MPLS Parking vs GopherTunnels
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MPLS Parking
Easily pay for parking, find your parked car, and receive snow emergency alerts. Extend parking time remotely and manage your vehicles all from your smartphone.
- Mobile parking payments
- Find my car feature
- Parking time extensions
- Event parking
- Snow Emergency Alerts
- Face ID authentication
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Parking convenience is at your fingertips with the new and improved MPLS Parking app. Pay for parking on your mobile device, get notified before your time runs out, and extend your time without visiting a parking meter (note that time extension rules vary location by location). Key features of the app include: • Mobile Payments via smart phone or web • Find my car (for those of us who forget where they parked) • Face ID • Event parking • Snow Emergency Alert Registration for MPLS Parking is free: just create your account via the app. Once you’ve created an account, you can park and pay for parking in any location parking available in Minneapolis. How to Use the App: • Create an account • Choose the vehicle license plate • Select your location on the map • Use the dial to choose how long you want to park • Confirm your payment Payment with MPLS Parking App is ultra secure. Your data is protected and our process is certified via 3rd party audit against Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.
GopherTunnels
Navigate the University of Minnesota's underground tunnel system with real-time directions. Find the fastest indoor routes between buildings, locate entrances, and avoid harsh weather. This privacy-focused app requires no accounts or data collection.
- Real-time tunnel navigation
- Indoor route finding
- Detailed building information
- Weather-proof travel
- Privacy-first design
- Campus exploration
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Getting lost in the tunnels? Not anymore. GopherTunnels helps you navigate the University of Minnesota’s underground GopherWay system — just like Google Maps, but for the tunnels! Whether you’re escaping the cold, rushing to class, or finding a shortcut between East and West Bank, GopherTunnels shows you exactly where to go. See nearby buildings, follow clear step-by-step directions, and explore the entire tunnel network with confidence. Features you’ll love: • Real-time tunnel navigation – find the fastest indoor routes between buildings • Detailed building info – easily spot entrances, elevators, and hallways • Weather-proof travel – stay warm through every Minnesota winter • Privacy-first – no accounts, no tracking, no data collection — ever Built by the App Developers Club at the University of Minnesota, GopherTunnels is made for students, faculty, and visitors who want a smoother way to move around campus — rain, snow, or sunshine. Discover campus from a new perspective — the one beneath your feet.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: GopherTunnels at 100% against MPLS Parking's 24%. GopherTunnels also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). MPLS Parking's advantage is ratings volume (47K vs 5) and chart position (#113 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
GopherTunnels holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MPLS Parking has 47K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of MPLS Parking's written reviews are positive against 100% of GopherTunnels's.
MPLS Parking ships an update every 4 months, GopherTunnels every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MPLS Parking | GopherTunnels |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (47K ratings) | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 23.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 47K — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #113 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 143 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | City of Minneapolis | Victor Hofstetter |
Customer experience
MPLS Parking
GopherTunnels
Bugs and requests
MPLS Parking
Reported bugs
3 issues- Repeated charges for failed transactions
- Inability to change default vehicle or payment
- Parking zone information not matching actual location
Requested features
4 requests- Interactive lock screen widget
- Saved parking history and favorites
- Parking availability information
- Improved accessibility
GopherTunnels
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
MPLS Parking
No in-app purchases
GopherTunnels
No in-app purchases
