# ParkRTC vs Detour Buddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ParkRTC at none against Detour Buddy's 1. ParkRTC also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). Detour Buddy's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Detour Buddy sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per year. ParkRTC asks for nothing beyond the download.

ParkRTC ships an update every 10 months, Detour Buddy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ParkRTC | Detour Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (809 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parkrtc/id1114413585/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **809** | — |
| Positive reviews | 22.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 45 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Boston Properties Limited Partnership](https://appshunter.io/developer/1464570968) | [Codepuppets](https://appshunter.io/developer/501807451) |

## What reviewers say

### ParkRTC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parkrtc/id1114413585)

Manage your parking at Reston Town Center directly from your mobile device. Pay for parking securely with a credit card, extend your session, and receive notifications. Enjoy shopping and dining with convenient parking management.

**Highlights:** Mobile parking payment, Extend parking sessions, Parking session notifications, Parking history tracking, Retailer validation and discounts, Secure credit card payment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient
- 💡 Allows for quick parking payments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and glitches
- 💰 Expensive and predatory fee structure
- 🤖 Overly complicated setup process
- 🚫 Lack of integration with common payment methods
- 📵 Requires permanent app presence on user's device

**Reported bugs**

- App starts charging time before payment is complete
- App doesn't recognize user's PIN/account information
- Validation process is inconsistent and unreliable

**Requested features**

- Allow payment in smaller time increments
- Integrate with popular parking apps like ParkMobile
- Provide more transparent and user-friendly pricing
- Offer more flexible payment options (e.g., Apple Pay)


### Detour Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/detour-buddy/id6757689187)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Detour Buddy Yearly Subscription | $1.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ParkRTC free?

ParkRTC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Detour Buddy free?

Detour Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do ParkRTC or Detour Buddy have ads?

Neither ParkRTC nor Detour Buddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ParkRTC or Detour Buddy?

ParkRTC ships an update every 10 months, and Detour Buddy every 3 weeks. Most recently, ParkRTC was updated on November 2, 2026 and Detour Buddy on October 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*