Grab and gojek make getting around Bali easy and convenient with low prices, safety regulations, convenient Uber-like features and integrated credit card payments, so you won’t have to worry about cash.

If you haven’t already downloaded grab and gojek, you should get that done as soon as possible to make sure you’re ready to navigate Bali’s busy traffic without spending a fortune.

But, there are some things you should know about these popular ridesharing apps, that will help you save money, be safe, avoid cancelled rides and make the most of their features.

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Why you can trust this article about grab and gojek in Bali

Hi, I’m Victoria, and I’m your go-to source for Bali and Indonesia travel information.

I’ve lived on this beautiful island for several years now and visited plenty of times before that, both as a tourist and backpacker. I know how to save money and when to splurge on things, so I’ll introduce you to the best luxury getaways for a special occasion but also the cheapest airport pickups and fun group tours you can join if you want to make friends.

I use grab and gojek almost every day in Bali and I’ve written dozens of guides on how to use these apps all across Indonesia and South East Asia. If anyone knows how to navigate grab and gojek in Bali, including tips on prices, safety, credit card payments and more – it’s me.

What can you use grab and gojek for in Bali?

Grab and gojek are South East Asia’s version of Uber, but they actually do much more than just let you call a ride. Here are our favourite grab and gojek functions to try in Bali.

Scooter taxis (goride, ojeks) in Bali

You’ll recognise gojek drivers in Bali by their bright green jackets and helmets. They’re widely available and make getting from one place to another super easy.

Since the traffic conditions in popular neighbourhoods like Ubud, Canggu and Seminyak are getting more and more disastrous, using scooter taxis or ojeks is sometimes the only way to actually get anywhere.

Cars can be stuck in traffic for hours, but you can be sure that your goride driver will do everything in their power to get you where you’re going as fast as possible. That might include driving on the sidewalk and weaving through traffic, so hold on tight.

Taxis (gocar, grabcar) in Bali

Sitting on the back of a scooter definitely gets uncomfortable after a while, and if your trip is longer, a car might be a better fit for you. Both grab and gojek let you order a ride in a car, and you can even decide the size.

If you have luggage with you, getting an XL ride is always worth it.

Just make sure to factor in plenty of time since cars aren’t quite as fast in Bali’s busy traffic.

Food delivery (gofood) in Bali

Both grab and gojek also double as food delivery apps, so you can get some delicious treats delivered even if you aren’t in the mood to leave the house.

You can find restaurants near you in the app and choose between some of the best local and international options in the area.

Just note that restaurants definitely tend to charge a little bit more if you order via grab and gojek vs. dining in. Luckily, a meal from a local warung can cost as little as IDR 15,000 (~ $1.50 AU), so there are still plenty of affordable options around.

Delivery fees are usually between IDR 10,000 and IDR 20,000 (~$1 AU and $2 AU), although there are ways to lower them significantly, which we explain in our tips section below.

Item delivery (gosend) in Bali

The gosend feature is one of my favourite ways to use gojek and saves me hours every single week. You can use both grab and gojek to send items to places, which works almost like an instant mail or post delivery.

Popular things to gosend might include your laundry, a broken laptop that needs to go to the repair shop, your passport to the visa agent, a document that needs to be signed, luggage you left behind, a pet going to a pet hotel, your keys or other items you forgot at home or maybe something you bought through Facebook Marketplace.

Just make sure that both the person sending and receiving your items know about the transfer, so the driver doesn’t have to wait. You can share the grab or gojek trip with others via the app.

The list goes on, and you can pretty much gosend anything that fits onto a scooter or car.

While gojek and grab both have a setting for sending items, it’s also quite popular to just call a regular taxi and give the driver your item. Most will be happy to do it and it’s sometimes a little bit cheaper.

Shopping (goshop, gomart) in Bali

Another fun feature of grab and gojek is goshop or gomart, where you can have a driver buy items and bring them to you. I find that it works best with minimarts and convenience stores where the shop itself receives and packs the order and the driver only has to pick it up.

The goshop option allows you to request an item from any store in Bali, and you have to tell the driver what exactly you want. If you don’t speak Bahasa Indonesia, this can be tricky and miscommunications are a bit more common, so keep that in mind.

Moving (gobox) in Bali

Gosend has its limits, and if you need to transport something that doesn’t fit into a regular car, you should order a gobox instead. This is a small pickup truck with a flatbed, that allows you to send furniture, construction equipment or appliances.

Most expats in Bali will move using gobox, and the drivers are usually very nice and will help you carry things and secure the load.

