Grab vs Taxi in Thailand: When to Use Each (2026)

Getting into a taxi in Thailand used to be a gamble. Will the driver use the meter? Will they take a detour through three expressways you did not need? Will they pretend not to know where your destination is until you agree to their inflated price?

Grab — Southeast Asia's dominant ride-hailing app — changed the equation. It gives you a fixed price before you book, a GPS-tracked route, a driver rating, and a digital receipt. No negotiation, no meter games, no "I don't know that area" performance.

But Grab is not always cheaper, not always available, and not always the best option. Traditional taxis still win in specific situations. And newer apps like Bolt and InDrive are creating additional options in major cities.

This guide breaks down when to use each, with real price comparisons, app setup instructions, and the scams to avoid.

How Grab Works in Thailand

Grab is the Uber of Southeast Asia. Uber actually used to operate in Thailand but sold its Southeast Asian operations to Grab in 2018. Since then, Grab has been the dominant ride-hailing platform.

Setting Up the App

Step 1: Download Grab from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). It is free.

Step 2: Create an account. You need a phone number that can receive SMS verification. Your home country number works, but a Thai SIM card number is better (fewer issues with international SMS delivery).

Step 3: Add a payment method. Options:

Cash: Pay the driver in Thai baht when you arrive. This is the simplest option and what most backpackers use.
Credit/Debit card: Add a card for cashless payments. Visa and Mastercard accepted. Some cards incur a foreign transaction fee.
GrabPay wallet: Load baht from a Thai bank account or credit card. Occasionally offers promotions/discounts.

Step 4: Set your pickup location (automatic via GPS or manual pin drop) and destination. The app shows available ride types, estimated prices, and ETAs.

Ride Types Available in Thailand

| Type | Description | Capacity | Price Level | |---|---|---|---| | GrabCar | Private sedan (Toyota Vios, Honda City, etc.) | 4 passengers | Standard | | GrabCar 6-Seater | Larger vehicle (Toyota Innova, Honda BR-V) | 6 passengers | +30-50% | | GrabBike | Motorcycle taxi — rider takes you on the back | 1 passenger | Cheapest | | GrabTaxi | Hails a metered taxi via the app | 4 passengers | Meter + booking fee | | GrabExpress | Package delivery (not passenger) | N/A | Varies |

GrabBike is the budget option and a genuine game-changer for solo travelers. A ride that costs 150 baht by GrabCar might cost 40-60 baht by GrabBike. You sit on the back of a motorbike, weaving through traffic at speed. It is fast, cheap, and slightly terrifying the first time. Helmets are provided (legally required).

GrabTaxi is Grab's hybrid option — it hails a metered taxi through the app. You pay the meter fare (which the app estimates) plus a small booking fee (20-30 baht). The advantage over a street taxi: the driver cannot refuse the meter, you have GPS tracking, and there is a record of the trip.

Grab Pricing

Grab uses dynamic pricing. The fare you see before booking can change based on:

Demand: High demand = surge pricing (1.2x, 1.5x, sometimes 2x+ normal price)
Distance and traffic: Longer trips and heavy traffic increase the fare
Time of day: Late night (midnight-5 AM) is typically more expensive
Weather: Rain triggers surge pricing (everyone wants a car when it rains in Bangkok)
Location: Tourist areas (Khao San Road, Patong Beach) may have higher base prices

Surge pricing in practice: A normal 120-baht GrabCar ride from Sukhumvit to Chatuchak in Bangkok might cost 180-250 baht during evening rush hour or rain. During a heavy downpour at 6 PM on a Friday, it could hit 300+ baht. Check the price before confirming — if it is surging heavily, wait 10-15 minutes and check again, or take a metered taxi instead.

Traditional Taxis in Thailand

Bangkok Taxis

Bangkok has the best taxi system in Thailand. Metered taxis are abundant, cheap, and available 24/7. The fleet is massive — over 80,000 registered taxis.

