Parking payment apps
Lotably vs. PayByPhone
PayByPhone is a mobile parking payment service. Lotably adds the enforcement, permits, and guest passes around it, and settles every payment to your own Stripe account.
Facts about PayByPhone checked October 2026. Sources at the bottom of the page.
The short answer
PayByPhone lets drivers pay for parking by app, web, or phone call, and integrates with the enforcement tools an operator already uses. Its help center says some locations add a service fee, typically under $0.50. Lotably is one system for the whole operation: daily parking by QR code with no driver fees, plus plate enforcement, citations, permits, guest passes, towing, and booting, and you can sign up and set up the same day.
What PayByPhone is
Owned by Lightyear Capital since April 2026 and run as a stand-alone business. It was previously owned by Corpay (formerly FLEETCOR), which bought it from Volkswagen Financial Services in 2023.
PayByPhone is a mobile parking payment service. Drivers pay and extend sessions through its app, mobile website, or an automated phone line. For operators it provides back-office reporting, special-rate eligibility lists it calls Rights & Rates, parking coupons, merchant-of-record payment processing, and off-street options such as AutoPay and Pay on Exit at car parks with license plate cameras.
PayByPhone says it has more than 125 million users all-time and operates across North America and Europe. Lightyear Capital bought it from Corpay in April 2026. Its help center says it can’t handle parking ticket appeals; disputes go to the parking provider.
Where Lotably is different
Enforcement included, not just integrated
PayByPhone integrates with handheld enforcement devices and license plate recognition from other vendors; a citation-issuing product isn’t described on its website. Lotably officers issue photo-evidence citations from any phone, and drivers pay them online in the same system that sold the parking.
No service fees for drivers
PayByPhone’s help center says some locations add a small service fee, typically less than $0.50, as determined by the parking operator, and optional SMS reminders cost extra. By default, Lotably adds nothing to the driver’s price.
Payments settle directly to you
When PayByPhone is merchant of record, its site says it collects the full payment and remits funds to you on a schedule. Every Lotably payment is a direct charge on your own Stripe account.
Self-serve signup and published pricing
PayByPhone’s operator pages offer a demo booking, and North American pricing isn’t published. Lotably’s plans are on the website, and you can sign up online and set up the same day.
Permits, guest passes, towing, and booting
The permit and visitor products in PayByPhone’s help center are for specific UK councils, and a North American permit product isn’t described on its website. Every Lotably plan includes monthly permits with autopay, resident guest passes, and tow and boot records in the US and Canada.
Month to month
PayByPhone doesn’t publish contract terms. Lotably’s Free and Starter plans are month to month, and you can cancel anytime.
Side by side
| Lotably | PayByPhone | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Operators who want enforcement, payments, and permits in one system | Cities and operators that want an established mobile pay brand |
| Getting started | Sign up online, set up the same day | Book a demo |
| Pricing | Published: $0 + 12%, or $99/mo + 5% | Not published in North America (a UK public-sector price list is published) |
| Contract | Month to month | Not published |
| Fees on drivers | None added | Service fee at some locations, typically under $0.50 (help center) |
| Where payments settle | Your own Stripe account, as direct charges | PayByPhone as merchant with scheduled remittance, or client as merchant |
| Enforcement and citations | Built in: plate scanning, photo citations, online payment | Integrates with enforcement devices and LPR |
| Daily parking | QR poster per lot, pay on the web, book a day ahead | App, web, and phone line; AutoPay and Pay on Exit |
| Monthly permits and billing | Built in, with card, ACH, or invoice billing | Special-rate lists; permits described for UK councils |
| Guest passes | Residents issue them from their portal | Visitor vouchers described for UK councils |
| Towing and booting | Tow and boot records, one-tap call to your tow company | Not described on its website |
| Integrations | Parking BOXX and ParkMobile sync, CSV import, and API connections built at no extra cost (vendor API fees may apply) | Enforcement devices and LPR; Rights & Rates upload by API |
When PayByPhone may be the better fit
PayByPhone suits cities and large operators that want an established mobile payment brand, payment by phone call, and ANPR-based pay-on-exit at gated car parks, especially across North America and Europe. Lotably has no phone line or consumer app, and no gate or camera hardware. If you run your own lots and want enforcement, permits, and payments together with no driver fees, Lotably covers far more of the job.
