ShareSpace Carpool is a free app for iPhone and Android that connects drivers and riders heading the same way and helps them split the cost of the trip. It is built for people who already travel, or who need a seat, and would rather share the ride than go alone. This overview covers who the app is for, how it works, its main features and how it differs from a taxi or rideshare service.
Who the app is for
- Commuters who travel the same route most days and want regular carpool partners.
- Drivers with empty seats who would like to share trip expenses with passengers.
- Riders who need a way to get from A to B at a fair, visible price.
- Coworkers and neighbors who want to coordinate shared rides without juggling group chats.
You do not have to choose one role permanently. The same app handles both, so you can book a seat one day and offer a ride the next.
How the app works for riders
A rider opens the app, enters pickup, drop-off, number of seats and departure time, and taps Search rides. Each result shows the departure time, the price per seat, walking distance to pickup and from drop-off, the driver and the seats left. Sort chips let you order results by earliest, cheapest or closest. Before booking, the total you pay appears above the Confirm button, including the service fee and tax, and you choose how to pay.
Only need part of a route? You can book just your stretch and pay only for it. If no ride matches yet, you can request one or set up a repeat daily ride.
How the app works for drivers
A driver taps Offer a ride, adds the route, departure time and vehicle, picks the route that fits, and can add optional stopovers. After choosing the number of seats and a price within the cap, the driver reviews the summary and publishes the ride. Riders can then book, and the driver can chat with them and manage bookings in the app. The driver receives the full ride price in their in-app wallet.
Main features
- Riley, the AI assistant. Tell Riley where and when you travel. Riley finds matching rides and, for drivers, can help publish rides. You confirm before anything is booked or published. Learn more in the Riley AI assistant guide.
- Daily rides. Set up your regular commute once. Drivers' rides can be published for them every day, and riders can be matched to rides every day.
- Cost-capped pricing. The price per seat is capped to the shared cost of the trip.
- Multiple payment options. Pay with your wallet, a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay (processed by Stripe), or pay the driver in cash.
- Trust features. Verified members, a ride start code, in-app chat and ratings after every ride.
How it differs from a taxi or rideshare
A taxi or ride-hailing service sells a trip as a paid service, with a driver who is working for fares. A carpool starts from a trip someone is already making. The passengers help share the expense, so the driver pays less for a drive they would have made anyway.
ShareSpace Carpool is built on that principle. The limit is calculated from the standard IRS mileage rate multiplied by the trip distance and divided by the seats offered, so a seat cannot cost more than its share. That makes the app a cost-sharing tool rather than a fare business. For a worked explanation, see carpool cost sharing explained.
Staying safe and in control
Before booking, you can check the driver's rating and verified badge. At pickup, ask for the ride start code, which confirms you are getting into the right car. In-app chat lets you coordinate without sharing your phone number. If you cancel a paid booking before the ride starts, what you paid returns to your wallet. For more habits worth adopting, read the carpool safety checklist.
When the app is most useful
ShareSpace Carpool tends to be most useful when your route repeats. A regular commute is the clearest example, because you can set up your daily ride once and let the app handle the repetition. It also works for single trips, such as heading to a nearby city for a weekend, when you can search for a ride that fits the day and time.
It can help in a workplace setting too. Coworkers who live in the same area can use the app to coordinate without managing messages by hand. If your team is thinking about it, how to start a workplace carpool offers a step-by-step plan.
Because you see the price per seat, the pickup distances and the driver details before you commit, you can decide with the facts in front of you. If a ride does not fit, you move on to the next one or request a ride of your own.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ShareSpace Carpool app free?
Yes. It is free to download on the App Store and Google Play. You only pay when you book a seat.
Is ShareSpace Carpool a taxi service?
No. It is a carpool app for sharing the cost of a trip someone is already making. Prices are capped to a cost-sharing limit.
How do drivers set the price?
The driver sets a price per seat, but it cannot go above the cost-sharing limit. The app shows the limit while the driver sets the price.
If you commute alone, have seats to spare, or need a ride along a familiar route, try ShareSpace Carpool. Download it, look for a ride that matches your trip, and see how sharing the cost feels in practice.
Ready to carpool?
Download ShareSpace Carpool, free on iPhone and Android.
