Want To Be The Next Uber: Build On Demand Taxi Booking App

Quick Summary: Do you want to be the next Uber in the online taxi booking system industry? All you need to do is follow a step-by-step process in order to lead the market. This blog will highlight how to build an app like Uber along with the necessary features and taxi app development cost.

In today’s fast-paced world, the audience always looks for convenient and effective ways to commute. It has led to the rise of on-demand taxi booking apps, with Uber being one of the most famous names in this industry.

Uber has become such a widely used and known platform that rather than using the term “book a cab,” people often say, “book an Uber.”

With the increasing demand for such services, there is a growing opportunity for entrepreneurs to enter the market by building their own on-demand taxi booking app. The taxi app’s projected value for 2026 is $150 billion, rising from $85 billion in 2022.

Are you ready to revolutionize the online taxi booking system and become the next Uber? With the rise of on-demand taxi booking apps, there hasn’t been a better time to enter the market. By building your own app, you can offer a unique value proposition and engage both passengers and drivers in the most attractive way.

This blog provides a complete overview of why to invest, steps to make an app like Uber, features, taxi app development cost, and tech stack required. So, gear up and be ready to take your taxi business to the next level.

Firstly, let’s look at some essential numbers and stats of Uber.

Uber- The Rise of its Popularity and Demand

Before you invest in an Uber-like app, you must check the success story of Uber to understand this platform better. Uber has become a famous brand in the online taxi-booking industry.

Uber has gained a major share in the on-demand taxi booking industry. The following table proves it which shows that its number of users has increased largely over the last years.

Source: BusinessOfApps

Talking about the bookings, Uber has seen a growth in these numbers as well.

Source: BusinessOfApps

Furthermore, Uber is a highly profitable company. In the first and second quarters of 2023, Uber saw an increase in its revenue compared to previous years.

Source: BusinessOfApps

The numbers above prove that creating an app like Uber is a foolproof idea for startups and small businesses to gain a name in the market and involve customers. Following this successful taxi app model will not only help entrepreneurs save time and money but also ensure that they gain a better ROI and sales.

“So, why should you consider putting your money into a taxi app that’s just like Uber?”

You must have various questions regarding taxi app development. We have a complete guide covering top taxi app development FAQs. Check it out.

Steps to Make Your Own Taxi App Like Uber

Are you confused about how to build an app like Uber? Don’t worry. We have all the answers. The development process can be divided into five phases–research, design, monetization, development, and test and launch. Let’s discuss these in detail to make the process easy and successful.

Phase 1- Research the Market, Competitors, and Uber Model

The first step towards taxi app development is thorough research. Firstly, you need to dive deep into the market of taxi apps. You need to be updated with the latest taxi app trends, revenue generated, and what the future of this industry looks like.

Secondly, discovering your competitors is also crucial. Learning about them will help you analyze the market better and learn how these apps work.

Thirdly, you need to be clear about the target audience. What people are you trying to reach, their preferences, their pain points that you would like to solve through the app, and what are they seeking through your taxi app?

Lastly, if you want to build a taxi app like Uber, you must also study their model. What has made Uber Taxi successful, and what strategies do they follow to enhance retention and attract more customers? Once you study them, discover your USPs that will separate your brand from Uber.

Phase 2- Design the App to Make it More Engaging

Once you have complete knowledge of the factors mentioned above, it is time to design your taxi app like Uber. This second phase is all about making your taxi app attractive and engaging through visuals. The design phase involves creating a blueprint for your app.

Remember that your design should not be complicated or over the top, as it will only disengage your users. Just like the Uber taxi, it should have simple and minimal colors that portray your message well. The design should be such that it makes it easy for the users to navigate.

Another factor to consider during the design process is the features you will add to the Uber cab booking app. As you will have to build the app for customers and taxi drivers, both these applications should have all the necessary features that allow them to get the best of the services.

Features like real-time booking, GPS tracking, multiple payment options, and ratings and feedback are some of the essential features that make the taxi app successful.
Some of the features that you can add to the taxi app are:

Source: WIRED

For instance, here is how Uber makes its design so attractive that it helps engage the users quickly.

Choosing the right features

During this phase, you would also need to finalize the app features. What makes Uber so famous and widely used? The app’s top-notch features ensure a safe and comfortable ride. These features further help customers and drivers to interact appropriately through the app.

So, for making an app like Uber, you need to build the app with all the necessary features. The table below shows features needed for the customer, driver, and admin app.

