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How to Build an App Like Uber Eats? A Step-by-Step Guide!
Table of contents
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12 min |
Published On: May 5, 2025
Last Updated: May 23, 2025
When Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi called Uber Eats a “secret weapon” in the competitive ride-hailing industry, he was spot on.
In 2024, Uber Eats raked in a staggering $13.75 billion in revenue, proving the power of the food delivery market.
So, imagine you stepping into the profitable business of building an app like Uber Eats, which has consistently grown over the past few years. With the food delivery market booming at an unprecedented scale, building a food delivery app like Uber Eats isn’t just an idea—it’s an opportunity to tap into a rapidly growing, highly profitable industry.
Now, if you're wondering, "How do I make an app like Uber Eats?" -- Dive into this detailed guide to learn how to start with features, the development process, the tech stack, Uber Eats-like app development costs, and much more—everything in one guide!
What is Uber Eats?
Uber Eats is an on-demand food delivery service that connects customers, restaurants, and delivery partners through a mobile app or website.
The concept was simple: use Uber’s reliable network of drivers to deliver food quickly and efficiently. It allows users to browse menus, place orders, and have food delivered directly to their doorsteps while tracking the delivery in real time.
Whether you're craving fast food, a gourmet meal, or something in between, Uber Eats delivers it easily and conveniently.
By combining Uber’s technology with a fast-growing food delivery market, Uber Eats revolutionized how people order food. It is now one of the leading platforms in food delivery worldwide, serving millions of customers in hundreds of cities.
Now, before we dive into how to build an app like Ubereats, let's first understand how Uber Eats works.
How Does Uber Eats Work?
Uber Eats connects customers, restaurants, and delivery partners on a single platform, making food delivery simple and seamless:
- Customer Orders – Users browse restaurants, select food items, and place their order through the Uber Eats app or website. Payment is made via card or other payment methods.
- Restaurant Prepares the Order – Once the order is received, the restaurant starts preparing it. The customer is notified when the order is ready.
- Delivery Partner Picks Up the Order – A nearby delivery partner accepts the order request, picks up the food from the restaurant, and uses GPS to deliver it to the customer’s location.
- Real-Time Tracking – Customers can track their orders from the restaurant to delivery. Once the food is delivered, they can leave feedback on their experience.
Must-Have Features to Include in a Food Delivery App like Uber Eats
Here comes the foundation of your food delivery development app that will determine your business success. Let’s take a look at essential features to include in a food delivery app like Uber Eats:
A) Customer Panel
Let’s check features you can consider for the customer panel when creating an app like Uber Eats:
1. Real-Time Order Tracking:
Customers can monitor their orders live through GPS tracking, knowing exactly when their food leaves the restaurant, the driver’s location en route, and the estimated delivery time. This transparency builds trust and reduces anxiety about order status.
2. Restaurant Search & Filters:
A powerful search engine with filters like cuisine type, price range, dietary preferences, user ratings, distance, and delivery time helps customers quickly discover their preferred meals without hassle.
3. Multiple Payment Options:
Supporting various secure payment methods such as credit/debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal), UPI, and cash on delivery ensures convenience and accessibility for all user demographics.
4. Ratings & Reviews:
Enabling customers to rate dishes and delivery services, write detailed reviews, and upload photos fosters a community-driven ecosystem that encourages quality improvements and trust in the platform.
5. Push Notifications:
Automated alerts inform customers about order confirmation, preparation, dispatch, delivery, and exclusive deals or promotions, enhancing engagement and repeat usage.
B) Delivery Partner Panel
Let’s check the food delivery app features you can consider for the delivery partner panel when developing app like Uber Eats:
1. Order Alerts & Acceptance:
Instant notifications for nearby delivery requests, with the ability to accept or decline orders based on availability, ensuring flexibility and optimal task allocation.
2. GPS Navigation:
Built-in, real-time navigation powered by reliable map services provides turn-by-turn directions, helps avoid traffic congestion, and suggests the fastest routes, minimizing delivery times.
