The main Istanbul taxi apps, BiTaksi, Uber and the municipality’s iTaksi, book licensed taxis, so you still pay the official meter fare. What an app adds is a record of the trip, the driver’s details and a fare estimate before you ride. Choose one, add your payment card before you land, and match the car and plate to the app before you get in.
Last checked: 5 November 2026. We read BiTaksi’s and Uber’s own pages. We could not open an official iTaksi page that showed any text, so the iTaksi details rest on news reports and are marked as such.
Istanbul taxi apps at a glance
| App | What its own page says | Payment | Check before you rely on it |
|---|---|---|---|
| BiTaksi | You see the matched driver’s details and rating, can enter your destination to see an estimated fare, and can share your live trip. It offers a “Large Taxi” for up to 8 passengers, a Lux Taxi and a pet option. The site has an English version. | Add a card in the app and pay online. The Turkish version of the site also lists cash and İstanbulkart, and a card terminal (bitaksiPOS) that you can ask the driver for. | Whether a foreign phone number and foreign card work. The official page does not say. |
| Uber (Uber Taksi) | Uber’s Turkish pages say that you choose Uber Taksi and are matched with a licensed taxi driver. They say it is available 24 hours a day, shows a minimum and maximum fare estimate before you request, and offers 4-seat and 8-seat taxis. Uber states that these taxis are not illegal. | Add a payment method in the app and it is charged automatically. | Uber’s global site also lists other ride types. The Istanbul page we read describes booking licensed taxis, so choose Uber Taksi and expect the meter fare. |
| iTaksi | News reports describe it as the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s taxi-calling app. | Reports mention card and İstanbulkart payment. | We could not confirm current features, language options or iPhone availability. Check the app store listing. |
We found no official statement comparing prices between the apps, so we cannot say which is cheaper. Open two apps for the same trip and compare the estimates.
How apps relate to the meter fare
An app changes how you find the taxi, not the tariff. The fare is still based on the official rates. Our Istanbul taxi fares guide lists the current tariff and explains how traffic, tolls and the minimum fare affect the total.
Before you arrive: set up your Istanbul taxi apps
- Install and register at home. Do it on Wi-Fi so you can fix any verification problem before you are standing at an airport. Our eSIM guide covers getting mobile data on arrival.
- Add a card and keep some lira. Not every payment method works for every visitor. Our cash or card guide explains what to carry.
- Plan your airport exit. The two airports are far apart and far from the old city. See how to get from Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen into the city, then follow the pick-up instructions inside the app.
When the car arrives
- Compare the plate, car and driver’s name in the app with what is in front of you before you get in.
- Check that the meter starts when the car moves. An estimate in the app does not replace the meter.
- Share your live trip if the app offers it. BiTaksi lists this feature.
- Remember that tolls are added to the meter, and that tipping is not required.
- Stay with the app or a licensed rank. The UK Foreign Office calls lifts from unofficial taxis highly risky, as we summarise in our safety guide.
If something goes wrong
Keep the trip record, a screenshot of the estimate and the receipt. Our taxi fares guide explains how to report a taxi driver, and our scams guide lists the common tricks to watch for.
Are Istanbul taxi apps better than street taxis?
An app is useful when you do not speak Turkish, because you type the destination instead of explaining it, and when you want a trip record. A street taxi from a rank is often faster at a busy square. Either way, the meter and the plate are what matter.
Frequently asked questions
Does Uber work in Istanbul?
Yes, as an app for booking licensed taxis, according to Uber’s Istanbul page. Uber’s global site also lists other ride types, so choose Uber Taksi in the app.
Is BiTaksi available in English?
BiTaksi’s website has an English version. We could not confirm the languages inside the app itself.
Can I pay by card in a taxi booked through an app?
BiTaksi and Uber both describe paying with a card saved in the app. Whether your foreign card is accepted is something to test before you travel.
Are taxi apps cheaper than hailing a taxi?
We found no official source that says so. The apps show an estimate based on the fare, and the meter decides the final price.