How to identify legitimate taxis:

Color-coded: Pink taxis (individual owner-drivers), yellow-green taxis (cooperatives), blue, orange, and red taxis (various companies). All are licensed. There is no meaningful quality difference between colors.
"TAXI-METER" sign: Displayed on the roof light. When lit, the taxi is available. When dark, it is occupied.
Meter inside: A digital meter on the dashboard displays the fare. The flag drop (starting fare) is 35 baht.

Bangkok meter rates:

| Component | Rate | |---|---| | Flag drop (first km) | 35 ฿ | | Per km (1-10 km) | 5.5 ฿/km | | Per km (10-20 km) | 6.5 ฿/km | | Per km (20-40 km) | 7.5 ฿/km | | Per km (40-60 km) | 8 ฿/km | | Per km (60-80 km) | 9 ฿/km | | Per km (80+ km) | 10.5 ฿/km | | Waiting/traffic (speed under 6 km/h) | 2 ฿/minute |

What this means in practice:

| Route | Distance | Approximate Meter Fare | |---|---|---| | Suvarnabhumi Airport → Khao San Road | 30 km | 250-350 ฿ (+ 50 ฿ airport surcharge + expressway tolls) | | Suvarnabhumi Airport → Sukhumvit (Nana) | 25 km | 200-300 ฿ (+ 50 ฿ surcharge + tolls) | | Khao San Road → Chatuchak Market | 12 km | 80-120 ฿ | | Sukhumvit → Mo Chit Bus Terminal | 15 km | 100-150 ฿ | | Silom → Khao San Road | 7 km | 60-90 ฿ | | Anywhere short (under 3 km) | 1-3 km | 40-55 ฿ |

Expressway tolls: If the taxi takes an expressway (ทางด่วน), you pay the toll in addition to the meter fare. The driver will ask before entering: "ทางด่วนไหม?" (thang duan mai? — expressway?). Say yes if you want faster travel. Tolls are typically 25-75 baht per section.

Taxis Outside Bangkok

Outside Bangkok, the taxi situation varies dramatically:

Chiang Mai: Metered taxis exist but are less common than songthaews (red trucks) and Grab. Getting a metered taxi off the street is harder than in Bangkok.

Phuket: Taxis and tuk-tuks operate without meters at inflated fixed prices controlled by local cartels. See our Phuket transport guide.

Other cities: Most smaller cities rely on songthaews, motorcycle taxis, and Grab rather than metered taxis.

Price Comparison: Grab vs Taxi

Here are real-world price comparisons for common Bangkok routes:

| Route | Metered Taxi | GrabCar | GrabBike | GrabTaxi | |---|---|---|---|---| | Suvarnabhumi Airport → Khao San Road | 300-400 ฿ (meter + surcharge + tolls) | 350-500 ฿ | N/A (luggage) | 350-450 ฿ | | Don Mueang Airport → Khao San Road | 200-300 ฿ (meter + tolls) | 250-400 ฿ | N/A (luggage) | 250-350 ฿ | | Khao San Road → Chatuchak Market | 80-120 ฿ | 100-180 ฿ | 40-70 ฿ | 100-150 ฿ | | Sukhumvit Soi 11 → Khao San Road | 70-100 ฿ | 90-150 ฿ | 35-60 ฿ | 90-130 ¿ | | Silom → Mo Chit BTS | 100-150 ฿ | 130-200 ฿ | 50-80 ฿ | 130-180 ฿ | | Phuket Airport → Patong Beach | 600-800 ฿ (fixed rate) | 500-700 ฿ | N/A (luggage) | N/A | | Chiang Mai Old City → Arcade Bus Station | 100-150 ฿ (negotiated) | 80-120 ฿ | 30-50 ฿ | N/A |

Key takeaways from the price comparison:

Metered taxis in Bangkok are usually cheaper than GrabCar for short-to-medium trips during normal hours.
GrabBike is the cheapest option for solo travelers without luggage.
Grab becomes competitive or cheaper during off-peak hours when metered taxis sometimes refuse short fares.
Outside Bangkok, Grab is usually cheaper than negotiated taxi/tuk-tuk prices.
During surge pricing, metered taxis win — the meter does not surge.

