Comparison

epark Ann Arbor vs FlexRide by TheRide

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

epark Ann Arbor

Manage your parking sessions easily with the official app for Ann Arbor. Pay, extend, and find parking spots using a convenient map. Avoid meter feeding and receive future rate information, including free parking periods.

Highlights
  • Pay for parking sessions
  • Extend parking sessions remotely
  • Find parking spots on a map
  • View future parking rates
  • Receive parking session alerts
  • Manage parking history
  • Get email receipts
Features
Read full description

No more digging for coins. This is how parking should be. Pay, extend, and manage your parking session with Ann Arbor's official parking app. It’s easy! FIND PARKING Use the map to search for parking, then pay quickly with your smartphone. - Time's precious, stop wasting it feeding a meter. - Forget refilling the meter in the rain or braving the cold. NO PRICE SURPRISES See when parking rates will change in the future – even when there’s free parking! - Receive email receipts at the end of your parking session. - Expenses made easy, manage your parking history through the mobile app. STRESS-FREE PARKING Get alerts when your parking session is about to end. - Stop worrying about how much time is left on the meter, we have you covered. NO NEED TO RUSH Add time to your parking session directly from your phone.* - Your plans change, your parking spot shouldn't. Simply extend your parking session via our app. -------- GET STARTED TODAY 1. Download the epark Ann Arbor app. 2. Park where you see epark Ann Arbor app signs. 3. Pay for your parking session from your phone. 4. Relax, welcome to parking as it should be. -------- COMING SOON The epark Ann Arbor app is not done yet! We're constantly updating the app based on your feedback. -------- APP PERMISSIONS - Location Services (optional): Used to quickly provide nearby parking zones. * where applicable

About

FlexRide by TheRide

This app provides on-demand ridesharing in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti areas. Book a ride with a few taps, and the technology will match you with others heading in the same direction for an efficient and reliable transit experience. Track your ride in real-time and share your status with others.

Highlights
  • On-demand ridesharing
  • Smart ride booking
  • Real-time ride tracking
  • Trip status sharing
  • Wheelchair accessible vehicles
  • Shared rides
Features
Read full description

FlexRide by TheRide is the best way to get around the greater Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area. We’re a ridesharing service that’s smart, easy, and reliable. With a few taps, book a ride in the app and our technology will pair you with other people headed your way. HOW IT WORKS: - Book a ride by setting your pickup and drop off addresses, and indicating if you’re riding with any additional passengers. - You will be given an estimated time when the vehicle will arrive upon booking your trip. The estimated arrival time of the driver will be automatically updated as your vehicle makes its way to meet you. - There may be others on board, or you may make a few additional stops along the way! You can track your ride and share your status in real-time trip from the app. SHARING YOUR TRIP: Our algorithm matches people headed in the same direction. This means you’re getting the convenience of a private ride with the efficiency and reliability of a public one. RELIABLE: Track your ride as the driver is on their way to you, and while you’re on the vehicle too. OUR VEHICLES: FlexRide is wheelchair accessible! If you require a wheelchair accessible vehicle, simply toggle on “Wheelchair accessibility” in the “Account” tab of your app! When you request a ride, you’ll be matched with a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Questions? Reach out at support-ann-arbor@ridewithvia.com. Loving your experience so far? Give us a 5-star rating.

Screenshots

epark Ann Arbor4 screens
FlexRide by TheRide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: FlexRide by TheRide at monthly against epark Ann Arbor's every 35 months. FlexRide by TheRide also leads on review sentiment (60% vs 51%). epark Ann Arbor's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (1K vs 127). On price, rating, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FlexRide by TheRide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: epark Ann Arbor has 1K ratings behind it against 127, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of epark Ann Arbor's written reviews are positive against 60% of FlexRide by TheRide's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

epark Ann Arbor ships an update every 35 months, FlexRide by TheRide monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
epark Ann Arbor versus FlexRide by TheRide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterepark Ann ArborFlexRide by TheRide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1K ratings)4.8 (127 ratings) — better
Positive reviews51.0% of reviews60.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1K — better127
Update frequencyEvery 35 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size108 MB129 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnn Arbor Downtown Development AuthorityVia Transportation, Inc.

Customer experience

epark Ann Arbor

All ratings1,023 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral0.4%
Negative7.5%
Written reviews96 reviews
Positive51.0%
Neutral2.1%
Negative46.9%

FlexRide by TheRide

All ratings127 ratings
Positive94.5%
Neutral2.4%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

epark Ann Arbor

Reported bugs

17 issues
  • Hangs on 17 Pro & iOS 26.2
  • Crashes
  • Won't even open
  • Network Error
  • Can't load app
Show 12 more
  • Can't save a card
  • Says location not available
  • Can't log in anymore
  • Gives incorrect warning when outside of hours
  • Location not available error
  • App won't work
  • App didn't work
  • Location not available is all I get
  • Won't take any of my Credit Cards
  • Doesn't work at all
  • Location Issues
  • Location services not working

Requested features

3 requests
  • Clear messaging on when parking is free/not enforced
  • Manual input option when location not available
  • Timer should start after payment made, not when app is opened

FlexRide by TheRide

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

epark Ann Arbor

No in-app purchases

None

FlexRide by TheRide

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is epark Ann Arbor free?
epark Ann Arbor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FlexRide by TheRide free?
FlexRide by TheRide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, epark Ann Arbor or FlexRide by TheRide?
FlexRide by TheRide is rated higher. epark Ann Arbor averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while FlexRide by TheRide averages 4.8 from 127 ratings.
Do epark Ann Arbor or FlexRide by TheRide have ads?
Neither epark Ann Arbor nor FlexRide by TheRide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, epark Ann Arbor or FlexRide by TheRide?
epark Ann Arbor ships an update every 35 months, and FlexRide by TheRide monthly. Most recently, epark Ann Arbor was updated on November 2, 2026 and FlexRide by TheRide on October 30, 2026.

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