How To Develop A Carpooling App: Must-Have Features, Steps, and Cost

The global carpooling marketing is anticipated to grow by 2028 and reach $79.36 billion, up from $19.72 billion in 2021. The surge is noted to occur at a CAGR of 21.93% during 2022-2028. 

Do you know the reason behind this growth? 

Several pain points of commuters are addressed with a carpool app development, like increasing transportation costs, challenges in finding ride-sharing partners, safety concerns, environmental issues, traffic congestion, and more. 

The revenue forecast for the carpool market is $17.62 billion in 2033. Enthusiasts and companies looking to grow their businesses can develop carpooling apps. 

How? 

In this post, we will discuss how to build a carpooling app, features to consider, cost, tools, and technology to pick, and more relevant details you need to surface with an app that can thrive in the market. 

Let’s get the ball rolling!

What Is Carpooling App Development?

Carpooling app development includes building a digital platform that connects people with similar travel plans to share rides. Such apps help passengers find drivers with available seats heading in their preferred direction. 

Carpooling vs Taxi Booking Apps: What’s The Difference

Most people find themselves in a muddle when it comes to carpooling and Taxi booking apps. 

We are here to clear up your thoughts about both types of apps. 

Note*: Carpooling and ride-sharing are the same concept. Both involve sharing a vehicle with others to diminish traffic congestion, cost, and environmental impact. The objective is to have multiple people share a ride despite only one traveling alone in a vehicle. 

While subtle differences can be counted, whether it’s business models or implementations, the chief idea stays the same: ride-sharing.

How Does The Carpooling App Work?

You can acknowledge a carpooling app as a digital matchmaker that connects people with similar travel plans. 

Let’s check out how it works:

1. User Registration: First, after downloading the app, the user registers in the app, creates profiles, and offers details, such as name, location, contact information, preferred routes, and vehicle details (for drivers). 

2. Ride Posting: Drivers post their rides with available seats, specifying pick-up and drop-off locations, departure times, and other preferences. 

3. Ride Matching: The application’s algorithm matches passengers with drivers based on matching specifications, such as destination, routes, and other preferences. 

4. Ride Confirmation: The driver and passengers are notified once their preferences match. They can connect with each other using the details given in the notification and confirm the ride. 

5. Ride Sharing: Per the schedule, the passenger meets the driver at the provided pickup location and efficiently and conveniently shares the ride. 

6. Payment (if applicable): Some apps hold this feature where the passengers pay an amount that’s split among the passengers sharing the ride.

7. Ratings and Reviews: After the ride is completed, the passenger and even the driver are allowed to share their ride experience and rate it, validating the app’s service quality and helping potential users make the right decision. 

Why Invest In Carpooling App Development Like The BlaBlaCar App?

BlaBlaCar, a carpooling app, is gaining much traction nowadays, offering users convenient and cost-effective traveling options. Besides promoting a sustainable environment and reduced traffic congestion, this type of car-sharing travel alternative is increasing the demand for carpooling applications. 

Yes, this will attract numerous marketing opportunities that will unlock various benefits and revenue, which is a testament to the fact that investing in carpooling app development like the BlaBlaCar app can be beneficial. 

Now, let’s dig deeper to uncover some of the latest figures that may help us better decide about investing in a carpool app development project. 

• The global car-sharing market by 2024 will likely roll up and hit $13.44 billion. 
• The average revenue per user (ARPU)  is predicted to be $235.50. 
• The US is anticipated to generate the market’s maximum revenue compared globally, with a predicted revenue of about $2,986 m in 2024. 
• Also, according to Statista’s records, 95% of the total revenue in the car-sharing market will likely be generated through online sales by 2029. 

These facts and figures demonstrate that putting money into carpooling app development is beneficial.

Benefits Of Developing A Carpooling App

A carpool app development is a win-win for users and businesses. Here, we will discuss the benefits of separately building a carpooling app for users and companies. 

Benefits for Users

1. Cost-Effective: Since the ride is shared with co-passengers, the applicable trip amount is split among them, which saves you money. 

2. Environmental Impact: With the increasing carpooling services and reduced traffic congestion and carbon emissions, the adverse environmental impact will also be regulated. 

