PayByPhone icon

PayByPhone

PayByPhone Technologies Inc

4.3
FreeiOS, Android
Skip the parking meter hassle! PayByPhone lets you pay for parking from your phone, extend time remotely and get notifications before expiring. Read our review and get started today!

Our PayByPhone Review

Description

PayByPhone is a convenient parking payment app that lets you pay for parking directly from your smartphone without the hassle of finding change or waiting in line at a meter. The app covers thousands of parking locations across the United States and sends helpful reminders when your parking session is about to expire. You can easily extend your parking time remotely which means no more rushing back to feed the meter or risking a ticket. PayByPhone was developed by PayByPhone Technologies and has become one of the most widely used parking payment solutions with millions of users worldwide. The app's clean interface makes finding and paying for parking spots quick and straightforward even for first-time users.

Key Features

  • Remote parking extension: Pay for additional parking time from anywhere without returning to your vehicle. This feature is perfect for when meetings run long or you're enjoying a meal and need extra time.
  • Parking reminders: Receive notifications when your parking session is about to expire so you never get caught with a ticket. You can customize how much advance notice you receive based on your preferences.
  • Digital receipts: Access a complete history of your parking transactions for expense reporting or personal records. The app automatically stores all your parking receipts which makes tracking business expenses or tax deductions much easier.
  • Multiple vehicle management: Store information for different vehicles in your account and quickly switch between them when parking. This makes the app extremely convenient for families with multiple cars or for people who drive different vehicles regularly.

Tips for Using PayByPhone

  1. Set up your payment methods and vehicle information before you need to park to save time when you're in a hurry. Having everything ready in advance means you can park and pay in seconds rather than fumbling with credit card details on a busy street.
  2. Take advantage of the 'Favorites' feature to save locations you visit frequently for faster access. This is especially useful for regular spots like work parking, gym locations or places you visit weekly.
  3. Adjust notification settings to give yourself enough time to return to your car or extend your parking. Some areas have strict enforcement, so giving yourself a 10-15 minute warning is often better than the default 5 minutes.
  4. Check if your employer offers parking expense reimbursement and use the app's history feature to easily submit your parking expenses. The detailed receipts include all the information most companies require for reimbursement including date, time, location and cost.

How to Download and Use PayByPhone

  1. Download the app by clicking on the Google Play Store button if using Android, or use the Apple Store button for iOS. The app is free to download though you'll need to pay for your actual parking fees plus any applicable service charges.
  2. Create an account by entering your email, phone number and payment information. You'll also need to add your vehicle's license plate number and can optionally add multiple vehicles if you drive different cars.
  3. When parking, open the app and enter the location code displayed on nearby signs or use the map to find your location. Enter your desired parking duration, confirm payment and you're all set – the app will notify you before your time expires.

Final Thoughts

After using PayByPhone for several months, I've found it to be a genuine time-saver that eliminates the stress of parking payments. The interface is straightforward and the reminder feature has saved me from at least a dozen potential parking tickets. While the small convenience fee on transactions is a minor drawback, the time and hassle saved more than make up for it. The app works reliably in most major cities though coverage can be spotty in some smaller towns. For urban dwellers or frequent travelers, PayByPhone is practically essential and has transformed what used to be an annoying errand into a quick tap on my phone.

What We Loved

  • Available in 1000+ cities worldwide
  • Multiple payment options
  • Parking history tracking
  • Vehicle location pinning
  • Session expiration notifications

Areas for Improvement

  • Contains ads
  • Slow interface response times
  • Issues with session extension
  • Payment verification problems
  • Duplicate location codes causing confusion

🎯Final Verdict

PayByPhone is a solid utility app that offers good value for its price point. We highly recommend it for users looking for a reliable solution in this category.

Screenshots

Technical Specifications

System Requirements

File size
85MB
Requirements
Android 6.0+
In app purchases
Yes
Family sharing
No

App Information

Publisher
PayByPhone Technologies Inc
Category
Utility

More Utility Apps

Vivaldi Browser icon

Vivaldi Browser

Vivaldi Technologies

4.8
Vivaldi Browser revolutionizes web browsing with unmatched customization and privacy features. Experience lightning-fast performance and innovative tools. Read our review to get started!
Free
iOS, Android
Turo — Car rental marketplace icon

Turo — Car rental marketplace

Turo Inc.

4.8
Rent cars from locals or earn money by sharing yours! Turo's peer-to-peer marketplace offers unique vehicles at great prices. Read our review and get started today!
Free
iOS, Android
Lime - #RideGreen icon

Lime - #RideGreen

Neutron Holdings, Inc.

4.8
Eco-friendly rides at your fingertips! Lime's electric scooters and bikes make city travel fun, fast and sustainable. Ready to go green? Read our review and get started!
Free
iOS, Android