Do you want to revolutionize the cab industry? You can do this by investing in the taxi booking app development industry. Developing an online taxi app is a gateway to success. With the increased demand for convenient and efficient taxi services, entrepreneurs can capitalize on this trend by developing a user-friendly and robust application, simplifying cab bookings, and driving revenue growth. 

In a study, I found that by 2024, the US taxi industry is projected to generate US$23.14 billion in income. It is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -4.20% from 2024 to 2029, with a predicted market volume of US$18.67 billion. This data demonstrates how businesses can tap into a growing market by investing in a taxi booking app development and staying ahead of the competition.

If you also want to develop an app like Free Now, and want to gain more knowledge, this blog is for you.

 

Quick summary: Learn how to develop an app like Free Now, as well as its development cost, key features, and business benefits. Furthermore, this blog will explore strategies to promote the online taxi business and future growth in the industry.

 

Introduction of the Taxi Booking App

Online taxi booking apps allow users to conveniently book a ride. The apps are designed to connect riders with drivers via a digital platform that enables fare estimation, real-time tracking, and seamless payment options. Moreover, cab booking apps enhance the user experience by offering features like driver ratings, ride scheduling, and different vehicle options that make transportation more efficient and accessible.

 

Market Analysis of Taxi Booking Apps

Ride-hailing – Worldwide

 

• By 2024, this market is predicted to generate US$167.60 billion in sales.
• Furthermore, a projected global market volume of US$212.80 billion is anticipated by 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.89%.
• The ride-hailing market is anticipated to experience substantial growth in terms of user numbers; by 2029, it is predicted that there will be 2.31 billion customers worldwide.
• By 2029, it is anticipated that the user penetration rate will have increased to 28.6% from its forecast 23.1% in 2024.

Number of users of ride-hailing & taxi worldwide from 2021 to 2030(in millions)

 

 

• It was predicted that between 2024 and 2030, the number of users in the “Ride-hailing” segment of the shared mobility market will rise steadily to 620.6 million worldwide (+34.67 percent). 
• The indicator is projected to reach 2.4 billion users and a new peak in 2030, following the ninth year of rising data. Notably, the number of users in the shared mobility market’s “Ride-hailing” segment has consistently increased over the past few years.

 

Top 5 Taxi Booking Apps

Before developing a taxi booking app, you must examine the existing competitors to identify their working strategies, understand market trends, differentiate your offering, and implement the best practices, ensuring a competitive edge and meeting user needs. Here is a list of top Taxi booking apps you must study:

 

 

1. Gett

People looking for professional and reliable taxi services with competitive pricing, Gett is the best option. This taxi booking app operates in different cities across the world, providing users with a seamless user experience. To develop a taxi booking app like Gett, ensure excellent customer support and on-time guarantee.

 

2. Lyft

It’s a major player in the US market that offers features like scheduled and ridesharing rides. Lyft is known for its customer-centric approach, friendly drivers, and commitment to reducing carbon emissions through its green initiatives.  

 

3. Uber 

It’s one of the most popular taxi booking mobile apps that offers a range of different options from budget-friendly to premium.  The app like Uber’s effective interface, transparent fare estimation, and real-time tracking have made it the first choice for users. 

 

4. Careem

It’s a leading online tax app in North Africa and the Middle East, providing a range of services, including basic rides and luxury cars. The app stands out in the market for its regional expertise and tailored services. 

 

5. Bolt

The app is well known because of its efficient services and affordable rates. With a strong presence in Africa and Europe, taxi booking apps like Bolt focus on providing reliable and fast rides while maintaining high safety standards.

 

 

How Do Taxi Booking Apps Work?

If you are creating an online taxi app, you must understand how a taxi booking app like Free Now Mobility Super app works and leads to an enhanced customer experience. Here is a step-by-step process to help you know how exactly the free now taxi app Barcelona works:

 

 

1. User Request 

Users open the taxi booking app and enter their pickup location and drop-off destination. Online tax applications use GPS to determine the user’s location.

