The RideOn Taxi app uses Google Maps APIs for maps, routing, and distance calculations, and Firebase for real-time ride data and storage. Costs scale based on monthly usage.
| Component | Usage | Free Tier / Limits | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maps SDK (Mobile) | Display maps in rider & driver apps | $200/month free credit | $7 per 1,000 requests |
| Directions API | Route calculation & navigation | $200/month free credit | $5 per 1,000 requests |
| Distance Matrix API | Distance & fare calculation | $200/month free credit | $5 per 1,000 elements |
| Geocoding API | Address ↔ coordinates conversion | $200/month free credit | $5 per 1,000 requests |
| Firebase Realtime DB | Ride data, driver tracking, real-time updates | 1 GB storage, 10 GB/month transfer | ~$0.60 per 1,000 rides |
| Firestore DB | Additional ride & app data storage | 50k reads, 50k writes, 1 GB storage | ~$0.02 per 1,000 rides |
| Firebase Total (DBs) | Realtime DB + Firestore | Covered for small usage | ~$0.62 per 1,000 rides |
| OneSignal Notifications | Push notifications | Unlimited (Free plan) | Free |
| Server Hosting | Backend (Laravel + MySQL) | — | $5.99–$12.99 / month |
| Google Play Store | Developer account | — | $25 one-time |
| Apple App Store | Developer account | — | $99 / year |
Notes
Google Maps provides $200 free monthly credit, which typically covers small to medium usage.
Firebase costs remain very low unless handling large-scale real-time traffic.
Actual costs depend on ride volume and API usage.
Estimated Monthly Cost Based on App Usage:
| Monthly Rides | Google Maps APIs | Firebase Realtime DB | Firestore DB | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.60 | $0.02 | ~$0.62 |
| 10,000 | $0–$5 | $6.00 | $0.20 | ~$6–$11 |
| 50,000 | $0–$25 | $30.00 | $1.00 | ~$31–$56 |
| 100,000 | $0–$50 | $60.00 | $2.00 | ~$62–$112 |
If you prefer to use a map service other than Google Maps, customization can be provided upon request. The RideOn Taxi app supports alternative map providers such as Mapbox, Ola Maps, and OpenStreetMap (OSM).
Map Service Cost Comparison:
| Map Provider | Supported Features | Free Tier / Allowance | After Free Tier – Estimated Cost | Accuracy & Coverage | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Maps(Pricing) | Maps, routing, distance matrix, geocoding, traffic, place search | $200/month free credit | Maps: ~$7 per 1,000 loads Directions: ~$5 per 1,000 requests Distance Matrix: ~$5 per 1,000 elements | Very high, global | Most accurate, highest cost |
| Mapbox (Pricing) | Maps, navigation, routing, geocoding, traffic | ~50,000 map loads/month | ~$5 per 1,000 map loads Routing & geocoding billed separately | High, global | Good balance of cost & quality |
| Ola Maps(Pricing) | Maps, routing, navigation | Limited / custom plans | Custom pricing (typically lower than Google) | High (India), limited global | Best for India-focused apps |
| OpenStreetMap (OSM) - (Policy) | Maps, basic routing, geocoding (via Nominatim) | Free (open-source) | No API costServer, hosting & maintenance costs apply | Community-driven, varies by region | Lowest cost, higher maintenance |