Other grab and gojek services in Bali and the rest of Indonesia

Grab and gojek are constantly coming up with new features for the apps. These don’t always work and sometimes they can be regional, so don’t rely on using them in Bali.

Gorent, for example, lets you hire a driver for an entire day, although I found the prices to be more expensive than what we usually pay for a driver. There is also gotransit for public transport (but sadly not in Bali), gopay which works a bit like a debit card, gomed for calling medical assistance, plus features for booking event tickets and much more.

If you’re in Bali as a tourist, you most likely won’t use any of these though, so we’ll focus mostly on gojek and grab taxis and motorbikes in this article.

Which is better: grab or gojek?

Everyone always asks if grab or gojek are better or more importantly, cheaper. There is no right or wrong answer since the two compete so heavily with each other.

I usually find that one of the two will be significantly cheaper for a few weeks, and then the other lowers its prices and so on. I always find that gojek has the better discounts for food delivery, but the grab unlimited membership can also get you some really good deals.

Gojek makes it harder (if not slightly impossible) to tip a driver through the app after a ride in Bali, while grab doesn’t, so I always appreciate the opportunity to give the driver a gratuity in retrospect, rather than having to worry about having cash.

I also never managed to enter my foreign credit card in the gojek app, while grab took it easily, so that’s another thing to consider.

That being said, the search function for locations in grab is absolutely disastrous, and it never finds where you’re actually trying to go. You’ll always find yourself having to zoom in on the map, which is so annoying and gojek is so much easier in that regard.

In the end, I would always compare prices in the two apps, and I use them both pretty equally in my day-to-day life, so definitely try them both.

Advantages of using grab and gojek in Bali

If you’re not already convinced, here are the main arguments and benefits of using apps like grab and gojek to get around Bali:

1. Always the lowest price: Grab and gojek will always be cheaper than a taxi, and you won’t have to worry about overpaying.
   
2. Extremely convenient: Call a ride from your phone, no matter where you are.
   
3. Get a ride within minutes: Unless you’re in a very remote part of Bali or in rush hour, you’ll almost always be picked up in 10 minutes or less.
   
4. Transparency and safety: Drivers are regulated and the whole service is very transparent, so negative incidents are very uncommon.
   
5. Plenty of options and features: You can use gojek and grab for all sorts of things and can customise the type of vehicle you need.

Challenges of using grab and gojek in Bali

Nothing is perfect, and grab and gojek are no exception. Here are some disadvantages of using the apps and things to look out for:

1. Drivers sometimes double-book: Most drivers work for both apps, so they might accept your grab ride, only to cancel a few minutes later if a better one comes in on gojek.
   
2. Local taxi drivers create no-gojek zones: Taxi drivers are not fond of grab and gojek and will prohibit the apps in some areas. More on that at the end of this article.
   
3. Remote places do not have grab and gojek: You can’t use grab and gojek in most northern and remote parts of Bali.
   
4. Communication can be tricky: Many drivers don’t speak English, and sometimes there are miscommunications.
   
5. Bali’s traffic is a disaster: Even grab and gojek can’t fix the traffic, and during rush hour, it can take forever to find a ride.
   
6. Gojek and grab drivers don’t earn a lot: The drivers work long days and don’t make a lot of money, so make sure to always tip.
   
7. The app decides the prices: Much like Uber, these gig economy companies aren’t the most ethical even though they create so any jobs.

How much do grab and gojek rides cost in Bali?

The price of a grab or gojek ride in Bali is usually very low. The table below gives you a general idea of the average grab and gojek price in Bali, although the exact amounts can vary depending on the time of day, demand, available drivers and traffic.

	Car price	Motorbike price
10 min ride	IDR 25,000 to IDR 40,000	IDR 8,000 to IDR 20,000
30 min ride	IDR 40,000 to IDR 65,000	IDR 20,000 to IDR 35,000
1 hour ride	IDR 90,000 to IDR 140,000	IDR 45,000 to IDR 65,000
2 hour ride	IDR 200,000 to IDR 300,000	IDR 100,000 to 180,000

Can you use grab and gojek in Bali without a credit card?

The good news is that you do not need a credit card to use grab and gojek in Bali. You can pay the driver in cash after the ride is over, which they might even appreciate more since you’ll be more likely to tip.

You can, of course, enter your credit card in the app if you want to, but I personally haven’t been able to make an international credit card work with gojek, only grab. Gojek will only accept my Indonesian card.

Why grab and gojek are better than taxis in Bali

Taxis in Bali almost always overcharge, and it can be exhausting to haggle with the driver, knowing that the price they are asking is much higher than it should be compared to grab and gojek.

