If you’re thinking about creating a ride-sharing app, BlaBlaCar is an excellent example of how to make it work. The business, which was founded in 2006, changed the way that people believe in long-distance travel. A carpooling website called BlaBlaCar connects up drivers with extra seats in their vehicles with people in need of a lift.
With over 100 million users globally, BlaBlaCar has become known as the premier resource for travelers looking for eco-friendly and affordable travel to nations like Europe and India, with others. Its ability to connect drivers with passengers who are taking similar routes is what makes it separate. BlaBlaCar’s success can be related to this creative concept, which further raised the standard for other ride-sharing services.
So, why should you consider building an app like BlaBlaCar in 2025? Let’s break it down:
The Growing Demand for Ride-Sharing Apps
Ride-sharing apps are becoming more and more popular, particularly as more people search for flexible, affordable, and sustainable ways to get transportation. Vehicle ownership options are growing in popularity as cities get busier and people’s concern for the environment increases. A recent report from Statista says that the global ride-sharing market will reach $185 billion by 2026, growing at an annual rate of 15.4%. There’s a clear trend here: instead of owning their own cars, more people are opting to use shared transportation.
An increasing number of people are using long-distance carpooling services, such as BlaBlaCar. More and more people, including students, business travelers, vacationers, and daily travelers, are using apps to find rides they can share with others. BlaBlaCar’s success shows how a skilled platform can profit on this growing trend, so now is a great time for new businesses to begin providing similar offerings.
The Market Potential of Carpooling Apps
The potential for developing an app like BlaBlaCar is huge, particularly as more people adopt sustainable lifestyles globally. In many places, carpooling is becoming a major focus because of the global warming crisis because it helps reduce carbon emissions and the number of cars on the road. Carpooling could reduce global carbon emissions by 2.5 percent, according to a report by the International Transport Forum, which would have important positive environmental effects. This shows the major effect that carpooling can have in fighting climate change.
With policies like traffic pricing and new environmental rules, cities all over the world have banned the use of cars. As a result, there is a growing demand for modes of transportation, such as carpooling, in which people share a ride rather than driving alone. An app like BlaBlaCar may be an excellent option in this case for both drivers and passengers. Along with making travel more affordable, it also helps reduce traffic in crowded cities.
Another important factor operating this trend is the rise of shared economy platforms. More people are now ready to share what they have, such as a room on Airbnb or a ride on BlaBlaCar. The global shared economy is predicted to grow to $335 billion by 2025, according to McKinsey. This is perfect for the increasing demand for carpooling applications which encourage sustainability and sharing.
The Social Impact of Carpooling Apps
Making an app like BlaBlaCar is about more than just making money; it’s also about improving society. Apps for carpooling are important because they encourage human connection, reduce traffic, and improve air quality. These platforms improve communication between drivers and passengers, which helps people create friendships and trust while sharing a ride.
Ride-sharing can be a social and cost-effective activity, as showed by BlaBlaCar. A lot of users enjoy the opportunity to travel with people who share their interests or meet new people, which improves the ride. In fact, according to a 2023 BlaBlaCar survey, 70% of users said they like the social benefits of carpooling. This shows that one of the primary reasons users enjoy the service is the opportunity to connect with other travelers.
Long-distance travel can be less expensive with apps like BlaBlaCar than with more costly modes like buses or trains, particularly in some places. These platforms make it easier for people to travel budget-friendly by offering a ride-sharing service. This improves transportation for everyone by allowing travel for everyone, no matter their financial situation.
It’s an excellent choice to develop an app like BlaBlaCar now in order to benefit society and make money. With more and more people searching for economical and environmentally friendly travel options, the ride-sharing industry is growing quickly. Carpooling services have a great chance to grow, particularly as cities work to be more sustainable and motivate less private vehicles. Additionally, carpooling has major beneficial impacts on communities and the environment, which makes this effort not only timely and important but also profitable.
