# HotSpot Parking — user reviews > 270 indexed App Store user reviews of HotSpot Parking by HotSpot Parking Inc., rated 4.30/5 from 434 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotspot-parking/id723185236/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotspot-parking/id723185236.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 324 · 4★ 35 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 66 ## What do users think of HotSpot Parking? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Convenient - 🚀 Easy to use - 🚀 Instantaneous refunds - 🚀 Exceptional customer service **Cons** - 🐛 Crashes frequently - 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable - 🤑 Expensive with hidden fees - 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive UI - 🤔 Requires mandatory membership - 🤔 Minimum wallet balance requirement - 🤔 Difficult to manage account and vehicles **Commonly reported bugs** - Login and verification issues - Payment processing problems - Incorrect parking time displayed - Inability to change default city/location **Most requested features** - Dark mode option - Apple Pay integration - Ability to extend parking remotely - Simplified parking process for visitors - Better transaction history and reporting ## Newest reviews (19 of 270) ### 4/5 — It takes times to get used of the structure of this app. *2026-08-23, version 18.8.0* It takes me several times to get used of this app. Especially the name of app. In the beginning, I think it’s an app for public wifi (hotspot). ### 1/5 — Really?!?! *2026-08-10, version 18.8.0* Absolutely idiotic!! The one and only time I’ve EVER seen parking requiring the use of this app it was $0.41 to park. The app wanted a cost for membership as well as a using a “wallet” that you could only add minimum of $10. It asks for credit cart info or apple wallet but won’t let you simply pay the cost of your parking. What a complete joke!! ### 1/5 — Not good! *2026-08-07, version 18.8.0* Clunky and poorly done. No notifications as time winds down, can’t see details of previous uses and app won’t email the receipt. Just says “Sorry”. Was also forced to the app since their machine wouldn’t take credit or debit. ### 1/5 — Changes city randomly *2026-08-04, version 18.8.0* Keeps wasting my money by randomly Changing the city without indication. So I end up buying a bus pass for half way across the country. Literally! Do better! ### 2/5 — Meh *2026-07-29, version 18.8.0* This app is not the worst, but it’s also not great. Kind of a let down that there is no map so that I can see what zone I am in to pay for parking. I still have to physically go find it what zone I am in off the meter and I think k that defeats the purpose of the app. ### 1/5 — Horrible Customer Service *2026-07-29, version 18.8.0* Horrible customer service, I recently moved to a new province. New license plate,y last province was always three letters -three numbers. I received a ticket disputed it and they said I had put a O and not 0 so the ticket was valid…. Come on some leniency or understanding would have been nice. I hate that this is the only option for cashless parking ### 2/5 — Not my best experience *2026-07-24, version 18.7.0* I have used a few parking apps and I don't care for this app at all. It does not provide you with a heads up that your time is coming to an end so you can top up but instead you risk a parking ticket. And seriously, why force us to subscribe? There are much better, user friendly parking apps out there. Please learn from them ### 1/5 — Poor substitute for Pay By Phone *2026-07-24, version 18.7.0* App charges a fee and doesn’t even remember the basics of your vehicle ### 1/5 — 0 étoile pire appli de marde *2026-07-18, version 18.7.0* Perte de temps, terrible ### 1/5 — App doesn’t work *2026-07-17, version 18.7.0* App won’t let me add my license plate and won’t let me pay with a credit card. Bad. ### 1/5 — Unusable *2026-07-16, version 18.7.0* Tried to use to pay to park but couldn't even register license plate. Totally archaic design. Never will use again. ### 1/5 — Designed to waste money *2026-07-16, version 18.7.0* Rather than just charging your card what you owe, you have to add money to the account, which you can’t withdraw, so use it or lose it, which means every user will probably end with a balance in their account ### 1/5 — So the bare minimum *2026-07-16, version 18.7.0* I’m rather shocked disappointed and frustrated to the extreme that the province of Alberta would go into businesss with a company that cannot even figure out its sub processors for accepting cash outside of your own city! Was there any vetting of the application!?!? Or was it just the cheapest solution? ### 1/5 — No OTHER PROVINCE SELECTION *2026-07-15, version 18.7.0* In need of downloading the app, just to find out thats ONLY Ontario selected and not any other provinces like Saskatchewan, Alberta and etc. garbage app. ### 1/5 — Awful *2026-07-14, version 18.6.0* Auto add doesn’t work. Password support non existent and you can’t add a licence plate for some awful reason. This app sucks!! ### 1/5 — Worst parking app ever *2026-07-09, version 18.6.0* I can’t see where I can park