 

2. Driver Matching 

After the user requests a ride, the mobile app searches for available drivers nearby and sends the request to the nearest one. 

 

3. Ride Acceptance 

At this phase, drivers accept the ride request, and the app provides both the driver and passenger with each other’s details. 

 

4. Real-time Tracking 

The taxi booking app uses GPS to track the driver’s location and provide real-time updates to the rider about the driver’s arrival time. 

 

 

5. Payment and Rating 

After completing the trip, the rider pays via the mobile app using a pre-linked payment method. Both drivers and passengers can rate each other to maintain service quality. 

 

5 Benefits of Developing Taxi Booking Apps

The cab industry is witnessing growth in the market, all thanks to the increased number of smartphones. Can you also benefit from an on demand app development solutions? Well, if you also want the same, consider the following key benefits:

 

 

1. Increase Market Reach 

With an online taxi booking app, you can extend your reach beyond traditional taxi stands and phone booking. If you provide an easily accessible platform, you can attract a range of customers, including tech-savvy users who prefer the app’s convenience. Hence, it will increase your market reach, ensuring more profit and success.  

 

2. Developing a Brand

A taxi booking app allows businesses to increase their brand value and recognition. Apps like Free Now grew as brands owing to their trustworthiness and reliability in this segment. Whether a business has a mobile or web app, having a strong online presence can help improve recognition. 

 

3. Higher Return on Investment 

If you invest in business app development, this can help you get better ROI (return on investment. With a successful taxi booking app development, you can remove the need for middlemen, avoid commissions, and increase the profit margin. Additionally, you can get better conversion rates with your mobile applications.

 

4. Operational Efficiency

The online taco application streamlines operations by automating different processes such as fare calculations, dispatching, and payment processing. Hence, with Free Now mobile app development. Reduces the workload on administrative staff and drivers, enabling the businesses to operating more efficiently in cost-effective. 

 

5. Competitive Advantage 

In today’s competitive transportation industry, having a taco booking application can stand out for businesses that rely solely on old methods. Online taxi apps provide unique selling points, grab the attention of more users, and increase brand visibility in a crowded market, which provides entrepreneurs with a competitive advantage. 

 

 

7 Key Steps to Develop An App Like Free Now

You might be dreaming of developing your taxi booking app. However,  have you ever thought about how you will develop an app like Free Now? Well, it requires careful planning, deep market research, and appropriate implementation of the strategies for which you might need helps for a taxi booking app development company. But, if you can do it on your own, consider the following critical steps:

 

 

1. Conduct Market Research 

Let’s begin with market research to understand the taxi booking app market landscape. You need to conduct market research, helping you understand who you must target, what the target audience expects with your taxi booking app, and what the growth in the market for your app is.

Also, deeply study your competitors, how they work, and where they fall short so that you can fill the identified market gaps within your unique selling propositions in your taxi app for free now. 

 

2. Choose the Best Tech Stack 

Remember that your app’s performance and scalability depend on your chosen technology. Hence, choose the tech stack that can match your app’s requirements. Common choices include, Kotlin for Android, Swift for iOS, and frameworks like React Native for cross-platform development.

If you are not familiar with all these technologies, there is no need to worry; you can get assistance from a taxi app development company as they have expertise in choosing the most suited tech stack.

 

3. Craft an Intuitive UI/UX 

Now, focus on user interface and experience, which are critical for developing a successful taxi booking app. To develop an app like Free Now, ensure your app’s interface is intuitive, allowing users to navigate and book the taxi with a seamless process easily.

Furthermore, make sure your free now driver app’s UI/UX includes a simple booking and cancellation process, a user-friendly map interface, transparent fare estimate, and different payment options for a seamless user experience. 

 

4. Develop the App

You are advised to start with a minimal viable product (MVP), including significant features like user registration, ride booking, driver tracking,  push notification, and payment gateways.

Also, collaborate with a hybrid mobile app development company that can work with the agile development methodologies, as this development approach allows for iterative improvements based on user feedback. You must also ensure that your free now taxi app Italy, is compatible with Android and iOS platforms. 