Entering this growing market and providing a service that people truly need is possible with the correct strategy and careful planning. This service can reduce the impact on the environment, help people save money, and increase social bonding.
Key Features of an App Like BlaBlaCar
When developing an app like BlaBlaCar, it’s important to include features that benefit users and improve their experience. Every feature is important to the app’s functionality and retention of users, whether it’s developing specific profiles, allowing easy payments, or helping real-time communication. While creating your app, you need to focus on the following important features to be integrated in car pooling app.
1. User Registration & Profiles
Making a profile is the first step for all users, whether they are drivers or passengers. Having a simple and quick registration process is important. It keeps users engaged and makes sure that they can start using the platform without any problems. Here’s how you can design it:
- Simple Sign-Up Process: People should be able to sign up using their email address, phone number, or accounts from social media platforms like Google or Facebook. This helps make the sign-up process quicker and easier, so it's not hard for anyone to get started.
- Profile Customization: Users have the ability to customize their profiles after registering. Vehicle information can be added by drivers, including the model, number of seats, and whether or not they allow smoking or pets in the car. Additionally, passengers can choose their preferences, such as whether they want a quiet ride or want to talk to other passengers while traveling.
- Verification: A procedure to verify people's information can be introduced to make sure everything is safe and trustworthy. Asking them to scan their ID or verifying their phone number are two examples of this. This helps build trust and confidence for both drivers and passengers. When users have complete and detailed profiles, they can trust each other more easily. This helps them decide if they want to book a ride or accept one, knowing they have enough information to make a safe choice.
2. Ride Listings & Search Filters
Your app’s main goal is to help users with listing and finding rides. It should be simple for drivers and passengers to post rides and look for rides they want. Anyone should be able to easily and quickly offer or want a ride using the app.
- Ride Listings: Drivers can exchange information about their available rides. It includes important data such as the departure and destination locations, the date of the ride, the cost per person, and the number of seats available. Additionally, drivers can include a note or description about the ride, such as "Looking for a quiet ride," to help passengers in finding the right match for their preferences.
- Search Filters: Passengers should be able to search for rides using filters like:
- Location: Pick-up and drop-off locations (by entering a city, address, or using geolocation).
- Date & Time: Specify preferred departure times.
- Price Range: Choose rides based on their budget.
- Seat Availability: Filter based on the number of available seats.
With a simple search feature, users can quickly find the ride they want, making their experience better and the app easier to use.
3. Payment Gateway Integration
Ensuring secure and simple payment methods is an important part of your ride-sharing app. At this point building trust and improving things for users are important.
- Secure Payments: Using a trustworthy payment service, such as Stripe, PayPal, or Razorpay, is important for making sure drivers and passengers can send and receive money securely within the app. Each person should be able to select the payment method that best suits their needs, which should include direct bank transfers, mobile wallets, and credit or debit cards.
- Automatic Pricing and Split Payment: The app has the ability to calculate the cost automatically when a ride is booked. This is achieved by adding any extra features, such as whether the ride is pet-friendly or more comfortable, and finding out how long the ride is. In order to make sure that each passenger only pays their portion, the app can also automatically divide the total cost between the passengers.
- Transaction History: It should be possible for users to view a list of all their transactions. This makes everything transparent and helps build trust by clearly showing the payments they have made and received.
When payments are easy and secure, users will feel more comfortable by using your app because they know that their financial data is secure.
4. Real-Time Notifications
When there are any changes to the status of their ride, users receive notice instantly. This keeps them always informed of the latest developments about their ride.
- Ride Matches: As soon as a driver posts a ride that matches a passenger's search needs, the app should alert the passenger that a match has been found.
- Booking Confirmation: A notification will be sent to the user once their ride has been successfully booked. Important information about the ride, including the driver's details, the time of the pickup, and the start location, will be involved in this notification.
- Ride Changes or Cancellations: Real-time alerts will inform users of any changes to the ride, such as cancellations, delays, or shifts so they always know what's going on and won't be left in surprise.
