Parking Timer & Alarm
Built and maintained by
Daniel Battaglia, Founder & CEO, Parksy
Set how long you’re parking and Parksy warns you before your meter runs out — then sounds an alarm at zero, so an overstay never becomes a fine.
How long are you parking?
How it works
Set your time
Spin the wheel to how long you’re parking — 15-minute steps up to an hour, then longer stays up to 12 hours.
Get an early warning
Choose 5, 10 or 15 minutes’ notice. A live countdown follows you around Parksy so you always know the time left.
Alarm at zero
In the Parksy app the alarm rings and vibrates the moment your time expires — even if the app is closed. In a web browser you get an on-screen countdown and a reminder while the page is open.
See the time without opening the app
In the Parksy iPhone app the countdown shows on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island as a Live Activity, and you can add a home-screen widget so the time left is always a glance away. Everything runs on your device, so the alerts still fire when the app is closed or your phone is locked.
Top 5 alternatives to the Parksy Parking Timer
A researched comparison, last checked 16 August 2026. Every point below is verifiable on each tool’s own site.
ParqTime
Parking timer app with adaptive reminders
Reminds you based on how far you are from the car, with Watch and CarPlay support.
- Pro: Distance-based adaptive reminders plus Apple Watch and CarPlay integration.
- Con: Requires a $0.99 App Store purchase.
Parked
Timer and car locator in one app
Combines a parking countdown with saving where you left the car.
- Pro: Timer and car locator bundled together.
- Con: Requires an app install.
ParkMobile
Session reminders bundled with payment
Sends an expiry alert for parking sessions you paid for through the app.
- Pro: Configurable push, SMS or email reminder 5–30 minutes before expiry.
- Con: Only fires if you paid via ParkMobile — no alert if you paid the meter directly.
Google Maps saved parking
Built into Google Maps
Saves your car’s location with an optional meter-expiry alert.
- Pro: Free and pre-installed, and can auto-detect parking via car Bluetooth or USB.
- Con: The saved location and its reminder auto-clear after 48 hours.
iPhone Clock timer
The timer already on your phone
A plain countdown that fires a notification when your time is up.
- Pro: Free, pre-installed, and fires from the lock screen.
- Con: Manual entry only — no location memory and no parking context.
Parksy’s timer runs in your browser — nothing to install and nothing to buy — where ParqTime needs a $0.99 purchase and Parked needs an app install.
What people ask about parking meters
How do parking meters work?
You pay for a block of time, either at the meter itself or through an app, and the meter records when that time expires. Enforcement officers check whether the paid time has run out. Modern meters are often linked to your registration plate rather than issuing a paper ticket, so there may be nothing to display on the dashboard.
Are parking meters free on Sundays?
In many places yes, but it is set locally and there is no universal rule — some cities charge seven days a week, others free only on Sundays and public holidays. The meter or the plate above it states the enforcement days and hours. Always read the sign rather than assuming, because Sunday free parking is one of the most common assumptions behind an unexpected fine.
What happens if my parking meter runs out?
Once the paid time expires you are parked in contravention and can be issued a penalty from that moment, in most places without a grace period. Some councils allow a short grace window, but it is discretionary rather than guaranteed. Setting a reminder a few minutes before expiry is the reliable way to avoid it.
How long can I park at a meter?
The maximum stay is set by the sign, not the meter — a meter may accept more money than the maximum stay allows. Where a maximum applies, feeding the meter again to extend beyond it is usually itself a contravention.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Parksy parking timer work?
Pick how long you are parking on the scroll wheel and tap Start. Parksy shows a live countdown, warns you a few minutes before your time runs out, and sounds an alarm the moment it expires — so you can move the car or top up before you get a fine.
Will it alert me before my parking expires?
Yes. You choose the warning — 5, 10 or 15 minutes before expiry — and Parksy also alarms again right at zero. On iPhone the countdown appears on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, so you can see the time left without opening the app.
Does the alarm make a sound and vibrate?
Yes. In the Parksy app the expiry alert plays an alarm sound and vibrates using your phone’s notification settings, even if the app is closed. In a normal web browser it shows a countdown and a notification while the tab is open.
Can I extend or change the timer?
Yes. Tap Change timer any time to pick a new duration, or Stop timer to clear it. Fed a fresh meter? Just set it again for the new time.
Is the parking timer free?
Yes, it is completely free and runs right in your phone — no sign-up needed. The Parksy app adds a Lock Screen Live Activity, a home-screen widget and a louder alarm.
Does the timer keep running if I close the app or lock my phone?
Yes. The countdown and the alerts are scheduled on your device, so they still fire when the app is in the background or your phone is locked. On iPhone the Live Activity keeps the time visible on your Lock Screen.
How is this different from the meter’s own timer?
A meter just takes your money — it never warns you. Parksy gives you a personal countdown with an early warning and an expiry alarm, so an overstay never turns into a ticket.
Parksy helps you keep track of your parking time, but it isn’t a guarantee against fines — always check the posted rules and move your car on time.