 

5. Testing and Quality Assurance 

Now, it’s time to test the Free Now taxi app Rome to ensure that it functions well and is free of glitches. Conduct different testing stages for effective travel app development, including unit teasing, integration, and user testing.

Moreover, with automated testing tools, you can streamline this process. You must pay special attention to security testing and protecting user data and payment information so that users feel safe and have a seamless experience. 

 

6. Launching and Marketing

Finally, the time has come to launch an app like Free Now. To gain traction, you can develop a well-planned launch strategy. This strategy can use digital marketing techniques, influencer partnerships, social media campaigns, and search engine optimization. You can also offer promotional discounts or referral bonuses to attract initial users. 

 

7. Provide Continuous Support and Upgrades 

After deploying your free now mobility app, continuous support, maintenance, and regular updates are critical to keeping your taxi booking app user-friendly and relevant. Monitor user feedback, introduce new features, and fix busing promptly to enhance user experience.

If required, you can ask the taxi booking app maintenance services provider to keep your Rome taxi app Free Now updated as per the latest market trends, helping you stay ahead of the competition. 

 

 

10 Must-have Features of a Taxi Booking App

Do you want to make your taxi booking app stand out in the market? If yes, then for a successful taxi app development, consider the following unique features:

 

1. For User Panel

 

Features	Description
Easy Booking	It allows users to book a cab with a few clicks, including immediate, scheduling, and later booking options.
Real-time Tracking	Develop an app like Free Now that provides transparency and peace of mind. Its live map shows the driver’s location.
Ride-sharing Options	Ensure your taxi booking app enables riders to view past ride rate diversions and provide feedback based on their experience.
Fare Estimates	This feature of the online taxi app displays estimated fares upfront to help riders budget their trips.
Multiple Payment Options	Create a mobile app that enhances user convenience by providing multiple payment options, such as digital wallets, credit cards, cash, and UPI.

 

2. For Driver Panel

 

Features	Description
Incoming Requests	Develop an app like Free Now that allows drivers to receive requests in real-time with passengers’ details
Navigation	Your taxi booking app must integrate GPS navigation. With a GPS tracking app development assist users in reaching the pickup location on time.
Ride Acceptance or Rejection.	It allows drivers to accept or reject ride requests based on factors like traffic and distances, providing a seamless user experience.
Rider Information	Enable drivers to access rider details, including name and contact information.
Payment Status	Develop an app like Free Now that ensures real-time updates on payment status, facilitating transparency.

 

Cost Analysis to Develop An App Like Free Now

When it comes to launch a taxi app, a major question that makes entrepreneurs rethink is the cost. If you are also one of them, don’t worry. You can estimate $8000 to $27000 as the overall app cost to develop a taxi app.

Remember that this cost can varies based on your app’s unique features and special requirements. Moreover, your taxi app Italy’s complexity can also impact the Free Now taxi app development cost, as mentioned in the table below:

 

Cost to Develop An App Like Free Now

 

Taxi Booking App  Development	Estimated Cost	Time Frame
Simple Taxi Booking App  Development	$8000 – $13000	3 to 6 Months
Medium-Complex Taxi Booking App  Development	$13000 – $21000	6 to 9 Months
High-Complex Taxi Booking App  Development	$27000+	10+ Months

 

 

Tech Stack for Taxi Booking App Development

For a successful taxi booking or driver on demand app development, you must choose the best tech stack. Here is a table to help you to understand different technologies used in Free Now clone app development.

 

Component	Technologies
Frontend	React Native, Flutter, Swift, Kotlin
Backend	Node.js,  Java (Spring Boot)  Python (Django/Flask),
API Integration	GraphQL, RESTful APIs, SOAP
Database	SQLite, PostgreSQL,MySQL, MongoDB, Firebase
Analytics	Google Analytics, Firebase Analytics
Authentication	OAuth, JWT
Push Notifications	Apple Push Notification Service, Firebase Cloud Messaging
Version Control	Git, GitHub, Bitbucket
Deployment	Apple App Store, Google Play Store, TestFlight, Firebase App Distribution

 

Market Your New Online Taxi Business

If you are considering car rental app development, a strategic marketing approach that can capture the targeted customers is required. Hence, here is a breakdown of the most effective techniques to market your online taxi business. Have a look at them:

 

 

1. Paid Advertising

You can invest in targeted online advertising platforms like social media and Google ads to reach potential users directly. Moreover, create compelling ad copy highlighting your unique selling points, such as competitive pricing, faster booking, etc. Target users based on location, demographics, and interest to maximize ad efficiency.