Feature Category	Customer	Driver	Admin
User Registration	User registration and login	Driver registration and verification	Admin dashboard with login
Profile Management	Edit profile details, including name, photo, and contact information	Driver profile management with vehicle and license details	Admin profile and permissions management
Ride Booking	Request a ride with pickup and drop-off locations	Accept or decline ride requests	Monitor and manage ride requests
Real-time Tracking	Track the approaching driver on the map	Share real-time ride status with customers	Monitor all ongoing rides
Payment Integration	Secure payment processing (credit/debit cards, digital wallets)	Driver earnings and payment processing	Transaction monitoring and dispute resolution
Pricing and Fare Estimation	View fare estimates based on route and demand	Set dynamic pricing (surge pricing)	Manage pricing strategies and incentives
Ride Reviews and Ratings	Rate and review drivers	Rate and review passengers	Monitor and moderate reviews
Notifications	Receive ride confirmation, driver arrival, and payment notifications	Receive ride requests and important updates	Send notifications to users and drivers
Booking History	Access and review past ride details and invoices	View ride history and earnings	Access transaction and user history
SOS and Safety Features	Emergency SOS button with location sharing	Emergency SOS button with location sharing	Safety management tools and support
Support and Help Center	Access to customer support and FAQs	Driver support and FAQs	Admin support and help center
Driver Navigation	In-app navigation with route guidance	Navigation tools and support	Monitor driver navigation
Document Verification	Verify user identities and payment methods	Verify driver documents (license, insurance, vehicle registration)	Document management and verification tools
Promotions and Referrals	Apply promo codes and referral rewards	Driver referral program	Manage promotional campaigns
Analytics and Reporting	Access user and ride data analytics	View driver performance metrics	Generate reports and insights
Admin Alerts and Notifications	Receive alerts for unusual activities	Admin notifications for system issues	Monitoring and alerts
System Maintenance	N/A	Ensure system uptime and maintenance	System maintenance and updates
Vehicle Management	N/A	Vehicle registration and maintenance tracking	Vehicle management and reporting

 

These features will ensure that there is always smooth communication between the user and driver, easy booking, and a safe ride.

You can consider adding the following advanced features to establish your taxi booking brand better than the competitors.

Ride Scheduling

Allow customers to schedule rides ahead of time so they can more easily plan their trips. This function can be quite helpful for early morning journeys, appointments, and airport transfers.

Multi-stop and shareable rides

To make it simpler for passengers to pick up friends or carry out tasks, allow them to add numerous stops to a single ride. Offer ride-sharing alternatives as well so that people going in the same direction can split the cost of the ride.

Enhanced security features

Implementing cutting-edge safety measures includes real-time ride monitoring, SOS warnings, and driver and passenger safety checklists. For increased security, think about using biometric or facial recognition authentication.

Predictive pricing and AI-driven recommendations

Predict ride prices using ML algorithms based on previous data, traffic conditions, and demand. Provide users with individualized recommendations based on their past preferences and travel records.

In-app chat and voice assistant

Allow drivers and passengers to speak directly within the app with an in-app chat feature. Include a voice assistant that enables users to make ride reservations, get information, or give directions using voice commands.

AR navigation and augmented reality features

Implement augmented reality (AR) navigation tools that place maps, landmarks, and other overlays over the user’s smartphone camera view. Passengers can quickly locate their pickup place and navigate to their destination with this.

There are a number of Uber alternatives you can consider for your taxi app startup and find out what works the best for your brand.

Phase 3- Choose the Revenue Model

How will you make money through the taxi booking app? Once you have designed a taxi booking app, you need to pick a revenue model that will help you generate revenue from your app.

Here are some popular monetization strategies that you can consider:

Commission-based model:

In this model, you take a commission from the drivers for every ride they complete through your app. The commission can be a fixed percentage of the fare and vary depending on the region.

Surge pricing:

The surge pricing model involves increasing the fare during peak hours or high demand to incentivize more drivers to join and increase the supply of drivers. The model can be helpful in situations where demand exceeds supply. This model is widely used by Uber taxis.

Advertising:

You can also make money by displaying ads within your app. However, this strategy requires a large user base to attract advertisers and generate significant revenue.
Subscription-based model: You can offer subscription plans to your users, which can include perks such as lower fares, priority booking, or access to exclusive features.

In-app purchases:

You can also offer additional services within the app, such as in-app purchases for priority booking or other features, such as the ability to choose your driver or the type of vehicle.

It’s essential to choose a revenue model that aligns with your business objectives and offers value to your users. Testing and evaluating different approaches is necessary to determine which works best for your app and users. Choosing the right monetization strategy can generate revenue from your taxi booking app and ensure long-term sustainability.

