18 Taxi App Features You Can’t Overlook While Building Uber Clone

• Ashka Panchal
• March 27, 2024
• 6 min read

Remember the days of flagging down cabs or waiting on hold for travel? Uber revolutionized the taxi business with its seamless app-based ride-hailing service. Launched in 2009, Uber’s user-friendly platform and focus on convenience quickly propelled it to global dominance. Today, it boasts millions of users and drivers worldwide, forever altering how we navigate our cities.

But the ride-sharing landscape is far from static. With competition on the rise, new players are emerging, each vying for a piece of the on-demand transportation pie. So, if you are considering developing your own Uber clone app, understanding the right features and Uber app development cost is crucial for success. And, in this blog, we will understand them in detail.

What is Uber Clone?

An Uber Clone is a pre-built mobile app solution that allows startups and entrepreneurs to launch their own ride-hailing service, similar to Uber. This eliminates the need to develop an app from scratch, saving time and resources.

It offers a cost-effective and faster way for businesses to launch their own on-demand taxi booking application.

Image source: Dribbble

Why Building an App Like Uber is Trending in 2024 and Beyond?

As of March 2024, Uber has a market cap of $164.89 billion, making it a leading player in the transportation industry.

The on-demand ride-hailing industry, pioneered by Uber, continues to be a major player in the transportation sector. Even in 2024, there are strong reasons why building an app with a similar model is a promising venture:

• Continued Demand for Convenience: Busy lifestyles and urban environments fuel the need for convenient transportation. On-demand apps offer a faster, more accessible alternative to traditional taxis or public transport.
• Expanding Market Reach: The ride-hailing market is still growing in many parts of the world. By building a local app, you can cater to areas underserved by existing giants like Uber.
• Technological Advancements: Advancements in GPS, location tracking, and mobile payments make building and running such apps more efficient and user-friendly than ever before.

Taxi Booking App Market Statistics

• The global taxi app market is estimated to be worth around $275.94 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $423.59 billion by 2029.
• There are over 300 million people worldwide who use taxi booking applications, with Uber and DiDi having 150 million of those users.
• The ride-hailing market is expected to reach $215.70 billion by 2028.
• Asia Pacific is currently the leading market for taxis, followed by North America and Europe.

18 Essential Features to Consider Before Developing an Uber Clone

If you’re thinking of building an Uber clone app, incorporating the right features is crucial for success. Here are 18 essential features to consider:

1. Multiple Vehicle Options

When developing an Uber clone app, it’s essential to offer users a variety of vehicle options to suit their needs. This could include cars, SUVs, vans, or even specialized options like luxury vehicles or bikes. By providing diverse vehicle choices, you cater to a wider range of passengers with varying preferences and requirements.

2. Book a Ride for Now or Later

Flexibility in scheduling is a significant draw for users. One crucial feature to include in your Uber clone is the ability for users to schedule rides for immediate pickup or later. This feature enhances user convenience by allowing them to plan their journeys ahead of time, ensuring they have transportation exactly when they need it.

3. Preferred Driver

Over time, users often develop preferences for specific drivers after several rides. Incorporating this feature into your ridesharing app development fosters a sense of familiarity and trust. Passengers can indicate their driver preferences within the app during the ride-booking process. If the preferred driver is available, the app will seamlessly assign the ride to them, enhancing the overall user experience.

4. Cancel Booking

Life is unpredictable, and plans change. Providing a hassle-free cancellation option is essential. Integrating a straightforward cancellation feature in your Uber clone app is crucial for user flexibility and convenience. Ensure the cancellation process is hassle-free and clearly communicated to users to maintain a positive user experience.

5. Split the Fare

Group outings are common, and users often need to split the fare with friends or fellow passengers. Including a feature that enables fare splitting simplifies the payment process and encourages social sharing of rides. This feature adds value to your cab booking app by promoting cost-sharing and making rides more affordable for users.

6. Trip Planning

A trip planning feature is a boon for users looking to organize multiple rides in advance. This feature allows passengers to map out their journey routes, view estimated trip durations, and explore alternative routes if needed. Incorporating trip planning capabilities helps users make informed decisions and ensures smoother rides.

7. Share Your Trip Details

Safety is paramount in ride-hailing services. Enabling users to share their trip details, including driver information and real-time location, with trusted contacts ensures peace of mind for both the riders and their loved ones.

8. Reserve a Trip for up to 3 Months in Advance

For those who like to plan ahead, being able to book a ride well in advance is invaluable. This feature is especially appealing for events like weddings, conferences, or vacations, ensuring users will have transportation exactly when they need it.

