Uber and Lyft Are Cracking Down on Driver “Helper” Apps — But Developers Say They're Just Improving Safety

[nihalsari]

While platforms like Uber, Lyft, and others try to maintain control over their ecosystems, more and more drivers across North and South America are turning to third-party "helper" apps like Mystro, GigU, and Maxymo.

These tools reveal additional details about rides before a driver accepts them, such as:
Drop-off location
Estimated trip duration
Earnings per mile or per hour
🧾 Estimated taxes on the fare

With this information, drivers can automatically reject less profitable trips and only accept those that bring in more income. Some of these apps also advise when to switch between ride-hailing and delivery platforms — to maximize earnings.

Subscriptions range from $5 to $19 per month.

How Do They Work?

These apps exploit a loophole in Android’s Accessibility Services — originally designed to assist users with disabilities. They “read” the screen, pull data from Uber or Lyft driver accounts, and overlay their own widgets with more detailed insights.

Example: in the GigU interface, the most profitable orders are highlighted in green.

According to Mystro CEO Doug Feigelson, their app also uses ride-hailing APIs, though he didn’t disclose specifics. Uber has accused them of violating terms of service and interfering with driver relationships.

Lawsuits and Legal Pressure

In 2023, Uber sued GigU in Brazil and forced them to remove their auto-decline feature.

In 2024, GigU fought back by filing an antitrust complaint against Uber with Brazilian regulator CADE.

In the U.S., Lyft has started warning drivers using GigU about "unusual behavior" and potential account deactivation. GigU launched in the U.S. in May 2025.

Drivers Are Divided

Driver opinions on these apps vary:
Some see them as helpful tools that protect their time and rights.
Others call them a form of cheating that undermines fair practices.
The UberEatsDrivers subreddit has even started banning users who discuss these tools.