PermitSnag vs PermitAlert
PermitAlert is free, checks every permit on Recreation.gov every 60 seconds, and covers river and rafting permits that a lot of tools skip. If a free text alert on any Rec.gov permit is what you need, it works well. PermitSnag adds the lottery layer, campsite tracking, and a booking shortcut that PermitAlert does not build.
As of July 16, 2026, PermitAlert is a free, donation-supported Rec.gov monitor that scans every permit, including river and rafting permits, every 60 seconds and texts you when a spot opens. PermitSnag tracks 682 US wilderness permits with lottery tooling, group pools, and Fast Lane booking links.
Facts checked against PermitAlert's public site on July 16, 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 | PermitAlert |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Wilderness permits + lotteries, plus 118,000+ campsites | Free cancellation alerts across every Rec.gov permit, including river and float permits |
| Coverage | 682 US permits (Rec.gov, CA/UT state parks, BLM, NPS) + 3,900+ US campgrounds | 20+ regions on Recreation.gov, covering essentially any permit on the platform |
| 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 $7.99/mo or $79.99/yr with about 1-minute scans, unlimited watches, SMS included. A la Carte $19 for a single permit: unlimited date windows and the whole permit family, until your trip dates pass. | Free, with optional $5, $10, or $15 donations to help cover SMS costs |
| Account required | Free account, used to manage watches and receive push/email alerts | No account needed for a basic text alert |
| Scan speed | About every minute on Pro (hourly on free) | Every 60 seconds, 24 hours a day |
| Alert channels | Push, SMS, email, and browser notifications | SMS only, with an optional once-daily digest text |
| Booking flow | Fast Lane deep links open the exact permit page, not a search | You book manually 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. 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.
$19 one permit · $79.99/yr every permit — cheaper from your fifth permit on.
Choose PermitSnag if…
- You want the lottery layer: application calendars, deadline reminders, group pools, and real odds data alongside cancellation alerts.
- You want more than a text alert. Push, email, and browser notifications, plus a Fast Lane link straight to the permit page that opened.
- You are tracking campsites too, not just permits.
Choose PermitAlert if…
- You want a free permit alert and don't need lottery tools or campsite tracking. PermitAlert is a genuinely good option, especially for river and rafting permits.
- You would rather not create an account for a simple cancellation text.
Try PermitSnag free
One free alert, no card required. See the lottery calendar, browse 682 permits, and set your first watch in under a minute.
Common questions
Is PermitAlert really free?
Yes. PermitAlert runs on optional donations ($5, $10, or $15 suggested) instead of a subscription. PermitSnag also has a free tier (one alert, hourly scans), and its paid plans fund the lottery calendar, campsite tracking, and Fast Lane booking that PermitAlert does not offer.
Does PermitAlert cover river or rafting permits?
Yes, and it covers them better than most alternatives. If a river or float permit is all you're chasing, PermitAlert is worth using. PermitSnag's permit list leans toward backcountry and wilderness permits rather than river trips.
Can I use PermitAlert and PermitSnag together?
Yes. Some people run PermitAlert for free river permit texts and PermitSnag for wilderness permits, lotteries, and campsites. They don't overlap much.