Comparison
Let's be upfront: Campflare is a genuinely free campsite-alert service with a strong track record — over 10 million alerts sent since 2020. If you camp only in the US and want a native iPhone app, it's a fine choice.
OpenCampsite is the alternative when your trips cross the border or you want to see exactly what's being watched: we cover Canada's big three — Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, and BC Parks alongside Recreation.gov, ReserveCalifornia, ReserveAmerica, and more, with every tracked campground published on our coverage pages. Free beta access is available without a card.
Reviewed by OpenCampsite · competitor facts checked August 15, 2026
| Campflare | OpenCampsite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — no paid tier | Free during beta; paid plans planned from $10/month |
| US coverage | “Nearly all public campgrounds in the United States” and “all 50 state park systems” — the specific reservation systems aren't listed on their site | Recreation.gov, ReserveCalifornia, ReserveAmerica (multi-state), Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia & Arizona State Parks, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Washington & Wisconsin State Parks, Firefly Reservations — every tracked campground is browsable on our coverage pages |
| Canada coverage | Not offered — US-focused, and international phone numbers aren't supported (their FAQ) | Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, and BC Parks campgrounds with the same alerts |
| Notifications | Email and SMS, plus an iOS app (4.9 stars) | Email, SMS, and web push — choose the channels on each alert |
| Permit alerts | Yes — dozens of wilderness permits listed (Mt. Whitney, Enchantments, Zion Narrows…) | Yes — supported Recreation.gov permit and lottery windows, with returned-permit alerts |
| Transparency | Systems watched aren't enumerated; no status page or changelog | Full coverage list published per park and provider, plus daily demand data |
| Auto-booking | No — you book on the official reservation site | No — you book on the official reservation site (we think that's the right call) |
| Track record | Running since 2020; 10M+ alerts sent | New — launched 2026, with public scan activity on our pricing page |
Campflare facts checked against the official sources below on August 15, 2026. Pricing and coverage can change — trust those sources over this table. If you spot something out of date, email hey@opencampsite.com and we'll fix it.
We use Campflare's own public pages for competitor claims.
Fair is fair: Campflare has a polished iOS app, covers more US state systems and wilderness permits than we do, and has been running since 2020 with over 10 million alerts sent — all free. For US-only camping in its broader coverage, it's hard to beat.
Where we differ: Campflare doesn't cover Canada, and it doesn't publish which reservation systems it watches. Check our coverage to see exactly what we track — and if your campground is missing, request it.
Yes. Campflare's official pages say the service is free, with no paid alert tier (checked August 15, 2026). OpenCampsite is free during the beta with three active alerts; paid plans are planned for later. We also watch Canadian systems (Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, BC Parks) and publish exactly which campgrounds we track.
Not as of August 15, 2026: campflare.com describes coverage as US campgrounds ("nearly all public campgrounds in the United States"), doesn't name any Canadian reservation system, and its FAQ says international phone numbers aren't supported. OpenCampsite covers Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, and BC Parks campgrounds alongside the major US systems.
If you camp only in the US and want a native iPhone app, a state system we don't cover, or one of its broader wilderness-permit alerts, Campflare is excellent. It has operated since 2020 with over 10 million notifications sent; use it when its coverage is the better fit, and use OpenCampsite when your trips cross into Canada or you want a published provider-by-provider coverage list.
Three reasons: Canadian coverage (Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, BC Parks — Campflare has none), transparency (we publish every tracked campground, park by park, plus daily demand data; Campflare doesn't enumerate its systems), and no account needed to start — confirm your email and your first alert runs in about a minute.
Pick a campground, choose your dates, and we'll email you when a cancellation or new opening matches. Free while we're in beta.
Comparing other tools too? See all of our campsite-alert comparisons.