3. Earnings Dashboard:
A transparent view of daily, weekly, and monthly earnings, including base pay, tips, bonuses, and incentives, motivates delivery partners and allows them to track their income effectively.
4. Availability Toggle:
A simple toggle feature to switch between online and offline status gives drivers control over when they want to receive delivery requests, improving work-life balance.
5. In-App Communication:
Secure chat and call options facilitate direct communication with customers or restaurant staff for clarifications, enhancing coordination and reducing delivery errors.
C) Restaurant Panel
Let’s check the features you can consider for the restaurant panel when creating app like Uber Eats:
1. Order Management System:
Receive incoming orders in real-time with clear status updates, from order confirmation to preparation and dispatch, enabling smooth kitchen operations and timely deliveries.
2. Menu Management:
Easily add, edit, or remove menu items, update prices, set availability based on stock or time, and add descriptions or images to entice customers.
3. Real-Time Notifications:
Instant alerts for new orders, modifications, cancellations, or delivery status changes keep restaurant staff informed and responsive.
4. Payout Tracking:
Access detailed reports on payments received, commission deductions, refunds, and outstanding balances, helping restaurants manage finances accurately.
5. Restaurant Profile Management:
Update essential information such as hours of operation, contact details, location on the map, and promotional banners to attract more customers.
D) Admin Panel
Let’s check features you can consider for the admin panel when making app like Uber Eats:
1. User Management:
Admins can oversee all users, including customers, restaurants, and delivery agents, managing access, resolving issues, and ensuring compliance with platform policies.
2. Commission & Payout Management:
Set and adjust commission rates, track financial transactions, and automate payments to restaurants and delivery partners, ensuring transparent and timely settlements.
3. Analytics & Reports:
Access detailed dashboards showcasing order volumes, revenue, peak hours, user activity, and regional performance to make informed business decisions and optimize operations.
4. Promo Code & Campaign Management:
Create, schedule, and manage discount codes, referral programs, and promotional campaigns to attract new users and retain existing ones.
5. Dispute Resolution Tools :
A streamlined system to handle complaints, refund requests, and cancellations efficiently, with proper audit trails and communication logs.
Step-by-Step Process to Build an Uber Eats Clone App
Now, let’s understand how to develop an Uber Eats clone app from scratch. We’ve listed the development process in detail:
Step 1: Plan Your App
Before diving into food delivery app development similar to Uber Eats, you must lay a strong foundation.
You must start with comprehensive research, including business goals, app features, monetization strategies, and competitive analysis.
Consider what would make your food delivery app unique from your competitors. It can include local restaurant partnerships, faster delivery times, or loyalty rewards.
Create user personas for all parties involved: customers, delivery drivers, and restaurant owners. Decide whether your app will be location-specific or regional.
Key tasks:
- Conduct competitor analysis (such as DoorDash, Eber Eats, Grubhub)
- List essential features & functionalities (such as real-time tracking, in-app payments, menu browsing, etc.)
- Select a monetization model (commission, delivery fees, ads)
Step 2: UX UI Design
Design plays a critical role in user engagement and overall app success—94% of first impressions are driven by how your app looks and feels.
Incorporate an intuitive, interactive, and accessible design to offer a seamless and smooth user experience. Moreover, a food delivery app's UX UI must be strategically designed to boost engagement and encourage repeat visits. Some crucial elements include a visually appealing layout, clear information, personalized recommendations, and a streamlined process.
Remember that a well-designed interface can boost conversion rates by up to 400%, while a poor user experience can cause 90% of users to abandon the app entirely.
Therefore, focusing on UX UI design is crucial for your food delivery business, like Uber Eats, to grow significantly.
Step 3: Develop the App
At this stage, your vision starts to take shape. Android and iOS food delivery app developers start working on your app’s blueprint into a functional platform. Uber Eats-like app development is typically divided into multiple modules for faster and more organised execution.
Developers work on front-end development, which is the user-facing side of the app. This includes everything from customers, delivery partners, and restaurant owners to interact with.
