Community-based parking app ‘SpotAngels’ makes Chicago debut

Parking in the Windy City maybe just got a little easier thanks to a newly launched app that allows Chicago drivers to find free, metered, and garage spots as well as receive notifications when restrictions—like street sweeping—go into effect.

Called SpotAngels, the map-based application relies on community-based data, earning it the nickname of “Waze for parking.” Similar to the well-known navigation app, SpotAngels grows more accurate as individual users provide real-time information on available spots, garage pricing, and hourly restrictions.

As more people use the program, the app can alert drivers to newly vacated street spaces as well as automatically notify parkers if the current location is vulnerable to ticketing—potentially saving both time and money. While SpotAngels shows available garages, it does not, however, allow users to reserve and pay for parking like Chicago-based SpotHero.

With its expansion to Chicago last week, San Francisco-based SpotAngels now operates in more than 20 US cities. The local map boundaries currently extend to most of downtown and Lincoln Park as well as pockets of Wicker Park, Logan Square, Hyde Park, and Uptown.

The app is available for free in the Apple App and Google Play stores. SpotAngels makes money through licensing its maps to auto manufacturers and other mobility companies, says the Chicago Tribune.

Screenshot via SpotAngels

• New parking app ‘SpotAngels’ comes to Chicago [Chicago Tribune]
• SpotAngels Chicago [website]