Metropolis Alternative

They own the lot.
We give you the technology.

Metropolis acquires parking lots and takes full control. Tooru gives operators who own their lots the same license plate recognition technology — for a fraction of the cost, with full transparency, and no lock-in.

Get started — from $500 → See full pricing
$500
Camera kit — one time
$100
Per month, flat fee
45 min
Self-install time
30 days
Exit clause — no penalty
US · CA · AU
Available now
The problem with Metropolis

Metropolis doesn't work for you.
It works instead of you.

Metropolis is a parking operator — they want to own or manage your lot entirely. If you want to keep your lot and just automate it, they are not the answer.

🏢
They want to take over your operations
Metropolis typically acquires or takes over management of parking facilities. You lose day-to-day control of your own asset.
💰
No published pricing
There is no public pricing. Every deal is negotiated behind closed doors — which almost always favours the company with 20,000 employees, not you.
📋
Multi-year contracts with penalties
Enterprise parking contracts lock you in for 3–5 years with significant early exit fees. Changing your mind is expensive.
🐌
Months to deploy
Enterprise LPR systems require professional installation teams, permits, and coordination. You wait months before seeing a single automated transaction.
Side by side

Tooru vs Metropolis

An honest comparison for parking operators who own their lot and want to automate it.

Tooru. Metropolis Enterprise LPR
(FlashParking, T2)
Who it's for Operators who own their lot and want to automate it Operators who want to hand over management entirely Large enterprise portfolios (hotels, airports, universities)
Published pricing ✓ Yes — $500 · $1,500 · $2,500 + $100/mo ✗ No — negotiated per deal ✗ No — sales process required
Hardware cost ✓ $500–$2,500 one-time N/A — they own everything ✗ $50,000–$200,000
Monthly fee ✓ $100/month flat Revenue share — they keep a large cut of every transaction ✗ $200–$500+/month
Revenue share ✓ 25% → 15% tiered, drops as you grow Varies — opaque, not published Varies per contract
You own the lot ✓ Always — Tooru is just your technology layer ✗ They take operational control ✓ Yes
Self-install ✓ 45–90 minutes — no technician needed ✗ They manage everything ✗ Professional installation required
Time to go live ✓ Same day your kit arrives Weeks to months of negotiation ✗ Months
Contract length ✓ Month-to-month · 30-day exit Multi-year agreements ✗ 2–5 year contracts
SMB-friendly ✓ Built for 1-location operators and up ✗ Focuses on large portfolios ✗ Enterprise only
Countries ✓ US · Canada · Australia US and Canada only Varies
Growth Guarantee ✓ 3 free months at 1,000 sessions ✗ No guarantee ✗ No guarantee
How Tooru works

Same technology.
A fraction of the cost.

Tooru uses the same license plate recognition cameras and automatic gate control that enterprise systems use — packaged for operators who want to self-install and stay in control.

01
Driver types phone number
Driver enters their number on the keypad at your gate. Gate opens immediately. An SMS with a card registration link arrives while they're parked.
02
Camera reads the plate
Your ANPR camera reads the plate on entry and exit. No tickets. No barriers until exit. No app required for drivers.
03
Automatic billing on exit
Driver gets an SMS with their time and amount. One tap. Card on file is charged. Gate opens. Receipt fires. You collect revenue daily.
"Metropolis built a $5 billion company by owning parking. We built Tooru so you can keep owning yours — and automate it for $500."
— Tooru Technologies · Chicago, IL
Simple pricing

Everything published.
No surprises.

Unlike Metropolis, every price is on this page. No sales calls required to find out what you'll pay.

Camera Kit
$500
one-time · ships in 3 days
  • 1× ANPR camera
  • Raspberry Pi controller
  • PoE injector + mounting kit
  • Pre-configured firmware
  • No gate required
Gate Kit
$1,500
one-time · ships in 3 days
  • 2× ANPR cameras (entry + exit)
  • Raspberry Pi controller
  • Universal gate wiring harness
  • Works with existing gate arm
  • Pre-configured firmware
Complete Kit
$2,500
one-time · ships in 5 days
  • 2× ANPR cameras
  • CAME GARD GT4 gate arm (new)
  • Full controller + wiring
  • Everything included
  • Priority install support

Plus $100/month platform fee · 25%→15% revenue share · 30-day exit · No lock-in

Common questions

What operators ask us

Does Tooru take over my parking lot like Metropolis does?
No. Tooru is purely a technology platform. You stay the operator — you set your own rates, keep your own revenue (minus our small percentage), and can cancel anytime. We provide the software and hardware. Everything else stays exactly as it is.
How long does installation take?
Most operators complete installation in 45–90 minutes. Your kit arrives pre-configured. Mount the camera, run an ethernet cable, plug in the controller, scan the QR card. No electrician or IT professional needed.
What if I already have a barrier gate?
The Gate Kit ($1,500) wires into virtually any existing barrier gate — CAME, BFT, FAAC, and most other brands. You do not need to replace your existing gate arm.
How do drivers pay?
Drivers type their phone number on the keypad once. The gate opens immediately. They receive an SMS with a link to save their card — they do this while parked. On exit, they get a payment link via SMS. One tap. Card is charged. Gate opens. No app needed, ever.
Is there a contract?
No contracts. Month-to-month. Cancel with 30 days notice, no penalty. The only upfront commitment is the hardware purchase, which is yours to keep regardless.
Do you operate in Australia and Canada?
Yes. Tooru is available in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Metropolis currently operates in the US and Canada only.
What is the Growth Guarantee?
When your location hits 1,000 parking sessions, we automatically credit 3 months of platform fee — $300 back in your account. No claim required. It happens automatically.

Ready to automate your lot?

Join operators across the US, Canada, and Australia who chose to keep their lot and upgrade it instead.

Get started — from $500 →
No sales call needed · Ships in 3 days · 30-day exit guarantee