If you drive for Uber or Lyft, your mileage log is probably worth more at tax time than anything else you track. The standard mileage deduction is a per-mile rate on every business mile, so a missing log is money left on the table. Plenty of apps will log miles. The real differences are whether tracking is automatic or manual, what the free version actually includes, and whether the app helps you with anything besides miles.
Disclosure: we build DriveLens. The details on the other apps below come from their own published pages, linked at the end. Plans and prices change often, so check each app's own site before you commit. We left prices for the other apps out on purpose, because the figures we found disagreed with each other.
The short version
- DriveLens has a free tier that doesn't expire. It tracks miles by GPS during a shift and exports an IRS-ready CSV, and it also scores ride offers, which the others below don't do.
- Gridwise has a free plan with manual mileage tracking. Automatic tracking is part of its paid Plus plan.
- Everlance has a free plan that covers 30 automatically detected trips a month, plus unlimited manual start-and-stop trips. Unlimited automatic detection is a paid feature.
- Hurdlr lists automatic mileage tracking under its Premium plan, alongside expense and tax tools.
What a rideshare driver needs from a mileage tracker
Rideshare is not like a salesperson driving to client meetings. You drive hundreds of short trips a week, often back to back, and the miles between rides count too. A tracker has to cope with that.
- It has to run without you babysitting it. A tracker you forget to start in the middle of a busy shift loses real deductions.
- It should cover the miles between rides. Driving to pickups and repositioning between rides count, not only the paid portion of each trip. Dead miles and deadheading explains why those miles matter.
- It should export something your tax preparer can use. An IRS-style CSV is the common denominator.
- It should not cost more than the deduction is worth. If you only need a log, a paid plan has to earn its price.
DriveLens: mileage plus offer grading
DriveLens tracks miles from GPS while a shift is running, with no manual start and stop for each trip, and exports an IRS CSV. Both are in the free tier, and the free tier doesn't expire after a trial. Its paid Pro plan adds live offer grading, a payout floor, a personal heatmap, and analytics reports. See how DriveLens scores a ride offer.
The tradeoff is scope. DriveLens is Android-only and built for Uber and Lyft drivers, so if you drive for several delivery apps or you're on iPhone, a general mileage app may fit better. You can install it from Google Play.
Gridwise
Gridwise is a long-running gig driver app with earnings, expense, and mileage tracking. By its own description, mileage tracking on the free plan is manual: you turn tracking on and off during shifts or type in your miles. Plus members get automatic tracking, which detects when the vehicle moves and stops after an idle period. If you're happy to start and stop tracking yourself, the free plan covers a basic log.
Everlance
Everlance is a general mileage and expense tracker used well beyond rideshare. Its free Basic plan includes 30 automatically detected trips per month and unlimited manual trips. For a rideshare driver that cap matters, because a busy week can use up 30 trips in a day or two. Paid plans lift the automatic limit and add expense tools, and the top tier adds tax filing and audit defense. Everlance's pricing page lists two sets of prices, so check it directly.
Hurdlr
Hurdlr is built for self-employed workers generally, combining mileage, expenses, income, and tax estimates. Its Premium plan lists automatic mileage tracking, and a separate Pro plan adds invoicing and accounting. Its pricing page showed no prices when we looked, so we can't compare cost here.
Side by side
| DriveLens | Gridwise | Everlance | Hurdlr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free mileage tracking | YesGPS during shifts | YesManual | Partially30 automatic trips a month, unlimited manual | PartiallyAutomatic tracking listed under Premium |
| IRS-style export | YesCSV, free | Check app | Check app | Check app |
| Grades ride offers | YesPro | No | No | No |
| Built for Uber and Lyft | Yes | YesGig drivers generally | NoGeneral | NoGeneral |
| Platforms | Android | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
"⚠️" marks a feature that exists with limits.
Which one to pick
Choose DriveLens if you drive Uber or Lyft on Android and want free automatic mileage during shifts, and you'd like offer grading as an upgrade rather than a separate app.
Choose Gridwise if you want a gig driver app that covers more than rideshare and you're fine tracking manually on the free plan.
Choose Everlance if you want a mileage tracker that isn't tied to rideshare, and your trip count fits the free cap or you'll pay for unlimited detection.
Choose Hurdlr if you also want income, expense, and tax estimates for a self-employed business in one place and don't mind a paid plan for automatic tracking.
Whichever you choose, knowing which deduction method to claim matters as much as logging the miles. Standard mileage rate vs. actual expense method explains the choice, and tax deductions for rideshare drivers covers what else to track. For a wider look at the apps that grade or automate offers, see the full driver app comparison.
Sources
- Gridwise: How to track mileage for taxes with Gridwise
- Everlance: Everlance pricing
- Hurdlr: Hurdlr pricing
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best free mileage tracker for Uber and Lyft drivers?
- DriveLens tracks miles by GPS during a shift and exports an IRS CSV on its free tier, which doesn't expire. Gridwise's free plan tracks mileage manually, and Everlance's free plan covers 30 automatically detected trips a month plus unlimited manual trips.
- Does Gridwise track mileage automatically?
- Automatic mileage tracking is part of Gridwise Plus. On the free plan, mileage tracking is manual: you turn it on and off during shifts or enter miles yourself.
- How many trips does Everlance's free plan track?
- Everlance's free Basic plan includes 30 automatically detected trips per month, with unlimited manual start-and-stop trips. Paid plans remove the automatic limit.