Apps like grab and gojek make getting a ride so much easier and more convenient, making it simple to find a driver wherever you are.

If you insist on using a taxi or should grab and gojek be unavailable, make sure to only use metred taxis like the popular bluebirds, which you can recognise by their blue colour, bird logo and ID of the driver on the dashboard.

Do you need a local SIM card to use grab and gojek in Bali?

You need to get a local Indonesian SIM card to use grab and gojek in Bali. When signing up for the app, you’ll have to register a phone number, and it only accepts numbers from countries where grab or gojek operate.

If you’re from outside of South East Asia, you need to buy a SIM card in Bali to use grab and gojek.

Are grab and gojek safe to use in Bali?

Grab and gojek are safe to use for tourists in Bali, and you do not need to worry, even as a solo female traveller. Incidents where drivers are inappropriate or disregard the rules are very rare and not more or less common than any other transport method.

Grab and gojek monitors and regulates its drivers and takes complaints seriously, so you’ll be as safe as possible during your time in Bali.

One thing you should know is that grab and gojek drivers can be very chatty, and they often ask a lot of questions that may seem personal, such as if you’re married, where you’re staying, how long you’re in Bali or something similar.

In my experience, this is nothing to worry about and can be attributed to the friendly and open nature of the Balinese people. Unless you’re feeling genuinely uncomfortable, there’s a very big chance that your driver is just trying to make conversation and be nice.

Common grab and gojek scams in Bali

Scams exist in most places that have a lot of tourists, and here are some things you should look out for when using grab, gojek or taxis in Bali.

1. Your driver accepts the ride and doesn’t move. This isn’t really a scam, but more a way to stretch out the time in hopes of getting a better ride. Of course, your driver may also be stuck in traffic, so don’t jump to conclusions too quickly.
   
2. Accepting a ride and then asking you to cancel. Drivers get penalised if they cancel too many rides, as do riders (but not nearly as severely). Your driver may accept your ride on gojek, then find a better one on grab, but doesn’t want to be penalised for cancelling. If that happens, there is a setting in the app where you can indicate that the driver asked you to cancel. Many drivers also have their app on auto-accept, which an lead to this situation.
   
3. Driver arrives and asks for more money. This is an unfortunate situation, and we understand that payments for drivers are low, but asking for more before the ride even begins is not acceptable and not the point of using grab or gojek. If this happens, just cancel the ride and find another driver.

As you can tell, none of these scams are really very severe and are better referred to as inconveniences.

Tips for using grab and gojek in Bali

Here are some things you should know about using grab and gojek in Bali.

1. Know how to navigate the no-gojek zones in Bali

Local taxi drivers oppose the use of grab and gojek, since it takes away their business and makes it a lot more difficult to charge inflated prices. Rather than asking for reasonable rates, the “taxi mafia” scam tourists by overcharging ridiculous amounts, while also threatening any gojek and grab drivers who try to work in popular tourist locations.

This creates no-gojek zones, which can be found in places like Ubud, Uluwatu, Tanah Lot Temple, Canggu, Sanur, Padang Bai, the airport and even Kuta in Lombok.

You should read our detailed guides on each destination to find out what limitations online taxis have here and how you can still use grab and gojek almost everywhere in Bali. We’ve also got articles on grab and gojek in Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Seminyak, Lovina and Kintamani.

2. Use the hidden discounts in grab and gojek

Both grab and gojek sometimes give you discounts you can use directly in the app, although I find that gojek is much better when it comes to this.

You can select them right before you order your ride, and they will often take off anywhere between IDR 10,000 and IDR 50,000 (~ $1 AU and $5 AU). It works even better for food delivery, and I often save 30% or even 50% on food orders, which makes a big difference.

Grab also has some discounts, but they’re not as good and usually only save you around IDR 10,000 (~ $1 AU).

Not everyone knows about these discounts since you need to manually select them, so make sure to give it a try next time you use grab or gojek.

3. Always wear a helmet when taking a grab or gojek in Bali

If you’re using goride or ordering grab motorbike taxis, you should always wear a helmet. Almost all drivers have a spare one with them, but most won’t offer it to you unless you ask (at least for shorter trips).

Road accidents are unfortunately not uncommon in Bali, and you should always wear a helmet, no matter how short the trip is.

There is a small chance that your gojek driver in Bali might not have a second helmet with them, in which case they sometimes offer to give you their own. It’s up to you if you accept it.

Every traveller should have insurance, including coverage for medical emergencies, hospital visits and unforeseen accidents. SafetyWing is not only the best choice for shorter trips but also offers long-term plans for digital nomads or those travelling for extended periods of time.

