How Much Does It Cost to Build an App Like Airbnb

Are you tired of manually searching for travel accommodations? Well, it’s time to embrace the convenience of hotel-booking apps like Airbnb. With just a few taps on your smartphone, you can easily book your dream vacation and compare prices. The online hospitality industry has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years, with global online travel sales surpassing 755.94 billion U.S. dollars in 2019.

If you’re an entrepreneur looking to make an impression in the travel & accommodation industry, developing an on-demand mobile app like Airbnb could be a smart investment. However, before you start, it’s crucial to understand the various aspects of hospitality app development, including the features, costs involved, and the factors revolving around it. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know about creating an app like Airbnb.

So, fasten your seat belts, and get ready to explore the world of hospitality app and web development. From analyzing the workings of Airbnb to understanding the development process, we’ve got you covered. 

By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear idea of what it takes to build a successful travel accommodation app that can compete with the best in the market.

The House of Success – Airbnb

Airbnb has emerged as the go-to mobile application for tourists looking for alternative accommodations during their vacations or business trips. The user-friendly interface of Airbnb has made it the best communication platform between hosts and travelers.

The brand offers a vast selection of accommodations for users, making their trips comfortable and enjoyable. It allows users to become hosts themselves and rent out their unused spaces to travelers looking for affordable accommodation.

As the leading marketplace application for trip planning, Airbnb ensures that both hosts and travelers are charged fair prices on every confirmed booking.

Airbnb’s mobile application is free to download and is available for websites, iOS, and Android devices. With its intuitive features and personalized search filters, Airbnb has set the benchmark for other hospitality mobile apps, making it a must-have for anyone looking for unique and affordable accommodations worldwide.

Fascinating stats about Airbnb since its inception

Let’s look at the achievements of Airbnb since its inception in 2008

• More than 1 billion reservations
• More than 150 million users
• 6 guests check in every second
• valued at $73.2 billion in 2021
• In 2022, Airbnb will generate $8,399 billion in revenue.
• 66,000 listings in the US and more than 100,000 listings throughout Europe
• In 100,000 cities throughout the world, there are 6 million global listings.
• Almost 50% of guests prefer to stay on Airbnb rather than in conventional hotels.
• A host on Airbnb typically makes over $13,000 USD annually.
• 19% of the total demand for lodging in the US is met by Airbnb.

Airbnb business model

There are two different sides involved in the Airbnb business model. 

Guest – People searching for an affordable place to stay for a certain period during their travel or visit. 

Host – People willing to list their property on Airbnb for rent/lease. 

Now, let’s shed some light on the working model of Airbnb.

• Firstly, the listing includes all relevant information about the property – the cost, rules and restrictions, nearby attractions, and photos of the amenities.
• The guests can then filter the available properties based on their preferences and reserve a place that meets their requirements by sending a partial or full payment.
• As soon as the booking is done, the host or owner of the property will be notified. With every transaction, Airbnb gets a percentage of the commission.
• Previously, the hosts were required to take photographs for their listing. Airbnb now gives hosts the option to hire their staff of qualified photographers based in various cities around the world.

Must-Have Features for an app like Airbnb

Integrating features play a significant role in Airbnb-like app development. Following are the must-have features of an Airbnb app based on three panels: 

Guest Side

Registration

This feature allows new users to create an account on the platform. Users will need to provide basic information such as their name, email address, and password to create an account. Additionally, it’s essential to add a ‘Terms and Policy’ pop-up since users have to agree with the policy of use. 

Login

Once a user has registered, they can log in to the platform using their email address and password. In fact, to make the log-in procedure way more seamless, the app must consist of log-in via social profiles, such as Google+ or Facebook.

Search

This is one of the most important features of an Airbnb-like app. Users should be able to search for accommodations based on various criteria such as location, price, number of guests, and dates. The search results should be displayed in a clear and organized manner, and users should be able to refine their search criteria as needed.

Favorites

Users should be able to save listings they are interested in into a “favorites” list for easy access later on.

Chats

This feature allows users to communicate with hosts directly through the app. This could be useful for asking questions about the listing, making special requests, or clarifying details about the booking.

Profile

Users should be able to create a profile on the app that includes information about themselves, such as their name, profile picture, and any relevant details such as their travel preferences or past reviews.

Payments

Users should be able to make payments securely through the app. This could include a variety of payment methods such as credit cards, PayPal, or other electronic payment options.

Bookings

This feature allows users to book a listing and make a reservation. Users should be able to see all of the relevant details about their booking, including the dates, price, cancellation policy, and any other relevant information.

Hosts Side

Accommodations

This feature allows hosts to list their properties on the platform. Hosts can create detailed listings that include photos, descriptions, and relevant details such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, amenities, and house rules.

Requests

When guests are interested in booking a host’s property, they will send a booking request to the host. The host will receive and respond to these requests through the app.

Notifications

The host receives notifications through the app when they receive booking requests, messages from guests, or any other important updates related to their listing.

GPS

This feature allows hosts to set the location of their property accurately on the map. It also helps guests to find the property easily and to navigate around the area.

Calendar

Hosts should be able to manage their availability and block off dates when their property is not available for booking. This calendar should be synced with the platform’s booking system to prevent double bookings.

Pricing and Payments

Hosts set the price for their listings and receive payments securely through on-demand app development. They should also be able to adjust their prices based on seasonality, demand, and other factors.

Reviews

Hosts should be able to see and respond to reviews left by guests. This feedback can be used to improve the quality of their listings and attract more bookings.

How much does it cost to develop an on-demand app like Airbnb?

In this segment, you will be able to gain deeper insights into Airbnb like app development costs. It’s critical to estimate the cost of each application you design so that your budget may be properly configured. The following variables may have an effect on the overall cost of developing a mobile application:

App Platform 

You decide on a platform for the app based on your budget and target market. If you only want to reach a specific group of people, you can select a single platform, i.e. either iOS or Android. On the flip side, you can opt for cross-platform app development if your target market is bigger as it offers better reach.

App Designing

When determining how much it will cost to create an Airbnb clone app, mobile design is a key factor. The total mobile app development cost may vary depending on the tools and visuals employed. Standard designs typically have a lower cost, but if customization and a special design are involved, the entire price may increase.

App complexity level

The app’s complexity level is determined by the quantity and nature of the features it includes. The price to create an Airbnb clone app is relatively minimal if your app has only the most fundamental features. Nonetheless, this cost tends to be higher with advanced features.

Team Size

Every project starts with the creation of a team that consists of a project manager, mobile app developers, designers, and analysts. Together, these individuals design an app similar to Airbnb.

Check out our complete guide on-demand laundry App development to get an idea of our approach to the app development process. 

How can DianApps help you build an app like Airbnb?

Creating a mobile application like Airbnb and growing it into a million-dollar company takes a lot of commitment, perseverance, and work. Yet, it is feasible, and a pioneer already exists. You may learn from and avoid the errors that Airbnb made.

At DianApps, we make world-class custom mobile applications. Moreover, we can assist you with developing scalable MVPs, product development, data science services using AI and ML, and improved cloud services.

Being a leading mobile app development company, we utilize cutting-edge tools like Next.js, AI, etc. to produce high-quality solutions that are prepared for the future.

When you have a big dream, like Airbnb, there are various ways you might start small and go big. Make sure the team you choose to develop your app is right.

If you still have concerns about creating your app, you may speak with a software development company for assistance with anything from deployment to maintenance.

Dream big, start small and achieve big.

Want to make your Airbnb-like app idea a reality? Get in touch with us to schedule a FREE consultation.