Every month, millions of people around the world drive or deliver with Uber. Our north star is clear: to make this the best platform for flexible work. The way we get there is by listening to drivers and couriers and building the tools and protections that matter most.

A lot of this happens because of the Uber Crew program. This year alone, we’ve held more than 60 Crew sessions with over 100 Uber team members, gathering hundreds of hours of feedback on everything from product design to policy changes. When we act on this feedback, we build better products.

At today’s Only on Uber event in Washington, DC, we announced dozens of new updates designed to make earning with Uber easier, safer, and more fair. Here are some highlights:

Easier: Smarter Tools for Everyday Earning

Driving and delivering is more than just trips — it’s a daily routine. That’s why we’re introducing new tools to help drivers and couriers stay focused, save time, and maximize their earnings.

U.S. Pilot of Digital Tasks in Uber App

Drivers have asked for more ways to earn, even when they’re not on the road. To meet that need, we’re piloting quick digital tasks in the Driver app—powered by Uber’s AI Solutions Group—giving drivers more ways to earn during downtime. These simple tasks, like uploading photos to help train AI models, are already being tested in India and are now launching in the U.S. Learn more here.

Trip Experience Updates

  • For drivers: A redesigned offer card gives more time — and more information — to make the right call for you. A longer request window and more details on any extra stops help drivers make smarter, more confident decisions.
  • For couriers: A new on-trip experience that simplifies often-complicated multi-order deliveries, with clearer pick-up and drop-off details and alerts for commonly missed items.

Smarter Navigation Tools

Starting tomorrow, drivers nationwide will have access to the new Rides Heatmap—our smartest version yet. The Heatmap highlights where drivers have seen the shortest wait times in red, then orange, then yellow; it shows surge areas in purple, and shows how long drivers waited on average for a trip based on recent data. With better data and more transparency, it helps drivers decide where and when to go so they can stay busy and earn more.

While the Heatmap helps drivers locate high-demand areas, Destination Mode supports drivers who are already on the move. This year’s update gives drivers more control: they can set their destination, then choose between a flexible route that maximizes trip opportunities or the fastest route to get there quickly.

Coming Soon: The All New Uber Pro for Drivers

Beginning next March, Uber will launch the all-new Uber Pro, a streamlined rewards program that unites Uber Pro and Advantage Mode into one. With four tiers — Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond — the program makes it easier for drivers to track progress, unlock rewards, and earn more based on quality of service. Gold (and higher) drivers will see higher earnings on most trips, and Platinum and Diamond drivers gain access to even greater rewards and benefits.

Safer: More Safety Features, More Peace of Mind

Safety and control are at the heart of a confident experience. These new features give drivers and couriers more choice over who they ride with, how they earn, and how they’re protected.

Expansion of Women Rider Preferences 

Starting today, we’re expanding the Women Rider Preference feature and making it available for drivers in Baltimore, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland, and Washington DC. This gives women drivers more control over how they earn, which now includes the option to receive trip requests from women riders. In markets where it’s already live around the world, women drivers have embraced the choice — using it on more than 150 million trips. A quarter of women drivers turn it on every week, and more than half keep it on for more than 90% of their trips.

Expansion of Rider Rating Preferences

Drivers can now set the minimum rider rating they’re comfortable with, toggling the feature on or off depending on the situation—for example, using it late at night and relaxing it during the day. Combined with consumer verification for riders, these tools help give drivers more peace of mind on every trip.

Fairer: Transparency, Protections and Tips

Every trip, every delivery, and every interaction on Uber should feel fair. This year, we’re introducing updates that help protect drivers’ and couriers’  time, tips, and ratings, while making the rules around deactivations and reports clearer and more consistent.

Launch of Delayed Ride Guarantee

Trip delays make the Uber experience for drivers more stressful and less predictable. We’ve long had policies in place to compensate drivers for time spent waiting for riders, but when trips took longer than expected—due to things like traffic or detours—it wasn’t always clear if their fares would be adjusted. Starting today we’ll be explicit: with the new Delayed Ride Guarantee, drivers will know that anytime a trip with a rider takes more than five minutes longer than we estimated, they’ll earn more. Learn more.

Tip Guarantee and Prompts

  • For drivers: tipping reminders for riders are expanding through iPhone Live Activities, reminding riders at just the right time about how they can show appreciation.
  • For couriers: soon, the amount seen on each trip request is the amount couriers will receive when the delivery is complete—even if the customer changes their tip after the fact.

Nationwide Launch of Courier Rating Protections

Couriers tell us that cancellations outside their control that impact their ratings calculations is a top pain point. Starting next month, these kinds of occasional cancellations—like when a restaurant is closed—will no longer count against their record or ratings. And we’re working on our ability to detect low ratings for reasons beyond courier control so that they won’t be included in couriers’ ratings calculations.

Report Transparency and Deactivation Protections

We know that losing access to Uber can create real challenges, which is why we’re working to make it easier for drivers and couriers to keep earning, even if issues arise. Where we can, we’ll limit access to only specific types of earnings opportunities rather than the full platform.  For example, if an alcohol delivery issue is reported, drivers can still take food or rideshare trips. As always, serious violations, including safety issues, may result in losing access to Uber altogether.

And when it comes to reports from riders, drivers can share their side of the story. Importantly, if riders file false reports and drivers provide information revealing that report was false—such as through Record my Ride — we’ll take action, up to permanently removing the rider from the platform.

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Thank you to all the drivers and couriers who make Uber what it is—and who continue to share their valuable feedback. If you, or a driver or courier you know, are interested in shaping how Uber builds for earners, we invite you to apply to be a 2026 Crew Member at ubercrewportal.com.

Together, we’ll keep building the future of flexible work.

* Products and product availability vary and may not be available in all markets. See app for details