Hey Charleston, Katie here. One of my least favorite activities in Charleston is attempting to find parking. Whether I allot myself 20 extra minutes to find a spot before I need to be somewhere or decide to just wing it, I feel like Iām always running behind because I canāt find an open space that doesnāt break the bank.
Well, thanks to beloved 21st century technology, there are mobile parking apps available that can assist you with planning ahead + being prepared.
I did some digging and downloaded five free parking apps ā ranging from local to national ā and set out on a mission to test out how much they increased parking convenience. š
The premise is simple: download the free app, type in the location + time of when and where you want to park, and each app automatically generates options for you. Here is a breakdown pros, cons + unique features of each app:
HAH Parking
ā Unique features: Allows residents to rent out their driveways or garages for a portion of the proceeds (the amount earned is dependent on demand of parking space at the time); Charleston startup.
š° Fees: Small service fees to book a parking space
ā
Pros: Can reserve a spot through the app; can extend sessions if allowed; gives clear parking instructions once a spot is purchased; can search for future availability; gives details of spots like, āfits larger cars,ā and, āpaved/unpaved.ā
ā Cons: Doesnāt show street parking.
š± Download Apple + Android apps here.
Flowbird
ā Unique feature: Tells you the exact amount of open spots + where they are located.
š° Fees: Small service fees
ā
Pros: It doesnāt just estimate the amount of spots open ā it tells you the exact amount.
ā Cons: Only useable in IOP; canāt pay to book spot ahead of time.
š± Download Apple + Android apps here.
Passport Parking
ā Unique feature: Claims its own parking meters or spots, but allows people to still pay for them physically if they desire.
š° Fees: Small service fees
ā
Pros: Extremely simple and user-friendly.
ā Cons: Doesnāt show you available spots, only works for designated Passport Parking meters; not very many spots available in Charleston.
š± Download Apple + Android apps here.
ParkMe
ā Unique feature: Shows a color-coded grid of street parking including estimated availability, pricing of meters + āno parkingā zones.
š° Fees: None
ā
Pros: Shows metered, garage + lot options; has monthly parking options; tells rates, amenities, lost ticket fees, payment options + operating hours of lots and garages.
ā Cons: You canāt book a spot through the app.
š± Download Apple + Android apps here.
BestParking
ā Unique feature: Lists walking distance from the available parking spots to your desired destination.
š° Fees: None
ā
Pros: Lists prices + walking distances of parking spots.
ā Cons: The spots donāt say if its a garage, lot or street parking; doesnāt tell if the space is unavailable or available; canāt pay for spot through app.
š± Download Apple + Android apps here.
My takeaway: No one app is the golden ticket for convenient parking. They all have their hindrances, but they definitely make parking a little less stressful once you get the hang of them. My favorite features include ParkMeās color-coded street parking grid + Flowbirdās exact number of open spots.
When in doubt, you can also find official pricing + rules of parking through the City of Charlestonās website here.