They have a great selection of plans, including trip insurance, which supports you in case of cancelled flights or lost baggage.

My favourite part is that they offer adventure sports coverage ad-ons, so you can do all the exciting activities without having to worry about taking unnecessary risks.

No matter where you’re travelling, you cannot put a price on peace of mind.

Find out more about SafetyWing here.

4. Don’t ask a gojek or grab driver to take two passengers on their scooter

A lot of tourists will ask drivers to take two people on their scooter, so they don’t have to order two rides.

We don’t recommend doing this, as it’s unsafe and usually not really necessary since grab rides are so affordable and easy to find. Don’t put the added responsibility on your driver and get a second one instead.

This makes Bali’s roads safer and decreases the chances of accidents.

5. Factor in traffic

Bali’s road system is not made for the large amounts of tourists visiting the Island of the Gods every year. The traffic situation is getting worse and worse, which means that even short trips of 10 kilometres or less can take hours.

If you’re going anywhere in Bali with a car, it will take much longer than a scooter, so make sure to factor that in when you order your grab or gojek.

6. Order an XL grab or gojek if you have luggage

Both grab and gojek have options to order XL rides, which will be a larger car with more space. Even if you think you would fit in a regular car, you should order a larger ride if you have luggage, especially if you’re more than three people.

Many grab or gojek drivers will get angry if you don’t spend the extra money on an XL ride, and they might even refuse to take you. It’s better to avoid the conflict and get a large one instead. The price difference isn’t very big.

7. Give your driver a good tip

Grab and gojek drivers do not earn a lot and they work extremely hard. While tipping is not mandatory, we highly recommend that you do. Your driver will really appreciate it, and even small amounts can go a long way.

You can tip directly through the app if your credit card is entered, or you can just give your driver cash. The app suggests amounts between IDR 5,000 and IDR 50,000 (~ $0.50 AU and $5 AU).

8. Enter your credit card in the app

Having your credit card in grab or gojek makes things so much easier, and you won’t have to worry about having the correct change. Grab works with international cards, but in my experience, gojek does not, so unless you have an Indonesian card, you might have to stick with cash when using ridesharing apps in Bali.

That is just what I have found with my cards, and it might be different for yours, so definitely give it a try.

9. Double-check your address

Gojek and grab often get the address wrong, and since Bali’s street naming system is extremely inconsistent and unreliable, your deliveries or rides might go to the wrong place.

Always double-check your address to avoid confusion and make life easier for your driver.

10. Make use of the gosend option

Gosending things is a lifesaver and will make your Bali trip so much more convenient. You can get a lot of errands done with gosend, and it’s easy to forget about this extremely convenient feature of gojek and grab, so definitely make use of it as much as you can.

You could, for example, leave some luggage behind at a hotel and then have the staff (if they agree of course) gosend it to you later on in your trip, so you don’t have to carry everything around.

11. Know that you might be asked to pay for parking or tolls

Gojek and grab prices in Bali usually do not include parking fees or tolls, and your driver will ask you to pay these separately in cash. This is especially common at the airport or at the Bypass Road that connects southern Sanur/Denpasar, Nusa Dua and Kuta.

Both of these cost IDR 10,000 (~ $1 AU), and it’s very rare that you’ll come across anything more expensive.

There are also parking or entrance fees at some beaches or attractions around Bali, especially in Uluwatu, so be prepared for that. Again, they’re usually IDR 10,000 (~ $1 AU), so very affordable

12. Expect that your driver might not have change

Most grab or gojek drivers do not have change for big bills, and sometimes they might also tell you that they don’t in order to get a good tip.

It’s smart to come prepared and carry smaller bills, especially for scooter taxis. That’s another reason why entering your credit card in the app makes things so much easier.

13. Add multiple stops to your ride

Did you know you can add more than one stop to your ride on grab or gojek? Your driver will wait for around 5 minutes (or probably longer if you ask them nicely and give a good tip).

14. Compare prices between grab and gojek

Grab and gojek are always competing, and one is almost always quite a bit cheaper than the other. Definitely compare the two apps to find the best deals, and don’t just pick one at random. You might save money.

15. Consider getting grab unlimited for longer Bali trips

If you’re in Bali for longer and will be using grab quite a lot, it might be worth it to invest in a grab unlimited membership. It’s very affordable and only costs IDR 24,000 (~ $2.40 AU) for 8 weeks, IDR 14,000 (~ $1.40 AU) for 4 weeks and IDR 9,000 (~ $0.90 AU) for 2 weeks.

You’ll get discount vouchers for almost all grab features, and it’s almost always worth it. The app even keeps track of how much you saved.

