At first glance, it seems like a brilliant idea. But is it legit?

The OnMyWay app, established in 2017, has recently taken social media by storm. It was created to incentivize drivers to practice safety on the road by offering monetary rewards for safe driving. But, while the concept is great, the execution of the app falls abysmally short.

Let’s take a closer look at the OnMyWay app so we can determine whether it is safe, secure and legit.

The way it works

The sole function of the OnMyWay app is to promote safer driving through financial incentives. Once you’ve installed the app, it will automatically activate whenever you start driving. Keep your phone locked, with all texting options disabled, and you’ll earn cash for each mile you drive. OnMyWay promises users $0.05 for every safely driven mile, $2 for each referral and an additional $0.02 for each mile driven that’s safely by friends they’ve referred.

According to the app’s co-founder, Chloe Palmer, car accidents caused by texting are currently the #1 cause of death for young adults aged 16-25. “OnMyWay believes that by giving our users positive rewards, we can end this horrific epidemic,” she says.

It truly sounds like a noble idea, and thousands of drivers have rushed to download the app. Motivate yourself to drive safely and earn cash at the same time—it’s a win-win!

How it really plays out

Unfortunately, as many OnMyWay users are discovering, the app’s reward system is not as straightforward as they might believe.

First, the app does not reward safe driving with money in users’ checking accounts. Instead, the money “earned” is set up as a reimbursement. Users need to link a credit card or checking account to the app, pay the full amount for a purchase up front and then wait to be reimbursed.

Second, OnMyWay money can’t be spent everywhere. Earnings must be spent at specific retailers that are recommended by the app—and sometimes, for specific products as well. These may or may not be retailers users usually patronize or items they’ve planned on purchasing. Many users complain that the products “recommended” by the app are all overpriced luxury items they would never have considered buying otherwise. The app claims it is working on updating its system to include nationally recognized retailers, like Amazon. For now, though, redeemable purchases are extremely limited.

But is it safe? 

Aside from the obvious inconveniences of the app, many users are concerned about its security. OnMyWay requires all new users to scan their ID before installing the app. Users must also link a checking account or credit card to the app to be reimbursed for purchases. In a world where another scam makes headlines every week, users are wary about sharing this information with a relatively new app.

OnMyWay promises that users’ information is completely safe.

“Our system is 100 percent encrypted,” Palmer says.

The app’s founders claim to use third-party software to link users’ financial information. The software is highly secure and is used by recognized online payment platforms, like Venmo.

To date, there have not been any incidents of scams employed through OnMyWay. It may not deliver exactly what it promises, but at the very least, you can be sure your information is safe with OnMyWay.

What users are saying

Drivers who have downloaded OnMyWay are quick to praise the concept of an app providing an incentive for safer driving. However, nearly every user is disappointed with the way the app operates. Many complain that the app is purposely vague about the process of cashing in rewards until they’ve already downloaded it and started using it.

Many users also claim that, once they’ve made a purchase recommended by the app, it takes far too long for OnMyWay to reimburse them with their earned cash, with wait times often stretching longer than a week. Finally, drivers are disillusioned with the app’s customer service and many claim it is simply nonexistent.

Some users, though, are thrilled with the chance to earn money while driving, regardless of the many strings attached to the deal.

The takeaway

The OnMyWay app is a wonderful concept with poor implementation; however, there is no scam here: The app is a legitimate service that is not doing anything that may be considered outright criminal.

Unfortunately, though, the app does engage in misleading advertising and ambiguous claims. After reading the app’s own reviews and descriptions, it’s easy for users to falsely assume they can rake in the big bucks just by signing up for OnMyWay and driving safely. Users are keenly disappointed when the app does not deliver as promised.

While the app is safe and legit, most users agree that it is hardly worth the effort.

If you think otherwise and you’re eager to earn rewards for driving safely, be sure to read all the fine print before signing up and installing the app.

Whichever choice you make, it’s always a good idea to disable all texting options on your phone before hitting the road. A safe arrival to your destination is an incentive in and of itself!

Your Turn: Do you think the OnMyWay app is worth using? Why, or why not? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Sources:
3Newsnow.com
OnMyWay.com
reddit.com