How Much Does It Cost to Build an App Like Uber in 2021

Introduction

If you’re planning to start a cab booking and riding business like Uber, you need a highly efficient app. And for that, you need to incorporate several features that make a successful cab booking app like Uber. But these features have their costs. Before you move on to take any step towards establishing this business, just get an idea of how much it costs to create an app like Uber in 2021.

While there are numerous cab booking services available, Uber takes the lead. And most of us would have used it at least once in our lifetime. This is because of a seamless app-interface with easy navigation and hassle-free connection. Clearly, it’s not just an app and there is an entire team that runs the system.

The estimated cost to develop an app like Uber in 2021 lies between $55000 to $120,000 for Android or iOS platforms. Following are the most essential features you must incorporate into your cab booking app like Uber:

• Geolocation, Routing and Direction
• Estimated Fare & Secure Payment
• Registration and Profile
• App Notification
• Prior Scheduling or Ride
• UI/UX Design
• Cancellation of Ride Without Penalties

These features are extremely important and beneficial to make your cab booking app a seamless experience for the customers.

The Most Essential Features of a Cab Booking App Like Uber: App Development Cost & Time Insights

So if you want to develop an app like Uber, the app development cost would depend on the necessary features.

1. Geolocation, Routing and Direction

The success of an app like Uber depends greatly on the geolocations and routing servers. This is the primary function on which cab booking apps like Uber work.

There’s a common perception amongst the entrepreneurs dealing in this sector that it’s the GPS system that matters the most. And yes, they’re right about it! But there’s much more detail in it. It involves the intricate architecture with complex processes that identifies the exact route and distance.

Considering the GPS system, there’s a need for a routing server dealing with the ride-matching mechanisms and a seamless routing.

In such apps, technical features like direction and routes are powered by Google Maps if the app operates on Android. And if the user is using the iOS version of the app, CoreLocation framework works for it.

Here is the estimated app development cost to integrate geolocation and routing features for your cab booking app.

It’s an app cost calculator that would help you get an idea of your app development cost.

2. Estimated Fare & Secure Payment

Another important feature of a cab booking app is the estimated fare and secure payment. Riders want to get the accurate cost estimation before they want to book a ride. And for that, Uber uses a fare calculator.

A fare calculator considers several factors to estimate the travel cost such as distance, time, route, etc. Moreover, the estimated fare depends on other essential factors such as vehicle type,  base fare, cost per mile, cost per minute, safe ride fees, and centromedicorelaxesalute.it so on.

Whether you develop an app on any of the platforms, Android or iOS or may choose to develop for both, you must add multiple payment methods. These payment methods include credit card, debit card, Paypal, scan card by screen, and more.

Here is the estimated app development cost you must consider to pay for these features for your cab booking app.

It’s an app development cost calculator that would help you get an idea of app development cost with this feature.

3. Registration and Profile

To get started with the taxi app, customers are required to register their profiles. And for that, registrations and profiles are the fundamental features that need to develop.

Another feature you need to add along with this is to enable users to get registered through social media platforms. It may include registering with Facebook, Instagram accounts, etc. Such a facility helps users to easily register with the app. Moreover, users can get registered with their email accounts and contact numbers.

Similarly goes for the drivers. Drivers need to fill in their basic information such as name, car, license number, photo, etc.

Talking about user and driver profiles, a feature to rate and review is also very much in trend.  It makes your cab booking app more client-oriented.

Here is the estimated app development cost you must consider to pay for these features for your cab booking app. It’s the best app cost calculator that would help you get a realistic idea of your app development cost.

4. App Notification

To keep customers coming to your cab booking app like Uber, you need a feature of push notifications. It helps you customers stay updated and informed about the new offers. You can notify your customers with the latest packages and discounts. For this, Uber uses two tools:

For Android: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)

For iOS: Apple Push Notification Service (APN)

Here is the estimated app development cost you must consider to pay for these features for your cab booking app.

You can take this as an app development cost calculator to get an idea of app development cost.

5. Prior Scheduling or Ride

Now-a-days people prefer to book a ride beforehand to ensure they don’t face any delay when they need a ride. This goes for commuting within the city as well as for outstation travel. Commonly, people make advance booking for weekend trips or a full day tour.

Here is the estimated app development cost you must consider to pay for these features for your cab booking app. It’s an app development cost calculator that would help you get an idea of app development cost with this feature.

6. UI/UX Design

This particular segment takes up the most cost to develop an app like Uber. You can see several ride-sharing apps these days but Uber is dominating the market because of its UI/UX. Uber has the most simple, easy, and simple UI/UX that makes it easier for users to book a ride.

