Snapp, Tapsi and Maxim: Uber-style ride apps in Iran for travellers
Uber, Bolt and Careem do not operate in Iran. Instead, Iranians use local ride-hailing apps that work exactly the same way: you set a pick-up point and a destination on a map, see the fare before you confirm, and a driver arrives in a few minutes. For travellers they are usually the easiest, cheapest and most transparent way to get around a city — no haggling, no language barrier over the price.
The three apps
| App | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Snapp (اسنپ) | The biggest ride-hailing app in Iran, in almost every city | Most drivers and the shortest waits; the same company also runs food delivery and hotel booking apps |
| Tapsi (تپسی) | The main competitor of Snapp | Often a little cheaper; a good second option at busy times |
| Maxim (ماکسیم) | An international ride app that also works in many Iranian cities | Multilingual interface; popular for intercity trips and often cheaper |
Open the apps
Snapp — web app (login)app.snapp.taxi
Tapsi — web appapp.tapsi.cab
Maxim — app (great for intercity trips)taximaxim.irInstalling two of them is a good idea: at rush hour or in bad weather, when one app has no free cars, the other often does.
What you need
- An Iranian SIM card. Sign-up works with a code sent by SMS to an Iranian mobile number. Buy a tourist SIM at the airport — see our guide to SIM cards and internet in Iran.
- Mobile data for the map and live tracking.
- Cash in tomans. Foreign cards don't work in Iran, so you pay the driver in cash at the end of the ride (money in Iran). Keep small notes — drivers often have no change.
Installing the apps
Because of international sanctions, Iranian apps are often missing from Google Play and the App Store outside Iran. Snapp and Tapsi also have web apps that run in your phone's browser with no installation (links above); otherwise download the Android app from each company's official website. Do it after you land and have your Iranian SIM, and only from the official sites — never from random APK pages. If anything goes wrong, ask your hostel: staff order rides for guests every day.
How to order a ride
- Allow location access, or drag the map pin to the exact pick-up point.
- Enter the destination — the name of the sight, or the address of your hostel. Having addresses in Persian on your phone makes it easier.
- Check the fare shown before confirming. That is what you pay; there is no meter.
- When the driver accepts, the app shows the car model, colour, plate number and the driver's photo.
- Pay the amount shown in the app at the end of the ride.
Safety tips
- Before you get in, compare the plate number and the driver's face with the app.
- Use the app's "share trip" option to send your route to a friend.
- Sitting in the back seat is normal, especially for women travelling alone.
- Rides booked in the app are recorded; unofficial street offers are not — prefer the app.
- Drivers sometimes call to confirm the pick-up point. If you don't speak Persian, send a short message or ask a passer-by or your hostel to help.
Airports
At big airports such as Imam Khomeini (Tehran) app rides are possible, but pick-up spots can be confusing and drivers may need to pay for parking. On arrival day, the official airport taxi desk or a pick-up arranged by your hostel is often simpler; use the apps once you are in town.
How much does it cost?
By European standards rides are cheap: a cross-town trip usually costs a few US dollars' worth of tomans. Fares rise during rush hour, rain and holidays. To see what your money is worth today, use our live currency converter.
Other ways to get around
For travel between cities, buses, trains and domestic flights are better — see getting around Iran. Inside Tehran, the metro beats the traffic at rush hour.
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