The world’s economy is evolving and the freelance economy is gaining a lot of popularity. While traveling people need a place to stay. Nowadays staying at a hotel is not the only option. People have started renting their apartments to travelers as it helps them in earning some extra cash.

Airbnb has become one of the world’s largest booking sites. People can share details of their property on the website and travelers can find a place that is affordable and perfect for their stay. The platform is an excellent alternative for landlords to put their properties on the market for rent.

Airbnb has expanded globally approximately in 190 countries, compromising 300,000 accommodation places in around 50000 cities. Anyone from around the world can rent a room, an apartment, or an entire property using Airbnb.

The popularity of platforms such as Airbnb is growing in popularity. More importantly, If you want to establish a similar app then it is important to understand its basics and required budget for the development.

Application’s panel layout

The application will consist of three panels

• Admin Panel
• Owner User Panel
• Guest User Panel

Admin Panel

• Sign In
• Dashboard
• Filtered dashboard
• User handling
• Booking handling
• Promotions handling
• Payment options
• Handling invites
• Booking request
• Notifications

Owner User Panel

• Home catalog
• Catalog approval
• Managing Booking Request
• Payment options
• Transaction history

Guest User Panel

• Login/Sign Up
• Search options
• Booking filters
• Book your desired lodge
• Manage Booking
• Online transaction
• customized Feeds
• See desired resources
• Advanced Search options
• Add to Favorite
• Instant Messaging b/w guest and owner

Creating an app like Airbnb:

Creating an app like Airbnb is a good investment idea. Here are some key steps required to make a profitable and successful project.

Creating a business plan:

Coming up with a business idea is not enough because not all ideas are feasible and worth investing in. It is easy to get carried away with an exciting idea and make things more complicated than they should. If you think that you have a good idea then to check the feasibility start considering a business plan. The business plan should highlight your goals. A written plan is essential for the success of any project because it helps in staying organized.

Developing the app:

App development has evolved a lot over the years. The apps have become more sophisticated and elegant with time and it has also increased competition. Creating a professional and efficient app needs quality development skills.

When you have a business plan in place, it is time to move to the development stage. To create an app similar to Airbnb you will need to hire experienced and skilled developers. You can either outsource the project or hire in-house developers. Whatever choice you make is going to impact the cost of the app.

Building the design:

To get the attention of the users and compete with established apps like Airbnb, the design of the app must be user-friendly. Attracting and retaining users is not easy so make sure that the design is attractive and easy to use.

Check: Hire UX designer India

Integrating features:

It is understandable to add only basic features in the beginning. Once the app is functional and you start getting user feedback you can add better and more advanced features that will make it stand out from the competition. Advanced features help add a unique touch to the app.

Testing:

Testing all the features of the app before launching is crucial. You do not want to launch an app that is full of bugs and fails to function properly.

Check: Software testing outsourcing

Regular updates:

The work of developers does not end after the app is launched. Regular updates are important because they keep the app up-to-date.

Common features:

The features you decide to add play a significant role in the efficiency of the app and the cost of development. Here are some basic features that an app like Airbnb should have:

Sign up:

An app like Airbnb must have a signup option. The basic registration process asks for an email and password. There should be a terms and policy screen so that users can read the terms and agree before signing.

Log in:

The login option should be easy and simple because people do not like apps that are too complex. There should be multiple login account options. Users should be able to log in using their Facebook account, Twitter account, or Google account. There should be a ‘forget password’ option as well. Integrating the option of logging in using different accounts requires a lot of development hours and increases the cost.

Searching option:

Booking services must have a searching function because it makes it easier to find what you are looking for. The users should be able to set dates for the trip and specify the number of guests. By setting the date users can filter their search. The renters can also check the availability of appropriate accommodation and send a booking request.

Adding favorites

It is an excellent feature to add because it makes it easier to find a place in the future.

Communication:

When you send a booking request you can start a conversation with the renter and ask for a video or photos of the property.

Profile:

Websites like Airbnb have two types of users; hosts and guests. Both types of users should have the option to create profiles and share basic personal information with users.

Payment options:

Providing an easy and safe payment method is crucial for the success of apps like Airbnb. There should be more than a payment method so that clients can easily make the transactions.

Factors that affect the cost of the Airbnb app

It is vital to know about the factors that play a noteworthy role in developing an app like Airbnb. One can always opt for a different approach. However, the basic structure of developing the application will remain the same. Following are some factors to keep in mind.

• Choosing a platform (IOS, Android)

Airbnb can be operational on both IOS and Android. The important factor is to keep in mind the price cost of them. Developing on IOS requires fewer man-hours than developing on Android therefore it costs about 15-20% less than Android. One more factor is the market. The US and European markets have a majority of IOS users however Indian and Asian markets have the most Android users.

• Design interface

An appealing design brings more joy to the user which makes it user-friendly. However, the price will come in factor if a designer must choose between a typical template design or a custom-made design

• Handling technical Complexity and fixing bugs

An average software developer charges 150$ per hour in the US market however, an additional feature may add the price. Handling technical complexities and fixing bugs frequently comes with a hefty price. Hence these stages will add up to the total price of the application.

• Number of Employees on the Project

The number of employees hired for the project will also determine the cost of the total project. Hiring from an outsource company can add up the total price. Therefore, it is wise to hire employees that are multitasker.

Airbnb app development cost

The cost to develop an App like Airbnb can vary as it depends on several factors such as:

• Size of the project
• Platforms required for creating the app (cross-platform, iOS, Android)
• The difficulty of technical features and collection of functionalities
• Versatility of design
• Architecture solutions

The cost development depends upon the market price. On average a US developer costs about 150$ per hour, a European developer costs 85$ per hour, and an Indian developer costs 30$ per hour.

If it takes 1100-1600 hours to develop the app then the approximate cost can be from $33000 to $48000. Make sure you get a quote before starting the development process.

Below is a table from which cost can be extracted from the number of hours it takes to complete the application.

Conclusion

This is an estimated cost according to the market. However, the cost may differ as mentioned in the cost factors. Frequently updating the application, marketing the application will also make an impact on the total cost

Also check: mobile app development cost in India

If you have any idea about building an app like Airbnb then feel free to contact Aalpha

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