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The taxi booking industry in the UK is booming, with more people turning to app-based services for their daily transportation needs. Statista says that the ride-hailing market in the UK will grow a lot and hit more than £10 billion by 2025.

Apps like Wheely have gained popularity by offering a premium, reliable service that caters to a more discerning customer base. With the demand for safe, convenient, and luxury travel options increasing, there’s never been a better time to develop a taxi booking app like Wheely in UK.

Whether you’re aiming to serve high-end users or tap into a broader audience, the key lies in building an intuitive platform that ensures ease of use, real-time tracking, seamless payments, and top-notch customer support.

This blog will guide you through the essential steps of creating a taxi app like Wheely, from concept to launch that can take your business to the next level.

So, let’s begin!

What is a Wheely App?

Wheely is a ride-hailing app designed for passengers who want a more premium, comfortable experience. It connects riders with professional, vetted drivers in luxury cars, offering a higher level of service compared to regular ride apps.

With taxi booking app development solutions, users can book rides in advance, choose the type of vehicle they prefer, and enjoy a smooth, pleasant journey.

It’s popular for those looking for a more upscale and reliable alternative to standard taxi services or other ride-sharing apps. It is also the responsibility of the app to guarantee that drivers continue to maintain a high level of professionalism and customer service.

Future Predictions & Projections of Taxi Booking Apps

Source: Market.us

The UK’s ride-hailing business is expected to grow a lot, with sales reaching $5.04bn by 2025.
The market is estimated to grow at a rate of 5.45% per year from 2025 to 2029, which will bring the total value of the market to $6.23bn by 2029.
It is also estimated that by 2029, there will be 22.26 million users in this market, with a user usage rate of 27.7% in 2025 and 31.4% by 2029.
Also, $261.87 is expected to be the average income per user.
It was anticipated that the number of users in the ‘Ride-hailing’ segment of the shared mobility industry in the United Kingdom will continue to expand by a total of three million customers between the years 2025 and 2029.

How Does a Wheely App Work?

The Wheely app works as a premium ride-hailing service, similar in structure to Uber or Lyft, but tailored for luxury and chauffeur-driven experiences. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

1. Download and Set Up

Start by downloading the Wheely app from your app store. Sign up with your phone number or email and add payment details.

2. Enter Your Destination

Open a taxi booking application like Indrive, enter where you want to go in the “Where to?” section.

3. Choose Your Ride

Select the type of ride you prefer, whether it’s a standard car or a premium option, depending on your needs.

4. Book the Ride

After deciding on your location and the mode of transportation, select “Book.” The application will display all of the drivers that are available in your region.

5. Enjoy Your Ride

Your driver will show up at the location you specified. Take a seat, put your feet up, and take pleasure in the calm trip to your destination. Through using the app, you will be able to monitor the ride in real time.

Steps to Develop a Taxi Booking App like Wheely

When you build a taxi booking app like Wheely in UK involves several strategic and technical steps across planning, design, development, and deployment. Here’s a step-by-step mobile app development process.

1. Research the Market

Before starting on demand app development, it’s important to understand the industry. Study how apps like Wheely, Uber, and Lyft work. Read what their users say about what they like and don’t like. Are consumers aiming for speed, safety, luxury, or cost in their transportation?

Decide which audience you want to target, high-end travelers like Wheely, everyday commuters, or business clients.

Then, clearly define your goals. Are you aiming for a local launch or a global platform? In this phase, you will guarantee that you are building something that people will genuinely want to use and that it will assist drive all future decisions.

2. Choose the Right Technology

Now that you know what you want to build, the next step is to decide how you’ll build it. You’ll need a team that includes taxi booking app development services team, designers, and project managers.

There is the option of hiring a mobile app development company in the event that you do not have an in-house team. As far as the technology is concerned, you will need to determine if your application will be developed for iOS, Android, or both.

In addition to this, you need to select a backend system that will manage user data, driver information, trip tracking, and payment processing. Choosing modern, scalable technology helps your app work smoothly even as more users join.

3. Design the User Experience

Design plays a big role in making your app successful. It’s not just about how your app looks, but also about how easy and enjoyable it is to use. Start with simple sketches or wireframes to map out the app screens. Then, move to full designs with colors, icons, and buttons.

The Android app development company should include easy sign-up and login options, clear ride booking steps, driver tracking, payment screens, and customer support. Since Wheely focuses on luxury, the design should feel clean, elegant, and premium.

4. Build and Test the App

Once the designs are ready, your developers will start building the app. They’ll create two versions: one for passengers and one for drivers. Each version will have different features tailored to the user’s needs. When you develop a taxi booking app like Wheely in UK, it’s very important to test the app frequently.