3. Safety: Some car-sharing applications allow only trusted contacts to leverage the advantages of such a service with real-time tracking features that ensure passenger protection. 

4. Convenience: Seamless ride preference matching eases the commuters’ ride booking while saving costs. 

5. Social Interaction: You can connect and build a community while riding with co-passengers. 

Benefits For Businesses

1. Numerous Revenue Streams: By developing a carpooling app, businesses achieve the potential to generate revenue through premium features, advertising, and commissions. 

2. User Data: With increasing app usage, you can accumulate valuable insights into users’ preferences and behavior. By analyzing this data, you can target your marketing campaigns and improve your services. 

3. Increased Brand Awareness: By offering ride-sharing services, you contribute to a sustainable environment, which will boost your app’s popularity and increase your brand awareness. 

4. Potential Collaborations: Partnering with other relevant businesses, such as public transportation, can attract new opportunities that can boost your revenue. 

The benefits mentioned above are enough to ensure that carpooling app development will be advantageous for both parties. 

Top 7 Successful Carpooling Apps In Current Market

Here, let’s check out the top carpooling and ride-sharing apps that are successfully running and earning notable revenue, meeting riders’ car-sharing requirements cost-effectively. 

1. BlaBlaCar – Travel by Carpool

Downloads: 50+ Million

Leading worldwide, BlaBlaCar is a community-based travel network allowing 90+ million members to book and share a ride across 22 markets easily. Leveraging the latest technologies, BlaBlaBla Car connects members looking to travel by bus or carpool and makes their rides sociable, affordable, and convenient. The human and environmental-friendly mobility network saves carbon emissions. 

2. Gett – The Taxi App

Downloads: 10+ Million

Holding fame in urban transport tech, Gett provides easy access to last-mile delivery and regulated taxi services. The business travel booking platform offers complete solutions to meet corporate travel needs. Gett integrates with host communities and cities and provides the best services per the customers’ expectations as and when needed. Commuters, drivers, riders, and business travelers rely on Gett to meet their relevant requirements with top-quality services. 

3. Ola: Book Cab, Auto, Bike Taxi

Downloads: 100+ Million

Completing around one billion rides every year in 250+ cities, Ola, a car booking app, empowers about 1.5 m driver-partners and stands out with 7k+ employees working harder to offer the best service. Compared to Uber, Ola, one of the leading ride-hailing and sharing services, grew faster than Uber. Now, it has started auto-rickshaws and bike-riding services and is operating in 110 cities across India. 

4. Cabify

Downloads: 10+ Million

Cabify connects businesses and individuals with transportation that suits their needs. Aiming to make cities better places to live, Cabify has crafted a sustainable business model and offers top-quality standards by providing trained drivers and services to send things from one place to another. Cabify charges per kilometer. The ride-sharing app saves money and time by letting users choose the shortest path to the destination. 

5. GetAround –  Car Sharing

Downloads: 1+ Million

The ridesharing app is like an Airbnb of cars that lets people rent their cars. Using this app, users can rent their cars to strangers and earn an amount. They need to pay for the platform to facilitate a stage where they can share their cars and earn. Car owners charge per hour for their car sharing. Connecting via the app, the interested riders book a ride on rent and enjoy a specified timeline. 

6. RYDE – Ride Hailing & More

Downloads: 0.5+ Million

Ryde is the first carpool service app in Singapore that has changed the way people go from one place to another. Whether it’s ride-hailing, carpooling, or delivery, this app offers a complete suite of services where people can commute sustainably and move goods safely. Users can book various services from Ryde in real-time, like RydeX, RydePET, RydeSEND, RydePOOL, etc. Even businesses can organize their trips and ease their transportation claims using business profiles. Ryde+ is a new subscription plan that offers exclusive discounts.  

7. Hitchhiker Carpooling

Downloads: 10k+

Riders can book ride-sharing services while sitting comfortably at their homes, offices, or wherever they are. They can book an instant ride or schedule a ride for later. Rides can be within, between, or between cities or countries. Drivers can post their ride offers and set up easy pickup for passengers. 

These are the names of successful carpooling and ride-sharing apps that generate considerable revenue yearly and expand their businesses with time. 

Also Read: How To Develop A Car Rental Mobile App – Cost And Features

Must-Have Features To Consider For Carpooling App Development

To make your app valuable for users, you need to incorporate useful features in your carpooling app. 