in the city. This is not a parking app. This is a payment app that somebody could’ve vibe coded in 15 minutes. I wonder who the city is paying for this stupid app. Also, I paid for two hours and I opened the app up and I can’t see how much time I have left. I cannot see a history. I can’t see when I paid for my last parking session. Nothing. This app is useless. ### 1/5 — Horrible *2026-07-04, version 18.6.0* Sucks to use. Would rather owe my first born son than use this app ### 1/5 — Membership?! *2026-07-03, version 18.6.0* Need to sign up for a membership to park one time. Ridiculous ### 1/5 — A piece of mediocre dang *2026-07-03, version 18.6.0* It feels like an app made by a student back in 2010 and never updated since then. Terrible UX. I guess only corruption could make this app into so many cities ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — No meter alerts?! *2026-08-29, version 18.8.1* Super frustrated with this app. Local transit agency phased out a perfectly functional app that alerted you when your meter was about to expire and gave you the opportunity to extend. The agency promised that HotSpot would provide the same feature, but I get zero alerts of any kind (text, notification, banner, call, nothing) in spite of notifications being enabled. There is no setting or option within the app itself that relates to notifications. What is the point of a parking meter app (and what is the point of paying an extra fee on every transaction) if the one useful feature we were promised doesn’t exist?? Better off just paying the meter with a debit card. ### 1/5 — Awful *2026-08-28, version 18.8.1* This app is awful. Has crashed multiple times and also won’t let you cancel a membership plan within the app. It does let you upgrade and pay more. ### 1/5 — Over complicated! *2026-08-27, version 18.8.1* Why I need all of this functions?? Just let me add plate nr and spot location. That’s all! Also it’s not working, I can’t add a vehicle! ### 1/5 — Awfully Clunky UI *2026-08-25, version 18.8.0* Does not accurately show parking available in Nanaimo. Can only pay using the QR CODE or through the standalone pay stations. Have been ticketed thinking the app would work. ### 1/5 — Terrible App *2026-08-24, version 18.8.0* Can’t edit cars license plate after adding it. User interface sucks. Garbage. ### 1/5 — Holy obnoxious pop ups *2026-08-18, version 18.8.0* this is most obnoxious app I’ve ever interacted with. If you don’t have it already, just use the parking machines. ### 1/5 — Can’t add vehicles *2026-08-17, version 18.8.0* I’m currently illegally parked because the app won’t work properly and won’t add my vehicle. San Francisco recently changed over to this app and it’s awful. ### 1/5 — More than pay by phone *2026-08-14, version 18.8.0* Appears to have inexplicably higher rates for the same spots and duration than pay by phone ### 1/5 — Not functional while travelling *2026-08-12, version 18.8.0* My home city uses this for on street parking and I’ve had no major problems. However, the app will not let me pay for parking in another city - while on vacation! Can’t pay by credit card, can’t add funds to wallet, won’t even detect city I’m in. Useless for travelling. ### 1/5 — Useless App *2026-08-12, version 18.8.0* I can’t change the province or city, so I can’t use this even if I wanted to. Completely useless. I’m filing a complaint with my city for forcing this app at the parkades. Other municipalities should take note. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Game changer *2026-07-24, version 18.7.0* This app takes away from the hassle of parking downtown. ### 5/5 — À lifesaver *2026-06-12, version 18.4.0* This app is so damn handy. Many locations, simple to use, inexpensive. Very happy to have this. ### 5/5 — Easy to use. *2026-05-09, version 18.1.1* I love the fact that you can refund the unused time when leaving ### 5/5 — Convenient & Efficient *2026-02-18, version 17.0.0* This app has allowed me to manage my monthly parking as well as meter and parking lot parking with ease and reliability. Highly recommend!! ### 5/5 — Exceptional Customer Service *2026-01-25, version 16.4.0* Their customer service is super fast and easy I was honestly amazed. Very very happy with them. ### 5/5 — Love it *2026-01-09, version 16.4.0* It’s intuitive, easy, and refunds you if you don’t complete your time. I love that it’s so instantaneous when I upload to my wallet. When you pay from Your wallet there’s no minimum price ◡̈ ### 5/5 — Parking App Works *2025-10-10, version 16.3.0* App works great in areas where used. Like that you can get refunded unused portion of your parking payment. ### 5/5 — Easy life *2025-10-08, version 16.3.0* Easy easy ### 5/5 — Great app *2025-06-26, version 15.5.0* This is a great app, especially if you’re commuting between cities and provinces with multiple cars. The ability to be totally mobile is so convenient. ### 5/5 — Rendre plus facile de voyager *2025-06-02, version 15.5.0* Ça facilite de faire des réservations aussi tôt sans bouger sans paniquer avec des sécurisation qui rassure de n’est pas avoir trop des doutes --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-31.*