- Reminder Notifications: Notify people about upcoming rides. Important information such as the location for the passenger's pickup or any instructions they need before the start of the ride can be included in these reminders.
Having real-time notifications is important for retaining users’ interest in the app. They provide immediate updates on things, which helps users feel informed and involved. Users gain trust because they feel confident that they will always be informed.
5. Rating & Review System
In a ride-sharing app, creating a trustworthy community is important, and one of the best ways to do that is by having a strong rating and review system.
- Post-Ride Ratings: After each ride, drivers and passengers will rate one another on factors like communication skills, ride quality, and punctuality. To help others in making better decisions, they can write a review and use a 5-star rating system.
- Accountability: Reviews help maintain high standards for everyone by making sure drivers and passengers perform properly.
- Transparency: Reviews are available to new users before booking rides, which promotes honesty and helps build trust.
To keep everyone responsible and improve the experience for all, users should be able to rate and review one another.
6. In-App Messaging
For a ride to go smoothly, drivers and passengers must communicate properly. In-app messaging allows users to ask questions, share information, and change their ride plans without leaving the app.
- Real-Time Messaging: In order to confirm the meeting location, passengers can message drivers, and drivers can message passengers to discuss any issues, such as being late.
- Privacy Protection: Letting users talk to each other within the app keeps their contact details private, making everything more secure.
The ride-sharing process is made simpler and more smooth by in-app messaging, which allows communication and reduces misunderstandings.
7. Ride History & Trip Management
A ride history feature helps users see a record of all their past rides, payments, and travel preferences.
- Trip Details: In order to confirm the meeting location, passengers can message drivers, and drivers can message passengers to discuss any issues, such as being late.
- Receipts and Payments: Passengers can see their payment receipts, and drivers can track how much they’ve earned. This helps them manage their money better.
This feature gives users easy access to their past trips, helping them feel more confident and trust the platform.
8. Geolocation and Maps Integration
Geolocation is a key feature in any ride-sharing app, including BlaBlaCar-style apps.
- Real-Time Location Tracking: The app should use GPS (like Google Maps or Mapbox) to show the real-time location of both drivers and passengers. This will help them find each other easily.
- Route Mapping: The app will suggest the best routes, like the fastest or easiest way, and show live traffic updates. Passengers can also see the route before confirming the ride to make sure it's convenient for them.
- Pickup and Drop-off Points: Precise location tracking helps both the driver and passenger know exactly where and when to meet.
The use of maps and geolocation improves the ride experience by making it easier for drivers and passengers to find the pick-up point, increasing ride performance, and removing confusion.
It’s important to focus on a few key factors if you want to develop a successful app like BlaBlaCar. Make sure your app is transparent, safe, and easy to use. This will help you differentiate yourself in the crowded ride-sharing market and satisfy the needs of your users. Your app will gain genuine value if it has features like ride listing, real-time updates, and safe payment methods. This will make your app trustworthy and helpful to users.
Steps to Building an App Like BlaBlaCar
There are a number of essential steps involved in creating a ride-sharing app, like BlaBlaCar, from planning to app launch. Let’s go over these steps, keeping in mind that you want to make an app that works well for everyone, while also making sure you give users what they need.
Step 1: Ideation & Market Research
Knowing what people need and who you’re building for is important before you begin any development. Spend some time getting to know your target market and searching for gaps or opportunities for improvement in the ride-sharing sector.
Identifying Your Target Audience: Knowing who will be using your app is important because it will help you choose what features, design, and overall setup to use. Are you focusing on business travelers, students, tourists, or those who travel every day? You can improve the app for your users by understanding them, no matter whether they are more concerned with comfort, cost savings, or sustainability. If you’re targeting college students, for example, you might want to provide casual and affordable rides.
Analyzing Market Gaps & User Pain Points: Users of well-known apps like BlaBlaCar, Uber, and Lyft still feel they are not getting everything they need in specific areas. For example, there is sometimes a lack of communication between drivers and passengers, not enough payment methods, or not clear pricing. By doing surveys or interviews with potential users, you can identify these problems and develop features to solve them.