When to Use Grab

Grab wins in these situations:

1. Late at Night

After midnight, street taxis in Bangkok thin out. The ones that remain often refuse to use the meter or decline destinations they do not want to go to. Grab eliminates this problem — you book, the driver accepts, and the price is locked in.

2. Tourist Areas Where Taxis Refuse the Meter

Around Khao San Road, Patong Beach, and other tourist hotspots, taxi drivers often refuse the meter and quote inflated flat rates. A metered ride that should cost 80 baht becomes a 200-baht negotiation. Grab removes this entirely.

3. Language Barrier

If you cannot tell a taxi driver your destination in Thai (or show it on a map), Grab solves it. You enter the destination in the app, the driver follows the GPS. No language needed. This is especially valuable in cities where taxi drivers do not speak English (which is most cities outside central Bangkok).

4. Outside Bangkok

In Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, and other cities, metered taxis are scarce or non-existent. The alternative is negotiating with tuk-tuk drivers, which always favors the driver. Grab gives you transparent pricing in cities where street transport pricing is opaque.

5. Airport Pickup After a Long Flight

You have just landed after 12 hours of flying. You are tired, disoriented, and dragging luggage. The last thing you want is to negotiate with a taxi tout outside arrivals. Open Grab, book a car, and walk to the pickup point. The premium over a metered taxi (50-100 baht) is worth the zero-hassle experience.

6. When You Need a Receipt

Grab provides digital receipts for every trip. Useful for expense tracking, travel insurance claims, or splitting costs with travel partners.

7. Safety Concerns

Every Grab trip is GPS-tracked, the driver's identity is verified, and you can share your trip details with someone in real time. For solo travelers (especially at night), this adds a layer of security that a random street taxi does not provide.

When to Use a Traditional Taxi

Taxis win in these situations:

1. Short Trips in Bangkok During Normal Hours

For a quick 3-5 km ride in Bangkok during the day, a metered taxi is almost always cheaper than Grab. The meter starts at 35 baht and ticks up slowly. A 3 km ride costs about 45-55 baht. GrabCar for the same distance costs 60-100 baht.

2. Airport Taxi Queue

Both Bangkok airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang) have organized taxi queues. You take a ticket, get assigned a taxi, and pay the meter plus a 50-baht surcharge. The system is efficient and honest. Grab pickup at the airport is often the same price or more expensive, and the pickup logistics (finding the right exit, waiting for the driver) are more annoying.

Suvarnabhumi taxi queue: Level 1 (ground floor), clearly signposted. Queue moves fast. An attendant gives you a slip with the taxi's license plate.

Don Mueang taxi queue: Outside arrivals, follow signs for "Public Taxi." Same system.

3. During Grab Surge Pricing

When Grab is surging (1.5x-2x), metered taxis become the better deal. A ride that normally costs 120 baht on Grab might surge to 250 baht during rain or rush hour. The metered taxi for the same route is still 80-100 baht. No surge.

4. Multiple Short Stops

If you need to make several stops (hotel → ATM → restaurant → night market), a metered taxi with the meter running is more efficient than booking separate Grab rides for each leg. Just tell the driver "ไม่ปิดมิเตอร์" (mai pit meter — do not turn off the meter) between stops.

5. Groups of 3-4

A metered taxi carries 4 passengers at the same fare. A GrabCar also carries 4 but costs more per trip. When splitting between 4 people, the metered taxi gives the best per-person rate.