Such an app will comprise three different panels: user, driver, and admin. We will discuss features for each panel separately. 

User Panel Features

Driver Panel Features

Admin Panel Features

These are the crucial and basic features you can consider incorporating in your carpooling app to make it valuable for users, whether it’s driver, user, or admin.

Advanced Features To Include While Developing A Carpooling App

After basic features inclusion, opt for advanced features when you find your carpooling app thriving in the market. 

By adding advanced features to your carpooling app, you can ease users’ evolving needs and keep your app ahead of the curve.

How To Build A Carpooling App: A Step-by-Step Process

Following a sequence of steps, you can build a carpooling app. Here, we will discuss every step in detail:

1. Market Research and Business Planning

Start by deeply researching the market. Identify the latest trends, analyze your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, scan their business models to see what’s working and what’s not, and understand the legal standards and regulations you need to follow. 

Ahead, analyze every aspect and create a business plan meticulously, avoiding the competitors’ weaknesses, including their strengths and business model parameters that are generating revenue. 

2. App Concept and Feature Development

Define your app’s user interface and user experience design to create visually appealing designs. Also, decide what basic and advanced features you want to incorporate into your application. The basic ones will make your app useful, and the advanced ones will keep it competitive in the crowd. 

3. Technology Stack Selection

According to the features and functionalities you defined for your app, you need to choose a suitable technology stack, such as a front end, back end, database, payment gateway, mapping location services, etc. 

Note*: Hire an app development company that can assist you with everything from ideation to techstack selection, testing, and deployment. 

4. App Development

It’s time to build your carpooling app, including the decided features and functionalities that leverage the selected technologies and tools. Your team of developers will implement the essential features, integrate location and map services, and secure payment gateway for seamless payment service. 

5. Testing and Quality Assurance

Now you have a completely developed app, you need to conduct thorough testing, user testing, and performance optimization. After that, identify and fix bugs (if any), accumulate feedback, and improve your app accordingly. Lastly, ensure your app runs as expected and is compatible with varied devices.  

6. Launch and Marketing

Now, your app is set to be launched on the app store. Deploy your app first, and then, after approval, publish it on the app stores for users. Remember to build a complete marketing plan to attract new users and keep existing users engaged. Implement strategies to build and expand your user base. 

7. Post-Launch Support and Updates

Offer the best customer support to users addressing their issues. Constantly improve your app with bug fixes and appending new features; analyze user data and app performance and make decisions accordingly. 

Thus, by following the steps mentioned above, you can build a successful app that meets the needs of your target audience.

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Carpooling App Like BlaBlaCar? 

Contact a mobile app development company that fits your project needs to find out the exact development price of a carpooling app. 

On average, the cost of building a carpooling app like BlaBlaCar ranges between $20,000 and $200,000. However, the figures may fluctuate depending on the various factors affecting the price. 

Factors Affecting App Development Cost

1. Region of Development Team: When you hire developers from different areas, you will know that every region has different per-hour charges for developers. You should check this closely and then decide. 

2. Features and Functionalities to Include: The more features you incorporate in your app, the more time and cost it will take. With your app’s expansion, you can start with essential features and opt for advanced ones. It will save you from a time load of costing. 

3. Development Platform: Building a native app will cost more. However, going with cross-platform app development can be a cost-effective option, as running your app across multiple platforms can be a seamless experience. 

4. UI/UX Design: The number of screens you add to your app and the complexity of the design decide the timeframe that impacts the development cost. 

There are more parameters that impact app development costs. 

Also Read: How To Build A Taxi Booking Mobile App?

Design Tools And Tech Stack Required For Carpooling App Development

Leveraging suitable design tools and a tech stack can help you make the features and functionalities you decided on in the app development steps work. 

We have created a table that includes the tech stack you need for carpooling app development. 

Design Tools:

Considering the above design tools and technologies tables, you can build a unique carpooling app that meets the user’s dynamic needs.

Monetization Opportunities For Carpooling Mobile App Development

You can choose from varied monetization options for your ridesharing app. 

Let’s check a few:

1. Commission-based Fees

The commonly picked monetization model lets the app owners charge a percentage of the amount passengers pay to drivers. The commission may vary depending on factors like distance covered, peak hours, time, etc. 

