PermitSnag vs Campnab
Campnab pioneered campsite cancellation scanning and does it well, especially in Canada. PermitSnag comes at the same problem permit-first: wilderness permits, lotteries, and campsites in one system. Here is an honest comparison.
Facts checked against Campnab's public site on July 5, 2026.
Feature comparison
| Feature | PermitSnag | Campnab |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Wilderness permits + lotteries, plus 118,000+ campsites | Campsite cancellations, plus some permits and day-use |
| Coverage | 623 US permits (Rec.gov, CA/UT state parks, BLM, NPS) + 3,900+ US campgrounds | 3,200+ parks and 7,000+ campgrounds across the US and Canada |
| Lottery support | Lottery calendar, open/close/result reminders, group pools, published odds pages | No lottery tooling — scanning only |
| Pricing | Free tier with 1 alert (hourly scans). Pro $7.99/mo or $79.99/yr with about 1-minute scans, unlimited watches, SMS included. A la Carte $12 for a single permit. | Memberships from CAD $10/mo (3 scans) to CAD $30/mo (7 scans), or pay-per-use scans at $10-20 each |
| Concurrent watches | Unlimited on Pro | 3-7 depending on plan tier |
| Scan speed | About every minute on Pro (hourly on free) | Tiered 'standard / boosted / priority' — exact frequency not published |
| Alert channels | Push, SMS, email, and browser notifications | SMS and email |
| Booking flow | Fast Lane deep links jump straight toward checkout with your dates | Links to the reservation site |
Choose PermitSnag if…
- You are chasing permits, not just campsites — lotteries, quotas, and trailheads are the core product.
- You want unlimited watches for one flat price instead of counting scans.
- You want the lottery layer: application calendars, deadline reminders, group pools, and real odds data.
Choose Campnab if…
- You camp in Canada — Campnab's Canadian coverage (BC Parks, Parks Canada, Ontario Parks) is the strongest available.
- You need exactly one campground watched once and prefer a one-off pay-per-use scan.
Try PermitSnag free
One free alert, no card required. See the lottery calendar, browse 623 permits, and set your first watch in under a minute.
Common questions
Is PermitSnag or Campnab better for wilderness permits?
PermitSnag is built permit-first: it tracks 623 US wilderness permits including lotteries, publishes lottery calendars and odds, and adds Fast Lane booking links. Campnab is campsite-first with some permit scanning added on.
Does Campnab cover permit lotteries?
No. Campnab scans for cancellations only. PermitSnag adds the lottery layer: application windows, deadline reminders, results tracking, and group lottery pools.
Which is cheaper, PermitSnag or Campnab?
PermitSnag Pro is $7.99/month with unlimited watches and SMS included. Campnab memberships run CAD $10-30/month for 3-7 concurrent scans, and single pay-per-use scans cost $10-20 each — about the price of a full month of PermitSnag Pro.