The "Meter Broken" Scam and Other Taxi Tricks

Thai taxi scams are well-documented but still catch first-timers. Here are the common ones:

1. "Meter is broken" (มิเตอร์เสีย)

The driver says the meter is broken and quotes a flat rate. The flat rate is always 2-3 times what the meter would show.

Defense: Exit the taxi and take the next one. In Bangkok, there are thousands of taxis. You will get one with a working meter within minutes. If a driver refuses the meter at an airport, go back to the official queue and report them.

Reality: The meter is almost never actually broken. It is a negotiation tactic.

2. The Long Route

The driver takes expressways or detours that add distance and cost. Common with airport runs where tourists do not know the route.

Defense: Follow the route on Google Maps on your phone. If the driver takes a clearly unnecessary detour, politely point it out. Most drivers course-correct. If they do not, note the taxi number (displayed on the dashboard) and report it.

3. "I Don't Know That Area" (ไม่รู้จัก)

The driver claims not to know your destination, hoping you will either agree to a higher fare or get out. This is particularly common when the destination is a less profitable short-distance ride.

Defense: Show the location on Google Maps on your phone. If the driver still refuses, get out and take another taxi. In Bangkok, this is annoying but not a crisis — there are always more taxis.

4. Refusing to Go to Your Destination

In Bangkok, taxi drivers can legally refuse a fare if they have a valid reason (end of shift, destination is too far in the opposite direction of where they need to return). In practice, they often refuse short or unprofitable fares, especially during shift change times (around 15:00-17:00).

Defense: This is frustrating but hard to fight. Grab solves this problem — the driver has already accepted the trip before arriving.

5. No Change

The driver claims not to have change for a large bill (500 or 1,000 baht). You end up paying more than the fare.

Defense: Carry small bills (20s, 50s, 100s) for taxis. If you only have a 1,000-baht note, stop at a 7-Eleven first and buy a water to break it.

6. Expressway Toll Confusion

The driver takes an expressway without asking, then demands you pay the tolls (50-75 baht per section) on top of the meter fare. Technically, the passenger does pay the tolls, but the driver should ask before taking the expressway.

Defense: If the driver asks "ทางด่วนไหม?" (thang duan mai?), you can say yes (for faster travel, you pay tolls) or no (for the surface route, no extra cost but slower). The choice should be yours.

Tipping

Tipping is not expected or standard for taxis in Thailand. However:

Metered taxis: Most Thai passengers round up to the nearest convenient amount. A fare of 87 baht might get a 100-baht note with "ไม่ต้องทอน" (mai tong torn — no change needed). Tipping 10-20 baht on a short ride is generous by Thai standards.
Grab: The app allows you to add a tip after the ride. Most passengers do not tip on Grab. It is appreciated but not expected.
Exception: If a driver is exceptionally helpful (carries heavy luggage, waits for you, navigates a tricky situation), a 50-100 baht tip is a kind gesture.

Bolt: The Alternative to Grab

Bolt (formerly Taxify) entered the Thai market and operates in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya. It functions identically to Grab — app-based booking, fixed pricing, GPS tracking.

How Bolt compares to Grab:

| Factor | Grab | Bolt | |---|---|---| | Coverage | Nationwide (major cities) | Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya | | Driver availability | More drivers, shorter wait times | Fewer drivers, longer waits | | Pricing | Standard | Often 10-20% cheaper than Grab | | Surge pricing | Yes, can be aggressive | Yes, but less aggressive | | Payment | Cash, card, GrabPay | Cash, card, Bolt Balance | | Promotions | Occasional | More frequent new-user promos |

Our recommendation: Download both apps. Check prices on both before booking. Bolt is often cheaper for the same ride, but Grab has better coverage and faster pickup times (more drivers on the platform).

InDrive: The Negotiation App

InDrive is a ride-hailing app with a twist — you propose a fare, and drivers accept or counter-offer. It is essentially app-based negotiation.

