Permit Ranger vs Outdoor Status, Campnab, and PermitAlert
Several services will watch recreation.gov for you. They differ in what they cover, how they watch, and how they charge. Here is an honest comparison so you can pick the right one for your trip; if your goal is a wilderness permit for a specific trip window, Permit Ranger was built for exactly that.
Feature comparison
Details below reflect each service's public materials as of mid-2026; pricing and features change, so check their sites for current terms.
| Permit Ranger | Outdoor Status | Campnab | PermitAlert | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Wilderness permits (37 areas, 14 states) | Permits and campsites | Campsites, some permits | Wilderness permits |
| Watch model | Date windows: watch every date in your trip window across a set of passes | Per-scan alerts on specific permits/dates | Per-scan alerts on specific campgrounds/dates | Alerts on specific permits/dates |
| Party-size aware | Yes, per trip window | Varies by scan | Yes (site capacity) | Varies |
| Release-day awareness | Yes: lottery dates, rolling windows, and quota-season openings are modeled per area | Limited: publishes release-date and unclaimed-permit content | No | No |
| Trip planning extras | AllTrails-mapped passes, demand scores, maps, an AI trip planner | No | No | No |
| Pricing model | Flat subscription: $9/month or $59/year, 10-day free trial, unlimited watches | Membership plus per-scan options | Pay per scan or membership | Subscription |
When another service is the better fit
If you are chasing a drive-in campsite reservation rather than a wilderness permit, a campsite-first service like Campnab is built for that; Permit Ranger only watches wilderness and backcountry permits. And if you need a one-off scan for a single date and never plan to watch anything again, a pay-per-scan model may cost less than a subscription.
Why Permit Ranger for wilderness permits
Wilderness permits behave differently from campsites: quotas open on lottery dates and rolling windows, off-season dates need no quota at all, and a trip usually works from any of several trailheads. Permit Ranger models all of that: it watches whole date windows across a set of passes, knows each area's release rules, respects quota seasons, and only alerts when your party actually fits. One flat subscription covers unlimited watches across all 37 areas.
Frequently asked questions
Does Permit Ranger charge per alert or per scan?
No. Permit Ranger is a flat subscription, $9 per month or $59 per year with a 10-day free trial, with unlimited passes and date windows.
Does any of these services book the permit automatically?
Permit Ranger never books for you, and reputable alert services do not either. Auto-booking violates recreation.gov's terms. You get an alert with a direct booking link and complete the reservation yourself.
See also: Permit Ranger vs recreation.gov alerts · Pricing · Permit guides · How it works