Are Uber One Perks Actually Worth The Subscription Price?

These days, there's no shortage of delivery service options. From groceries to alcohol to on-demand laundry, if you can imagine it, there's probably a service for it. With that in mind, even though you can receive fast delivery for something, it doesn't always mean it's financially worth it. Enter the membership subscription service, a new way that delivery apps and companies are hoping to better serve consumers (while also guaranteeing brand loyalty).

Of all of the delivery and ride service options, perhaps none are as famous as Uber, which offers a corresponding Uber One membership for those looking for a subscription option. What makes Uber One particularly appealing is that members receive perks for both Uber and Uber Eats app services. This can add up to even more savings for those who might regularly use both Uber rideshare as well as Uber Eats for food and/or grocery delivery. The monthly price for an Uber One membership is $9.99, or you can purchase an annual subscription for $96.

In late 2023, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told analysts (via PYMNTS) that members spent four times more than nonmember app users, and made up 40% of all app bookings. Even better, Khosrowshahi claimed that retention for members was a full 15% higher than for nonmembers, showcasing that the membership is not only appealing to consumers but is also proving valuable enough for them to continue using the service. While Uber One is clearly a popular choice, let's break down the benefits and see if it's really worth the money.

In order to best break down how much value there is in the Uber One subscription price, it's important to have a solid understanding of all of the perks available through it. For Uber Eats-specific perks, members receive unlimited $0 delivery fees on Uber Eats orders over $15. Plus, members receive 10% off on eligible Uber Eats deliveries (and pickups), as well as 5% off on grocery orders over $35. This can help cut down on the associated fees that often make ordering food delivery less economical. Plus, if your order ends up being late (arriving after the estimated time of arrival), then you might also be eligible for Uber Cash.

For Uber rideshare services, members can expect special member pricing as well as priority access to top-rated drivers on the Uber app. Uber One did recently implement a change to its rideshare benefits so some Uber One members still receive 5% off on eligible rides while other, newer, members instead receive 6% Uber Cash back on eligible trips. This Uber Cash can be used on either food delivery or rideshare orders, making it easier to spend.

Members also have better access to customer service options in the event of an issue, and are able to cancel trips without fees and penalties. Another important perk for members is that Uber One members can still benefit from their memberships across all countries that have the membership program, which can be especially beneficial for those who frequently travel. (Read about major money mistakes people often make when traveling.)

In May 2024, Uber launched Uber One for Students, a membership campaign specifically targeting college students. Much like the traditional Uber One membership, customers can enjoy $0 delivery fees, credits on Uber rideshare rides, and 10% off on their orders, but for a lower price tag of $4.99 a month (or $48 a year). With that said, Uber One is also offering four weeks of free Uber One service for new users. As an added perk for students, Uber has partnered with several particularly popular college student-serving brands to create unique deals for members. For example, Uber One for Students members can enjoy free Starbucks lattes on Mondays, free beef soft tacos for Taco Bell Tuesdays, or a free chicken sandwich on Popeye's Fridays (most daily specials require a minimum purchase of $15).

Uber held a series of pop-up activations across college campuses over the summer to help share information on the membership type and it even received its official launch campaign in October, with a commercial campaign that included actor Brian Cox. Georgie Jeffreys, Uber's head of marketing for U.S. and Canada, explained to ADWEEK, "Our goal with this first campaign was to underscore how impactful an Uber One membership can be for students." It's also important to note that students must use SheerID verification services in order to verify their eligibility for the Uber One for Students program. This keeps regular consumers from trying to take advantage of the program's cheaper monthly price.

While there aren't any specific figures yet on just how many Uber One for Students members might have increased Uber One's overall growth, chances are good the campaign has been successful given Uber's earnings reports. Uber's latest earnings report (Q3 2024, released in late October) highlighted the company's impressive growth. Not only did the company's gross bookings grow 16% year-over-year but they boasted a 20% growth in their pre-taxed revenue year-over-year (with $11.2 billion). Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber's CEO, shared, "We delivered yet another record quarter of profitable growth at a global scale, reflecting the strength of our platform, which now has over 25 million Uber One members."

Compared to late 2023, when Khosrowshahi previously told analysts that the company boasted 15 million Uber One members, the company has experienced an almost 67% increase in membership numbers in the last year. According to Uber's data, Uber experienced a 13% increase in monthly active users on its apps in 2024 compared to 2023, and a 17% increase in overall booked trips on its apps.

It's also worth noting that Uber has experienced significant, and nearly constant growth post-pandemic. The company's annual revenue in 2020 was $11 million, while the company's 2023 annual revenue was over $37 million. However, it's also worth mentioning that the rideshare portion of Uber's business model has experienced a slowdown in 2024 that has even fallen below analyst predictions. This is largely due to an overall weakening demand for the ride-hail industry. (Find out if driving for Instacart is a worthwhile side gig.)

According to Uber One, members save an average of $27 a month through their membership. With that in mind, it's important to realize that your exact savings will depend on a number of factors. Between the perks and savings, Uber One can absolutely be worth the subscription price, but how much you get out of the membership depends on how much you utilize the services.

The biggest thing to consider before signing up for an Uber One membership is how often you plan on using it. Since you will pay $9.99 a month (or $4.99 a month as a student), you'll need to make sure you save at least that much every month just to break even. It's also important to realize that even with an Uber One membership you will still face higher prices overall since you still pay fees on orders as a member, and because many restaurants list higher menu prices for delivery services.

With that in mind, regular delivery charges from Uber Eats restaurants can be as much as $8 without a membership, so it's easier to break even than you might think. This can be especially true depending on the kinds of restaurants and/or stores you might order from regularly (for instance, if you love a restaurant that's located across town, it might have higher associated delivery fees due to distance). Plus, for those who order frequently, free delivery fees alone (not to mention the 10% off your eligible orders) can make having an Uber One membership financially worth it. (Check out 15 things frugal people do to make big money moves.)