How it works:

Enter your route
InDrive suggests a fare range
You set your offer (usually at or below the suggested range)
Nearby drivers see your offer and either accept, ignore, or counter-offer
You accept a driver, and the ride proceeds like any other app

Pros:

You can get very cheap rides if drivers are not busy
Useful when Grab is surging — InDrive lets you offer a lower price
More control over what you pay

Cons:

Takes longer to get a match (drivers may reject low offers)
Fewer drivers than Grab
Less consistent quality
Available primarily in Bangkok and Pattaya

Best use case: When Grab is surging heavily and you are not in a rush. Open InDrive, offer a reasonable price (similar to non-surge Grab), and wait for a driver.

City-by-City Recommendations

Bangkok

Best option for most rides: Metered taxi during the day, Grab at night or in tourist areas.

Budget option: GrabBike for solo short trips (unbeatable price), metered taxi for groups.

Airport to city: Airport taxi queue (metered + 50-baht surcharge). Use Grab if the taxi queue is very long or if you arrive after midnight.

Avoid: Fixed-price tuk-tuks for transport (tuk-tuks are fun as an experience but overpriced as transport).

Chiang Mai

Best option for most rides: Grab (GrabCar or GrabBike). Metered taxis are scarce.

Budget option: Red songthaew (shared pickup truck) around the Old City moat — 30-40 baht per person for standard routes.

Avoid: Negotiating with individual tuk-tuk drivers, who quote tourist prices that are 3-5x what Grab charges.

Phuket

Best option for most rides: Grab. It is literally the only way to get transparent pricing.

Budget option: Phuket Smart Bus (if going between airport and west coast beaches) or GrabBike.

Avoid: Tuk-tuks and unofficial taxis, which charge cartel-controlled prices. See our Phuket transport guide.

Pattaya

Best option: Grab for fixed routes, baht buses (songthaew) along Beach Road and Second Road for short hops (10 baht per person on the standard route).

Budget option: Baht buses. Walk along Beach Road or Second Road, flag down any passing songthaew, and pay 10 baht when you get off. This only works along the main north-south routes.

Avoid: Motorcycle taxis that quote fixed prices to tourists. Grab is almost always cheaper.

Koh Samui

Best option: Grab (limited coverage — works in Chaweng, Lamai, Nathon, and Bophut areas). Availability drops in rural parts of the island.

Alternative: Rent a scooter. Koh Samui's taxi situation is similar to Phuket — fixed-price cartels with inflated tourist rates.

Krabi / Ao Nang

Best option: Grab (limited drivers but works). Otherwise, negotiate with tuk-tuk drivers.

Budget option: Songthaews between Ao Nang and Krabi Town (60-80 baht).

Safety Comparison

| Safety Factor | Grab | Metered Taxi | |---|---|---| | Driver identity verified | Yes (license, photo, vehicle registration) | No (anonymous) | | Trip GPS-tracked | Yes | No | | Trip sharing (send to friend) | Yes | No | | Digital receipt | Yes | No (unless you ask for meter receipt) | | Driver rating system | Yes | No | | Emergency button in app | Yes | No | | Vehicle condition | Varies (personal cars) | Varies (some old, some new) | | Late night availability | Moderate (fewer drivers after midnight) | Good in Bangkok (24/7 fleet) |

Our safety recommendation: For solo travelers at night, Grab is safer due to tracking, identification, and trip sharing. During the day in Bangkok, metered taxis are perfectly safe — Bangkok's taxi fleet is one of the safest in Southeast Asia.

Motorcycle Taxis: The Third Option

In addition to Grab and metered taxis, Thailand has a massive motorcycle taxi (มอเตอร์ไซค์รับจ้าง, motorsai rap jang) network that deserves its own coverage.

How They Work

Motorcycle taxi drivers wear numbered orange vests and congregate at fixed stands — usually at BTS/MRT station exits, at the entrance to soi (side streets), and near markets. You walk up, state your destination, negotiate a price, put on the helmet they provide, and hold on.

