PermitSnag vs CampSnag
CampSnag texts you a booking link when a campsite opens at a set list of popular national parks and California state beaches. PermitSnag covers wilderness permits, permit lotteries, and 3,900+ US campgrounds in one place. The two are separate companies with similar names. Here is where each one fits.
As of November 5, 2026, CampSnag's sign-up form lists 8 national parks, 4 California state beaches and the Half Dome day hike permit, on plans of $0 (1 alert), $5 a month (3 alerts) and $10 a month (unlimited alerts). PermitSnag tracks 753 US wilderness permits with cancellation alerts, group pools, and Fast Lane booking links.
Facts checked against CampSnag's public site on November 5, 2026. See every tool we compare on the PermitSnag alternatives hub.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Shenandoah Old Rag were gone within 45 minutes.
Feature comparison
| Feature | PermitSnag | CampSnag |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Wilderness permits + lotteries, plus 118,000+ campsites | Campsite cancellations at high-demand parks |
| Coverage | 753 US permits (Rec.gov, CA/UT state parks, BLM, NPS) + 3,900+ US campgrounds | Sign-up form lists 8 national parks, 4 California state beaches and the Half Dome day hike permit |
| Lottery support | Lottery calendar, open/close/result reminders, group pools, published odds pages | No lottery tooling, cancellation alerts only |
| Pricing | Free tier with 1 alert (hourly scans). Pro $9.99/mo or $79.99/yr with about 1-minute scans, unlimited alerts, SMS included. A la Carte $19 for a single permit: unlimited date windows, until your trip dates pass.Free: browse every permit, the permit calendar, and lottery and season reminders. Alerts start at $19 for one permit or campground, or $9.99 a month for Pro. Pro $9.99/mo or $79.99/yr with about 1-minute scans, unlimited alerts, SMS included. A la Carte $19 for a single permit: unlimited date windows, until your trip dates pass. | Free (1 alert), Starter $5/mo (3 alerts), Unlimited $10/mo (unlimited alerts), with a 7-day trial on paid plans |
| Scan speed | Every minute on Pro (hourly on free)Every minute on Pro | Free and Starter: 60-90 seconds. Unlimited: as fast as 15 seconds at 4 parks. Its how-it-works pages say every 90 seconds per campground |
| Alert channels | Push, SMS, email, and browser notifications | SMS and email, with up to 4 phones on one alert on the Unlimited plan |
| iPhone app | Yes, on the App Store | None on the App Store, alerts arrive by text |
| Booking flow | Fast Lane deep links open the exact permit page, not a search | Text links to the open dates on Recreation.gov |
What one purchase covers
$19 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. Track one date or thirty, and change them any time before your trip dates pass.
- One purchase, one permit. Where one permit is sold as several rows, like Mount Whitney or the Enchantments, the purchase covers all of them.
- Checks every minute. Coverage runs until your trip dates pass.
$19 for the permit you want, $5 for each one after · $9.99/mo for every permit you are hunting.
Choose PermitSnag if…
- You are after a wilderness permit or a permit lottery. CampSnag's form lists one permit, and PermitSnag is built around them.
- Your campground is outside CampSnag's list. PermitSnag covers 3,900+ US campgrounds.
- You want push and browser notifications or an iPhone app as well as a text.
Where CampSnag fits
- CampSnag's paid Unlimited plan says it checks Yosemite, Zion, Joshua Tree and Grand Canyon as often as every 15 seconds. PermitSnag Pro checks about every minute.
- Its Unlimited plan also sends one alert to up to 4 phones, which suits a group sharing one booking. PermitSnag's group tools are lottery pools.
Try PermitSnag freeTry PermitSnag
One free alert, no card required.Free account, no card. Alerts start at $19 for one permit. See the lottery calendar, browse 753 permits, and set your first alert in under a minute.
Common questions
Is CampSnag part of PermitSnag?
No. CampSnag and PermitSnag are separate companies with similar names. An account, alert, or subscription with one does not carry over to the other.
Does CampSnag cover wilderness permits?
CampSnag's sign-up form lists one permit, the Half Dome day hike. Everything else on the form is a campsite location. PermitSnag tracks 753 US permits, with lottery calendars, group pools, and odds pages.
How often does CampSnag check for campsite openings?
Its pricing says every 60 to 90 seconds on the Free and Starter plans, and as fast as every 15 seconds on the Unlimited plan at Yosemite, Zion, Joshua Tree and Grand Canyon. Its how-it-works pages say every 90 seconds per campground. PermitSnag Pro checks about every minute.
Which is cheaper, PermitSnag or CampSnag?
CampSnag's paid plans are $5/month for 3 alerts and $10/month for unlimited alerts. PermitSnag Pro is $9.99/month or $79.99/year with unlimited alerts and SMS included, or $19 once for a single permit.