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

ParkWhiz vs meterUP Parking

ParkWhiz 4.8★ · Free to download 65
Winner ParkWhiz
meterUP Parking 4.8★ · Free to download 50

ParkWhiz is better for reserving parking ahead of time, especially for events, despite issues with guaranteed spots and refunds, while meterUP Parking is a functional but often frustrating app for paying street parking in Philadelphia.

Full reviews: ParkWhiz · meterUP Parking

ParkWhiz offers pre-booked parking, often saving money for events, though users report issues with guaranteed spots and refunds. meterUP Parking is primarily for street parking in Philadelphia, with recent updates causing user frustration regarding login, UI, and occasional ticketing errors.

Head to head

Features and Functionality edge: ParkWhizR2R8R9R12
ParkWhiz ParkWhiz allows users to prepay and reserve parking, which is highly valued for events and busy areas R2R8. However, many users report that reserved spots are not always guaranteed, leading to frustration and missed parking R9R13R15R39. The app also provides detailed information about garages, including images and entry instructions . Some users find the search feature and event scrolling problematic R12, and there are reports of QR codes not working .
meterUP Parking meterUP Parking's primary function is paying for street parking, which many find convenient and easy to use . Recent updates have introduced a spinning dial for time selection, which many users dislike and find difficult compared to typing R64R67. The app has also been criticized for not allowing users to stop parking sessions early , and for issues with vehicle nicknames being deleted . Some users desire Apple CarPlay or Apple Watch compatibility .
Ease of Use tieR14R18R23R24
ParkWhiz Many users find ParkWhiz easy to use for setting up accounts, adding vehicles, and purchasing passes quickly R14. However, some report difficulties updating credit card information R18 and issues with wallet integration after updates R23. The app's search functionality can be problematic, showing events that have already happened or making it hard to find specific venues R24.
meterUP Parking meterUP Parking is generally considered easy to use for its core function of paying for parking once set up . However, recent updates have made the login process more complicated, requiring email verification links that often don't arrive or expire quickly . The new spinning wheel for selecting time is widely disliked for being less efficient than typing R64. Users also report issues with the app randomly logging them out .
Reliability tieR4R7R9R13
ParkWhiz ParkWhiz's reliability is a significant concern, with numerous reports of reserved parking lots being full upon arrival R7R9R13R15. Users also experience issues with QR codes not working at garages and garages refusing to accept ParkWhiz reservations R4. Some report being charged twice or incorrectly . The app is also criticized for showing parking for closed lots or past events R24.
meterUP Parking meterUP Parking users frequently report issues with sessions disappearing or not being active, leading to parking tickets R78. The app can be glitchy, with payments not going through on the first attempt and the app randomly deducting time from paid sessions . There are also reports of the app incorrectly locating users or not notifying them of expiring meters . Some users have experienced the app switching between saved cars, leading to tickets .
Price/Value edge: ParkWhizR3R7R8R13
ParkWhiz ParkWhiz can offer significant savings, especially for event parking where prices are high R8R15. However, some users find that the app charges more than paying directly at the lot, sometimes double the price R3. The value is diminished when users pay for a spot but cannot park, leading to wasted money and additional costs R7R13R39.
meterUP Parking meterUP Parking is seen as a convenient alternative to physical meters, but some users report that extending parking time can be double the initial rate . The app is a necessary evil for many in Philadelphia, but some feel it's designed to fail, leading to tickets . The app also has issues with not allowing users to pay for specific durations, sometimes forcing them to pay for longer periods than needed .
Customer Support edge: ParkWhizR1R4R5R7
ParkWhiz Customer support for ParkWhiz receives mixed reviews. Some users praise it as excellent, courteous, and effective at solving issues R5. However, a significant number of recent reviews report non-existent support, difficulty getting through to a human, and refusal to issue refunds for legitimate issues like full lots or non-working codes R1R4R7R11.
meterUP Parking meterUP Parking's support is largely described as non-existent . Users report difficulty finding customer service information and that support often deflects blame for issues like incorrect payments leading to tickets .
Pick ParkWhiz if

you need to reserve parking in advance, especially for events or in busy cities, and are willing to risk occasional issues with spot availability or refunds for potential cost savings R2R8R14.

