The short version
- At small sizes, setup time and a clear price matter more than enterprise features.
- Make sure resident accounts and guest passes are on the plan you're quoted, not an upgrade.
- If one person runs parking part-time, a mobile plate check matters more than reporting.
The short answer
getParkFlow publishes this guide and is one of the products in it. We say where each product fits best, including where another one fits better than ours, and every fact about another company links to its source at the end.
Small communities are often on paper, hang tags or a spreadsheet, and the problems are the same: nobody knows whose car is in a space, guest spaces fill with residents' second cars, and every tow becomes an argument. The right software fixes those three things first.
| Option | Good fit when | Watch for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| getParkFlow | You want to set up without a sales call and see the price first | No PMS integration; no LPR cameras; US only | $79 a month (one level, up to 200 spaces) or $199 a month (unlimited, resident portal); 14-day free trial |
| Parking Boss | You want decals plus digital permits and a web-only resident experience | Prices are quoted, not published | Directories list $99 to $295 a month |
| ParkM | You want resident registration with towing-partner enforcement | Confirm the no-cost and no-contract terms in writing | A directory profile says no cost to the property |
| ApartmentPermits | You want paid guest parking and Yardi or Entrata imports | Prices are quoted, not published | Not published |
| Reliant Parking | You run several properties and need PMS integrations | Built for larger portfolios | Quote only |
| Spreadsheet and hang tags | Under about 30 spaces and almost no guest traffic | Tags get passed around; no plate check in the field | Free, plus staff time |
What a small community actually needs
Skip features you'll never turn on. A small community usually has one manager who also handles leasing and maintenance, so the test is whether that person can set it up in an afternoon and check a plate from the parking lot.
- Assigned spaces linked to units, so you can see in one place who owns which space.
- Resident accounts where tenants keep their own plates current.
- Guest passes with an end time and a per-unit limit.
- A plate lookup your towing partner can use, with only the information they need.
- Optional paid parking for visitors or extra spaces, with payouts to the property.
- A spreadsheet import, so you don't type in every resident by hand.
Where getParkFlow fits
Starter, at $79 a month, covers one level of up to 200 spaces with visitor QR passes, card payments, plate lookup and QR signs. Most apartment communities want Pro at $199 a month, which adds unlimited spaces and levels, the resident portal with guest passes and space rent, permits, spreadsheet import and export, and a manager approval step. Both are free for 14 days with no card, and paid parking carries a 10% platform fee.
You map the lot by drawing it or by uploading a site plan for the AI to draft, invite residents with a code or a spreadsheet, and print QR signs for visitors. Managers and residents can use the web or the Android app; the iPhone app is coming to the App Store.
getParkFlow does not connect to Yardi, Entrata or RealPage (it imports and exports residents by spreadsheet instead), does not run license plate recognition cameras, and is available in the United States only.
When another product is the better choice
If residents already live in Yardi, Entrata or RealPage and you want them synced automatically, start with ApartmentPermits, which says it imports from Entrata and Yardi, or Reliant Parking, which publishes integration guides for all three. If your community wants physical decals as well as digital permits, Parking Boss offers both. If you'd rather a vendor handle enforcement with a towing partner and charge the property nothing, ask ParkM to put that in writing.
Budgeting for 2027
Compare a full year, not a month: the subscription, any per-unit or setup fees, payment processing, and the platform fee on any parking you charge for. Paid guest or visitor parking can offset part of the cost, but only count revenue you are confident residents and visitors will actually pay.
Example: on Pro at $199 a month, a year costs $2,388 before any parking revenue. If the community charges for 10 overnight guest passes a week at $5, that is about $2,600 a year before Stripe processing and the 10% platform fee. The figures are illustrative; use the getParkFlow ROI calculator with your own numbers.
Common questions
What is the best parking software for a small apartment complex?
For communities of roughly 50 to 300 units that want to set up themselves, getParkFlow covers assigned spaces, guest passes and plate lookup, with published prices and a 14-day free trial. Choose ApartmentPermits or Reliant Parking if you need a Yardi, Entrata or RealPage integration.
What is the cheapest parking management software for apartments?
getParkFlow Starter is $79 a month for one level of up to 200 spaces, and Pro is $199 a month with unlimited spaces and the resident portal. A directory profile says ParkM costs the property nothing, so confirm those terms in writing. Under about 30 spaces with little guest traffic, a spreadsheet may still be enough.
Does a small apartment community need parking software?
Usually once guest spaces keep filling with residents' second cars, nobody can tell whose car is in a space, or tows turn into arguments. Under about 30 spaces with almost no guest traffic, a spreadsheet and hang tags can still work.
Does getParkFlow integrate with Yardi, Entrata or RealPage?
No. getParkFlow imports and exports residents by spreadsheet instead. ApartmentPermits says it imports from Entrata and Yardi, and Reliant Parking publishes integration guides for Yardi, Entrata and RealPage.
Sources
- Capterra: Parking Boss pricing, features and alternatives
- SourceForge: Parking Boss product listing
- GetApp: Parking Boss listing
- Revyse: ParkM vendor profile
- ApartmentPermits: Guest parking management software
- ApartmentPermits: Parking solutions for apartments
- Reliant Parking: Multifamily parking management
- Software Advice: Reliant Parking profile
- Reliant Parking: Parking software with Yardi integration
See how getParkFlow supports this workflow.
Explore the relevant product solution, compare plans, or start setting up a property online.