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 where each one fits.
As of September 4, 2026, Campnab scans campsite cancellations across roughly 3,200 parks, 7,000+ campgrounds and 300,000+ campsites in the US and Canada, on memberships priced $10 to $30 a month with its fastest tier scanning every 1-4 minutes. PermitSnag tracks 754 US wilderness permits with cancellation alerts, group pools, and Fast Lane booking links.
Facts checked against Campnab'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 | Campnab |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Wilderness permits + lotteries, plus 118,000+ campsites | Campsite cancellations, plus 650+ Recreation.gov permits and day-use |
| Coverage | 754 US permits (Rec.gov, CA/UT state parks, BLM, NPS) + 3,900+ US campgrounds | 3,200+ parks, 7,000+ campgrounds and 300,000+ campsites 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 $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. | Memberships $10/mo (3 scans) to $30/mo (7 scans), or pay-per-use scans at $10-20 each |
| Concurrent alerts | Unlimited on Pro | 3-7 depending on plan tier |
| Scan speed | About every minute on Pro (hourly on free) | 10-15 min on its cheapest tier down to 1-4 min on its fastest |
| 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
$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 are chasing permits, not just campsites. Lotteries, quotas, and trailheads are the core product.
- You want unlimited alerts for one flat price instead of counting scans.
- You want cancellation alerts built for wilderness permits, with lottery calendars, group pools and real odds data on top.
Where Campnab fits
- Campnab's Canadian coverage reaches BC Parks, Parks Canada and Ontario Parks. PermitSnag does not go north of the border.
- It also sells one-off pay-per-use scans, which suit a single campground on a single set of dates rather than a season of alerts.
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 PermitSnag or Campnab better for wilderness permits?
PermitSnag is built permit-first: it tracks 754 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 alerts you to permit cancellations too, and adds application windows, results tracking, and group lottery pools.
Which is cheaper, PermitSnag or Campnab?
PermitSnag Pro is $9.99/month with unlimited alerts and SMS included. Campnab memberships run $10-30/month for 3-7 concurrent scans (its fastest tier scans every 1-4 minutes), and single pay-per-use scans cost $10-20 each, which is one to two months of PermitSnag Pro.
Does Campnab cover camping in Canada?
Yes. Campnab's directory names Banff National Park (Parks Canada), several BC Parks campgrounds, and Ontario Parks' Killbear, alongside its US coverage. PermitSnag tracks US wilderness permits and campsites only, so a Canadian trip belongs with Campnab.