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.
As of July 5, 2026, Campnab scans campsite cancellations across roughly 3,200 parks and 7,000+ campgrounds in the US and Canada, on memberships priced from CAD $10 to $30 a month. PermitSnag tracks 666 US wilderness permits with lottery tooling, group pools, and Fast Lane booking links.
Facts checked against Campnab's public site on July 5, 2026. See every tool we compare on the PermitSnag alternatives hub.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Enchantments Core Zone were gone within 10 minutes.
Feature comparison
| Feature | PermitSnag | Campnab |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Wilderness permits + lotteries, plus 118,000+ campsites | Campsite cancellations, plus some permits and day-use |
| Coverage | 666 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 $29 for a single permit: unlimited date windows and the whole permit family, until your trip dates pass. | 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 open the exact permit page, not a search | Links to the reservation site |
What one purchase covers
$29 is 1 to 2% of the trip it unlocks. The price is set against what you lose if the permit never opens, which is the trip.
- Unlimited date windows on that permit. Watch one date or thirty, and change them any time before your trip dates pass.
- The whole permit family. For Mount Whitney that is the day hike, the overnight, and the trailhead quotas: six watches in one purchase.
- Checks about every minute. Coverage runs until your trip dates pass.
$29 one permit · $79.99/yr every permit — cheaper from your third permit on.
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 666 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 666 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.