Waymo One

Waymo LLC

4.7/5

Travel & Transportation

Get Waymo One - The Future of Rideshare

Experience fully autonomous rides with zero surge pricing. Available 24/7 in Phoenix, SF, LA, and Austin.

Review

Updated Jan 2026

4.7

Waymo One represents the cutting edge of autonomous vehicle technology, offering fully driverless rides in select US cities as of 2026. What started as Google's self-driving car project in 2009 has evolved into the world's most advanced autonomous ride-hailing service, with over 20 million rider-only miles completed. As of January 2026, Waymo operates 24/7 driverless service in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, with plans to expand to Atlanta and Miami by summer 2026. The experience is surreal - no driver, no small talk, just smooth autonomous navigation. The Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles are equipped with Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system featuring 29 cameras, 5 LiDAR sensors, and 6 radar units. While the technology is impressive and safety record exceptional (zero at-fault accidents in autonomous mode), availability is extremely limited. You must be within Waymo's operating zones, which cover only specific neighborhoods in the four active cities. Wait times can exceed 15 minutes even in covered areas, and the service completely shuts down during severe weather.

Rating

Overall

Travel & Transportation

Features

•Fully autonomous rides - no human driver

•Available 24/7 in 4 major US cities

•Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles

•No surge pricing ever

More Features

•Real-time ride tracking and monitoring

•Waymo One Pass for unlimited rides under $15

•Perfect safety record in autonomous mode

•Premium interior with WiFi and charging ports

Pros

+Cutting-edge self-driving technology
+Stable pricing without surge fees
+Exceptional safety record
+Spacious, clean electric vehicles
+No driver interaction or tipping needed

Cons

−Limited to 4 cities with specific zones only
−Longer wait times than traditional rideshare
−Service pauses during severe weather

Pricing

freemium

Waymo One pricing is competitive with premium Uber/Lyft rides, not budget options. Base fares in Phoenix start around $12-15 for short trips, comparable to UberX but with the autonomous experience premium. San Francisco and LA rides run 10-20% higher due to operational costs. Unlike competitors, Waymo never uses surge pricing - rates are fixed regardless of demand, weather, or events. Waymo One Pass ($50/month) provides unlimited rides under $15, making it valuable for daily commuters within service areas. The app accepts all major credit cards and digital wallets. No tipping is possible or expected since there's no driver. Rides are generally 5-10% more expensive than standard Uber/Lyft but significantly cheaper than Uber Black, positioning it as a premium-without-luxury option.

VS Competitors

Uber

Lyft

Cruise

Traditional Taxis

+ Advantages

+Most advanced autonomous technology - 20M+ driverless miles as of Jan 2026

+Perfect safety record in full autonomous mode with zero at-fault accidents

+No surge pricing ever - stable rates regardless of demand

+Genuinely driverless experience in Phoenix, SF, LA, and Austin

+Spacious Jaguar I-PACE EVs with premium interiors

+Zero awkward social interaction or driver quality variance

+Expanding to Atlanta and Miami in 2026

+Waymo One Pass excellent value for daily commuters in coverage areas

− Weaknesses

−Extremely limited availability - only 4 cities with specific neighborhood coverage

−Longer wait times than Uber/Lyft (often 10-15 minutes)

−Service pauses during heavy rain, snow, or severe weather

−Cannot handle complex pickup/dropoff locations or construction zones

−App occasionally struggles with precise address matching

−No cash payment option - digital only

−Limited vehicle capacity - maximum 3 passengers per ride

−Slow rollout timeline frustrates users in announced-but-not-yet-active cities

Verdict

Waymo One is the future of transportation, but that future isn't evenly distributed. If you live or work within Waymo's coverage zones in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Austin, it's absolutely worth trying - the driverless experience is remarkable, the safety record is unmatched, and the no-surge-pricing guarantee provides peace of mind during peak hours. The technology works. However, for most people, Waymo isn't practical yet. Coverage areas are too limited, wait times too long, and weather restrictions too frequent to rely on it as your primary transportation. The smart strategy: Download the app if you're in a service city, try it once for the experience, then assess if your regular routes fall within coverage zones. For daily commuters on covered routes, the $50/month One Pass can save money versus Uber/Lyft. For everyone else, keep Waymo as your "cool future tech" backup while Uber and Lyft handle day-to-day needs. The company is expanding steadily - just not fast enough for those outside the current four cities.

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