You must seek an app development company that keeps the interface simple and easy while adhering to the development rules. Android and iOS have different development rules and your app must abide by those rules for a better user experience.

Here is the estimated app development cost you must consider to pay for these features for your cab booking app.

7. Cancellation of Ride Without Penalties

The key to have a successful cab booking business is to facilitate your customers the most you can. One of the greatest benefits you can offer to your customers is to cancel a ride without penalties. And for that, you need to add a feature in your cab booking app.

Uber facilitates the riders to cancel the ride if they want and that too without paying any cancellation fee. But they restrict it to a condition that riders can cancel a ride within 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, they will have to pay extra charges as penalty.

Another benefit of this feature is that you can avoid the loss of time and money. Otherwise, if riders cancel the ride later then it’s a problem for drivers too.

Here is the estimated app development cost you must consider to pay for these features for your cab booking app.

Other Features You Must Consider to Build an App Like Uber

If you want to build a cab booking app like Uber, you must consider some fundamental features. So if you’re planning to start a taxi app business, consider the following features for your app.

Recommended Features for Passenger App

• Flat Rate
• Panic Button
• Pass System (weekly , monthly)
• Smart Wallets
• Voice Recognition
• Airport Queue

Recommended Feature for Taxi Driver App

• Heat Maps
• Quest earnings
• Driver Delivery Reports
• Forward Dispatch

Admin Panel

Admin panel is extremely important to monitor and operate the entire taxi business. Following are the recommended features that you should add in the admin panel of your cab booking app like Uber.

Recommended Features for Admin Panel

• Review Driver’s Orders & Payoffs
• Statistical Dashboard
• Integration with Google Analytics
• Details from All the Booking Channels
• Check Ratings & Reviews
• Assign & Manage Taxi
• Maintain CRM Activities
• Manage User Account, Contacts & Ratings
• Customized Visibility to Dispatchers
• Access to All Trip Transaction Details

Dispatcher Panel

All you do is to order an Uber cab and it comes to your provided location to pick you up. This process might seem easy to a rider, but it involves complex technical processes to complete an Uber ride.

Dispatcher panel helps to manage drivers, take ride bookings, and assign trips. Following are the recommended features that you should add in the dispatcher panel of your cab booking app like Uber.

Best Features of Dispatcher Panel

• Real-Time Dashboard Updating
• Booking Management
• Driver & User Support
• System Content Management
• Locations & Fares Management
• Accept/Reject Requests in Real Time
• Payment Management
• Manage Non-Smartphone Owning Drivers
• Driver & User Management
• Promotions & Discounts Management
• Route Optimization
• Ride Log

How Does Uber Work? 5 Steps to Ride with Uber  

You must have an idea how Uber works, as everyone commonly uses Uber for commuting. It basically functions by connecting riders to drivers.

All you do is to order an Uber cab and it comes to your provided location to pick you up. This process might seem easy to a rider, but it involves complex technical processes to complete an Uber ride.

Basically, this is a 5 step process. Let’s walk through these five steps:

Step 1: Request a Ride 

The process starts with the customer who wants to book a ride. The customer provides the pickup and drop off information using the passenger app and requests for a ride.

Step 2: Receive & Accept a Request

Once the customer has made a request for a ride, the app locates the nearby driver. Then the driver receives the ride request. It’s on the ride if he/she accepts or declines the ride depending on the availability.

Step 3: The Ride

If a driver chooses to accept the ride, he/she will reach the pickup point as provided by the rider.

Then the driver picks the passenger and takes to the provided drop-off location.

Step 4: The Payment

Once the ride is successfully completed and the rider reaches the drop off location, the rider makes a payment. And for that, Uber offers multiple payment methods such as cash, credit card, internet banking, etc.

Step 5: Rating & Reviews

Considering the experience of the riders with the driver, they leave a rating from 1 to 5 stars. For this, riders may consider different factors like the behavior of the driver and the vehicle comfort. Riders are also allowed to write down any comments if they want to, whether good or bad.

Similarly, drivers can do the same for the rider. The rating & reviews help other riders to know about the driver while booking a ride.

And the same steps go for every ride.

Wrap Up

Building an app like Uber is a hefty process that includes proper planning, hard work, and a lot of resources. Considering that, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that such an app costs a lot especially for the startups. Here, you learned what are the essential features you must include in your cab booking app like Uber. Along with this, you now have an idea of the cost to develop an app like Uber  with these features.

But the fact is that an app development never comes at a static price. This is because you are at liberty to choose the features you want to include in your desired app. And considering those features, you can determine the cost to develop an app. And not only that, you always need to upgrade different app features. And for that, you need a talented resource that can make sure your app provides a seamless user experience.