PermitSnag vs Outdoor Status
Outdoor Status is the closest thing to a direct PermitSnag alternative: permit cancellation alerts for marquee destinations like the Enchantments and Mt. Whitney, sold per tracker. The main differences are scope (lottery tooling, campsites), alert channels, and pricing model.
Facts checked against Outdoor Status's public site on July 5, 2026.
Feature comparison
| Feature | PermitSnag | Outdoor Status |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | US wilderness permits + lotteries + campsites in one account | Per-permit cancellation trackers for popular destinations |
| Coverage | 623 US permits + 3,900+ campgrounds | Popular US permits plus some international (New Zealand, Canada backcountry) |
| Lottery support | Lottery calendar, open/close/result reminders, group pools, published odds pages | Lottery guides and articles; alerts are cancellation-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. | About $15 per permit tracker (free if you never receive a text) |
| Alert channels | Push, SMS, email, and browser notifications | SMS |
| Scan speed | About every minute on Pro (published, with a latency SLA) | Not published |
| Booking flow | Fast Lane deep links with your dates pre-selected | You log in to Recreation.gov and book manually |
Choose PermitSnag if…
- You watch more than one permit — a subscription with unlimited watches beats ~$15 per tracker fast.
- You want the full lottery layer, not just cancellation texts: calendars, reminders, pools, odds.
- You want multi-channel alerts and a deep link that lands you at booking with dates filled.
Choose Outdoor Status if…
- You need international permits — Outdoor Status covers New Zealand's Great Walks and some Canadian backcountry that PermitSnag does not.
- You want exactly one tracker for one trip and prefer paying once.
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
What is the difference between PermitSnag and Outdoor Status?
Both alert you when cancelled permits reappear. PermitSnag adds the lottery layer (calendars, deadline reminders, group pools, odds data), campsite tracking, multi-channel alerts (push, SMS, email, browser), and Fast Lane booking links, under one subscription with unlimited watches. Outdoor Status sells individual SMS trackers per permit, at about $15 each.
Is PermitSnag cheaper than Outdoor Status?
For a single permit, they are similar: PermitSnag's A la Carte is $12 and an Outdoor Status tracker is about $15. If you track two or more permits, PermitSnag Pro at $7.99/month (or $79.99/year) with unlimited watches is significantly cheaper.
Does either service cover permit lotteries?
PermitSnag tracks lottery windows directly: a master lottery calendar, open/close/result reminders, group lottery pools, and published odds pages. Outdoor Status publishes lottery strategy articles, but its alerts cover cancellations only.