# ParkDSM vs Ames Ride

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ames Ride at 73% against ParkDSM's 8%. Ames Ride also leads on rating (4.3 vs 1.6) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). ParkDSM's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (156 vs 27). On price, ads, in-app purchases and chart position there is nothing between them.

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

Ames Ride holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ParkDSM has 156 ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 8% of ParkDSM's written reviews are positive against 73% of Ames Ride's.

ParkDSM ships an update fortnightly, Ames Ride every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and August 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ParkDSM | Ames Ride |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.6 (156 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parkdsm/id1591485040/reviews) | **[4.3 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ames-ride/id1666007719/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **156** | 27 |
| Positive reviews | 7.8% of reviews | **72.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#194** | #202 |
| Size | 171 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Parkmobile USA, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/365399302) | [Patrick Demers](https://appshunter.io/developer/1666007721) |

## What reviewers say

### ParkDSM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parkdsm/id1591485040)

**Currently charting:** #194 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Pay for parking in Des Moines, Iowa, using your mobile phone. This app eliminates the need for coins or dealing with broken meters. Start and extend parking sessions quickly, and receive expiration alerts.

**Highlights:** Mobile parking payment, Extend parking remotely, Expiration alerts, Find available parking, Save favorite locations, Find my car feature

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ames Ride

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ames-ride/id1666007719)

**Currently charting:** #202 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

This app provides real-time bus locations and arrival times for public transportation in Ames, IA. Users can mark favorite stops and routes for quick access to relevant information, minimizing wait times.

**Highlights:** Real-time bus locations, Favorite stop marking, Favorite route prioritization, Filtered arrival views, Modern interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ParkDSM free?

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

### Is Ames Ride free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ParkDSM or Ames Ride?

Ames Ride is rated higher. ParkDSM averages 1.6 out of 5 from 156 ratings, while Ames Ride averages 4.3 from 27 ratings.

### Do ParkDSM or Ames Ride have ads?

Neither ParkDSM nor Ames Ride shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ParkDSM or Ames Ride?

ParkDSM ships an update fortnightly, and Ames Ride every 2 months. Most recently, ParkDSM was updated on September 21, 2026 and Ames Ride on August 16, 2026.

### Which is more popular, ParkDSM or Ames Ride?

ParkDSM currently peaks at #194 in the App Store charts, and Ames Ride at #202. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*