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The "Uber of…" syndrome

"It's a bit like Uber… but for hairdressers." Not bad to explain a concept. Catastrophic when you copy without understanding.

Author · Mickael Published on · May 24, 2026 Reading · 2 min read EN FR
The "Uber of…" syndrome

"It's a bit like Uber… but for hairdressers."

Every developer has heard this sentence. And honestly ? It's not necessarily bad. It helps explain a concept quickly.

The problem arrives when the project starts copying without understanding. Same structure. Same navigation. Same logic. Same screens. Except the market, the users and the usage are sometimes totally different.

Behind every button, years of invisible decisions

Because a famous app didn't become efficient by accident. Behind every button there are usually :

  • years of testing,
  • studied user behaviors,
  • business constraints,
  • dozens of invisible decisions.

When someone simply copies the screens without understanding the reasons behind the choices… the product often loses all coherence. And users feel it very fast.

Inspiration doesn't mean copying

That's also why a good app shouldn't just be "inspired". It must be adapted to its own use case.

Because a flow that works for Uber could be catastrophic for a medical, educational or real estate app. Apple's Human Interface Guidelines insist on this : every app must have its own voice and logic, not a copy-paste of the leaders.

The real product work is understanding

The real product work consists of understanding : why the user clicks, why they hesitate, why they drop off, why certain steps work.

And honestly, that's often where the most interesting projects get built.

Want to avoid the "Uber of…" syndrome on your next project ? Book a 15-minute call to turn an inspiration into a product that fits your market.

A mobile project to scope?

12 years of experience, iOS + Android, one dedicated contact. Free 15-minute call to scope your need — no commitment, no jargon.

Book a call →
Blog
The "Uber of…" syndrome

"It's a bit like Uber… but for hairdressers." Not bad to explain a concept. Catastrophic when you copy without understanding.

Mickael May 24, 2026 2 min read
EN FR
The "Uber of…" syndrome
Table of contents

"It's a bit like Uber… but for hairdressers."

Every developer has heard this sentence. And honestly ? It's not necessarily bad. It helps explain a concept quickly.

The problem arrives when the project starts copying without understanding. Same structure. Same navigation. Same logic. Same screens. Except the market, the users and the usage are sometimes totally different.

Behind every button, years of invisible decisions

Because a famous app didn't become efficient by accident. Behind every button there are usually :

  • years of testing,
  • studied user behaviors,
  • business constraints,
  • dozens of invisible decisions.

When someone simply copies the screens without understanding the reasons behind the choices… the product often loses all coherence. And users feel it very fast.

Inspiration doesn't mean copying

That's also why a good app shouldn't just be "inspired". It must be adapted to its own use case.

Because a flow that works for Uber could be catastrophic for a medical, educational or real estate app. Apple's Human Interface Guidelines insist on this : every app must have its own voice and logic, not a copy-paste of the leaders.

The real product work is understanding

The real product work consists of understanding : why the user clicks, why they hesitate, why they drop off, why certain steps work.

And honestly, that's often where the most interesting projects get built.

Want to avoid the "Uber of…" syndrome on your next project ? Book a 15-minute call to turn an inspiration into a product that fits your market.

A mobile project to scope?

12 years of experience, iOS + Android, one dedicated contact. Free 15-minute call to scope your need — no commitment, no jargon.

Book a call →

About our blog

What topics do you cover?

We write about mobile app development, user experience design, App Store optimization, project management, and industry trends. Our articles are based on real experience from client projects.

How often do you publish?

We aim to publish regularly with a focus on quality over quantity. Each article is written from hands-on experience, not generic advice.

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