This helps catch bugs early and ensures everything works as expected. Testing should include real-world scenarios like booking a ride, using GPS, calculating fares, and making payments. A well-tested app gives users a better experience and avoids problems after launch.

5. Launch and Promote the App

When your app is ready, it’s time to launch. First, submit it to app stores like Google Play and Apple App Store. Then, start your marketing campaign. This can include online ads, social media, partnerships, and even promotions for early users.

Make sure your app has good reviews and ratings, as that will help build trust. Monitor the launch closely so you can quickly fix any issues that users report. A strong launch helps you make a good first impression.

Key Features to Develop a Taxi Booking App like Wheely

If you’re looking to develop a taxi booking app like Wheely, there are several key features you’ll want to include to make it user-friendly, efficient, and reliable. You should integrate the features in your taxi booking application.

1. User Registration

Allow users to sign up easily with an email, phone number, or social media accounts. They should also be able to update personal details, payment methods, and preferences within their profile.

2. Real-Time Ride Booking

Users should be able to book a ride instantly. The on demand taxi app development should show nearby drivers and estimated wait times, so users know when to expect their ride.

3. Ride Scheduling

Provide an option for users to schedule rides in advance. This helps in case users need a taxi at a specific time or date, adding convenience.

4. Driver Profile & Rating

Users can view the driver’s profile, including their rating, photo, and car details. This transparency increases trust and helps users feel secure.

5. GPS & Route Optimization

The car rental booking app development company should integrate GPS to show users the live location of their driver, and use route optimization to ensure the fastest and most efficient journey.

6. Ride Tracking

Users can track their ride in real-time on a map in an application like Wheely. This feature also allows them to share their ride details with friends or family for safety.

7. Payment Gateway Integration

Users should be able to pay via multiple methods, including credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and cash. Clear pricing should also be shown before booking.

8. Push Notifications

Notify users about ride status, driver arrival, payment confirmation, and any delays. These real-time updates keep users informed.

9. Ride History & Receipts

Users should have access to a history of their past rides, with detailed receipts for each trip. This is useful for expense tracking and record-keeping.

10. Ride Cancellation & Support

In case of any changes, users should be able to cancel a ride easily. A support option should also be available for resolving issues or concerns.

Top 5 Taxi Booking Apps like Wheely in UK

If you are looking for the Wheely alternatives, then you should check out the below best taxi booking apps.

Best Taxi Booking Apps like Wheely in UK	Available Platform	Download	Ratings
Gett	Android \| iOS	10M+	4.7
Bolt	Android \| iOS	100M+	4.8
Addison Lee	Android \| iOS	500K+	4.4
Cabify	Android \| iOS	10M+	3.4
Lyft	Android \| iOS	50M+	4.4

How Much Does It Cost To Build a Taxi Booking App like Wheely?

The cost to develop a taxi booking app like Wheely can range between $10,000 – $25,000. However, the Wheely app development cost varies on the basis of different factors like app size, platform choice, app design, developer’s location and so on.

So, it is vital to consult with a taxi booking app development company about the actual cost to build an app like Wheely. Let’s now look at the factors affecting the taxi booking app development cost.

1. Features and Functionality

The more advanced your app is, the more it will cost. A basic app with features like user registration, booking, GPS tracking, and payments will cost less. But if you want premium features like real-time chat, ride scheduling, driver ratings, multi-language support, or luxury service options, it will require more time and money. There is a possibility that it may cost thousands of dollars to implement custom features.

Feature/Functionality	Estimated Cost
User Registration & Login	$1,000 – $2,500
Profile Management	$750 – $1,000
Ride Booking	$2,000 – $2,500
Ride History	$1,000 – $2,500
Ratings & Reviews	$750 – $3,750
Push Notifications	$750 – $2,500
Ride Requests & Management	$1,750 – $2,750
Navigation	$500 – $1,500
Availability Status	$500 – $2,000

2. Design and User Experience

A sleek, modern, and user-friendly design like Wheely’s will need skilled designers. If you want the app to look elegant and professional, you’ll need a high-quality UI/UX design. This increases both design time and cost. Simple design might cost less to create a mobile app, but it won’t attract premium users.