Pricing

Motorcycle taxis are not metered. Prices are negotiated but follow rough conventions:

| Distance | Typical Price | |---|---| | Short soi run (under 1 km) | 10-20 ฿ | | Medium distance (1-3 km) | 20-40 ฿ | | Longer ride (3-5 km) | 40-60 ฿ | | Cross-area ride (5-10 km) | 60-100 ฿ |

These are Bangkok prices. Outside Bangkok, prices are similar or slightly cheaper.

When Motorcycle Taxis Are Best

Getting to the end of a long soi. Bangkok's soi can be 1-2 km long. Walking in 35-degree heat is unpleasant. A motorcycle taxi from the main road to your guesthouse costs 10-20 baht and takes 2 minutes.

Beating traffic. Motorcycle taxis weave through gridlocked Bangkok traffic. A journey that takes 30 minutes in a car might take 8 minutes on a motorbike. This is genuinely useful during rush hour.

Short trips not worth a taxi. If your destination is 1-2 km away, waiting for a Grab or finding a taxi is overkill. The motorcycle taxi stand on the corner gets you there in minutes.

When to Avoid Motorcycle Taxis

With luggage. If you have a backpack, the motorcycle taxi is impractical and potentially unsafe.

In rain. Getting soaked on the back of a motorbike in a tropical downpour is miserable, and the roads are slippery.

Long distances. Anything over 10 km on the back of a motorbike is uncomfortable and noisy.

If you are nervous. The first motorcycle taxi ride in Bangkok traffic is genuinely alarming. Drivers weave between buses, cut through opposing lanes, and treat red lights as suggestions. It is safer than it looks (drivers are highly experienced), but if the experience makes you anxious, take a car.

GrabBike vs Street Motorcycle Taxi

| Factor | GrabBike | Street Motorcycle Taxi | |---|---|---| | Price | Fixed (shown before booking) | Negotiated | | Availability | Via app (may wait 3-5 min) | Immediate (at stands) | | Driver ID | Verified, rated | Unknown | | Trip tracking | GPS tracked | Not tracked | | Helmet | Provided | Provided (varies in quality) | | Convenience | Good for planned trips | Better for spontaneous trips |

Our recommendation: Use street motorcycle taxis for short soi runs (under 2 km) where negotiation is simple and the stands are right there. Use GrabBike for longer motorcycle trips where you want price transparency and GPS tracking.

Essential Thai Phrases for Transport

A few Thai phrases make taxi and transport interactions significantly smoother:

| English | Thai | Pronunciation | When to Use | |---|---|---|---| | Use the meter | เปิดมิเตอร์ | Pert meter | Entering a taxi | | How much? | เท่าไหร่ | Tao rai? | Before boarding tuk-tuk/motorcycle | | Stop here | จอดตรงนี้ | Jort trong nee | When you want to get out | | Go straight | ตรงไป | Trong pai | Giving directions | | Turn left | เลี้ยวซ้าย | Liew sai | Giving directions | | Turn right | เลี้ยวขวา | Liew kwa | Giving directions | | Slow down | ช้าลงหน่อย | Cha long noi | When the driver is speeding | | Too expensive | แพงไป | Paeng pai | Negotiating price | | Can you reduce the price? | ลดได้ไหม | Lot dai mai? | Negotiating price | | Thank you | ขอบคุณครับ/ค่ะ | Khob khun khrap/kha | Always (khrap for men, kha for women) | | I don't understand | ไม่เข้าใจ | Mai khao jai | When lost in communication | | Please take me to... | ไป...หน่อย | Pai...noi | Starting a trip (add destination) |

You do not need to be fluent. Knowing "pert meter" (use the meter) and "jort trong nee" (stop here) handles 80% of taxi interactions.

