PermitSnag vs Campflare
Campflare is free, scans fast, and covers 10,000+ campgrounds. It recently added free cancellation alerts for 45 named wilderness permits. PermitSnag alerts you to cancellations on 754 permits and adds the lottery tools Campflare does not have. Here is where each one fits.
As of September 4, 2026, Campflare is a free campground and wilderness-permit cancellation alert service covering 10,000+ US campgrounds, checked about every 45 seconds, and 45 named wilderness permits (Mt. Whitney, Enchantments, Yosemite, and more) checked every few minutes. PermitSnag tracks 754 US wilderness permits with cancellation alerts, group pools, and Fast Lane booking links.
Facts checked against Campflare's public site on September 4, 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 | Campflare |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Wilderness permits + lotteries, plus campsites | Campground alerts, plus free cancellation alerts on 45 named permits, no lottery tools |
| Permit lotteries | 754 permits with lottery calendar, reminders, pools, odds pages, and cancellation alerts | Cancellation alerts on 45 named permits, but no application windows, deadlines, or odds |
| Campground coverage | 3,900+ US campgrounds (118,000+ campsites) | 10,000+ US campgrounds |
| 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 |
| Scan speed | About every minute on Pro | Campgrounds about every 45 seconds, permits every few minutes |
| Alert channels | Push, SMS, email, and browser notifications | Email and text, plus an iOS app |
| Booking flow | Fast Lane deep links to the exact permit page | Links to the reservation site |
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 about 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 want alerts on a permit outside Campflare's 45, or you want unlimited campsite and permit alerts under one subscription rather than a free but narrower list.
- You want SMS and push alerts with a booking deep link when seconds matter.
- You also want lottery calendars, group pools, and odds data. Campflare's permit alerts cover cancellations only.
Where Campflare fits
- Campflare is free, and its permit alerts now cover cancellations on 45 named wilderness permits (Mt. Whitney, Enchantments, Yosemite, and more) alongside its campground alerts.
- Its 10,000+ US campgrounds cover more car-camping ground than PermitSnag's 3,900+, all for no cost, though neither its campground nor its permit alerts carry a lottery calendar, deadline reminders, or group pools.
Try PermitSnag free
One free alert, no card required. See the lottery calendar, browse 754 permits, and set your first alert in under a minute.
Common questions
Is Campflare really free?
Yes. Campflare's campground and permit cancellation alerts are free with no paywalls. PermitSnag also has a free tier (one alert with hourly scans), and its paid plans add unlimited alerts checked about every minute, plus the lottery calendar and group pools that Campflare does not offer.
Does Campflare track wilderness permits or lotteries?
Campflare added free cancellation alerts for 45 named wilderness permits, but it has no lottery tools: no application calendar or odds pages. PermitSnag alerts you to cancellations on 754 US permits and adds the lottery calendar, group pools, and odds pages.
Can I use Campflare and PermitSnag together?
Sure. Some people run Campflare for its free campground and permit cancellation alerts and add PermitSnag for cancellation alerts beyond Campflare's 45 permits, campsite tracking, and the lottery calendar.