Switching, or running both
Start with one lot. Print a Lotably QR poster, import your monthly roster by CSV, and add paid sessions from your current provider by CSV or by hand so officers can see who already paid. When a vendor offers an API for session data, we build the connection at no extra cost (the vendor may charge for API access), so you can move lot by lot instead of all at once.
One system, top to bottom
What every Lotably plan includes
Month to month, no lock-in
No annual contract and no multi-year commitment on Free or Starter. Cancel anytime.
Sign up yourself, set up the same day
Create your account online, add your lots, and connect Stripe in one sitting. You’re live as soon as you sign up.
Every feature on every plan
Enforcement, daily and event parking, monthly applications and plans, billing, scheduled guest passes, merchant validations, dispute evidence, and reports. Some workflows need configuration or enabling. No add-on modules. Booting and towing start off until you ask; you are responsible for following the law where you enforce and assume all risk of using them.
Money lands in your own Stripe account
Payments are direct charges on your Stripe account. Lotably never holds your money or pays you out later.
No app fee for drivers
By default, drivers pay exactly the price you post. Our fee comes out of what you collect online, never from the driver. If you ask, we can add a flat service fee per parking session that goes to you.
Integrations built at no extra cost
Parking BOXX, ParkMobile, and manual/CSV sessions work today. When another vendor offers an API, we build the connection at no extra cost (the vendor may charge for API access).
Published pricing
Free is $0/month plus 12% of online payments. Starter is $99/month for up to 25 lots, plus 5%. Daily parking is at most 35¢ or 25¢ a session. No quote required.
Runs on the phone you have
Plate reading is built into the officer app, which runs in the browser. Daily parking needs a printed QR poster and nothing else.
Questions about Lotably and PayByPhone
Is Lotably an alternative to PayByPhone?
Yes, for operators who want more than mobile payments. Lotably sells daily parking by QR code with no driver fees, and the same system scans plates, issues and collects citations, and runs monthly permits, guest passes, towing, and booting. PayByPhone focuses on payments and integrates with other vendors for enforcement.
Does PayByPhone charge drivers a fee?
PayByPhone’s help center says some locations add a small service fee, typically less than $0.50, as determined by the parking operator, and optional SMS reminders cost extra. By default, Lotably adds nothing to the driver’s price, and its own fee comes out of what the operator collects online.
Can Lotably handle enforcement at lots that use PayByPhone?
Yes. Officers scan plates with Lotably on any phone and issue photo-evidence citations that drivers pay online. To see sessions sold through another vendor, add them by CSV or by hand today; when a vendor offers an API for session data, we build the connection at no extra cost (the vendor may charge for API access).
How quickly can I get started with Lotably?
The same day. Signup takes five short screens, and you can add lots, rates, and parkers and connect Stripe right away. Your account is live as soon as you sign up, so tickets work right away, and online payments as soon as Stripe is connected.
Where do Lotably payments go?
Straight to your own Stripe account. Every payment is a direct charge on your account, so Lotably never holds your money or remits it later. Stripe’s processing fees are separate.
More comparisons
See every comparisonSources
- PayByPhone help center: is PayByPhone free?
- PayByPhone help center: why the charge differs from the tariff
- PayByPhone help center: parking tickets and PCNs
- PayByPhone: merchant of record
- PayByPhone: for parking operators
- PayByPhone: Lightyear Capital completes acquisition
- PayByPhone G-Cloud 14 pricing document (UK)
Information about PayByPhone comes from its public website and the sources above, checked October 2026. PayByPhone is a trademark of its owner, and Lotably is not affiliated with or endorsed by it. Spot something out of date? Email hello@lotably.com and we’ll correct it.
Put your whole parking operation in one system
Sign up online and set up the same day. Month to month, every feature on every plan, and the money lands in your own Stripe account.
No credit card for the Free plan · Month to month · Questions? Call +1 (513) 348-3049