As of September 2025, the most consistently reliable taxi / ride‑hailing apps (especially for U.S. users) are:

• Uber — largest coverage and mature safety toolkit (RideCheck, emergency button, trip sharing, PIN/recording options) and generally best availability outside dense cores. (uber.com, theverge.com)
• Lyft — strong reliability in many U.S. cities, expanding safety controls (audio recording, rider verification, new Safety Hub / favorite‑driver features) and improving downstream support. (lyft.com)
• Curb — a leading U.S. taxi‑network app that connects to licensed local taxi fleets (good for airports, regulated cities and when you want a traditional taxi rather than a rideshare). (apps.apple.com, justuseapp.com)
• Via — reliable for shared on‑demand and microtransit-style rides (used by cities and universities; increasingly deployed where shared routing improves wait times and coverage). (reuters.com)
• FreeNow (Europe) — one of the most reliable taxi apps across many European cities (useful if you travel to Europe); Lyft announced acquisition plans in 2025 to broaden coverage. (apps.apple.com, cnbc.com)

Other region‑specific leaders to consider when traveling:

• Grab (Southeast Asia), DiDi (China/Latin markets), Ola (India), Bolt (Europe/Africa/parts of Latin America) — these are often the most reliable local choices in their home markets but performance varies by city and regulatory environment. (reuters.com, trustpilot.com, apps.apple.com)

What “reliable” means (and how to choose the best app in your city)

• Coverage & wait time: bigger networks = shorter waits outside dense cores (Uber/Lyft).
• Regulated taxi access: apps that route licensed taxis (Curb, FreeNow in Europe) can be more predictable for airports/late nights. (apps.apple.com)
• Safety features & driver vetting: look for apps with emergency buttons, trip sharing, audio/video options and ongoing background checks. (uber.com, lyft.com)
• Upfront pricing vs metered fares: upfront pricing avoids surprises; metered taxi apps may still be preferable in some cities.
• Local reviews & downtime: check recent app‑store reviews and Twitter/Reddit for outages or local driver strike/cancellation trends.
• Shared vs private: shared services (Via, pooled options) can be more reliable in dense corridors but depend on matching/supply. (reuters.com)

Quick recommendations

• If you want the broadest, most reliable coverage in the U.S.: keep Uber and Lyft installed. (uber.com, lyft.com)
• For airport pick‑ups, regulated rides or supporting taxi drivers: use Curb (or local city taxi apps). (apps.apple.com)
• For budget/shared rides in dense areas or city transit partnerships: try Via. (reuters.com)
• When traveling overseas, install the dominant local app (FreeNow in many EU cities; Grab in SEA; DiDi/Ola/Rapido where they lead). (apps.apple.com, reuters.com)

If you tell me the city or airport you use most, I can list the single most reliable app(s) there and link to recent local reviews or tips.