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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

PayByPhone Parking vs Passport Parking

PayByPhone Parking 4.8★ · Free to download 70
Winner PayByPhone Parking
Passport Parking 4.7★ · Free to download 35

PayByPhone Parking is generally more reliable for core parking functions, despite some recent glitches, while Passport Parking struggles significantly with basic payment processing and app stability.

Full reviews: PayByPhone Parking · Passport Parking

PayByPhone Parking offers a generally smoother experience for paying for parking, with users appreciating its ease of use and ability to extend parking remotely. Passport Parking, however, faces widespread issues with payment processing, app crashes, and poor UI design, leading to frequent frustration and parking tickets for users.

Head to head

Features edge: PayByPhone ParkingR12R23R29R30
PayByPhone Parking PayByPhone users appreciate the ability to extend parking time remotely and receive reminders R23R29. Some users find the map function helpful for finding meters R30. However, recent updates have caused issues with saved favorites and credentials being lost R12. Users also desire lock screen notifications instead of paid SMS reminders .
Passport Parking Passport Parking offers notifications and reminders . However, many users report missing features like a map to find parking zones , and the inability to prepay for parking in some areas . There are also significant complaints about the app not remembering parking time to allow re-parking within max limits .
Ease of Use edge: PayByPhone ParkingR3R11R14R16
PayByPhone Parking Many PayByPhone users find the app easy, fast, and convenient for paying and extending parking R11R14. However, some report difficulties with the payment feature glitching, rejecting cards, or not recognizing Apple Wallet R3. Other issues include frequent logouts R16 and problems editing or removing cars .
Passport Parking Passport Parking is frequently described as difficult, buggy, and frustrating to use R66. Users report UI problems like missing submit buttons for adding vehicles and inability to see numbers while typing . The app also has issues with slow load times and a poorly designed time slider .
Reliability edge: PayByPhone ParkingR1R3R4R5
PayByPhone Parking PayByPhone has many reports of the app not working at all, showing green dots, or failing to recognize parking zones R1R4R10. Some users received tickets despite paying due to app issues R3R5. Recent updates have reportedly broken functionality and deleted user info .
Passport Parking Passport Parking suffers from severe reliability issues, with many users reporting the app won't open after updates , freezes , or gets stuck in verification loops . Crucially, many users paid for parking but still received tickets because the app failed to register payments .
Price/Value edge: PayByPhone ParkingR6R7R11R14
PayByPhone Parking PayByPhone is generally considered affordable by some users R11R14. However, many users complain about extra fees, such as convenience fees ($.60, R7) and SMS fees ($.20, R6, R7, ), which are often mandatory and frustrating R6. Some also find the parking prices themselves expensive .
Passport Parking Passport Parking charges a "convenience fee" which users find unfair, especially when it's the only payment option R75. There are also reports of being charged for parking on free days , being forced to pay by clock hour rather than actual time , and the app shorting paid time .
Payment Options edge: PayByPhone ParkingR3R34R43R59
PayByPhone Parking PayByPhone users report issues with the app rejecting payment forms unless manually typed, and not allowing Apple Wallet or normal cards to work R3. Apple Pay and Amex are sometimes grayed out despite being advertised R43R59. Some users also report the app not covering their bank R34.
Passport Parking Passport Parking has significant and widespread problems with payment methods. Users cannot save new vehicles R66 or update expired cards , and the app frequently rejects valid cards . A major complaint is the lack of Apple Pay or autofill for credit card info, which users desire for security and convenience R92.
Customer Support edge: PayByPhone ParkingR49R52R62R66
PayByPhone Parking PayByPhone users report difficulty getting actual customer service, often being directed to an unhelpful AI chatbot that sends them in circles R49R52.
Passport Parking Passport Parking's customer support is widely criticized. Users report non-helpful support that refers them to parking lot owners R62 or an unhelpful bot that claims to be live chat but isn't . Some users had to reach out multiple times to resolve issues R66.
Pick PayByPhone Parking if

You need a parking app that generally works for core functions like paying and extending time, and you are willing to tolerate occasional glitches or minor fees R14R29.

Pick Passport Parking if

You are forced to use Passport Parking because it's the only option in your area, and you are prepared for potential frustration with payments and app stability R75.

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews, especially recent ones, indicating a decline in user satisfaction. Passport Parking's negative reviews are more severe and widespread across critical functionalities like payment processing and app stability.

