The following article examines how to build an app like Uber and how other apps and digital services may benefit from the Uber business model. The agenda is as follows:
- Business strategy on how to make an app like Uber
- Passenger app, driver app, and admin panel functionality in an app like Uber
- Tech stack & unique aspects for Uber apps
- Revenue streams established for taxi booking apps
- How much does Uber cost to create?
How Does the Uber App Work?
The Uber app includes 5 sub-steps which are important to clarify from the customer perspective:
- Step 1. Creation of a trip request with the end destination. The user can observe the upfront pricing of a trip’s fare, which is also based on vehicle type among Uber categories.
- Step 2. Verification of the trip. User confirms the data and the pickup location.
- Step 3. Matching up with the nearby available driver. On their end, a driver can accept or decline a request.
- Step 4. Payment process is done automatically in-app after the ride is complete.
- Step 5. Rating is requested after each taxi ride and is a core component of Uber app business logic.
How to Make an App Like Uber: Functionality
Any taxi service relies on the development of two distinct apps: passenger app and driver app with unlike functionality that are interconnected with the help of an admin panel.
Passenger Features in Apps Like Uber
These are the core features of the customer application:
- Registration
- Taxi Booking
- Fare Calculator
- Driver Tracking
- Payment
- Push Notifications
- Messaging
- Driver Rating & Review
- Travel History
- Customer Support
Some advanced features that can be included in subsequent versions of apps are as follows:
- Pickup Location
- Ride Cancellation
- Split Payment
- Interactive Map
- Later Ride
- Book for Other
- Gamification & Discounts
- Voice Recognition
- Waiting List
- Panic Button
Driver Functionality in Apps Like Uber
The complete feature-list in a driver’s taxi app development includes:
- Driver Profile & Status
- Trip Alert
- Push Notifications
- Navigation & Route Optimization
- Driver Delivery Reports
- Messaging
Advanced features in a taxi booking app like Uber are:
- Driver Destinations
- Quest Earnings
- Waiting Time
- Heat Maps
- Forward Dispatch
Admin Panel for Taxi Booking Apps Like Uber
The high-level set of functions within an admin platform for Uber-like service includes:
- Locations & Fares Management
- Driver & User Management
- Booking Management
- Vehicle Management
- Review Driver’s Orders & Payoffs
- Check Ratings & Reviews
- Notifications Management
- System Content Management & FAQ
- Promotions & Discounts Management
- Driver & User Support
- Integration with Google Analytics
Technologies Used to Build an App Like Uber
The key technology that is used in taxi booking apps are:
- Geolocation
- Push Notification & Messaging
- Payment Gateway Integration
The following diagram illustrates the high-level outlook on the Uber system architecture.
How to Make an App Like Uber: Recommendations
For starters, consider your initial intentions on whether you want to build a taxi app similar to Uber or use its business model and develop an on-demand project.
Additionally, Uber has actually opened its API. Thus, it is possible to apply this API in different niches and industries and services like:
- Beauty industry (e.g on-demand beauty services)
- Healthcare services
- Transportation services
- Local food & grocery delivery
- Delivery service for online retailers
- On-demand cleaning or home service
Also, here is a list of points to help you prepare to build an app like Uber successfully:
- Create a business model based on the market demand for your kind of Uber-like application
- Analyze the demographics and define your key target audience
- Define the USP (Unique Selling Points) of your Uber-like app
- Determine the minimum required functionality and platforms of the future application (MVP, for starters)
- Hire experienced and capable developers
- Always learn from user feedback and make necessary adjustments along the way
Revenue Streams in Uber-like Apps
Profit comes from rides while the Uber ride calculator combines one or more criteria like:
- Base fare
- Cost per mile
- Cost per minute
- Booking fee (or safe rides fee)
Monetization within an Uber-like app can be as follows:
- Commission from drivers
- Trip fares from passengers
- Charges from trip cancellation
How Much Does the Uber App Cost?
Any software development is a complex process and the cost to make an app like Uber can vary based on:
- Number & complexity of features
- Design aspects
- Number of platforms and operating system details
- Technology preferences
- Development team capabilities, location, & rates
The following services would add to the Uber-like app development cost:
- Back-end development
- Web development (admin panel)
- Native app development (iOS & Android)
- Native app interface (UX/UI Design)
- Project management
- Quality assurance
- Business analysis (Functional Specification)
To sum everything up, here is an approximate estimate in hours for basic features you might want to implement when building an app like Uber.
Design for a Passenger app
- Wireframes (UX) — 64–80 hours
- Mockups (UI) — 48–64 hours for iOS; 32–48 hours for Android (provided that iOS will be the first platform worked on)
Design for a Driver app
- Wireframes (UX) — 40–56 hours
- Mockups (UI) — 48–64 hours for iOS; 32–48 hours for Android
Admin Panel
The basic version of an app like Uber includes the following functionality for an admin panel:
- Login
- Admin profile (super admin that can add other admins)
- Driver management (booking history, payment history, and profiles)
- Passenger management (booking history, payment history, and profiles)
- Fare rates management
- Dashboard
The development of this sort of admin panel takes around 240 hours.
Thus, if you choose to develop an app like Uber in the United States, where the hourly rate often reaches about $100, the cost of an Uber-like app roughly will be as follows:
- Passenger app: $102,400 — $122,400
- Driver app: $38,800 — $53,600
- Admin panel: $24,000
- Total: ~ $170,000 — $200,000
If you decide to work with a taxi app development team from Ukraine, paying the average rate of $30/hour, you will need the following budget:
- A passenger app: $30,720 — $36,720
- A driver app: $11,040 — $16,080
- Admin panel: $7,200
- Total: ~ $50,000 — $60,000
The Uber app development cost, consisting of a passenger app, a driver app, and an admin panel for a single platform (iOS or Android), ranges from $50,000 to $60,000 at an hourly rate of $30 (average development rate in Ukraine).
Also, please note that the provided calculation is rough and cost does not include business analysis, project management, time dedicated to team communication and planning meetings, quality assurance service. Further, the final cost may differ depending on the many factors mentioned earlier, as well as the chosen Uber taxi app developer.
This is a brief summary of an article published on MLSDev blog. If you would like to learn more about building an app like Uber, read the full article.