9. On-demand Delivery

Beyond passenger transportation, integrating on-demand delivery services expands the functionality of your Uber-like app development. This feature allows users to request delivery of goods or services to their desired location, whether it’s food delivery, package delivery, or other on-demand services.

10. Uber Rentals

Another feature to consider when building a taxi booking app is the option for users to rent vehicles for extended periods. Whether users need a car for a few hours or a full day, offering rental services within your app provides additional flexibility and convenience. This feature caters to users’ diverse transportation needs, making your app a one-stop solution for various travel requirements.

11. Real-Time Tracking

It works by using GPS, which is like a digital map, so a user can see exactly where their driver is on the map and how far away they are. This helps to know the riders when their driver will arrive. It’s like having a window into the driver’s journey. This feature also helps drivers get to passengers faster because it gives them the best directions and helps them avoid traffic problems.

12. Multiple Payment Options

Similar to Uber, your app should provide various payment methods including cash, credit card, cash, and mobile wallet. This flexibility ensures a seamless experience for users, making it a vital feature to include in your Uber clone app.

13. Multiple Drop-off Locations

When traveling with friends or multiple stops, it’s handy to have the option to choose multiple drop-off locations. Users can easily add various destinations when booking a ride, and the driver will make stops along the route accordingly. Plus, users can modify the route in real time, adding or changing drop-off locations as needed. As drop-off locations are adjusted, the fare for the trip is automatically updated to reflect these changes, ensuring transparency in pricing.

14. Driver Review and Rating

You must offer features like reviewing and rating drivers like Uber offers. After a ride, users can share their experience and rate the driver. These ratings and reviews are valuable for other users, helping them decide whether to book a ride with that driver or opt for another. For app administrators, these reviews provide insights into which drivers offer exceptional service and which may need improvement, ensuring a high-quality experience for all users.

15. Trip History

An Uber-like taxi app must offer a trip history feature, allowing riders to access important information about their past rides. Users can review details such as ride charges, the number of rides taken within a specific timeframe, overall experience feedback, and the destinations they have traveled to.

16. Saved Destinations

Humans tend to frequent familiar places, such as home, work, or the gym. With the saved destinations feature in the Uber clone app, users can store commonly visited locations for quick and easy ride booking in the future. Additionally, users have the option to customize destination names for added convenience and organization.

17. In-app chat or Call Option

Communication tools like in-app messaging and calling are essential Uber app features. These functions facilitate communication between riders and drivers, allowing users to clarify pick-up locations, inquire about the driver’s whereabouts, or provide additional instructions. Moreover, incorporating options for contacting customer support and integrating a chatbot for addressing common queries can further enhance the user experience.

18. SOS Panic Button

The SOS panic button is a crucial safety feature in the Uber app, designed to help riders feel secure. If an emergency arises during a ride, users can utilize this function to alert friends and family, or contact customer support for assistance in dangerous situations.

You May Also Like: AI-Powered Taxi App Development: A Complete Guide

Cost of Building a Taxi App like Uber Clone

The cost of developing an app like Uber can vary significantly depending on the level of complexity you envision. A basic app with just the essential features can start around $10,000, while feature-rich options that rival Uber’s functionality can reach well over $100,000.

It’s important to remember that this is simply an estimated budget. To get an accurate cost, connect with an experienced taxi app development company.

Here’s a breakdown of cost:

Several factors will ultimately determine the final cost. These include the development approach (building from scratch versus using pre-built solutions), the specific features you choose to integrate, the complexity of the app, and the developer’s hourly rate. Therefore, carefully planning the functionalities of your app with a reputed taxi booking app development company is crucial to ensure your ride-sharing venture stays within your budget.

Wrapping up

Building a successful ridesharing app goes beyond just replicating Uber’s core features. By carefully considering the needs of both passengers and drivers, and including innovative features that enhance safety, convenience, and affordability, you can create a compelling app that stands out in the competitive market. Remember, prioritize a user-friendly interface, robust security measures, and a reliable backend infrastructure to ensure a seamless user experience. With the right feature set and a strategic approach, your Uber clone app can become a major player in the on-demand taxi market.

If you have a unique taxi app idea and decide to make an app like Uber, connect with us. As a leading taxi booking app development company we provide readymade Uber clone script with advanced features that can launch in 10 days.

About: Ashka Panchal

Ashka Panchal is a Business Development Executive as well as Business Analyst at XongoLab Technologies LLP & PeppyOcean and is qualified as a technical mediator between the company and the client. She adopts an analytical approach to different business domains in her content to help clients; mostly entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses to flourish and grow. Some of the topics that she highlights are business, technology, and on-demand mobile applications.

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