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Grab and Gojek in Indonesia

How to use Grab and Gojek for cars, motorbikes, food and parcels. Setup, payment, tipping, and the etiquette.

3 min read

Grab and Gojek are the two dominant super-apps in Indonesia. Both offer car rides (taxi-equivalent), motorbike rides (ojek), food delivery, parcel delivery, and a dozen other services. They are the safest, easiest and almost always the cheapest way for tourists to get around Indonesian cities — much better than unmetered taxis or street ojek.

Which app to install

Install both. Driver availability varies by app and location. In Bali, Gojek is often slightly faster; in Jakarta, both compete. Side-by-side, one will frequently have a closer driver than the other.

Setup before arrival

  1. Download both apps before flying — needs working internet
  2. Register with your home phone number initially
  3. Once Indonesia SIM is active, change registered number to Indonesian (some functions need Indonesian OTP)
  4. Link payment:
    • Cash works everywhere — simplest for visitors
    • GrabPay / GoPay (digital wallet) — can be topped up at convenience stores or via Indonesian bank
    • Visa/Mastercard for Grab (works for some users; less reliable than cash)
  5. Save common addresses — your hotel, airport, restaurants you'll visit

Services on each app

Grab

  • GrabCar — taxi-equivalent
  • GrabBike — motorbike taxi
  • GrabFood — food delivery from restaurants
  • GrabExpress — parcel courier
  • GrabMart — supermarket delivery
  • GrabHotel, GrabTaxi for traditional licensed taxis

Gojek

  • GoCar — taxi-equivalent
  • GoRide — motorbike taxi
  • GoFood — food delivery
  • GoSend — parcel courier
  • GoMart — groceries
  • GoBox — moving / large items

Pricing (2026)

Car ride

  • Short ride (under 5km): IDR 25,000–60,000 (USD 1.50–4)
  • Medium ride (10km): IDR 60,000–120,000 (USD 4–8)
  • Airport-Seminyak (Bali): IDR 100,000–180,000 (USD 6.50–12)
  • Airport-Ubud (Bali): IDR 250,000–400,000 (USD 16–26)
  • Jakarta-Bandung (long distance): expensive, use train or domestic flight instead

Motorbike ride

  • Roughly 50% of car ride price
  • Faster in traffic (Jakarta, Bali rush hour)
  • Bring own helmet for hygiene if possible; rider provides one but quality varies

Food delivery

  • Restaurant prices + IDR 5,000–20,000 service + driver tip
  • Generally 20–40% more expensive than dine-in

Etiquette and tipping

  • Tipping is welcome but not required. IDR 5,000–10,000 (USD 0.30–0.70) for good service is appreciated.
  • Rate the driver in the app — drivers depend on ratings
  • Be ready when the driver arrives — they wait briefly and then leave
  • Wear a helmet on motorbikes — required by law
  • For motorbike — leave bulky bags at home; hold small bag securely in front of you
  • For airport rides — meet at the designated Grab / Gojek pickup zone (NOT at the regular taxi rank)

Where it works

  • Bali: extensively. Some areas (some Ubud kampung, deep south Uluwatu) have fewer drivers.
  • Jakarta: extensively. The best way around the city.
  • Yogyakarta: extensively in city centre; less near Borobudur.
  • Surabaya, Bandung, Medan: extensively.
  • Lombok: in Kuta Lombok and Senggigi, increasingly. Mataram fine.
  • Smaller cities and outer islands: less reliable. Bring backup options.

Where it DOESN'T work

  • Inside designated airport pickup zones in some places (e.g. older airports — drivers might not be allowed inside)
  • Inside major shopping mall pickup zones in some areas (taxi mafia issues)
  • During severe storms or holiday peak times — pricing surges dramatically
  • On Gili islands (no cars or motorbikes allowed)
  • In some rural areas (only ojek-pangkalan — traditional motorbike taxis)

Common mistakes

  • Not having Indonesian SIM and trying to log in with home number
  • Cancelling rides — your rating drops, drivers ignore your bookings
  • Walking to where the driver is rather than the designated pickup zone
  • Hiring a tout outside the airport when Grab is right there
  • Paying with cash and forgetting change
  • Tipping excessively — IDR 50,000 for a IDR 30,000 ride is generous; IDR 500,000 is awkward

Verify before acting

App functionality and payment options change. Confirm current setup with another tourist or driver on arrival. See disclaimer.

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