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meterUP

ParkMobile USA, Inc.

4/5
Travel & Transportation

Get MeterUp - Mobile Parking Made Easy

Pay for street parking from your phone. Extend remotely. Available in select cities.

Review

Updated Jan 2026

4

meterUP is Philadelphia's official mobile parking payment app as of 2026, powered by ParkMobile and endorsed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). The app provides a convenient alternative to feeding parking meters with coins throughout Philadelphia. Users can pay for metered parking from their phones, extend parking sessions remotely, and receive notifications before time expires. The integration with PPA's enforcement systems means parking officers can verify your payment digitally, reducing the risk of tickets when you've paid through the app. Beyond Philadelphia, meterUP provides access to ParkMobile's network of over 500 cities, allowing you to use the same app for parking in Boston, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and many other cities. However, as a rebranded version of ParkMobile specifically for Philadelphia, the app carries the same limitations: transaction fees of $0.35-0.50 per session add up quickly for frequent users, and the app experience can be frustrating during technical issues or when zone numbers aren't clearly marked.

Rating

Overall

Travel & Transportation

Features

Official PPA parking app
Pay for metered parking by phone
Extend parking time remotely
Expiration reminder alerts

More Features

No coins or meters needed
Works in 500+ cities nationwide
Zone-based parking with maps
Multiple payment methods

Pros

  • +PPA-endorsed and enforcement integrated
  • +Remote time extension is convenient
  • +Expiration alerts prevent tickets
  • +No need for coins in Philadelphia
  • +Works in other cities via ParkMobile

Cons

  • Transaction fees ($0.35-0.50 per session)
  • Identical to ParkMobile with Philly branding
  • Zone numbers not always clear

Pricing

freemium

meterUP is free to download and use for finding parking information. When you pay for parking, the app charges a convenience fee of $0.35-0.50 per parking session, depending on duration and location. You pay the meter rate set by Philadelphia Parking Authority plus this meterUP/ParkMobile service fee. For example, a $2.50 metered parking session might cost $2.85-3.00 total. Philadelphia parking meter rates vary by zone: Center City typically charges $2-4 per hour during business hours, while residential areas and outer zones may charge $1-2 per hour. Time limits vary by location (1-hour, 2-hour, or all-day zones). The app supports credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can add multiple vehicles to your account at no additional cost. There are no monthly fees or subscriptions - you only pay when you park. The convenience fee applies to each parking session, even for very short durations.

VS Competitors

ParkMobile
PayByPhone
ParkWhiz
Flowbird
Passport Parking
+ Advantages
+Official Philadelphia Parking Authority partner
+Direct integration with PPA enforcement systems
+Remote parking time extension
+Expiration alerts help avoid tickets
+No coins or meter visits required
+Access to 500+ cities via ParkMobile network
+Multiple payment methods supported
+Zone-based parking with map interface
Weaknesses
Transaction fees ($0.35-0.50) add up quickly
Identical to ParkMobile app with Philadelphia branding
Zone numbers not always clearly posted on streets
App technical issues during peak times
Customer service can be slow to respond
Convenience fee not waived even for city-managed parking
Maximum parking time still limited by posted restrictions
Requires smartphone with battery and data connection

Verdict

meterUP is essential for anyone parking regularly on Philadelphia streets, particularly in Center City where meters are ubiquitous. The official PPA partnership provides peace of mind that your payment will be recognized by parking enforcement, and the remote extension feature is genuinely convenient when meetings or appointments run long. However, for daily commuters, the $0.35-0.50 per session fees become expensive - parking 5 days a week costs an extra $9-13 per month just in convenience fees, making monthly parking passes or garages potentially more economical. The app is functionally identical to the regular ParkMobile app, so if you already use ParkMobile, downloading the Philadelphia-branded version is redundant. Download meterUP if you drive in Philadelphia regularly and need to pay for metered street parking. Skip it if you rarely park on metered streets or already have ParkMobile installed.

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