Frequently asked

Do these apps charge extra fees for parking?
Yes, both apps charge extra fees. PayByPhone charges convenience fees (e.g., $.60) and SMS fees (e.g., $.20) which users find frustrating and often mandatory R6R7. Passport Parking also charges a "convenience fee," which users resent when it's the only payment option available R75.
Can I use Apple Pay with these apps?
PayByPhone users report that Apple Pay is sometimes advertised but grayed out or not working R3R43R59. Passport Parking users frequently complain about the complete lack of Apple Pay support, desiring it for security and convenience R92.
Are there issues with the apps recognizing parking locations?
Yes, both apps have reported issues with location recognition. PayByPhone users frequently state the app doesn't recognize parking zones or nearby spots, making it unusable in some areas like San Francisco R4R7R10R13. Passport Parking users also report that parking lots show up in incorrect locations or not at all, and the app demands non-existent "parking zones" instead of space numbers .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R12] PayByPhone Parking 3/5 · US Upgrades eliminate saved favorites and stored credentials: For at least the last two upgrades, the app has made me re-enter my login credentials. This can be a minor crisis when you’re standing on the curb in a hurry and don’t have all of your credentials memorized. Also, these upgrades somehow lost all of my favorite parking locations. What’s the point of offering a feature like favorites if you
  2. [R23] PayByPhone Parking 5/5 · US No ticket: Best way to pay and not worry about running back to the meter. Pay and it will remain you to add more time too. Convince of paying by phone .
  3. [R29] PayByPhone Parking 5/5 · US Bang: Im just happy you can actually pin how long you want to stay at a spot. Also super easy and reliable
  4. [R30] PayByPhone Parking 3/5 · GB Issues: Thank you for your reply. I didn’t actual realise there was a map function! I will use this from now on and it will hopefully solve the issues below. Thanks again. The app is great and easy to use but often it can’t find the parking meters. I have difficulty walking so being able to pay from the car and not having to walk to a meter and back again makes a huge difference, if the app can
  5. [R3] PayByPhone Parking 3/5 · US Pay feature glitches: Pay feature always glitches and takes a while to actually work bc it will reject all payment forms unless you manually type in your info. Even then some times the page will like bounce and not allow it. And it wont let my card on my apple wallet work either? Ive had this issue on other fast pay apps too. They’ll just reject a normal card? Wish they’d fix that issue bc it’s a
  6. [R11] PayByPhone Parking 5/5 · US Súper bueno: Todo es fácil y rápido o mejor es económico
  7. [R14] PayByPhone Parking 5/5 · US So easy!: PayByPhone makes parking so easy and affordable! Can’t beat it!!!
  8. [R16] PayByPhone Parking 1/5 · US Why do I need to log in EVERY TIME I open the app?: Horrible horrible experience. The app forces me to log back in every time I open it
  9. [R1] PayByPhone Parking 1/5 · US PayByPhone parking: App doesn’t work at all when I open it. Only then is the green dots on the screen.
  10. [R4] PayByPhone Parking 1/5 · US Non functional: After happily using this app for years, it has not worked for the past month or so. It doesn’t recognize the parking zone making it unusable. Moved on to another app.
  11. [R5] PayByPhone Parking 4/5 · US Miguel: Once I parked in Miami-Dade and the app was down and I couldn’t login paybyphone to pay, it was activated about an our later and I paid, but of course I got a ticked (they put the tickets via wifi) and did not leave anything in my dashboard, I complained to the M-D Sect of Courts & didn’t care, now I have lawyers trying to collect payment Unacceptable!!!
  12. [R6] PayByPhone Parking 3/5 · US Fees: Stop charging extra fees like SMS I don’t need a text that should be optional my phone is smart enough to set a reminder 😑
  13. [R7] PayByPhone Parking 1/5 · US Awful quality app: Even though I have cell phone signal it absolutely never tells me nearby spots so I have to walk over and look at the number to park. And it charges a $.60 convenience fee! Whose convenience is it? Especially when it doesn’t even tell me the nearby parking lot number and the sign is tiny and far away. And now I also see there’s a $.20 SMS fee. What is that for? Do better pay by
  14. [R34] PayByPhone Parking 1/5 · US Completely useless: Absolute BS, they don’t allow a single card I have to pay. They have zero options for you if you use a bank they don’t cover and they cover a pathetically small amount.
  15. [R43] PayByPhone Parking 1/5 · US Horrible App: It says it accepts Apple Pay and Amex through the app but both are grayed out, so I had to use a card I never use for a $3 charge. Seems like a poorly designed and glitchy app.
  16. [R59] PayByPhone Parking 4/5 · US Good app: Good app easy to use but it says u can pay with Apple Pay and I can’t even select the option
  17. [R49] PayByPhone Parking 1/5 · US No Customer Service Support: Terrible app, no customer service, not clear instructions, confusing parking services.
  18. [R52] PayByPhone Parking 1/5 · US More reasons this app sucks!: It’s apparently, nearly impossible to get actual customer service. You can communicate with their horrible waste of time AI, and if you search for how to speak with someone, it tells you to use the AI, and also brings up 47 additional, irrelevant “help” articles. They want you to go through the AI in order to possibly get actual help, but that trash AI just sends you
  19. [R62] Passport Parking 4/5 · US Wanting for better support when app malfunctions: When app malfunctions, little to no ownership is taken by Passport. Limited support/coordination with local parking authorities, even for simple issues, makes for a frustrating experience, especially given that this has become a more popular payment option.
  20. [R66] Passport Parking 3/5 · US Can’t save a new vehicle: Edit: after reaching out Twice through the app, this review and once through the website, I finally heard back from somebody. They did help me resolve the issue so I am changing my review from one star to three stars. When that app works it’s great. But very difficult if it does not. Especially since my city has disabled all the meters so that app is the only option to pa
  21. [R75] Passport Parking 3/5 · US A racket: Why is there a “convenience fee” if THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO PAY FOR PARKING AVAILABLE!!!
  22. [R92] Passport Parking 2/5 · US Payment options: I wish they add Apple pay so I can use any card I want instead of putting my card info and might get stolen by cyber attack or bug on the App It would be safer then giving all my card info and faster to pay
  23. [R10] PayByPhone Parking 1/5 · US Broken in SF: Completely broken in San Francisco, no locations recognized anywhere. What’s the point of this anymore?
  24. [R13] PayByPhone Parking 2/5 · US Hardly helpful: I’m literally standing here at the meter and it won’t let me punch in the number of the meter to pay on my phone. Even though it shows the meter available as one of the current meters, when I tap on that meter number, it says it’s unavailable. Seriously, what is the point of this app. I just spent the last 30 minutes of my life trying to figure this out. It’s so unreliable

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store