8 Best Parking Apps to Find Cheap Parking in Your City

Parking costs more than gas in most cities. If you pay $5-10 per day for parking, that's $100-200/month. Apps cut this in half or more if you know which ones to use and when.

Here are the 8 best parking apps, where they work, how much they save, and which one is best for your situation.

SpotHero

How It Works: Browse available parking spots near your destination, book hours in advance, drive to the spot, park.

Cities: 3,500+ cities including all major metros (NYC, LA, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Denver, Austin, etc.).

Booking: Must pre-book, usually 15 minutes to days in advance. Not for last-minute parking.

Typical Discount vs Street: Parking spots are usually 30-50% cheaper than street or garage rates. If street parking is $15/day, SpotHero is usually $8-10.

Promo Codes: New users get $5 off first booking.

App Quality: Excellent. Smooth UI. Shows exact location, photos of spot, available hours.

Download SpotHero.

ParkWhiz

How It Works: Pre-book parking at garages, lots, or private spaces.

Cities: 2,000+ cities. More available in some cities than SpotHero, less in others.

Booking: Pre-book only, 15 minutes to days ahead.

Typical Discount: 30-40% cheaper than street parking or standard garage rates.

Promo Codes: New users get discounts on first booking.

App Quality: Good, similar to SpotHero but slightly different inventory.

Note: Sometimes has different inventory than SpotHero. Check both for best rate.

Download ParkWhiz.

ParkMobile

How It Works: Pay for street parking or garage parking from your phone. You don't pre-book. You find a spot, use the app to pay.

Cities: 500+ cities, strongest in medium-to-large metros.

Availability: Works with street parking meters in many cities (you pay whatever the meter costs, no markup).

How it Saves Money: You don't overpay. If the meter is $2/hour, you pay $2/hour through the app (plus sometimes a small fee). But you can extend your time remotely without moving your car.

Parking Garage Integration: Some garages accept ParkMobile. Read listing to confirm.

Best For: Street parking in cities with meter rates. Avoid overpaying because you had to pre-buy excessive time.

Download ParkMobile.

PayByPhone

How It Works: Similar to ParkMobile. Pay for street parking or garages through app.

Cities: 500+ cities, often overlaps with ParkMobile.

How It Saves: Avoid overpaying on meter times. Pay only for what you need.

App Quality: Straightforward. Find meter, enter license plate, pay.

Note: Competes directly with ParkMobile. Both work in many same cities. Choose whichever has more coverage in your area.

Download PayByPhone.

Parkopedia

How It Works: Hybrid—shows street parking and garage options, helps you find the cheapest, then you pay (either through the app or at the meter/garage directly).

Cities: 500+ cities globally, strong in Europe but growing in US.

Best Feature: Shows reviews of parking spots (crowded vs empty, safety, etc.). Helps you choose.

How It Saves: Guides you to cheaper parking zones instead of garage-only options.

App Quality: Maps-based, very intuitive for finding alternatives.

Download Parkopedia.

BestParking

How It Works: Pre-book parking with property owners (garages, lots, private spaces).

Cities: 500+ cities, smaller selection than SpotHero/ParkWhiz but sometimes cheaper.

Booking: Pre-book only.

Typical Savings: Sometimes 10-20% cheaper than SpotHero on same day/time because of direct-from-owner pricing.

Why Use: When SpotHero is expensive, check BestParking first. Different inventory.

Download BestParking.

Passport Parking

How It Works: Pay for street parking and garages through app. Also integrates with permits (can renew parking permits).

Cities: 400+ cities.

Best Feature: Can manage residential parking permits if you have them. Good for people with complicated parking situations.

How It Saves: Same as ParkMobile/PayByPhone—avoid overpaying on meters.

Download Passport Parking.

Parkmobile (Different Company, Same Name)

How It Works: Similar to other pay-at-meter apps. Works with street parking.

Cities: 400+ cities.

Note: There are multiple companies with "Parkmobile" in the name. Make sure you download the right one for your city.

Scenario 1: Pre-book in parking-expensive city
Regular garage parking in NYC: $15-25/day.
SpotHero or ParkWhiz: $8-15/day.
Savings: 40-50%, or $200-350/month if you park 20 days.

Scenario 2: Street parking with meter app
Regular street meter rate: $2-3/hour.
ParkMobile: Same $2-3/hour, but you save by not overpaying on meter time.
Savings: Small per trip ($1-2) but adds up over month.

Scenario 3: Mixed parking
Some days pre-book (SpotHero), some days street (ParkMobile).
Average savings: 30-40% vs always using full-price garages.

1. Use the app finder itself. Many apps (Parkopedia, Parkwhiz) show multiple options. Always compare.

2. Avoid peak hours. Parking costs more during rush hour or events. Go off-peak when possible.

3. Walk further. Spots 5 minutes walk from destination are 20-50% cheaper than spots directly at destination.

4. Monthly passes sometimes cheaper than daily. If you park 20+ days/month, ask garages about monthly rates. Apps don't always show them.

5. Loyalty discounts exist. SpotHero and ParkWhiz have rewards programs. Book through their apps regularly to unlock discounts.

6. Time your booking. Pre-book apps are cheaper if you book during off-peak times. Booking Monday morning for Thursday parking is cheaper than booking Thursday morning.

7. Residential areas if allowed. If visiting residential neighborhoods, street parking is often free or cheap. Avoid downtown lots entirely.

Which app should I use if I only pick one?

If you pre-book (know when you're parking): SpotHero or ParkWhiz.

If you find parking spontaneously (street parking, last-minute): ParkMobile or PayByPhone.

If you want everything: Download Parkopedia, which shows all options.

Are these apps cheaper than finding street parking myself?

For pre-booking, yes. Guaranteed spot + 30-50% savings.

For street parking meters, no savings except avoiding overpaying on meter time.

Do I need all 8 apps or just a few?

Most people need 2: One pre-booking (SpotHero or ParkWhiz) and one meter app (ParkMobile or PayByPhone).

Parkopedia is optional but useful for comparison shopping.

Can I trust these apps or are they scams?

All 8 are legitimate, venture-backed companies. Your money goes to property owners or municipalities, not the app company. No scams.

What if I arrive at a pre-booked spot and it's not available?

Report it immediately through the app. The company will refund you and provide the discount for another spot. It's rare but built-in protection.

Do I need these apps in my city?

If you live in a city with 500K+ people, yes. Smaller towns usually have free or cheap parking already.

Download SpotHero if you pre-book parking 2+ times per month (saves 30-50%). Download ParkMobile if you do street parking (saves small amounts but adds up). Use both if you mix parking types. New users on SpotHero get $5 off, making your first parking spot near-free. You can find verified coupon codes at blippr.com to combine with parking app offers for additional savings on transportation costs.