Differentiating from BlaBlaCar & Other Apps: BlaBlaCar is a good example, but just copying it won’t make your app stand out. Think about ways to make your app unique and different:
Target different markets (e.g., a focus on local commutes, or business travel).
Offer unique features (e.g., better personalization, loyalty rewards, or a focus on premium rides).
Improve on existing issues like inefficient payment systems, poor customer support, or lack of real-time updates.
By figuring out what the market is missing and where you can help, you’ll set your app up for lasting success.
Step 2: Design the User Experience (UX)
A great app begins with a design that’s easy to use. It’s not just about looking nice, but also about making sure the app is simple to navigate and understand for everyone.
Importance of a Simple and Intuitive Design: From beginning to end, the app should be simple to use. There should be no difficulties for new users to register and book a ride. ignore unnecessary steps and keep the design simple whether users are looking to pay, carpool, or book rides. An easier-to-use app will inspire users to come back.
Wireframes and Prototyping: Make basic wireframes before beginning the full design to plan the app’s layout and user experience. To create simple prototypes, you can use programs like Sketch or Figma. Before beginning full development, this step is important because it allows you to gather user feedback and make early design choices.
Mobile-First Design (iOS & Android): Designing your app for mobile devices should be your top priority because the majority of users will use it on their phones. To make it look good on tablets and desktops, start with the mobile version. Verify the app’s connection with Android and iPhone devices.
Step 3: Choose the Right Tech Stack
It’s important to pick the right technology for your app. The efficiency of the app, its future growth possibility, and its simplicity of updating are all affected. How quickly and smoothly you can develop the app will also depend on the technology you choose.
- Frontend Development:
React Native or Flutter: These frameworks let you create apps for both iOS and Android using just one code, which makes building apps faster and cheaper.
Native Mobile Development: Build the app separately for iOS and Android using Kotlin for Android taxi app and Swift for iOS taxi app if you want the best user experience and performance. All of each device’s features can be used in this way, but it may take longer and cost more.
- Backend Development:
Node.js: Because of its speed and ability to manage large amounts of data at once, Node.js is widely used. When you need to manage real-time data, it’s perfect for creating solid and quick APIs.
Python: Because it’s easy to read and has a lot of useful libraries, Python is excellent for creating backend systems and connecting multiple services.
Ruby on Rails: A great option for quick development with ready-made solutions for growth.
Java: Java is an excellent option for larger apps if you need a backend that can manage many users and function constantly.
- Database Management:
SQL vs. NoSQL:
SQL (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) is great for structured data, such as user profiles and ride histories.
NoSQL (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra) is best for handling unstructured data like user-generated content or real-time events. NoSQL can grow more easily but might require more complex queries for structured data.
- Payment Integration:
Stripe and PayPal are popular choices for secure payment gateways. Stripe is especially useful if you need to handle complex transactions (e.g., split payments between passengers).
Step 4: Develop Core Features
When your tech stack and design are complete, it’s time to develop your app’s core features. To ensure that users always have a smooth experience, make sure the app functions properly and can grow as more users use it.
Scalability & Security: Your app must operate more quickly and smoothly as it handles more users and data. Using services like AWS or Google Cloud, you can increase the power and capacity of your app. Moreover, use secure encryption to protect sensitive user data, especially payment information.
Prioritize Core Features: Focus on essential features first, such as:
- User registration & profiles
- Ride listing & booking
- Payment processing
- Rating and Review system
- Real-time notifications
Before you add anything more, like sharing or more advanced ride options, make sure these basic features are working smoothly.
Step 5: Implement Geolocation & Maps Integration
Using maps and location tracking to track rides in real time is an important part of your app. This will help users’ search for drivers and simplify the pick-up process.