Phase 4- Develop Your Taxi Booking App

The fourth phase is the development phase. After you have finalized the design and features, you need to bring it to life through app development. Building an app requires the right team, skills, technology, and experience.

Choosing the right tech stack

Another factor that makes Uber a widely used on-demand taxi booking app is that it is built with the latest technology. Hence, when you develop your taxi booking app, you need to consider a good tech stack for its seamless performance. The table below shows the tech stack that can help you build a robust Uber-like taxi app.

Here is the best tech stack for making an app like Uber.

Frontend:

It is the front end of an app that your users will interact with directly. It includes layout, design, and user interface elements that enable users to engage with the Uber-like app. Hence, the front end should be designed in a way that attracts the app users quickly.

Mobile app development: When making an app like Uber for mobile platforms, Flutter is the best Frontend technology. Its single codebase for both Android and iOS enables faster app development and a consistent user experience.

Web development: Various tech stacks, such as React, Node, and Next.js, can help develop an engaging front for Uber-like apps. These technologies empower developers to build interactive user interfaces with reusable components.

Backend:

The backend of an app serves as the behind-the-scenes tech responsible for handling data storage, user authentication, and overall app functionality.

The backend is equally important to ensure that the Uber-like app works smoothly and error-free. Hence, you need the right tech, like Node.js, for the Backend development. Its event-driven, non-blocking I/O enables efficient handling of simultaneous connections and high performance.

Pre-integration:

When creating a taxi app like Uber, it is vital to consider integrations like payment gateway, in-app chat, and maps.

Phase 5- Test, Launch, and Market the App

Now that your Uber cab booking is developed and ready to be launched, the final step involves testing the app. You can test it in a small group of users to ensure it is precisely what you had planned. The testing will also help you recognize the areas requiring necessary changes or functionalities not performing. After the analysis, your development team can work on it.

Now, get your taxi booking app live on the Play Store and App Store for the users to download it quickly. Further, you must follow some great marketing strategies to announce the app launch and inform your target audience.

Cost of Building a Taxi Booking App Like Uber

Now that you know why to invest in an Uber-like taxi app and the steps to build one, you must also know its development cost. On average, the cost of developing an app like Uber can cost between $15,000 to $60,000.

The cost can further vary based on various factors like the number of features, design, app complexity, customization, and platforms. The cost is also highly affected by the team that you choose. For instance, hiring an on-demand delivery app development company from India can be less costly than hiring one in the USA.

ValueAppz-Your Top Taxi App Development Company

The growth of taxi booking apps is soaring as their demand is rising daily. To ensure business success, you must quickly build and launch your app. With ValueAppz Uber like app company, you can be assured of speed and quality. Our team works with state-of-the-art technology and has vast experience in on-demand app development.

We have helped several startups and entrepreneurs build their brands through mobile app development. So, contact our professionals now to discuss your Uber-like taxi idea, and let’s get started with your project.

Key Takeaways

• The taxi app market is set to hit $283 billion by 2028, offering significant opportunities for new entrants.
• To thrive in the taxi app market, prioritize crucial features like real-time tracking, multiple payment options, driver ratings, and safety features. These functionalities are key to attracting and retaining users effectively.
• From thorough market research and captivating design to meticulous testing and strategic launch, each step plays a pivotal role in ensuring your taxi app’s success.
• The cost for building a taxi app like Uber can range between $15,000-$60,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How to develop a taxi app like Uber?

To build an Uber-like taxi app:
Market research
Design user interface and user experience
Define key features
Choose the tech stack
Develop the app
Test and iterate
Launch and market

Q2. How much will it cost to develop an app like Uber?

On average, the cost to develop an app like Uber can vary between $15,000-$60,000. This cost can further depend on several factors like the number of features, app design, functionalities, complexity, development team’s location, skills, and technology.

Q3. How long would it take to build an app like Uber?

Building a taxi app like Uber can take between 10-12 weeks.

Q4. What features are required to build an app like Uber?

Your on-demand taxi booking app should have features such as real-time tracking of the driver and passenger, a secure payment system, user review ratings, the ability to book taxis in advance, and the option to choose between different types of vehicles.

Q5. How to save money on building your app like Uber?

Prioritizing the essential features and adding additional features in future updates can help you save money on creating an app like Uber.

Q6. How can I make my app stand out in a crowded market?

To make your app shine in a crowded market, you can offer unique features such as booking rides in advance, 24/7 customer support, choosing environmentally-friendly vehicles, and a user-friendly interface.

💡 Editor’s Note: This blog entry was originally published on Sept 29, 2023, and is updated on 29 March 20, 2024.