Reviews of GIFT On-Demand

By: Downtowner App, Inc.

List of user reviews and ratings for GIFT On-Demand

Total ratings

4.40 (Rating count: 59)

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Review summary

Users praise GIFT On-Demand for its easy ride scheduling, affordability, friendly drivers, and straightforward app that shows driver arrival. Many call it a lifesaver for local transportation. However, recurring issues center on ETA accuracy and inconsistent wait times, with last-minute driver acceptance causing surprises. Scheduling rules and the shift to a seven-hour advance window create confusion and sometimes force higher costs or reliance on calls. There are reliability concerns too, including occasional no-shows or missed pickups. Overall it works well where available, but reliability and communication can improve.

Pros

Scheduling rides ahead is easy and appreciated.
Affordable fares and a lifesaver for local public transportation.
Friendly and helpful drivers.
Easy-to-use app with clear visibility of driver arrival.

Cons

Inaccurate wait times and fluctuating ETAs, with last-minute driver acceptance causing surprises.
Scheduling rules are confusing and limited (7-hour advance window) and the Ride Now vs scheduled rides lack consistent information.
Rides sometimes do not show up or are delayed, indicating reliability issues.

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 3.10

All time rating average: 4.40

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20% (4)

Date	Author	Comment
2026-01-09	Po*****	My experience was exceptional. However, in a friendly conversation with the driver, I learned that the software that supports the drivers is inconsistent at times. This results and frustration for the drivers because they know that there are in efficiencies happening. I hope that the supervisor level doesn’t have such a heavy reliance on software that they’re not listening to the humans or trying to resolve the glitches. This is a people-centric operation.
My experience was exceptional. However, in a friendly conversation with the driver, I learned that the software that supports the drivers is inconsistent at times. This results and frustration for the drivers because they know that there are in efficiencies happening. I hope that the supervisor level doesn’t have such a heavy reliance on software that they’re not listening to the humans or trying to resolve the glitches. This is a people-centric operation.
2025-10-08	Ai*****	Every time I order a ride it’s always they pick me up within 5 mins when I need it for like 20 mins or it’s 70mins. Sometimes when I order a ride it’s says estimated time like 20 mins and then when I order it and it loads it says a hour or more. Or when I’m waiting it will do the time and it will just go up or stay the same. Like I order a ride says 30 mins I do something for like 15 mins it’s only changed by 5 mins
Every time I order a ride it’s always they pick me up within 5 mins when I need it for like 20 mins or it’s 70mins. Sometimes when I order a ride it’s says estimated time like 20 mins and then when I order it and it loads it says a hour or more. Or when I’m waiting it will do the time and it will just go up or stay the same. Like I order a ride says 30 mins I do something for like 15 mins it’s only changed by 5 mins
2025-07-09	ar*****	Very inaccurate wait time because of how careless the drivers are. The wait time will drop from 70 minutes to 2 minutes suddenly cause the driver decides to accept the ride 2 minutes before picking up the passenger instead of deciding ahead of time. This leaves the passenger no time to prepare (cause in the passengers mind the wait is 70 minutes!) and cancel the ride. It’s a trick cause if you cancel the ride after the driver accepts to pick you up, you get charged. With this trick the driver doesn’t have to drop you anymore but still gets paid 👏🏻 there’s so much rules for the passengers, zero rules for the drivers!
Very inaccurate wait time because of how careless the drivers are. The wait time will drop from 70 minutes to 2 minutes suddenly cause the driver decides to accept the ride 2 minutes before picking up the passenger instead of deciding ahead of time. This leaves the passenger no time to prepare (cause in the passengers mind the wait is 70 minutes!) and cancel the ride. It’s a trick cause if you cancel the ride after the driver accepts to pick you up, you get charged. With this trick the driver doesn’t have to drop you anymore but still gets paid 👏🏻 there’s so much rules for the passengers, zero rules for the drivers!
2025-05-16	Fl*****	Simple! Perfect timing! We’ll do it again.
Simple! Perfect timing! We’ll do it again.
2025-02-07	Da*****	The time of arrival goes from an hour to here within seconds. Then the driver confirms you are there while you are scrabbling to get outside because they said they won’t be there for a hour. But by the time you get out there they leave.
The time of arrival goes from an hour to here within seconds. Then the driver confirms you are there while you are scrabbling to get outside because they said they won’t be there for a hour. But by the time you get out there they leave.
