride. When I ordered my ride it was $12. When the app found a driver, it was actually $21. I don’t understand how they can hike it up $9....almost 100% more than it showed before I ordered. Then it said it would be $4 to cancel. Even though it was clearly a bait and switch. I don’t like the shady-ness. Even though Lyft is $30 and this was $21.... at least I know it’s $30 when I order it and it doesn’t change the price after the fact. If you’re okay with paying $10 more than it shows when you order a ride than this is the app for you..Leeela44Version: 1.3.9

Bait and switch pricesThis app is overall cheaper than uber/lyft, but way less reliable. The drivers drive rashly and speed through red lights, and apparently there is no background check for them. What’s more frustrating, though, is the bait and switch with prices. The last two rides I got had shown a fixed price when I got the car and then throughout the entire ride, but then after the fact it would show a higher charge than what I initially owed. Both times I brought this to app support and the second time I asked for the difference to be refunded directly to my credit card, but they still added the amount to my app balance instead. The money in your balance can only be used for max $3 discounts per ride until it runs out which just feels scammy and like a way to trap the user into continuing to use the app..A.xx.xsjVersion: 2.4.0

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