Where in Bali can you use grab and gojek (no-gojek zones)?

Bali has quite a few places where the taxi mafia prohibits grab, gojek and other online taxis. We took the time to write transport guides which include up-to-date information on all of Bali’s no-gojek zones for the following destinations:

1. Ngurah Rai International Airport
   
2. Canggu
   
3. Seminyak
   
4. Uluwatu
   
5. Ubud
   
6. Sanur
   
7. Nusa Dua
   
8. Kintamani
   
9. Nusa Penida
   
10. Nusa Lembongan
    
11. Tanah Lot Temple
    
12. Padang Bai Harbour
    
13. Amed
    
14. Lovina

If you’re going further than Bali, make sure to check out our grab and gojek guides for Labuan Bajo and Kuta in Lombok.

Other ways to get around Bali

If you need some alternatives to grab and gojek in Bali, these transport methods might be a good fit.

1. Renting a scooter

Renting a scooter is very popular in Bali, and you can find deals from IDR 40,000 to IDR 100,000 (~ $0.40 AU to $10 AU) per day. Just make sure to only try this transport method if you actually have driving experience since traffic in Bali is very chaotic and dangerous at times.

Always wear a helmet and go slowly.

2. Hiring a driver

Hiring a private driver is a great way to explore Bali, especially if you’re travelling in a larger group of people.

Prices are actually quite affordable, and you’ll get to enjoy maximum flexibility without having to worry about no-gojek zones, having to navigate traffic and negotiating with taxi drivers.

You’ll find all the info you need in our complete guide for hiring a driver in Bali.

3. Renting a car

You can also rent a car in Bali, although not a lot of tourists do. Enjoy more comfort than you would have on a scooter and more freedom and privacy than you would have with a private driver.

If you’re not quite sure yet, our renting a car in Bali article has all the information you need.

4. Walking

Bali is not very walkable in general, but some areas are better for getting around on foot than others. If you want to walk in Bali, you should read about where it’s possible and where walking is a very bad idea.

5. Guided tours

If you want everything done for you, you’ll love Bali’s best group tours, which plan your entire trip for you and take care of all your transport needs.

Guided group tours are incredibly underrated and a great choice for solo travellers or those who aren’t quite ready to plan a trip themselves yet.

6. Taxis

Bali has plenty of taxis, but unfortunately, they’re mostly very overpriced. If you’re going to be taking one, make sure that it’s a Bluebird taxi, which you can recognise by its blue colour, bird logo and ID of the driver on the dashboard.

They always use a taxi metre, which is the only way you can find a taxi with a price similar to grab and gojek.

7. E-scooters in Bali

More and more e-scooters are appearing around Bali, especially around Seminyak, Kuta and Canggu. This refers to stand-up electric scooters like you would find in large cities around the US or Europe.

They’re not extremely popular yet but might be a good transport option for short distances.

8. Other taxi and ridesharing apps in Bali

Grab and gojek might be the most popular online taxi apps in Bali, but there are actually more options out there. The airline Air Asia recently launched its own transportation app, which doesn’t have a lot of drivers yet but can be really affordable in busy parts of Bali.

Bluebird also has an app, but with gojek’s gobluebird feature, it’s usually easier to just call one that way. There is also Maxim, which, in my experience, doesn’t work nearly as well as its competitors.

9. Public transport and buses

Bali does not have great public transport, and I wouldn’t rely on this transport method as a tourist.

There are very limited airport buses, the Kura-Kura Shuttle that connects Kuta and Ubud, and the SARBAGITA buses, which go from the area around Nusa Dua and Jimbaran up to Sanur and Ubud.

Then there are the Trans Metro Dewata buses, which have some useful regional routes, and the Perama buses, which have a decent selection of bus lines, but they can be pricey.

Public transport might be occasionally useful for solo travellers, but there are better ways to get around Bali.

Grab and gojek in Bali FAQ

Before you go…

You’re ready to explore Bali with grab and gojek, so let us help you get even more travel inspiration. You’ll love our hotel guides for Uluwatu, Nusa Penida, Sanur and Gili Trawangan.

You might also enjoy our day trip guides for Ubud and Uluwatu, the best villa retreat in West Bali, our ranking of the best coworking spaces in Canggu and our favourite quotes about Bali.

Don’t forget to read our Canggu guides about the best sports bars, nightclubs, beach clubs, vegan restaurants, Italian restaurants, and breakfast places? Is Canggu still worth it? Find out here.

Did I miss anything?
If you have any questions or feel like something is missing from this post, please leave a comment below or contact me.