Our best on-demand food delivery app developers use tools like React Native, Flutter, Kotlin, or Swift to build responsive and high-performing interfaces for both Android and iOS.
For backend development, our best developers work on the engine of your app. It powers the logic, manages the database, handles APIs, processes payments, and ensures data security.
Frameworks like Node.js, Django, or Express.js are commonly used to build scalable and secure server-side infrastructure.
With seamless coordination between front-end and back-end development, your food delivery app is ready to deliver real-time performance, user satisfaction, and business value.
Step 4: Test Everything
After your app’s development, it's time to test it to ensure it's operating smoothly and efficiently. Testing is critical to ensure your app works smoothly across all devices and platforms. Use manual and automated testing methods to identify errors or bugs and fix performance issues.
Implement the following types of testing:
- Functional testing (Do features work?)
- Usability testing (Is it easy to use?)
- Performance testing (Can it handle traffic?)
- Security testing (Are user details safe?)
- Cross-platform/device testing
Step 5: Launch & Grow
Once your food delivery app development is bug-free, launch it on the App Store and Google Play Store. Begin with a soft launch or beta release to get early feedback. Post-launch, focus on marketing, user acquisition, and performance monitoring.
Growth strategies:
- Partner with local restaurants and food influencers
- Offer first-order discounts or referral bonuses
- Use social media and paid ads for promotion
- Analyze user behavior and improve features over time
Tools & Technologies to Consider for Uber Eats Clone App Development
Time to dive into the technical side! Below is a breakdown of the essential tools and technologies used to develop an app like Uber Eats:
1. Front-End (User-Facing App)
- React Native / Flutter: Popular for building cross-platform mobile apps (iOS and Android) with a single codebase.
- Swift (iOS) / Kotlin (Android): Native development for platform-specific performance and deeper integrations.
- Web App: Use React.js or Angular.js to build a responsive web version of the app.
2. Back-End (Server Side)
- Programming Languages: Node.js, Python (Django/Flask), or Java – ideal for scalable, high-performance apps.
- Database: PostgreSQL or MongoDB depending on structured or unstructured data needs.
- API Services: RESTful APIs or GraphQL to manage data exchange between front-end and back-end.
- Cloud Hosting: AWS or Firebase for secure and scalable infrastructure.
3. APIs & Integrations:
- Google Maps API: Location tracking, route optimization, and real-time navigation.
- Stripe / Razorpay: Secure and flexible payment processing for global and regional transactions.
- Twilio: SMS and in-app messaging for user communication and order updates.
4. Other Key Considerations:
- No-code Platforms: Tools like Appy Pie, Thunkable, Glide, and Adalo for prototyping or creating MVPs.
- Clone Scripts: Pre-built Uber Eats-like templates to fast-track development and reduce costs.
- App Testing: Conduct Functional, Performance, and Security Testing to ensure a seamless and secure experience.
Top 3 Popular Food Delivery Apps
Following, we've listed the top 3 popular food delivery apps:
1. Grubhub
One of the pioneers in the U.S. food delivery scene, Grubhub has established itself as a go-to platform connecting diners with thousands of local restaurants across more than 4,000 U.S. cities. It offers various cuisine choices, from fast food to fine dining, catering to diverse tastes and dietary preferences.
Grubhub stands out for its user-friendly app interface and flexible payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and contactless payments.
Additionally, the platform provides features like pre-ordering, group orders, and real-time order tracking, enhancing the overall customer experience. With its focus on supporting local eateries, Grubhub has become a vital partner for small and medium-sized restaurants seeking to expand their reach.
2. DoorDash
Known for its extensive reach across North America, DoorDash is currently one of the largest food delivery services in the U.S. and Canada, partnering with over 450,000 merchants.
DoorDash is praised for its fast delivery times, often within 30 to 45 minutes, and its reliable real-time tracking system, which keeps customers updated from preparation to drop-off. Unique to DoorDash is its subscription service, DashPass, which offers unlimited free delivery and reduced service fees for a monthly fee, appealing to frequent users looking to save money.