2. Subscription Model

You can offer advanced features of your app for a subscription fee. You can also charge an annual or monthly fee for partnering with companies to offer carpooling solutions for employees. 

3. Advertising

Choose in-app advertising where you can run relevant ads or allow relevant businesses to advertise within your app as a sponsored listing promoting their services for carpool users. 

4. Data Monetization

You can sell anonymized user data and their behavior patterns to urban planners or research firms. You can attract revenue by offering real-time traffic insights to mapping or navigation services. 

Considering these monetization options meticulously, you opt solo or as a combination of these and build a profitable carpooling app. 

Challenges And Their Possible Solutions to Know While Building A Carpooling App

There’s no rose without a thorn. Similarly, nothing positive can be achieved unless you invade the negative or unfavorable aspects. 

While building a carpooling app, you may also encounter common challenges that need to be confronted. We have discussed some challenges with possible solutions that you can understand and keep on track while kickstarting your app development journey. 

Challenge #1: Trust and Safety

Obviously, anyone can find it off to share with strangers, which can impact the business. 

Solution: Complete background checks of drivers and passengers, robust verification processes, rating system, and emergency help features can be a savior here. 

Challenge #2: Matching Algorithm

It can be complicated to find optimal matches depending on time, preferences, and time. 

Solution: Build an advanced algorithm that is capable of considering varied aspects and constantly learning from user patterns and behavior. 

Challenge #3: Payment and Fraud

You can expect fraudulent activities if any passenger chooses to pay online. 

Solution: Opt to integrate trusted payment gateways, provide multiple payment options, and implement fraud detection solutions. 

Challenge #4: User Acquisition and Retention

It can take time to attract and retain users during the early phases. 

Solution: Aim to offer improved user experience, incentivize them, use social media marketing, and implement referral programs. 

Challenge #5: Surging Competition

With the expanding carpooling app development market, your app may vanish in the crowd. 

Solution: Aim at a unique value proposition, specific user segments, and innovative features that may help your company stand out in the market. 

While developing a carpooling app, keep track of these challenges. If you get a hit, choose these solutions to beat them and create a successful solution. 

Future Technology Trends For Carpooling App Development

Harnessing the power of new technologies, Carpooling apps can enhance safety, accessibility, and efficiency. 

1. AI and Machine Learning for Better Matching

These latest technologies provide predictive analytics that anticipate driver availability and rider demand, helping with better matching. Also, personalized recommendations will suggest carpool options depending on user behavior, preferences, and past data. Machine learning algorithms adjust fares based on real-time demands. 

2. Blockchain for Secure Payments and Identity Verification

It enables secure transactions, performs better identity verification, securely stores user data, and prevents identity theft. Besides, blockchain automates payment and contract terms between drivers and riders, ensuring compliance with regulations and data protection. 

3. IoT Integration for Vehicle Monitoring

The integration of IoT facilitates vehicle condition monitoring and real-time location tracking, offers insights for fuel-efficient driving, and provides safety features like detectable accidents, driver behavior, and emergencies. 

These trends will transform the carpooling industry, improving user experience, boosting efficiency, and ensuring security. 

Why Consider EmizenTech For Custom Carpooling App Development Services?

EmizenTech, a leading app development company, offers a complete suite of services customized to meet the unique requirements of carpooling app development. With a team of experts, the company delivers solutions that are successfully launched in the market. The team aims at ultimate client satisfaction and follows a client-centric approach. 

Key Highlights to Choose EmizenTech for Custom Carpooling App Development Services

• Domain expertise
• Flexible engagement models
• Technical proficiency
• Tailored approach
• End-to-end development
• Robust development process
• Competitive Pricing
• Dedicated project managers

Leveraging the proficiency of the experts at EmizenTech, you can build a successful carpooling app that fulfills specific project needs and drives business growth. 

Conclusion

The carpooling app market is anticipated to rise to around 68.19m users by 2029. Enthusiasts can try building a carpooling app and unlock varied revenue streams. 

We discussed every relevant aspect you need to ease your app development journey: steps, working, cost, features, monetization models, etc. 

Connect with a mobile app development company to get carpooling app development services and sit back and witness your app development. 

Frequently Asked Questions