Pick meterUP Parking if

you primarily need to pay for street parking in Philadelphia and are comfortable with a sometimes frustrating user interface and login process, as it's often the required app for that city .

Evidence note: ParkWhiz has a higher volume of negative reviews related to core functionality (guaranteed parking, refunds) despite its higher lifetime rating, indicating a potential decline in recent user experience. meterUP Parking's issues are heavily skewed towards recent app updates and login problems.

Frequently asked

Does ParkWhiz guarantee a parking spot when you pre-book?
No, ParkWhiz does not guarantee a parking spot even when you pre-book and pay, with many users reporting arriving to find lots full R9R13R15R39.
Can I get a refund from ParkWhiz if there's an issue?
Refund experiences with ParkWhiz are mixed; some users report successful refunds and good customer service R5, while many others state that customer support is unresponsive and they were denied refunds even for legitimate issues like full lots or non-working codes R1R7R11R13.
What are the main issues with the meterUP Parking app?
The main issues with the meterUP Parking app include a disliked new spinning wheel for selecting parking time, frequent login problems requiring email verification that often fails, and reports of parking sessions disappearing or being incorrect, leading to tickets R64R67R70R78.
Is meterUP Parking compatible with older phone operating systems?
No, recent updates to meterUP Parking require iOS 17.0, making it incompatible with older phone models or iOS versions, which has prevented many long-time users from accessing the app R61R73R76.

