Show HN: Hackney – Compare Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and Robotaxi Prices • Hacker News Board

griffinli wrote: post #10

f3408fh wrote: post #7

How did you get this through App Store review? My understanding is Apple tends to be pretty strict about apps that rely on reverse-engineered private APIs.

App Review didn't object to that. There are various apps on the App Store today that rely on reverse engineering, such as unified messaging apps, alternative rideshare price comparison apps, and driver-side rideshare aggregators.

I believe this is Google's rule that applies. Though, I think Beeper would be breaking it as well. Maybe I'm reading it wrong?

> Examples of common Device and Network Abuse violations:

> Apps that access or use a service or API in a manner that violates its terms of service.

Re: Show HN: Hackney – Compare Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and Robotaxi Prices

#35

Post by gizajob » Tue, Jul 14, 2026, 6:25 AM UTC

Misuse of the word “Hackney”. Hackney has a fairly specific meaning for traditional cabs in London whose human drivers require huge amounts of training in order to be licensed to pick up passengers - the antithesis of everything Uber etc stand for. Pretty sure you can’t use “Hackney Carriage LLC” as a company name either.

A simple google reveals: “A hackney carriage is the formal legal term for a public vehicle for hire, such as a traditional black cab or taxi. Unlike private hire vehicles (minicabs), hackney carriages can be hailed directly off the street or hired from designated ranks.”

Re: Show HN: Hackney – Compare Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and Robotaxi Prices

#36

Post by monk_grilla » Tue, Jul 14, 2026, 6:37 AM UTC

Would love to give this a try once it is working in Australia. Our options are just DiDi and Uber.

Re: Show HN: Hackney – Compare Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and Robotaxi Prices

#37

Post by sunnybeetroot » Tue, Jul 14, 2026, 7:00 AM UTC

Great idea but what’s the business model for you to keep this running?

Re: Show HN: Hackney – Compare Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and Robotaxi Prices

#38

Post by josefrichter » Tue, Jul 14, 2026, 7:24 AM UTC

There’s an app called Obi that does exactly this.

https://rideobi.com/

It’s been around for years now. The great thing about it is it works worldwide - so if you come to a country and have no clue which company operates there, you just open Obi.

Re: Show HN: Hackney – Compare Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and Robotaxi Prices

#39

Post by CorbenDallas » Tue, Jul 14, 2026, 7:32 AM UTC

testfrequency wrote: post #28

Uses a British name, launches in America. - Stolen Uber UI - Slopped Uber illustrations - Lloyds Bank logo - Abused Uber API Godspeed

Welcome to post-ai world :(

Re: Show HN: Hackney – Compare Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and Robotaxi Prices

#40

Post by dawnerd » Tue, Jul 14, 2026, 7:33 AM UTC

Thaxll wrote: post #20

It doesn't exists because: - it's against ToS - it can get you banned Reversing API is trivial, this is not the reason.

Except it does exist:

https://fareestimate.com/ https://ride.guru/ https://uphail.com/ https://payfair.cash/

Also cool lil project in this quick google https://toddwschneider.com/dashboards/nyc-taxi-uber-lyft-far...