Uber's free loyalty program will be stopped later this year

In order to focus on its Uber One membership, which requires a monthly subscription, Uber is ending its free loyalty program, Uber Rewards. Uber informs customers via email that they still have until the end of August to earn points and that the deadline for redeeming them is October 31.

Thank you for participating in Uber Rewards, the email concludes. "It's been a fantastic ride, but we've decided to end Rewards soon as we turn our attention to our new Uber One membership program," the statement read.

Since then, Uber has posted an update regarding the upcoming termination of the loyalty program, which will occur on November 1st, 2022. Uber Rewards, a free program that was introduced in 2018, allows you to accrue points for every dollar you spend when using Uber and Uber Eats to order food or hail a ride. These points can then be applied to future deliveries or rides to receive discounts. The benefits you receive improve as you accrue more points; for instance, 7,500 points unlocks the top Diamond tier, which offers advantages like first-rate customer support, free ride upgrades, better drivers, and three complimentary Uber Eats deliveries.

But all of that is now disappearing. Except for paying for an Uber One subscription, which Uber introduced as a replacement for Eats Pass last year, there is no alternative offered by Uber to the program and no other way to regularly earn benefits and discounts. Free food deliveries, up to 10% off "eligible" Uber Eats orders, and a 5% discount on rides from top-rated drivers are among the benefits of a $9.99/month (or $49.99/year) subscription.

Existing Rewards members of Uber will receive a free one-month subscription to Uber One, but you will then be charged. It's a little upsetting to see Uber eliminating a free and easily accessible loyalty program, something that's becoming much harder to find these days as a frequent Uber Eats user (who refuses to pay for an Uber One subscription).

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