Comparison

ParkBoston vs OpenKey

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

Head to head
About

ParkBoston

Manage your parking sessions in Boston with the official app. Pay, extend, and view parking rates and history from your smartphone. Receive alerts before your session ends and avoid the hassle of meters.

Highlights
  • Pay for parking via smartphone
  • Extend parking sessions remotely
  • View future parking rates
  • Receive parking session alerts
  • Manage parking history
  • Get email receipts
Read full description

This is how parking should be. Pay, extend, and manage your parking session with Boston's official parking app. 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 the ParkBoston app. 2. Park where you see ParkBoston app signs. 3. Pay for your parking session from your phone. 4. Relax, welcome to parking as it should be. -------- COMING SOON The ParkBoston 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

About

OpenKey

Unlock hotel rooms worldwide using your smartphone as a secure digital key. Access your room instantly, share keys with companions, and manage your stay with features like check-out details and hotel information.

Highlights
  • Instant room access
  • Digital key sharing
  • Contact hotel operations
  • View check-out details
  • Room number displayed
  • Explore hotel amenities
  • Request check-out
Features
Read full description

Introducing the latest release of the OpenKey Guest mobile app! Access hotel rooms worldwide with a secure and convenient digital key directly on your smartphone. With the OpenKey app, you can enjoy the following features: - Instant Room Access: Easily unlock your guest room with a simple touch of a button. No more fumbling with keycards or waiting in line at the front desk. - Key Sharing: Share your digital key with up to 4 other guests, making it easier for your travel companions to access the room. - Contact Hotel: Contact the hotel operations team for any additional needs during your stay, like extra pillows or towels, potential reservation details, and questions that may arise. - Check-Out Details: View your check-out date and time on the mobile key, helping you stay organized and plan your departure effortlessly. - Room Number on Mobile Key: Say goodbye to the hassle of carrying a keycard jacket. Your room number is conveniently displayed on the mobile key, allowing for a streamlined and hassle-free experience. - Hotel Exploration: Discover hotel amenities, dining options, and other features through the app. Get a comprehensive overview of everything your hotel has to offer. - Check-Out Request: Send a check-out request directly from your mobile key screen. Simplify the check-out process and save valuable time.

Screenshots

OpenKey4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: OpenKey at none against ParkBoston's shown. OpenKey also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (73% vs 50%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OpenKey holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 884 and 3.1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of ParkBoston's written reviews are positive against 73% of OpenKey's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ParkBoston ships an update every 4 months, OpenKey every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ParkBoston versus OpenKey: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterParkBostonOpenKey
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (884 ratings)4.7 (3.1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.4% of reviews72.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8843.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size118 MB107 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCity of BostonOPENKEY, INC.

Customer experience

ParkBoston

All ratings831 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral1.4%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews131 reviews
Positive50.4%
Neutral4.6%
Negative45.0%

OpenKey

All ratings3,083 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral1.6%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews113 reviews
Positive72.6%
Neutral3.5%
Negative23.9%

User reviews

ParkBoston

From 884 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Convenient parking payments
  • 🚀 Helpful parking reminders
  • 🚀 Effective GPS and zone identification
  • 👍 Streamlines parking process

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unreliable app functionality
  • 🐛 Inconsistent zone/location mapping
  • 🐛 Parking history/records disappearing
  • 🐛 Unexpected charges and fees
  • 🐛 Inability to extend parking sessions

OpenKey

From 3.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Seamless experience
  • 🔑 Convenient keyless entry
  • 💡 Sharing keys with others
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🔒 Secure access

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity issues
  • 🔍 Needs better instructions
  • 🔋 Drains phone battery
  • 🤔 Doesn't work consistently

Bugs and requests

ParkBoston

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes and freezes
  • Inability to save license plate or payment info
  • Discrepancies between app and actual parking zones
  • Paid parking sessions not registering properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to view parking history
  • Option to redeem unused parking time
  • Improved zone/location mapping accuracy
  • Streamlined payment process with fewer steps
  • Customizable parking reminders and alerts

OpenKey

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes frequently
  • Fails to unlock doors sometimes
  • Issues with updating and reinstalling

Requested features

2 requests
  • Apple Watch app integration
  • Improved error handling and troubleshooting

In-app purchases

None

ParkBoston

No in-app purchases

None

OpenKey

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ParkBoston free?
ParkBoston is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OpenKey free?
OpenKey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ParkBoston or OpenKey?
OpenKey is rated higher. ParkBoston averages 4.5 out of 5 from 884 ratings, while OpenKey averages 4.7 from 3.1K ratings.
Do ParkBoston or OpenKey have ads?
ParkBoston shows ads; OpenKey does not.
Which is updated more often, ParkBoston or OpenKey?
ParkBoston ships an update every 4 months, and OpenKey every 2 months. Most recently, ParkBoston was updated on October 26, 2026 and OpenKey on October 24, 2026.

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