Transport Apps Worth Having in Thailand

Beyond Grab, Bolt, and InDrive, here are other apps that help with transport:

Google Maps

Obvious but essential. Google Maps has excellent coverage of Thailand, including:

Real-time traffic data in Bangkok
Public transport routing (BTS, MRT, buses, boats)
Walking directions with street-level imagery
Offline maps (download before you go — essential for areas with poor signal)

Moovit

Better than Google Maps for detailed public transport information in Bangkok. Shows real-time BTS and MRT schedules, bus routes, and walking connections. Useful if you are trying to minimize transport costs by using public transit.

Via Bus

A Thai app for tracking Bangkok public buses in real time. Shows bus locations on a map, estimated arrival times, and route maps. The interface is in Thai, but the map view is usable regardless of language.

Maps.me

An offline map app with good detail for rural Thailand. Useful on islands and in national parks where Google Maps may have limited detail and you might not have signal.

Lomprayah App

The Lomprayah ferry operator has an app for booking Gulf island ferries. Direct prices, schedule information, and e-tickets. Useful if you are island hopping between Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao.

Nakhonchai Air App

Direct booking for Thailand's best bus company. Seat selection, e-tickets, route information. Essential if you plan to take VIP buses.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After watching hundreds of travelers navigate Thai transport, here are the mistakes that waste the most time and money:

Booking airport transport through your hotel. Hotels and hostels mark up airport transfers 50-100%. Use the airport taxi queue or Grab instead.
Not having small bills. Breaking a 1,000-baht note in a taxi is a constant hassle. Hit an ATM or 7-Eleven before you need transport.
Assuming Grab works everywhere. In rural areas, small islands, and some neighborhoods, Grab has no drivers. Always have a backup plan (cash for motorcycle taxis, knowledge of songthaew routes).
Not downloading offline maps. Your phone signal will fail at the worst possible moment — arriving at a bus station in a new city at 5 AM. Download offline maps for all areas you plan to visit.
Accepting the first price quoted. For non-metered transport (tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis, private transfers), the first price is always negotiable. Counter-offer or walk away.
Taking tuk-tuks for long distances. Tuk-tuks are fun for short hops but expensive, noisy, and uncomfortable for anything over 3 km. Use them for the experience, not as a primary transport mode.
Not checking Grab AND Bolt. The prices differ. Check both and take whichever is cheaper for your specific route and time.
Forgetting about surge pricing. If Grab shows a price 50%+ above normal, wait 10-15 minutes and check again. Or take a metered taxi. Surge pricing fluctuates rapidly.

Quick Decision Framework

| Situation | Use This | |---|---| | Short ride in Bangkok, daytime | Metered taxi | | Long ride in Bangkok, daytime | Metered taxi (cheaper for distance) | | Any ride at night | Grab (tracking, no meter games) | | Airport arrival | Airport taxi queue | | Airport departure | Grab or metered taxi | | Tourist area, driver refuses meter | Grab | | Solo, no luggage, short distance | GrabBike | | Group of 3-4 | Metered taxi | | Grab is surging heavily | Metered taxi, Bolt, or InDrive | | Chiang Mai / Phuket / Pattaya | Grab | | Rural area, no Grab | Negotiate with local transport | | Need a receipt | Grab |

The Bottom Line

Download Grab before you arrive in Thailand. Set it up with your phone number and a payment method. It is the single most useful transport app for travelers in the country.

But do not rely on Grab exclusively in Bangkok. Metered taxis are cheaper for most daytime rides, always available, and perfectly safe. The best strategy is to use both: metered taxis when they are convenient and honest (daytime, non-tourist areas, airport queues), and Grab when you need reliability, transparency, or late-night service.

Outside Bangkok, Grab is almost always the best option because the alternative — negotiating with unmetered tuk-tuks and taxis — consistently costs more and involves more hassle.

Download Bolt and InDrive as backups. When Grab surges or has no drivers, these alternatives can save you money and time.

For more transport advice, see our complete Thailand transport guide, Phuket transport guide, and songthaew and tuk-tuk guide.