Moreover, DoorDash also innovates with features like contactless delivery and group ordering, catering to changing customer needs. Beyond food delivery, DoorDash has expanded into delivering groceries, alcohol, and convenience store items, aiming to be a comprehensive local logistics platform.
3.Zomato
A global player headquartered in India, Zomato has evolved from a restaurant discovery and review platform into a leading food delivery service with operations in over 25 countries.
It combines the convenience of food delivery with in-depth restaurant information, including menus, photos, user reviews, and ratings, helping users make informed dining decisions. Its app supports quick ordering with multiple payment methods, including digital wallets and UPI (Unified Payments Interface) in India, along with cash on delivery options in select markets.
Zomato emphasizes community engagement by allowing customers to write detailed reviews and upload photos. It also provides features such as contactless delivery and subscription plans like Zomato Pro, offering discounts and exclusive deals. Its tech-driven approach includes AI recommendations and personalized offers, making it a favorite among urban consumers.
How Much Does it Cost to Build an App Like Uber Eats?
Here comes the most important and asked question – “What’s the estimated cost to create a food delivery app like Uber Eats?”
The answer varies depending on various factors, including the project’s complexity, UX UI design, tech stack, features, and more. The estimated development cost ranges from $20,000 to $150,000 or above.
| Section | Details | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Features & Functionality | Basic: Registration, restaurant listing, search, order placement, payment, tracking | $20,000 - $80,000 |
| Advanced: AI recommendations, analytics, loyalty programs, driver scheduling, multi-payments | $80,000 - $150,000+ | |
| 2. App Platform | Single Platform (iOS or Android) | $25,000 - $70,000+ |
| Cross-Platform (iOS + Android) | $70,000 - $150,000+ | |
| 3. Design Complexity | Basic UI/UX | $5,000 - $15,000 |
| Custom Interactive Design | $15,000 - $30,000 | |
| 4. Dev Team Location | USA / Canada | $120 - $200/hr |
| Western Europe | $80 - $150/hr | |
| Eastern Europe | $40 - $80/hr | |
| India / SE Asia | $20 - $60/hr | |
| 5. Ongoing Costs | Maintenance & Updates | 5–20% of dev cost/year |
| Hosting & APIs | $1,000 - $5,000/month | |
| Marketing & Support | Varies by scale |
Final Cost Estimate of Uber Eats Like App Development:
Let's take a final cost estimation to develop an app like Uber Eats:
| Type | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Basic MVP App | $25,000 - $70,000 |
| Mid-Level App With Basic Features | $70,000 - $150,000 |
| Fully-Advanced App | $150,000 - $300,000+ |
What are the Top Challenges When Building an App Like Uber Eats?
Let's now discuss what challenges you can face when creating app like Uber Eats:
1. Real-Time Tracking
Accurate and reliable GPS tracking is the backbone of any delivery app. To provide precise ETAs and smooth logistics coordination, you must ensure real-time location updates for customers, delivery drivers, and restaurants. This involves integrating advanced mapping services like Google Maps or Mapbox, handling signal drops, and optimizing device battery usage.
Additionally, managing the synchronization between multiple moving users and predicting routes efficiently for drivers to minimize delays requires sophisticated algorithms and frequent data refreshes. Poor tracking can lead to customer frustration, missed deliveries, and loss of trust.
2. Payment & Commission Handling
An essential yet complex challenge is implementing a seamless payment system that supports various payment methods—credit/debit cards, digital wallets, UPI, and even cash on delivery—while ensuring PCI-DSS compliance and transaction security. The app must handle instant payment processing for orders while simultaneously calculating and distributing commissions to restaurants and delivery partners accurately.
If you plan to operate internationally, this requires integration with multiple payment gateways and managing currency conversions. Additionally, setting up an automated invoicing and settlement system to maintain transparency and reduce manual errors is critical for long-term business viability.
3. Multi-User Management
Your platform must efficiently serve three distinct user groups: customers placing orders, restaurants managing menus and orders, and delivery agents handling pickups and drop-offs. Each user type needs a customized interface with tailored features, access controls, and dashboards reflecting their role and activity.