2023-07-29	Hu*****	Update: July 29… The app was updated/changed to a new developer NOT A GOOD CHANGE AT ALL! On the app, You can only schedule 7 hours in advance. So if you need to be picked up under 7 hours you have to CALL IT IN, then they charge you 2X as much to talk to a human! HIGHWAY ROBBING I don’t understand it! I would love to have someone make sense of this! Update:Sept.16… friends of mine scheduled an airport run (Sept.15) p/u @ 5pm, app kept bumping them: 5:04, 5:19, 5:26, 5:34. They had to call a friend to get them to the airport on schedule. I have also found that mornings are best to get a quick ride, BEWARE, be done by noon. They have driver changes @ 12:30-2pm, SO DO NOT expect good service till after 2:30. Then you’ll be on the afternoon late schedule. THEY NEED MORE VEHICLES AND DRIVERS NOW!!! Or better yet: a real bus route PLUS the GIFT for door to door service. Update: changes are happening. I was told today (Aug9th) it’s best to schedule your ride the day before, because THE pre-scheduled are NOW the top priority. If you try to get a ride for now it IS NOW a 45-133 min wait. You also CANNOT schedule a ride for 2 hr from now. It is 7hr in advance! It’s great to have public transportation again. Let’s just hope that this will have the support to grow. Hoping the service stays as good as it is going. Adding to this: has a few glitches (to be expected)
Update: July 29… The app was updated/changed to a new developer NOT A GOOD CHANGE AT ALL! On the app, You can only schedule 7 hours in advance. So if you need to be picked up under 7 hours you have to CALL IT IN, then they charge you 2X as much to talk to a human! HIGHWAY ROBBING I don’t understand it! I would love to have someone make sense of this! Update:Sept.16… friends of mine scheduled an airport run (Sept.15) p/u @ 5pm, app kept bumping them: 5:04, 5:19, 5:26, 5:34. They had to call a friend to get them to the airport on schedule. I have also found that mornings are best to get a quick ride, BEWARE, be done by noon. They have driver changes @ 12:30-2pm, SO DO NOT expect good service till after 2:30. Then you’ll be on the afternoon late schedule. THEY NEED MORE VEHICLES AND DRIVERS NOW!!! Or better yet: a real bus route PLUS the GIFT for door to door service. Update: changes are happening. I was told today (Aug9th) it’s best to schedule your ride the day before, because THE pre-scheduled are NOW the top priority. If you try to get a ride for now it IS NOW a 45-133 min wait. You also CANNOT schedule a ride for 2 hr from now. It is 7hr in advance! It’s great to have public transportation again. Let’s just hope that this will have the support to grow. Hoping the service stays as good as it is going. Adding to this: has a few glitches (to be expected)
2023-01-27	wi*****	Thought we would try it going to the airport. Never showed up.
Thought we would try it going to the airport. Never showed up.
2022-12-16	Tr*****	I just found out about this and love it
I just found out about this and love it
2022-11-09	Fl*****	I am unable to drive, and this service has been a lifesaver. I’ve used it since June, and have had very few issues. I would recommend this in a heartbeat if someone asked. However, there are some design choices that I question. 1: Ability to schedule rides is lost if you use Ride Now. I assume this is due to some backend that would be a bit difficult to replace, but if it isn’t, there isn’t any reason to disallow users to schedule future rides while riding. Unnecessarily taking features from users when there isn’t a reason to is frustrating for some. 2: Ride Now provides FAR more information than scheduled rides. When using Ride Now, you are given a rough estimate of when a driver will be in your area, and when a driver is assigned, you get an exact ETA, and a map that pings your driver. When using scheduled rides, you get nothing. No ETA, no map. All you get is a notification that the driver is on the way. I really can’t find a way to justify depriving information from scheduled rides, especially since scheduled rides are preferred to ride now. 3: Post daylight savings, scheduled ride times are displayed in pre-daylight savings time. If I schedule a ride for 2:15, it will display at 3:15, but the ride will still pick up at 2:15. 4: Email support is non-existent. I had an issue scheduling rides during the night when the phone lines were closed. I emailed them asking for help, and to this day have not received an email back. This can be an issue, especially for someone with a disability. Considering that there is a button dedicated to emailing, this needs to be utilized in the future.
I am unable to drive, and this service has been a lifesaver. I’ve used it since June, and have had very few issues. I would recommend this in a heartbeat if someone asked. However, there are some design choices that I question. 1: Ability to schedule rides is lost if you use Ride Now. I assume this is due to some backend that would be a bit difficult to replace, but if it isn’t, there isn’t any reason to disallow users to schedule future rides while riding. Unnecessarily taking features from users when there isn’t a reason to is frustrating for some. 2: Ride Now provides FAR more information than scheduled rides. When using Ride Now, you are given a rough estimate of when a driver will be in your area, and when a driver is assigned, you get an exact ETA, and a map that pings your driver. When using scheduled rides, you get nothing. No ETA, no map. All you get is a notification that the driver is on the way. I really can’t find a way to justify depriving information from scheduled rides, especially since scheduled rides are preferred to ride now. 3: Post daylight savings, scheduled ride times are displayed in pre-daylight savings time. If I schedule a ride for 2:15, it will display at 3:15, but the ride will still pick up at 2:15. 4: Email support is non-existent. I had an issue scheduling rides during the night when the phone lines were closed. I emailed them asking for help, and to this day have not received an email back. This can be an issue, especially for someone with a disability. Considering that there is a button dedicated to emailing, this needs to be utilized in the future.
2022-09-22	Ca*****	So grateful to have an affordable, efficient service in the area. It’s an actual lifesaver.
So grateful to have an affordable, efficient service in the area. It’s an actual lifesaver.