# ParkChicago® vs WelcomeMats

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ParkChicago® at none against WelcomeMats's 1. ParkChicago® also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 2) and chart position (#89 vs unranked). WelcomeMats's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 3 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WelcomeMats sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ParkChicago® asks for nothing beyond the download.

WelcomeMats holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ParkChicago® has 15K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ParkChicago® ships an update every 3 months, WelcomeMats every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ParkChicago® | WelcomeMats |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parkchicago/id686658594/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/welcomemats/id6785299264/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 35.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#89** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chicago Parking Meters, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455227699) | [Holden Holt](https://appshunter.io/developer/6771520404) |

## What reviewers say

### ParkChicago®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parkchicago/id686658594)

**Currently charting:** #89 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Pay for parking sessions, Extend parking sessions, Receive low time notifications, Access parking history, Receive email receipts, Find parking with interactive map

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient and easy to use
- 🔒 Secure payment processing
- ⏱️ Helpful time reminders
- 📱 Ability to manage parking from phone

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive fees and minimum balance requirements
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable app performance
- 🔄 Forced account reloading
- ⚠️ Lack of transparency and customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Endless login/account creation loop
- App crashes and freezes
- Payment issues and incorrect charges
- Inability to remove/edit linked vehicles

**Requested features**

- Allow partial balance refunds
- Integrate with location services for zone detection
- Provide option to pay for exact parking time
- Improve communication with parking enforcement


### WelcomeMats

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/welcomemats/id6785299264)

Create custom mobile welcome pages for guests, featuring Wi-Fi, check-in details, and local tips. Print a QR code placard for easy access, eliminating the need for guests to download an app or type passwords.

**Highlights:** Tap-free guest welcome pages, Automatic Wi-Fi connection via QR code, Share check-in instructions and local tips, Customizable themes and fonts, Manage multiple properties, Instant updates to guest pages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WelcomeMats Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ParkChicago® free?

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

### Is WelcomeMats free?

WelcomeMats is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ParkChicago® or WelcomeMats?

WelcomeMats is rated higher. ParkChicago® averages 4.7 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while WelcomeMats averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do ParkChicago® or WelcomeMats have ads?

Neither ParkChicago® nor WelcomeMats shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ParkChicago® or WelcomeMats?

ParkChicago® ships an update every 3 months, and WelcomeMats every 11 days. Most recently, ParkChicago® was updated on November 1, 2026 and WelcomeMats on October 24, 2026.

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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.*