Online Ride-Hailing Service Gojek Records 3.73 Million Downloads in Indonesia Over Three Years
- Publish
- 2024/10/03
- Update
- 2025/08/16
- You can read this article in 4minutes
Motorbike and car ride-hailing services have become increasingly common in Indonesia. Leading the way are the domestic app Gojek and Singapore-based Grab.
There are as many as 20 ride-hailing services currently operating in the country. At the same time, about 10 services have already shut down. One well-known example is the American company Uber. Uber sold its Uber Eats service, which is also available in Japan, to Grab and withdrew from Indonesia.
This article presents data on app download numbers and popularity surveys, offering insights into the current landscape of ride-hailing services in Indonesia following Uber’s exit.
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Ride-Hailing Services in Indonesia by the Numbers
Domestic App Gojek Leads, Followed by Russia’s Maxim and inDrive
Based on the Instagram post by @dataindonesia_id titled “Daftar Aplikasi Transportasi Online yang Paling Banyak Diunduh di Indonesia,” compiled by our company:
According to the “State of Mobile 2024” report by the market intelligence platform Data.ai, Gojek was downloaded a total of 3.727 million times over the three years from 2021, making it the most downloaded transportation app.
Ranked second is Russia-based ride-hailing service Maxim, with 2.121 million downloads. While it trails Gojek in Indonesia by a factor of 1.8, its download numbers have been steadily increasing, and in 2023 alone, the gap was narrow.
The third spot also belongs to a Russian app, inDrive, with 864,000 downloads over the same three-year period. This app too has seen year-on-year growth. Notably, the fourth-ranked Grab Driver app is for Grab’s drivers, and the fifth, Taxsee Driver, is for Maxim’s drivers.
Many ride-hailing services in Indonesia offer both motorbike and car taxi services. Additionally, many of these apps go beyond transporting passengers to include food delivery, shopping proxy services, package delivery, and dispatching of beauticians and massage therapists.
The major players are the local company Gojek, Singapore-based Grab, Maxim, which entered the Indonesian market in 2018, and inDrive, which followed in 2019.
Reference: Instagram @dataindonesia_id “Daftar Aplikasi Transportasi Online yang Paling Banyak Diunduh di Indonesia”
Gojek Tops Popularity Rankings as Well
Another source, Goodstats, a media outlet that presents Indonesian news through data and figures, conducted a 2023 survey titled “Most Popular Online Ride-Hailing Services,” the results of which are shared below.
Compiled by our company based on Goodstats’ “Layanan Ojek Online Pilihan Masyarakat Indonesia”
In the motorbike category, Gojek ranked first, followed by Grab in second, Maxim in third, and inDrive in fourth. Gojek garnered majority support in this segment.
Compiled by our company based on Goodstats’ “Layanan Ojek Online Pilihan Masyarakat Indonesia”
In the car category, although the gap between GoCar (Gojek) and GrabCar (Grab) has narrowed, the ranking mirrored that of the motorbike category.
Gojek and Grab have secured their positions as “super apps,” offering not only ride-hailing services but also a variety of other functions. According to Goodstats, their popularity is attributed to strong brand power, integrated multi-functional services, a large number of drivers, and frequent promotions and discounts.
Reference: Goodstats “Layanan Ojek Online Pilihan Masyarakat Indonesia”
While Maxim and inDrive fall short in terms of app usability and number of drivers, they are expanding their popularity through lower fares and aggressive promotions.
Furthermore, drivers can partner with multiple ride-hailing services. Consequently, it is not uncommon to see a driver wearing a Gojek jacket, a Grab helmet, and carrying a Maxim helmet for passengers.
Precautions when conducting an on-site inspection in Indonesia
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However, there have been numerous cases where entering without the appropriate visa for the intended activities has resulted in significant legal and operational issues. It is therefore strongly advised to obtain the correct visa prior to travel.
Here are the types of visas and their purposes.
Visual Glimpse into Ride-Hailing Services in Indonesia
South Jakarta: A Lineup of Ride-Hailing Drivers
Watch the video
This video captures the business district of Mega Kuningan in South Jakarta.
Along the roadside, a large number of drivers wearing green helmets and jackets—representing Gojek and Grab—are seen waiting. Since both companies use green, it is difficult to determine which one is more prevalent. However, the scene clearly illustrates the overwhelming market share held by these two services. Yellow represents Maxim, while orange indicates delivery personnel for the food delivery service ShopeeFood.
Weekday evenings mark a surge in orders from people finishing work. To catch these orders without delay, drivers remain on standby. Many commercial facilities such as train stations and shopping malls also have designated waiting areas specifically for ride-hailing drivers.
Maxim Parade Gains Popularity in Indonesia
Watch the video
This video shows a parade of Maxim drivers in Riau Province, located in central Sumatra near Singapore. Maxim has established offices in various regions and organizes events and community outreach activities in each locality.
Currently, Maxim offers services beyond motorbike and car ride-hailing, including parcel delivery, food delivery, and the dispatch of massage therapists and cleaning staff. As latecomers like Maxim and inDrive continue to market themselves on affordability, attention is focused on how they will further penetrate Indonesian society.
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Taxi Troubles
IT company
We had planned to use a ride-hailing app for local transportation; however, due to the combination of the morning rush hour and heavy rain, no taxis were available even after waiting for over 30 minutes. In the end, we arranged a motorcycle taxi on short notice, but heavy traffic caused further delays. As a result, we were forced to postpone one of the two business meetings scheduled for the morning.
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Interpreter Issues
Cosmetics manufacturer
While traveling from central Jakarta to a client in the suburbs, our freelance local interpreter suddenly canceled. Since English was not widely understood in the area, we were unable to fully convey the finer nuances of our business discussions, which was highly regrettable. We came to realize that it would have been better to engage a professional interpreter through a reputable agency rather than relying on a low-cost freelancer.
The Future of Ride-Hailing Services as Everyday Transportation
The ride-hailing services introduced in this article have already become the most common means of transportation in many regions of Indonesia. In areas where public transportation infrastructure is underdeveloped, these services are especially indispensable as the primary mode of transport for the general public.
Motorbike taxis are particularly advantageous due to their low cost and flexibility in route selection. Car taxis, too, are often cheaper than conventional taxis and offer the benefit of fare transparency—prices are fixed at the time of booking, regardless of actual travel time.
The apps’ features and service offerings are frequently updated or expanded, reflecting continuous efforts by each company to remain the user’s preferred choice.
On the other hand, it is also a fact that protests and demonstrations by drivers occur from time to time. Many drivers feel that they are not earning enough, citing issues such as increased competition among drivers, which has made it harder to secure rides, and fundamentally low compensation rates.
As Gojek and Grab lead the way, the future development of Indonesia’s ride-hailing industry will remain a key point of interest for understanding the nation’s societal and economic landscape.