 

2. Customer Loyalty

Developing a loyal customer base is crucial for long-term success. To encourage repeat business, implement reward programs that offer free rides, discounts, and exclusive perks. With excellent customer service and personalized offers, you can promote loyalty and positive word-of-mouth referrals.

 

3. SEO Optimization

Develop an app like Free Now that is easily available to potential users through search engines. Also, optimize your website content, including keywords relevant to your target audience and location. You are advised to keep your taxi booking app regularly updated with fresh content and build quality backlinks to improve your search engine ranking.

 

4. Spread The Word

You can leverage old marketing methods to complement your digital efforts. If you make a taxi booking app, strategically distribute brochures and flyers, offer referral bonuses to existing customers, and collaborate with local businesses for cross-promotions. 

 

5. Social Media Presence

With a strong online presence and the most popular social media platforms, you can engage with your potential users. Run contests, share informative content, and respond promptly to customers’ inquiries. You are advised to reach a wider audience and track campaign performance. 

 

Future of Online Taxi Booking App

If you want to know what will be the future of online taxi booking apps, here are three examples that will help you understand:

 

 

1. Hyper-personalization 

In the future, taxi booking apps will leverage data to offer tailored experiences. This might include customized ride suggestions based on user preferences, history, and real-time factors. Expect features like preferred drivers, personalized pricing, and curated routes. 

 

2. Multimodal Transportation 

Nowadays, cab booking services go beyond taxis. Develop a location-based app through which users can book different transportation options, such as trains, buses, and bike-sharing services, on the same platform, creating a seamless travel experience. 

 

3. Electric and Autonomous Vehicles

In the future, integrating electric and autonomous vehicles will be a game changer. Users will expect greener options, enhanced safety, and reduced costs at that time. The free now taxi app London will need to adapt to accommodate the new vehicle types along with their specific requirements. 

 

Wrapping Up!

The blog has figured out that investment in online taxi applications can help your business to grow and lead the market. You are advised to offer an efficient and easy taxi booking service, enabling your to attract more customers and build a strong online brand. By tapping into this growing market, you can gain the opportunity to innovate and succeed in the cab booking industry. 

So, if you have decided to develop an app like Free Now, what are you waiting for? Consult a mobile app development company like Dev Technosys, ensuring meeting all your business goals with the app while providing a seamless user experience. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q1. How Much Does It Cost to Develop An App Like Free Now?

The cost to build an app like Free Now depends on the app development platform, features, designs, and development team. On average, the cost could range from $8000 to $27000. 

 

Q2. How Long Does It Take to Develop An App Like Free Now?

The time to create an app like Free Now could take 3 to 7 months. This includes deplaning, designing, development, testing, and launch. If the app is highly complex, it will take around 10 months. 

 

Q3. What Makes FreeNow One of the Best Online Taxi Booking Apps?

If you develop an app like Free Now, make it one of the best with the following strategies

• User-friendly interface 
• Multiple ride options 
• Wide availability 
• Flexible payment methods
• Strong customer support 

 

Q4. How Can Businesses Earn Money With Online Taxi App Development?

If you make an app like Free Now, make money with the following techniques:

• Ride commission 
• Advertising
• Dynamic pricing 
• Subscription fees
•  Partnership with local businesses. 

 

Q5. How to Reduce Taxi App Development Cost?

Reduce taxi app development cost with the following technique:

• Prioritize key features
• Build MVP
• Use existing platforms
• Adopt agile methodologies
• Hire an experienced Free Now taxi app development company