Design and User Experience Element	Estimated Cost
Discovery and Research	$1,000 – $2,000
Wireframing and Prototyping (Lo-fi)	$1,500 – $2,000
UI Design (Hi-fi)	$500 – $2,000+
Prototyping (Hi-fi & Interactive)	$1,500 – $3,000
Usability Testing	$1,500 – $2,000
UI Kit and Style Guide	$1,000 – $3,000

3. Development Team & Location

Who builds your app—and where they’re based—has a big impact on cost. Prices charged by developers in Eastern Europe or Asia are significantly lower than those charged by companies in North America or Western Europe. Hiring an iPhone app development services team will usually cost more than working with freelance developers or offshore teams.

Development Team Location	Average Hourly Rate ($)
North America (USA/Canada)	80 – 150
Western Europe (UK/EU)	60 – 120
Eastern Europe	30 – 70
India	15 – 25

4. Platforms Choice

Do you want the app on iOS only? Android too? Or a web version as well? The more platforms you target, the higher the car rental app development cost. Building for both iOS and Android nearly doubles development time unless you use cross-platform tools like Flutter or React Native, which still have their own trade-offs.

Platform Choice	Estimated Development Cost
Single Platform (iOS or Android)	$30,000 – $70,000+
Both Platforms (iOS & Android)	$50,000 – $120,000+
Cross-Platform (e.g., React Native, Flutter)	$40,000 – $90,000+

5. Maintenance and Updates

Building the app is just the start. You’ll need to fix bugs, update features, support new phones and OS versions, and improve security. Ongoing maintenance usually costs around 15–20% of the original development cost per year. If your application like Wheely becomes popular, maintaining quality becomes even more important, and costly.

Category	Potential Annual Cost Range
Bug Fixing and Updates	$500 – $900
Operating System Updates	$1,400 – $2,500
Security Updates	$1,600 – $2,500
Feature Enhancements	$1,000 – $2,000+
Third-Party Service Costs	$1,600 – $2,500
Customer Support	$1,000 – $3,000

How To Monetize Your Taxi Booking Application?

Monetizing your taxi booking app can be a smart way to generate revenue while offering a convenient service to your users. Here are the ways to earn money from the Wheely clone app.

1. Commission-Based Model

In this model, your wheely app development solutions earns money by taking a commission from every ride booked through it. Typically, this is a percentage of the fare charged by the driver. You should hire mobile app developers who can implement commission based model in your app.

For example, if a user books a $20 ride, you might take 10-20% as a commission, meaning you earn $2-$4. This is the most common and straightforward way to make money from a taxi booking app.

2. Surge Pricing

Surge pricing is a strategy where the app increases fares during peak demand times, such as rush hour or during bad weather. The idea is that when demand is higher, passengers are willing to pay more.

The additional revenue generated from surge pricing can be shared between the app and drivers. This model benefits both the application like Wheely and the drivers while maintaining high service levels for passengers during busy times.

3. Subscription Model

With a subscription model, you can offer users the option to pay a regular fee (monthly or annually) for perks like discounted rides, priority booking, or free upgrades to premium vehicles.

This creates a steady stream of income, and loyal customers are likely to prefer it if it adds value to their regular commute. Drivers could also be offered subscription options for additional features, like more ride visibility.

4. Advertising and Partnerships

If your wheely mobile app development has a good user base, you can sell advertising space within the app. Local businesses, restaurants, or even other transportation services could pay to advertise on your platform.

Additionally, you could partner with hotels, travel agencies, or event organizers who want to offer transportation options to their customers, earning you a commission for each referral.

5. In-App Purchases

Offer additional features through in-app purchases. For example, users could pay for features like premium ride options, luxury cars, larger vehicles for groups, or even in-app tipping for drivers.

You could also sell other services like priority booking or ride tracking. This allows users to choose what they’re willing to pay for, giving them more control over their experience.

Final Thoughts

Taxi booking app development like Wheely in the UK takes the right mix of smart features, sleek design, and strong technology. Success lies in understanding user needs and delivering a smooth, luxury experience from booking to drop-off.

To turn your vision into reality, hire a mobile app development company with proven expertise in on-demand apps. With the right partner, your idea can hit the road quickly and efficiently, driving real value for your business and making everyday travel more comfortable for your customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Are the Key Features of a Premium Taxi Booking App like Wheely?

Real-time GPS tracking
Multiple ride options
Chauffeur profiles and ratings
Scheduled bookings and route preferences
In-app payments and billing history
Advanced security and privacy settings
Corporate account management tools

2. How Much Does it Cost to Create a Taxi App like Wheely in UK?

The cost to make an app like Wheely can be between $10,000 – $25,000. It fluctuates with factors and the customization level of your project.

3. How Long Does it Take to Build a Wheely Clone App?

The development timeline for a premium taxi booking app can range from 2 to 6 months, depending on the complexity of features, the tech stack, and the wheely app development company’s expertise.