How GPS Tracking Works for Ride Sharing: Drivers and passengers will be able to see each other’s locations in real time due to geolocation. We’ll use programs like Mapbox and Google Maps to achieve this. These tools will be useful for planning routes, keeping track of everyone’s location, and showing traffic updates.
Map Features to Consider: The app will suggest routes based on how far they are, current traffic, and the fastest way to get to your destination.
You can see live traffic updates to help you plan the best route.
Make it easy for both drivers and passengers to know where to meet, so there’s no confusion at pick-up points.
Step 6: Testing & Quality Assurance
Once your app is ready, you need to test it. Testing is important to make sure everything works correctly and to catch any problems before the app is launched.
Beta Testing with Real Users: To get feedback, test the app with actual users. This helps you find issues, difficult-to-use features, and any bugs you may have ignored during app development.
Usability Testing & Fixing Bugs: Test the app frequently with real users to make sure that it is user-friendly and functional for them. Trying out various features or designs to find out which users prefer could be one way to do this.
Security Testing: Apps that handle private data, such as user profiles and payment information, have to focus on security. Do complete security checks to protect against dangers and make sure the safety of your users’ data.
The process of developing an app like BlaBlaCar includes a number of steps, including thinking, market research, app design, development, and testing. Making sure the app can grow and remain secure, choosing the right technology, and concentrating on features that users will love are all important. These steps will help you create an app that is unique in the ride-sharing market and provides genuine value to your users, all while keeping the user experience in mind.
Monetization Strategies for Your BlaBlaCar-Like App
When creating an app like BlaBlaCar, choosing the best revenue-generating method is important to its success. You can make money in a variety of ways without affecting user experience. Let’s examine some of the most profitable ride-sharing app revenue sources.
1. Commission on Rides
Using a ride-sharing app to charge a small fee for each ride is a well-liked and simple way to generate earnings. You have the option to collect a percentage of the ride fee, typically between 10 and 20 percent, from the driver, the passenger, or both. This strategy is effective because you earn more money the more rides people book.
The price breakdown can be used to clearly display the app’s commission, which allows drivers and passengers to understand exactly how much the app makes. This setup is also successful as the app grows, making it an excellent choice for long-term income.
2. Premium Features or Subscriptions
You can monetize your app by charging for special features. Creating various levels of accessibility is one way to achieve this goal. Basic features may be provided without charge, but users can purchase additional, useful features. You can set up these premium features as follows:
For Drivers: Premium drivers get unique advantages, such as being able to access passengers who pay more, ranking higher in search results, and matching with rides more quickly. Additionally, they are free to select the rides or preferences they like.
For Passengers: Passengers could get a subscription that gives them benefits like unlimited ride bookings, cheaper fares, or the option to book rides only with trusted drivers.
These premium features can be made available as one-time purchases or as monthly or annual subscriptions. Moreover, subscription-based payments give you an ongoing source of income.
3. In-App Advertising
You can earn money from in-app advertisements, particularly if your app is popular. These advertisements may be pop-up, banner, or display ads that appear in the app at the right moments. To display ads that match with what your users like or do within the app, you can use platforms like Facebook Audience Network and Google AdMob.
Ads can generate revenue, but if they are too much or annoying users may find the app less enjoyable. Advertisements are best displayed when users are not busy such as while they wait for confirmation of their ride.
4. Partnerships with Businesses or Events
Working with companies or event planners can generate extra income. For example, you can collaborate with nearby companies to provide rides with their brand on them. These rides can be provided by companies to advertise their goods or services. Passengers who use the app for specific events or locations may also be elegible for discounts.
One more idea is to offer transportation for big events like music festivals, sports games, or conferences. By partnering with these events, you can provide special rides to and from the event, making the experience more unique for attendees. This can be a great way to earn money, especially if your app becomes popular for group or corporate travel.
Using one or more of these revenue-generating strategies will help you turn your app into a profit. Many options are present for generating revenue while maintaining user satisfaction and engagement, including commissions, premium subscriptions, advertisements, and partnerships.
