PermitSnag vs Outdoorithm
Outdoorithm covers a wide net of campground reservation systems with real apps and a usable free tier, backed by a nonprofit arm called Outdoorithm Collective. It is a campsite tool through and through, with no wilderness permit lottery support. PermitSnag picks up where Outdoorithm stops: permits, lotteries, and pools.
As of July 16, 2026, Outdoorithm scans campgrounds across 44 reservation systems with native iOS and Android apps, a free tier, and an AI trip-planning assistant called Camp Sage. PermitSnag tracks 754 US wilderness permits with cancellation alerts, group pools, and Fast Lane booking links.
Facts checked against Outdoorithm'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 | Outdoorithm |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Wilderness permits + lotteries, plus 118,000+ campsites | Campground availability alerts across 44 reservation systems, with an AI trip-planning assistant |
| Coverage | 754 US permits + 3,900+ campgrounds | 44 reservation systems, including Recreation.gov and park-specific systems |
| 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 (1 alert, 5-15 min scans, 60 sec during peak); Premium Supporter $12.99/mo or $129/yr (5 alerts, 2-min scans); Power Camper $19/mo or $189/yr (12 alerts, sub-60-sec peak scans) |
| Mobile app | Installable web dashboard with browser and mobile push | Native iOS and Android apps |
| Scan speed | About every minute on Pro | 5-15 minutes on free, 2 minutes on Premium Supporter, sub-60 seconds at peak on Power Camper |
| Alert channels | Push, SMS, email, and browser notifications | Email and push on free, SMS added on paid tiers (capped monthly) |
| Booking flow | Fast Lane deep links to the exact permit page | Links to the reservation site, plus Camp Sage AI trip suggestions |
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 need a wilderness permit lottery: calendars, reminders, group pools, and odds. Outdoorithm has none of that.
- You want unlimited alerts on one flat price instead of a per-alert cap. Outdoorithm's paid tiers cap you at 5 or 12 alerts.
- You want SMS included without a monthly cap. Outdoorithm's SMS is capped depending on tier and costs extra.
Where Outdoorithm fits
- Outdoorithm ships native iOS and Android apps with a free campground alert tier. PermitSnag has no app store listing, it installs from the browser.
- It also adds an AI trip planner (Camp Sage) and funds Outdoorithm Collective's nonprofit outdoor-access work.
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
Does Outdoorithm cover wilderness permit lotteries?
No. Outdoorithm scans campground availability across 44 reservation systems. It has no lottery calendar, application reminders, or group pools. PermitSnag alerts you to cancellations on 754 US wilderness permits and adds lottery calendars and group pools.
Is Outdoorithm's free tier good enough?
For a single campground alert with 5-15 minute scans, yes. If you want faster scanning, more concurrent alerts, or SMS, Outdoorithm's paid tiers run $12.99 to $19/month. PermitSnag Pro is $9.99/month with unlimited alerts and SMS included.
Does Outdoorithm have an app?
Yes, native iOS and Android apps, which is more than most alert tools in this space offer. PermitSnag's dashboard works as an installable web app with browser push, without a native app store listing.