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. [R2] ParkWhiz 5/5 · US Worked great!: I just used the ParkWhiz app for the first time, for an afternoon Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game. The last time I had tickets to an afternoon Pirates game I had to park in the Strip District, because I couldn’t find any available parking in town. I used the ParkWhiz app to prepay and reserve parking in the Gateway Center Garage, an easy walk to PNC Park. It worked great!
  2. [R8] ParkWhiz 5/5 · US Fantastic and easy parking app: Thank you ParkWhiz! I never thought I could love a parking app! First time using was during the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, where parking was running $100-250 per day and in very short supply. ParkWhiz showed me a $30 security parking garage within a couple blocks of the events. ParkWhiz not only made it easy to reserve and prepay, but also added 3 hours of parking
  3. [R9] ParkWhiz 3/5 · US Not sure if this is worth it: You can book a parking but they don’t guarantee the parking lot will have spots at the moment you start your reservation, sometimes you will have to park somewhere else and come back, which will eat your savings. Price is decent if you get a spot. In several parking lots the app tells you that you have to park but all of them have a valet. Last, service is terribl
  4. [R12] ParkWhiz 3/5 · US Needs Work: The search feature is essentially useless. The app will not let you scroll to the event you are searching for.
  5. [R14] ParkWhiz 5/5 · US Fast and Easy.: This is an easy app to use. Once your account is set up, you’ve added your vehicles, and you have a regular place that you like to park, it’s two clicks and you have your parking pass. It takes me 15 seconds to buy a new pass when I need one. They are also responsive to disputes or other issues.
  6. [R18] ParkWhiz 3/5 · US Difficult to update credit card info: Difficult credit card info
  7. [R23] ParkWhiz 4/5 · US Wallet integration broke: My office parking garage uses ParkWhiz exclusively. No issues getting in or out of the garage, but major issues getting parking passes to save to Apple Wallet after the latest update (doesn’t work at all). Four weeks and still no resolution. Have tried uninstalling the app, signing out, and restarting my phone… all the usual stuff, to no avail. A major inconvenience, but
  8. [R24] ParkWhiz 3/5 · US Alright: Still shows parking for events that have already happened that day. Might result in incorrect bookings
  9. [R4] ParkWhiz 1/5 · US Nightmare: I purchased the parking pass for what the app alleged was a 24 hour public lot. upon arrival the attendant refused to open the gate to the lot, he stated the lot was exclusively for monthly clients. The app does not allow you to request a refund, you must email.
  10. [R7] ParkWhiz 1/5 · US Scam: They let Me book a parking spot but didn’t check that the parking lot was already completely full. Couldn’t park. Ended up showing late. Wasted gas. I tried to contact them through phone and app for a refund but they only let you speak to a simple, unhelpful bot. I had to do a charge back through my bank.
  11. [R13] ParkWhiz 1/5 · US Parking is not guaranteed: I purchased a parking spot for a July 4th event, drove 1 hr to the event, parking attendant said parking is full despite me paying for my parking spot ahead in parkwhiz. Customer support won’t help with refund. I had to submit a word form for refund. Still waiting on refund.
  12. [R3] ParkWhiz 3/5 · US Overpriced: I have 2 situations now where I have booked my parking on this app and I have paid more in the app than if I just paid in the lot/ramp. Today, I paid $60 for a spot that would have only been $30 if I paid upon arrival. It’s an easy app to use and easy to transfer the pass, but it should not cost double to use this app.
  13. [R1] ParkWhiz 1/5 · US Got screwed; no help: ParkWhiz told me to show my parking pass to the garage attendant after parking. But there was no attendant present - only a security guard who said he could do nothing and that everything was automated. I tried to call the ParkWhiz help line, but I could not get through. So, I left, trusting that ParkWhiz would take care of things. Big mistake. I came back four hours later, p
  14. [R5] ParkWhiz 5/5 · US Customer Support is excellent.: I primarily use Parkwiz in Detroit for the last 4 years. Yes as with any App it occasionally has an issue. Like 3 in 4+ years. Each time I call support and they are courteous and just solve the issue. Not once have they failed. Great company to work with.
  15. [R15] ParkWhiz 3/5 · US It works well, but…: I think it’s a great app, and I have definitely saved money by booking through them several times in Los Angeles. The only issue is that the parking spot is not guaranteed. What is the point of pre-booking, if parking is not guaranteed?! For instance, a few days ago the parking lot I got had only a handful of spots left, I guess I got lucky…! I would have been furious if I ha
  16. [R39] ParkWhiz 1/5 · US Huge Scam: This app sucks. I booked a reservation as I was graduating yesterday. When I arrived the venue was completely full and I had to make other arrangements. When I called the garage the attendant said Parking Whiz always does this and it's no good. People try to save money and end up paying more anyway. Luckily I found another garage down the block that had space. The worst part is that p
  17. [R11] ParkWhiz 5/5 · US SCAM! BEWARE with NO REFUNDS: This app has turned bad. Recently I have had Multiple bad experiences to the point I am deleting the app. I like purchasing parking ahead especially in LA because looking for parking is stressful! Three times now they emphasized no refunds even for reasonable issues. I couldn’t use the first parking and they refused to refund me even though the parking date was weeks
  18. [R64] meterUP Parking 2/5 · US Dumb usage: Makes you spin a dial instead of typing in the amount of time you want because PPA has to be difficult as usual.
  19. [R67] meterUP Parking 1/5 · US Old account terminated for new but not improved app: Why did I have to create an account and start fresh!!??? Ran late to an appointment because I had to start from scratch. I hate the new spinning wheel and preferred the old aesthetic. We already hate the PPA enough.
  20. [R70] meterUP Parking 1/5 · US Why?: They took a perfectly good approach and made it harder to use and login to. Why?
  21. [R78] meterUP Parking 3/5 · US Session disappeared, got a ticket: Not the first time I paid for a session and then when I opened the app back up, there was no active session and my car had a ticket. Expensively annoying.
  22. [R61] meterUP Parking 1/5 · US Updated App: Unfortunately I am NO Longer able to use the App!!! My phone is outdated….so I cannot update to the required iOS 😡😡😡 Very disappointing. I have used this app for YEARS!!! Now it is no longer an option!!! The kiosk typically require coins or a credit card!!! Who carries that many coins … quarters and who wants to stand Unaware of their surroundings at a kiosk???? Disappointed, ST
  23. [R73] meterUP Parking 1/5 · US Wrong iOS: Can’t download the new app revision to my iPhone. Says I need iOS 17.0. I just downloaded the latest iOS from Apple. It’s iOS 16.7.13. What’s up with this?
  24. [R76] meterUP Parking 1/5 · US Not backward compatible: I am unable to use the latest version of the app therefore I cannot use the app. One more way they’re squeezing people out of paying for their parking so they can write more tickets

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