OneEarner Referrals

OneEarner Referrals is official driver referral program designed by Uber to incentivize existing drivers to invite new drivers to the platform. The program offers monetary rewards to both the referrer and the referee upon the completion of specific milestones.

• - Referral sharing via native Android features.
• - Country-specific reward offers (e.g., $300 after 60 trips).
• - Progress tracking for referred drivers.
• - Secure integration with the backend systems.

Role: Android Developer
Stack: Java, Kotlin, RxJava, Motif, XML

The referral feature is seamlessly integrated into the Uber Driver app, allowing drivers to easily share their unique referral codes through various channels such as SMS, email, and social media. The app provides real-time updates on the referral status, ensuring transparency and engagement.

Screenshot of the Referrals Home Page. You can view your status, your current offer based on your city/country or send an invite.

Screenshot of the referral invitation screen within the Uber Driver app.

Progress tracking interface showing the status of referred drivers. Classified between active and past invitations.

The OneEarner Referrals program had a profound impact on both Uber’s driver growth strategy and user engagement. By enabling existing drivers to act as ambassadors, the program scaled organically, leveraging word-of-mouth and community-driven trust. This created a self-sustaining growth loop where motivated drivers became recruiters, incentivized by real earnings.

In high-demand markets like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, referral bonuses of up to $500 led to significant spikes in driver sign-ups during targeted campaigns. The app’s ability to localize offers per region allowed Uber to fine-tune acquisition strategies and reward structures based on driver availability and city-specific growth goals.

From a product perspective, the referral system reduced onboarding costs by decreasing the need for traditional marketing campaigns. New drivers often signed up through friends and family, making the process feel more personal and trustworthy. Additionally, tracking referrals in-app helped reduce fraud, improved transparency, and created a sense of accountability in both parties involved.

On the technical side, implementing real-time updates through backend APIs and synchronizing referral progress across devices (web, mobile) was a significant accomplishment. It ensured that users had access to accurate and timely data, which helped build trust and encouraged continued engagement.

Overall, the OneEarner Referrals project was not just a feature—it was a strategic engine that helped Uber expand efficiently while rewarding its most loyal drivers. As an Android Developer, being part of this initiative meant building technology that directly supported Uber’s mission of creating economic opportunities through mobility.