Malaysia is currently riding on the super app wave where we are seeing multiple big names trying to build up their super app to cater to the needs of fellow Malaysians. Grab has got to be one of the first to offer the super app deal while Shopee and Air Asia are not too far behind. To be honest, out of these 3 super apps that I’ve listed, my current favorite is definitely Grab compared to AirAsia & Shopee.
Why Is Grab My Preferred Super App?
Ride-Hailing
Since I am from Penang & I do my traveling a lot by car, there are some occasions that I am using ride-hailing service. Recently I traveled to Johor for my competition & upon arriving back in Penang, I tried to use AirAsia Super App to book a ride but the number of drivers is too limited in Penang. In terms of the number of drivers, Grab definitely have more drivers compared to AirAsia.
Food Delivery
Shopee has recently launched Shopee Food but it seems that their service is still not well established enough compared to other competitors. I have also tried to use AirAsia Food multiple times but the choice of food is quite limited compared to FoodPanda & also Grab Food.
Subscription Service
AirAsia has recently introduced their subscription service which cost RM699 for unlimited “free” travel. Since my last review on them, I have also booked another trip from Bangkok to Phuket which cost me less than RM50 for return tickets. With my subscription to AirAsia Super+, I am able to enjoy free food delivery but with the limitation of choice, Grab is still my preferred choice. Grab has also launched their Grab Unlimited promo where they are charging their customers RM0.01 to RM4.90 subscription fee. When they started to launch, they offered discounts up to RM12.50 for orders above RM25 & with the recent adjustment, they have adjusted it to RM8.50 discounts for orders above RM25 with a discount of delivery fee up to RM3. Even though I only use Grab Food once or twice a week, their food discount is definitely more compared to their competitors. It is even cheaper to order via Grab than to eat in that particular restaurant.
E-Wallet
AirAsia has recently introduced their e-wallet called pocket. Since it is new, there are not many details or benefits on it yet. When Shopee Pay was introduced at some physical stores, I managed to get some discounts on selected purchases at Mr DIY & other retail stores but after the rebate program was off, I only use them for my Shopee purchase. As for Grab Pay, what I like about them is their Grab Rewards Points where I can use the points to obtain cash discounts or vouchers. They have also recently provided a cash voucher of RM3 for your next purchase in the restaurant. That actually entices me to use them more since I am able to get an RM3 discount for all my future purchases at that selected restaurant.
Conclusion:
Each app has different strengths compared to one another but Grab definitely stands out among all. Shopee is the biggest e-commerce player among the 3 super apps and most of us buy our stuff by using their platform. AirAsia is the obvious leading one when it comes to air travel, especially with the launch of their AirAsia Super+. As an investor of Capital A (AirAsia parent company), my immediate choice of using Super App is definitely them compared to Grab or others but the perks that are offered by Grab are definitely more attractive compared to other competitors. From their recent reports, it seems that they are offering incentives to their drivers & also consumers which also means that we as consumers will be benefitting a lot from it when it comes to discounts. While they are making losses, we as consumers are enjoying all the perks offered by them.
OSS!
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