Waymo One appears to have a more established and wider-reaching service with detailed safety information and accessibility features. Cruise offers a transparent pricing structure and is developing wheelchair-accessible vehicles, but its service area is more limited, and its safety record has faced scrutiny.
| Attribute | Cruise Driverless Taxi | Waymo One Driverless Taxi |
|---|---|---|
| Driverless Technology Level | Level 4 automated driving system (SAE International standards), performs entire dynamic driving task within a defined Operational Design Domain (ODD) and can achieve a Minimal Risk Condition (MRC) without human intervention. | Fully autonomous driving technology using lidar sensors, radar, high-definition cameras, and AI-driven software |
| Geographic Service Area | Currently testing in Phoenix, Houston, and Dallas. Previously operated in San Francisco, Austin, and Phoenix. Expanded service area in San Francisco to include most of the city, excluding Twin Peaks and the Financial District. | Phoenix, Arizona (315 sq miles), San Francisco and surrounding Bay Area cities (Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, and Burlingame), Los Angeles, California (120+ sq miles from Santa Monica to downtown), Austin, Texas (only on Uber), Atlanta, Georgia (only on Uber), Silicon Valley and parts of the Peninsula (testing and expanding) |
| 24/7 Availability | Yes, in San Francisco. | Yes |
| Mobile App Integration | Mobile app for booking rides. Support channels accessible through the app before, during, and after the ride. Riders can modify pick-up and drop-off locations, request early termination, and share their trip status via the app. | Waymo One app (Google Play and App Store) for booking rides, setting destinations, monitoring vehicle progress, and unlocking the car |
| Pricing Structure (per mile, flat rate) | Base cost, per-mile rate, and per-minute rate, plus city tax. Example: $5.00 base fare + $0.40 per minute + $0.90 per mile, plus a 1.5% city tax. No surge pricing. | Not available |
| Vehicle Cleanliness Standards | Vehicles are taken to a lot downtown to be cleaned and charged regularly. GM has also designed a self-cleaning floor system for the Cruise Origin. | Vehicles cleaned and disinfected multiple times per day, cameras inside to ensure cleanliness, cleaning fee for riders who leave a mess |
| Safety Record (accidents per mile) | Fewer collisions overall compared to human drivers in a comparable driving environment. After one million driverless miles, Cruise reported 36 collisions, with 94% caused by other parties. Incidents and investigations into Cruise's safety have occurred. | Strong safety record, fewer crashes per mile than national average for human-driven vehicles, 85% reduction in injury-causing crashes in simulated scenarios, nearly 200 crashes through June 2024 (1 crash every 100,000 miles), 38 crashes from July 2024-February 2025 (34 incidents fault of someone else), no fatal accidents involving passengers since start of fully autonomous service |
| Customer Support Channels | Accessible before, during, and after the ride via the Cruise App. Support includes assistance for non-urgent and immediate concerns, including live support for deaf or hard-of-hearing passengers. | 'Support' tab in the Waymo One app or on the passenger screen, in-car buttons |
| Accessibility Features (wheelchair access) | Developing wheelchair-accessible robotaxis (Cruise WAV) with a retractable ramp and securement systems. Designed to allow wheelchair users to enter the vehicle unassisted. An Accessibility Council gathers feedback on accessibility features. | Wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAV) available in San Francisco and Los Angeles via the app, and in Phoenix by contacting Support; Assistive in-car audio; App displays text of trip updates; 'Minimize walking time' feature; App displays rider's initials on rooftop dome |
| Ride Customization Options (music, temperature) | Interior temperature is set to a comfortable level, and there is calm blue ambient lighting. | Not available |
| Average Wait Time | Not available | San Francisco: 5-10 minutes (weekdays), 15-20 minutes (weekends); Los Angeles (Westside): 5-10 minutes; Some users report ~15 minutes; 50% of wait times between 4-13 minutes; Median wait time: 7 minutes |
| Passenger Capacity | Up to 5 passengers | 4 riders |