Comparison

BIXI vs Parallel Parking

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

Head to head
About

BIXI

This official app allows users to rent bikes from Montreal's metropolitan area bike share system. Purchase passes, memberships, and view real-time station availability to plan your rides. Track your trips and sync data with your health app.

Highlights
  • Rent a bike
  • Purchase passes and memberships
  • Real-time station map
  • Bike and docking point availability
  • Track trip statistics
  • Sync with Health app
Features
Read full description

Official mobile application for Montreal metropolitan area’s bike share system. It allows users to purchase one-way passes and memberships and to rent a bike. A map of the stations shows, in real time, the number of bikes and docking points available at each station so you can plan your routes. Bixi connects with the Health app and sends ride durations so your pedaling counts towards your health goals. Access your personal space to learn more about your trips and usage statistics.

About

Parallel Parking

Features
Read full description

Park like you know Montreal! Pick a street and see your odds before you get there. Skip the circling, skip the potential tickets. You just park. === YOUR ODDS, ON EVERY STREET === -A percentage on every street: your chance of finding a spot right now -Search any address and see your odds before you leave, plus the best time to arrive -Paid spots on the map, each showing the chance it's free -Slide the clock up to a day ahead and watch the whole map change === ASK PARALLEL === -Ask in plain words, in English, French or Spanish: "Where can I park near the Bell Centre tonight?" -Get streets with their odds and the walk to your door, then tap Guide me -Not sure about a pole? Snap it right in the chat and Parallel reads it for you -Free includes 3 questions a day, Plus 10, Pro 25 === CAN I PARK HERE? === -One tap answers for the exact spot you're standing on, each side of the street separately -Every sign in Montréal decoded into one plain sentence, in English, French or Spanish -Point your camera at a confusing pole and Parallel reads it for you, with an optional AI second opinion -Street explanations: the AI reads every posted rule on both sides and tells you, in plain words, what you can do right now and until when -AI on every plan: free includes 20 sign photo readings a week and 5 street explanations a month -No-parking streets, permit zones, fire hydrants and bus stops drawn on the map -How often cars get towed, broken into or hit on this block === STAY OUT OF TROUBLE === -Snow-removal ban and tow-zone alerts -Enforcement nearby: drivers report a parking officer, and everyone around sees it for 30 minutes, anonymously -Save where you parked, and get a nudge before the rules change under your car -Help fix the map: when a sign you scan doesn't match the map, Parallel can send what each said, without the photo === PARALLEL PLUS === Parallel is free, with no account and no tracking. Plus is for drivers who want the whole city at a glance: -Your odds on CarPlay, right under the turn directions -Zoom out to a whole neighbourhood painted with your chances -Parking forecast: how the city fills up, hour by hour, and when a concert, a game or a street fair will make it busier -Saved places, each with its odds ready -Map layers: sign poles, construction, EV chargers, Park & Ride, speed and red-light cameras, theft areas, lots, satellite view -Unlimited searches (free includes 5 per week) -More AI: 200 sign photo readings and 50 street explanations a month Parallel Pro is for people who drive all day: everything in Plus, with live odds everywhere, up to 40 hours a month, 1,000 sign photo readings and 300 street explanations a month, and the parking ticket helper: photograph a ticket and Parallel checks it against the signs where your car was, at the time it was written. If it's worth contesting, it drafts your not-guilty plea in French, with a translation (10 tickets a month, not legal advice). === MADE IN MONTRÉAL === -Borough by borough, built on the city's open data as featured on the Montreal city showcase (https://donnees.montreal.ca/en/showcase/parallel) -In English, French and Spanish -No account, and nothing we collect is linked to you Parallel Plus (CAD $3.99/month or CAD $34.99/year) and Parallel Pro (CAD $29.99/month or CAD $249.99/year) are auto-renewing subscriptions. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel it in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://towr.dev/parallel/privacy/

Screenshots

BIXI2 screens
Parallel Parking4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BIXI at none against Parallel Parking's 4. Parallel Parking's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Parallel Parking sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. BIXI asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BIXI ships an update every 2 months, Parallel Parking every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
BIXI versus Parallel Parking: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBIXIParallel Parking
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (172 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews49.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings172 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLyft Bikes and Scooters, LLCGerman Alfonso Torres

Bugs and requests

BIXI

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes and glitches
  • Issues with bike unlocking and docking
  • Inaccurate bike and station availability information

Requested features

4 requests
  • In-app membership cancellation
  • Better integration with maps and navigation
  • Improved station availability tracking
  • More flexible time limits and pricing

Parallel Parking

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

BIXI

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Parallel Parking

Subscriptions4
  • Parallel Plus Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Parallel Pro Monthly$22.991 Month
  • Parallel Plus Yearly$24.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Parallel Pro Yearly$199.991 Year

Questions

Is BIXI free?
BIXI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Parallel Parking free?
Parallel Parking is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BIXI or Parallel Parking have ads?
Neither BIXI nor Parallel Parking shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BIXI or Parallel Parking?
BIXI ships an update every 2 months, and Parallel Parking every 3 days. Most recently, BIXI was updated on November 1, 2026 and Parallel Parking on October 31, 2026.

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