Seat Sherpa vs FlixBus and Greyhound
Short answer: the prices are close. A bus ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles is roughly $25 to $70 depending on how early you book; a Seat Sherpa carpool seat is capped at $55 plus a 5% fee. The differences are time and logistics: the carpool is door to door and typically 1 to 3 hours faster, while the bus runs on a fixed timetable whether or not anyone has posted your route.
Side by side
| Seat Sherpa | FlixBus / Greyhound | |
|---|---|---|
| SF to LA fare | $30 to $55 + 5% fee | $25 to $70 |
| LA to Las Vegas fare | $25 to $55 + 5% fee | $25 to $60 |
| LA to San Diego fare | $15 to $30 + 5% fee | $15 to $35 |
| SF to LA door to door | 6 to 7.5 h | 8 to 10 h with transfers to and from stations |
| Pickup | A spot you agree in chat: a BART or Metro station, a campus, a parking lot | Fixed terminal or curbside stop |
| Departure | The driver’s time; drivers post the week of the trip, often several per day on busy corridors | Timetabled, many departures a day |
| Luggage | By arrangement; look for the large-trunk or ski-rack badge on the ride | One checked bag plus a carry-on included |
| Who you travel with | One verified driver and up to a few passengers, with reviews | A full coach |
| Cancellation | 24h+ full seat refund, 2 to 24h 50%, driver cancels 100% | Varies by fare type; cheapest fares are often non-refundable |
| Overnight | Rare | Overnight coaches exist on SF to LA |
How to decide
Check the route page first. If a driver has posted a time that works, the carpool is faster and starts closer to your door. If nothing is posted yet, either set a route alert so you are emailed the moment a ride appears, post a request on the ride request board (drivers read it before deciding what to post), or take the bus. On holiday weekends the bus sells out and prices climb, while carpool seats stay capped.
See live seat prices on your route
Drivers post trips they are already taking. Book in the browser or the app; no account needed to look.
Browse rides →Driving somewhere yourself? Post the ride and split the cost.
FAQ
Is carpooling cheaper than FlixBus?
About the same on most California routes. FlixBus is cheapest booked weeks ahead; a Seat Sherpa seat is capped at $55 regardless of when you book, so it tends to win on short notice and on holiday weekends when bus fares rise.
Is a Seat Sherpa ride faster than Greyhound?
Usually by 1 to 3 hours on San Francisco to Los Angeles, because there are no station transfers and no intermediate stops beyond the ones the driver has listed. Both depend on I-5 traffic.
Does the bus go from Los Angeles to Las Vegas?
Yes, FlixBus and Greyhound both run it, typically 5.5 to 7 hours for $25 to $60. A carpool seat on Seat Sherpa is typically $25 to $55 plus a 5% fee and 4.5 to 5.5 hours.
How much does a Seat Sherpa seat cost?
It depends on the route and the driver, but every seat has a hard cap: the IRS standard mileage rate (about $0.76 per mile in 2026) multiplied by the drivable miles, divided across the seats, and never more than $55 a seat. Riders pay the seat price plus a 5% service fee, shown before you pay. Live prices for each corridor are on the route pages and in the ride browser.
Is Seat Sherpa safe?
Every driver verifies a phone number by SMS, uploads a driver’s license that is checked for expiry, registers the vehicle, and connects a Stripe account that verifies identity and bank details. Riders see the driver’s photo, trip count and reviews before booking, can filter for women drivers, and can block anyone. A 4-digit pickup code confirms the rider got in the car and is what releases payment.
What is the cancellation policy?
One standard policy on every ride: cancel 24 or more hours before departure for a full seat refund, 2 to 24 hours before for 50%, and inside 2 hours there is no refund. The 5% service fee is non-refundable when the rider cancels. If the driver cancels, the rider gets 100% back including the fee.