ParkSFO vs CA DMV Wallet
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ParkSFO
Effortlessly manage your parking experience from your phone. Pay for parking, check out of facilities, and apply discounts and coupons without needing paper tickets or waiting in line. Earn credits for future parking fees.
- Mobile parking payment
- Facility checkout
- Apply coupons and discounts
- Earn parking credits
- Frictionless parking experience
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With the ParkSFO Mobile app you can park your car, pay for parking, and check out of the facility all through your mobile phone. No need for paper tickets, no more waiting in line to pay. And you can still use our coupons and receive your club membership discounts when using the mobile app! You can also earn credits within the app and these credit can be applied to your parking fees! The ParkSFO app makes true frictionless parking a reality and it has never been easier or more efficient and hassle-free when you park at ParkSFO!
CA DMV Wallet
Securely present your California driver's license or ID on your smartphone. Confirm age or identity without revealing sensitive personal data like birth date or address. Use it for airport security and age-verified purchases.
- Digital driver's license and ID
- Secure data sharing
- Age verification
- Airport TSA screening
- Online identity verification
- Fraud and identity theft protection
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Now live in Pilot Phase – California DMV Mobile Wallet Californians now have a secure way to present their driver’s license or identification card using their smartphones via a Mobile Driver’s License (mDL) digital credential. California DMV Wallet gives you the control of the driver’s license data you share with others. For example, when buying age-restricted items, the app can confirm you are of legal age without having to share your birth date or address. With mDL in your CA DMV Wallet, you can breeze through the TSA queue at the airports using your phone. You can also enroll in the TruAge program via the Wallet Marketplace to purchase age-verified products at a corner store near you (starting with select pilot locations in California and expanding nationally). The Wallet will soon be supporting online identity verification for government and commercial applications. Designed with California's diverse population in mind, the CA DMV Wallet open-source platform uses state-of-the-art encryption algorithms and security technologies to combat fraud and reduce identity theft while improving privacy, transparency, and access for all Californians with a smartphone. Important note: While the mDL can be used as an official state-issued ID, per the pilot scope approved by the California legislature, you must still have a physical driver’s license or identification card with you. For more information, please visit: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/ca-dmv-wallet/ California DMV Wallet is free, easy, secure, and convenient
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: CA DMV Wallet at 149K against ParkSFO's 491. CA DMV Wallet also leads on chart position (#72 vs unranked). ParkSFO's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 52%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for ParkSFO against 4.8 for CA DMV Wallet. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CA DMV Wallet has 149K ratings behind it against 491, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of ParkSFO's written reviews are positive against 52% of CA DMV Wallet's.
ParkSFO ships an update every 2 months, CA DMV Wallet every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ParkSFO | CA DMV Wallet |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (491 ratings) — better | 4.8 (149K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.8% of reviews — better | 52.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 491 | 149K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #72 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 39 MB | 172 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | PARKSFO | California Department of Motor Vehicles |
Customer experience
ParkSFO
CA DMV Wallet
User reviews
ParkSFO
From 491 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 User-friendly and easy-to-use app interface
- 🚀 Fast and convenient check-in/check-out process
- 💰 Affordable parking with coupon discounts
- 🚌 Reliable shuttle service with minimal wait times
- 🔒 Secure parking facility with helpful staff
Room to improve
- 🐛 QR code scanner frequently malfunctions at exit gates
- 🐛 Elevator system issues and inconsistent functionality
- ❌ App and website are disconnected/not integrated
- 😕 Confusing signage that doesn't match app instructions
- 🔧 Limited app functionality and features
CA DMV Wallet
From 149K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and easy setup
- 👍 Worked well for most users
- 💡 Potential for digital ID convenience
Room to improve
- 🐛 Scanning and authentication issues
- 🔒 Security and privacy concerns
- 👎 Lack of Apple Wallet integration
Bugs and requests
ParkSFO
Reported bugs
10 issues- QR code reader at exit gate doesn't work reliably
- App crashes when entering state in profile
- Brightness control issue on iPhone after closing app
- Cannot retroactively check in after downloading app
- Coupon codes cannot be deleted once selected
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- Coupons don't persist in saved section
- Scanners don't work consistently throughout facility
- App doesn't notify when lot is full
- Website login/registration issues
- Reservation made in app cannot be viewed in app
Requested features
10 requests- Live shuttle location tracking on map
- Ability to make and view reservations directly in app
- Save parking space number and floor to ticket
- Apple Pay payment option
- Ability to attach multiple credit cards to account
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- Parking space photo/note feature for memory aid
- Direct call/pickup location feature for terminals
- Lot capacity/availability status in app
- Better coupon display showing discount amount at checkout
- Clipboard paste functionality for credit card entry
CA DMV Wallet
Reported bugs
3 issues- Buttons and UI elements not visible
- Repeated authentication failures
- Inconsistent app behavior across devices
Requested features
3 requests- Add support for Apple Wallet
- Improve user interface and navigation
- Expand acceptance at more locations
In-app purchases
ParkSFO
No in-app purchases
CA DMV Wallet
No in-app purchases