For example, restaurants require order management and menu editing capabilities, while delivery agents need route optimization and status update tools. Ensuring seamless communication between these roles through notifications, order updates, and support channels adds layers of complexity to the app’s architecture. Moreover, role-specific security measures and permission management are essential to protect sensitive data.
4. Scalability
Launching in one city might be manageable, but expanding to multiple regions or handling sudden spikes in demand during peak hours or special events poses major scalability challenges. Your backend infrastructure must be built to handle thousands (or even millions) of concurrent users, simultaneous orders, and live data updates without lag or downtime.
This calls for a robust cloud-based architecture leveraging microservices, load balancing, and efficient database management. You also need to plan for geo-distributed servers to minimize latency and implement caching strategies to optimize performance. Failure to scale effectively can result in slow app response times, dropped orders, and poor customer experience.
5. Customer Support & Dispute Handling
Quick and effective customer support can make or break user loyalty in a service-driven business like food delivery. Your app must feature a well-structured support system that enables users to easily report issues such as late deliveries, wrong orders, or payment discrepancies. Integrating chatbots for instant responses, along with access to live agents for complex cases, can improve resolution times.
Handling refunds, cancellations, and disputes between customers, restaurants, and delivery agents requires clear workflows, tracking, and escalation procedures. Additionally, collecting user feedback and analyzing complaint patterns helps you proactively improve service quality and address recurring problems.
How Apptunix Helps You Build a Food Delivery App Like Uber Eats?
At Apptunix, a leading on-demand app development company, we don’t just build apps—we build businesses. From concept to launch and beyond, our expert team helps you develop a full-fledged food delivery app tailored to your vision.
- Custom App Development – Whether you want something like Uber Eats or a completely unique concept, we build tailored solutions that fit your brand and audience.
- All-in-One Platform – We create separate yet integrated apps/dashboards for customers, restaurants, delivery partners, and admins—ensuring smooth operations for all.
- Cutting-Edge Tech Stack – We use the latest technologies like Flutter, React Native, Node.js, and real-time tracking APIs to ensure your app is fast, scalable, and secure.
- Revenue-Driven Features – From dynamic pricing and commissions to ad placements and premium listings, we help you integrate monetization.
- End-to-End Support – UI/UX design, QA testing, deployment, performance monitoring, and even future updates—we’ve got you covered every step of the way.
Want to see your idea turn into the next big food delivery platform like Uber Eats? Let’s build it—together.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q 1.How much does it cost to build a food delivery app like Uber Eats?
The cost can range between $20,000 to $200,000+, depending on features, tech stack, complexity, design, and development team’s location.
Q 2.How long does it take to develop a food delivery app?
On average, it takes 3 to 8 months for a full-featured app—from planning and UI/UX design to development, testing, and deployment.
Q 3.What core features should the food delivery app like Uber Eats include?
Key features include real-time GPS tracking, multi-payment support, order management, restaurant listings, ratings & reviews, push notifications, and more.
Q 4.What technology stack is used for food delivery apps?
Popular stacks include React Native or Flutter for mobile apps, Node.js or Django for the backend, and Firebase, Google Maps API, Stripe/PayPal for real-time services and payments.
Q 5.How can I make money from my food delivery app?
Revenue can come from commission on orders, delivery fees, subscriptions (like DashPass), ads, in-app promotions, and premium listings for restaurants.
Q 6.Is it better to build a custom app or use a white-label solution?
A custom app offers full control and scalability, ideal for long-term goals. White-label solutions are faster and cheaper to launch but offer limited flexibility.
Q 7.How is AI used in food delivery apps?
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Introducing Nalini, our tech-savvy content expert with 8+ years of experience in technical content writing. With a knack for making complex ideas simple, she turns intricate tech concepts into engaging reads. Whether you’re delving into mobile app development, AI, or blockchain, she is your go-to technical expert. Beyond the tech world, you’ll find her immersed in Anime, exploring mobile trends, or enjoying badminton and Foosball.
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