In the digital transformation of the taxi world, uber-like clone apps have become a trend growing among business impresarios. The market of ride-sharing applications is said to have a projected growth of 19.87% from 2018 to 2020 and it’s estimated to reach a $218.0 billion.Though some are struggling to put application to use in other industries, for the most part, this application has been a great move for transport companies having taxi apps that pertain to slight modifications to the uber business model.
Well, I suggest you keep reading to find out the cost to build an uber like app.
- → How Uber Clone Works?
- → Basic Features
- → Features of the Passenger App
- → Features of the Driver App
- → Technologies to Build Uber Like App
- → Components of Cost to Buy Uber Clone App
- What is Backend?
- What is Native iOS/Android?
- → In a Nutshell
How Uber Clone Works?
Now, let's understand how an uber clone really works! In simple words, Uber clone script connects riders to drivers. Uber script is a trouble-free and safe ride-hailing app that is used by hundreds of millions around the world and has swept the transportation industry by giving it a different business model with excellent services and thousands of job opportunities.
You can hire a private cab driver to pick up and drop to any location with one tap of a button on any smartphone. Voila! The nearest cab will arrive in a matter of minutes.
Today, Uber clone script has more than 80 million users and available in 77+ countries worldwide. The service is generally inexpensive, in fact, 35 – 50% cheaper than traditional taxi and car services not to mention its timely pickup and delivery. This is why it’s more likely called “disruptive” in the market.
This has encouraged many to build an ‘Uber-Like App’, and companies like Lyft, Gett and Hailo have already found a place in the sun; many others are struggling to achieve the status of uber. We have done in-depth research on the ride-sharing market and to unveil the app development process of the uber clone script to address the million-dollar question – What is the cost involved in developing the app? Needless to say, it depends on several things – app architecture, features, location, developer rates, and many others.
Basic Features
There are a lot of variables and parameters involved in determining the cost of developing any applications. So, when it comes to uber, we are practically developing 2 separate applications. For an uber like app to work, we need two apps namely,
- The Driver App – Used by drivers partnering with riders and transportation owners.
- The Passenger App – Used by end-users for hiring a vehicle for pickup and drop services.
Features of the Passenger App
Here are few glimpses,
User Login and Register: Users to sign up and register using email or social media logins.
Booking Interface: A window to set the location, select the type of vehicle, and enter the address of the pickup and drop location.
Tracking: To track the movement of the vehicle and location.
Price Calculator: To calculate the estimated cost of the ride from point to the destination depending on the vehicle type before hiring.
Payments: To select the type of payment like in-app, auto-pay, credit/debit card, plain cash, or users may receive an invoice to phone or email.
Push Notifications: To notify them of the estimated time of arrival, taxi number, vehicle type, name of the driver, etc.
Additional: Messaging, Driver rating, Reviews, and Transaction & Booking History.
Features of the Driver App
Here are few glimpses,
Register/Profile: Includes the driver's online schedule and status along with the approved details of the vehicle and driver by the administrator.
Booking: Allows the driver to accept/ ignore rides, See information about the customer’s pickup, drop location and booking history.
Push Notifications: For booking alerts, order data (point of pickup and drop location), and order updates on completion.
Navigation: Using google maps, google places to get the exact directions/route for the location.
Additional: Cost estimation, Reviews, and Ratings and Instant messaging service.
In addition, an ‘Admin Panel’ is required to manage the processes as well as the drivers. Being a desktop application, the uber like app facilitates all kinds of interactions.
Technologies to Build Uber Like App
Uber has already done a big favor for many by disclosing its API to the public. Additionally, it has also introduced Rider’s affiliate programs allowing many to create our own tailored and customized uber-like app.
There are some basic foundations to develop an app like uber. They are server, mapping, and payments. The app must be designed to process thousands to requests, routes/ directions, and other data.
So, use Programming Languages like Node.js, Python, Java, PHP, and Ruby on rails to cover the backend processes. The main and crucial element is the use of GPS- OpenStreetMap.
API is the most reliable for both iOS and Android. Platform-specific tools like Google Maps and Google Location can be used for Location-specific API for Android. However, iOS can make use of MapKit and CoreLocation framework.
Processing different kinds of payments is another feature than has to be concentrated on. As Uber supports in-app payments through PayPal, credit card payments, gateway adaptors like Stripe, Braintree, Paytm, PayPal mobile SDK to develop the application.
For Notifications technology stack is a straightforward option: The most reliable and recommended options are Google firebase for Android and Apple Push for iOS phones.
For Instant Messaging, one can use cloud communication platforms like Plivo, Nexmo, Tropo.
Components of Cost to Buy Uber Clone App
There are some basic and giant chunks of work to be done to develop an application like Uber. They are,
- Backend development
- Native App development (Android/iOS)
- Web development and design
What is Backend?
The backend is one of the crucial jobs in developing an application. This is the first stage in creating an uber-like application. This could be the platform and foundation for all that is mentioned above.
Developers usually use JavaScript, Python, and Java to build the app’s core and connect it to the UI of both the Passenger and Driver app. keeping scalability in mind, all the data is stored in the Single database system like PostgreSQL.
Though the app’s background on the timeframe and resources requirement can never be defined accurately, on average 100 to 200+ hours is required to develop an uber clone app. It is recommended to use two senior developers or a team as a whole based on the requirement.
What is Native iOS/Android?
The other big decision to make is to decide the platform to launch it on. To cut costs, one can choose one single platform, though covering both Android and iOS is recommended, deciding on the platform mainly depends on the target customers.
In a Nutshell
If you choose to hire freelancers on hourly rates, the price can never be predicted accurately, and it varies from place to place and depends on what country you hire them from. E.g. $30-40 Asia, $50-80 Europe, $150-250 in UK/USA.
However, it is expensive. So, on an average scale, an app like uber can cost a median of $50 for development. Though at UnicoTaxi we offer this for an affordable rate for mobile app development projects.
The general timeline for building both apps differ widely while the development of Passenger App is the most time consuming – development and quality assurance. Whereas Driver App and Admin panel would take a short span of the time.
So, in answer to the question – How much does building an Uber Clone app really cost? Here is your complete solution.