Challenges You’ll Face While Building a Ride-Sharing App
Creating a ride-sharing app like BlaBlaCar has its own challenges. Let’s look at some of the main problems you might face and how to handle them.
1. User Acquisition and Retention
Any new ride-sharing app faces an important challenge when competing with big companies like Uber, Lyft, and BlaBlaCar. These platforms are already very popular and provide a wide range of services. You must figure out how to attract users and maintain their interest if you want to stand out. A strong marketing strategy, unique features (such as reduced costs, environmentally friendly choices, or services customized for particular requirements), and first-rate customer service can all make your app stand out. To make sure that users continue to use your app, it’s also important to maintain user loyalty by providing incentives, frequent updates, and quick customer support.
2. Building Trust Among Users
Both drivers and passengers place a high value on safety and trust. You should use safe payment methods, provide ride tracking, make sure drivers are verified, and have a strong rating and review system if you want to gain users’ trust on a new platform. Proper communication and clarity regarding ride prices are also important. Offering insurance for both drivers and passengers, along with doing thorough background checks on drivers, will help users feel safe and confident.
3. Scaling the App
Making sure your app can manage the increased traffic without experiencing any lag is important as its user base grows. To make sure the smooth growth of your app, you will need to invest in a solid backend system, such as cloud services from AWS or Google Cloud. The app’s performance should be continuously improved to prevent lag, particularly when many users are using it at the same time. You can include new features without harming the user experience by doing this.
4. Dealing with Regulatory Hurdles
Understanding the legal rules is another big challenge. Ride-sharing laws are different in each area, and some places may have special rules about things like insurance, safety, or how drivers are classified. You’ll need to keep up with the laws in each location, make sure your app follows them, and be ready to change how things work to meet the rules in different places.
These challenges are just a part of the process, but you can overcome them and develop a successful ride-sharing app like blabla car if you have the proper strategy and plan.
How Much Does It Cost to Build an App Like BlaBlaCar?
Depending on factors like the features you want, the location of the development team, and the technology you select, the price of creating an app like BlaBlaCar could change. Let’s look at the costs:
1. App Development Costs
The price range for developing a full-featured ride-sharing app like blabla car is between $20,000 and over $100,000. The cost depends on by the features you want, such as ride booking, map-based location display, payment methods, user profiles, and security. More advanced features like real-time notifications, smart route suggestions, and social media integration will cost more.
2. Cost Differences Based on Location
Offshore Development: Hiring developers from countries with lower hourly rates, like India or Eastern Europe, can save a lot of money. For example, mobile app developers in India usually charge between $20 and $50 per hour.
Local Development: If you choose to hire developers from places like the US or Western Europe, their hourly rates can be between $100 and $250 per hour.
Choosing offshore development can save money, but it may come with challenges like time zone differences and communication barriers.
3. Ongoing Maintenance & Updates
After the app is launched, you will need to maintain it, fix bugs, and update it regularly. This usually costs about 15 – 20% of the initial development cost each year. Maintenance includes server fees, updating features, and making sure the app works with latest software versions.
How Developer Bazaar Technologies Can Help You In Build an App Like BlaBlaCar
You can get your ideas turned into functional apps with the help of professional Taxi booking app development. We can also develop an app like BlaBlaCar if you’re interested. Our group is highly skilled in developing scalable systems, cloud services, and mobile applications. We take care of everything, making sure your ride-sharing app has features like location-based services, secure payments, live ride tracking, and user verification.
We work closely with you to fully understand your goals and develop solutions that make your app safe, efficient, and user-friendly. We make sure your app functions smoothly as it grows, from creating the user interface to developing the backend to providing continuing support. You can concentrate on growing your business by letting us handle all of the technical aspects. Collaborate with developer Bazaar Technologies to create a unique ride-sharing app that fulfills the requirements of both drivers and passengers.
RM Mishra
Co-Founder
Developer Bazaar technologies
