ParkChicago® vs ParkByApp
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ParkChicago®
Manage your entire parking experience directly from your smartphone. Pay for, extend, and track your parking sessions with ease, eliminating the need for physical meters or coins. Receive helpful notifications and access your parking history.
- Pay for parking sessions
- Extend parking sessions
- Receive low time notifications
- Access parking history
- Receive email receipts
- Find parking with interactive map
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Chicago, say hello to convenient parking! With the ParkChicago® app you can manage your entire parking experience from your smartphone. No more quarters. No more running to the meter. Pay, extend and manage your parking session with just a few taps. It’s easy! Get Started Today: 1. Download the free ParkChicago® app 2. Park where you see the ParkChicago® signs 3. Pay for your parking session from your phone The Perks of ParkChicago®: - Receive notifications when your parking session time is low - Extend your parking session through the app - Receive email receipts at the end of your parking session - Manage your parking history through the mobile app - The ParkChicago® app links to the ParkChicago®Map app where you can use an interactive map and search features to find parking at competitive prices in Chicago city limits. Say goodbye to garage fees and reservations! Make your parking experience as simple as possible – download ParkChicago® today.
ParkByApp
Easily pay for and manage your parking sessions directly from your smartphone. Avoid the hassle of meters and receive notifications before your session expires. Extend your parking time remotely to accommodate changing plans.
- Pay for parking on the go
- Extend parking sessions remotely
- Receive parking session expiry alerts
- View future parking rates
- Manage parking history
- Receive email receipts
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No more digging for coins. This is how parking should be. Pay, extend, and manage your parking session with just a few taps. It’s easy! PAY ON THE GO Pay quickly and securely 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 ParkByApp. 2. Park where you see ParkByApp signs. 3. Pay for your parking session from your phone. 4. Relax, welcome to parking as it should be. -------- COMING SOON The ParkByApp 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
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ParkChicago® at 4.7 against ParkByApp's 3.2. ParkChicago® also leads on review sentiment (36% vs 10%) and ratings volume (15K vs 275). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
ParkChicago® holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ParkChicago® has 15K ratings behind it against 275, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of ParkChicago®'s written reviews are positive against 10% of ParkByApp's.
ParkChicago® ships an update every 3 months, ParkByApp every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ParkChicago® | ParkByApp |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (15K ratings) — better | 3.2 (275 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 36.1% of reviews — better | 9.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15K — better | 275 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 9 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #171 — better | #210 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 109 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Chicago Parking Meters, LLC | Park By App, Inc |
Customer experience
ParkChicago®
ParkByApp
User reviews
ParkChicago®
From 15K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Convenient and easy to use
- 🔒 Secure payment processing
- ⏱️ Helpful time reminders
- 📱 Ability to manage parking from phone
Room to improve
- 💰 Excessive fees and minimum balance requirements
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app performance
- 🔄 Forced account reloading
- ⚠️ Lack of transparency and customer support
ParkByApp
From 275 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Quick and convenient payment process
- ⏰ Ability to extend parking remotely from phone
- 📱 Easy-to-use interface with simple instructions
- 🔔 Parking expiration notifications
- 📊 Parking history tracking available
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashes frequently and is unstable
- ❌ Network errors prevent payment processing
- 💳 Credit card registration fails repeatedly
- 🚫 Limited parking time increment options (forced 2+ hour minimums)
- 💰 Significantly overpriced compared to competitors and kiosks
Bugs and requests
ParkChicago®
Reported bugs
4 issues- Endless login/account creation loop
- App crashes and freezes
- Payment issues and incorrect charges
- Inability to remove/edit linked vehicles
Requested features
4 requests- Allow partial balance refunds
- Integrate with location services for zone detection
- Provide option to pay for exact parking time
- Improve communication with parking enforcement
ParkByApp
Reported bugs
13 issues- App crashes on launch and during use
- Network error messages blocking payment attempts
- Credit card information not saved correctly or shows wrong number
- PIN entry causes app to close automatically
- Zone selection screen unresponsive on iOS devices
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Time selection interface fails to appear
- App does not work in certain countries despite being advertised
- Kiosk machines unable to read cards
- Kiosk machines do not print receipts
- App does not accept payment despite multiple attempts
- Slow and sluggish performance
- Registration process hangs indefinitely
- Car addition feature non-functional on iPhone with latest iOS
Requested features
8 requests- Apple Pay and digital wallet integration
- Apple Watch app support
- Hourly parking rate options instead of fixed increments
- Search feature for parking zones
- Better zone code visibility and accessibility
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Responsive customer support phone line
- International payment method support
- Automatic refund system for disputed charges
In-app purchases
ParkChicago®
No in-app purchases
ParkByApp
No in-app purchases
