How to save money on your campsite scans

Sometimes folks ask about our pricing, and I get why. We offer a wide range of options and prices—and some might seem to be on the steep side. At first glance, Campnab looks more expensive than a lot of streaming services. (In actuality, this is hardly ever the case.) In this article, I’ll offer up six tips that’ll help you save money on Campnab.

Select the right Campnab option for you

Take a moment to consider your camping style. Then familiarize yourself with the ways you can access Campnab. If you camp once or twice a year, opt for a pay-per-use scan. Starting at $10, this is a one-time payment and will run for months without any added charges.

Do you camp in the warmer months? Try a monthly plan. These start at $10 a month and allow you to run multiple scans (i.e., different dates and/or parks) at the same time. Are you on the road full-time? Consider an annual subscription, as those come at a ~25% savings.

Whether you opt for pay-per-use, a monthly plan, or an annual membership all has to do with your camping needs. Picking appropriately will afford you the greatest value for your dollar.

Don’t over-do-it with your tier selection

With some products, you need the highest-priced option to ensure the best outcome. This isn’t the case with Campnab. I seldom recommend our top-level tiers. In most regions, you’ll do well with our Good and Better tiers. These allow you to run a bunch of scans and edit them as you need. These scans also run at a decent frequency.

If you’re scanning an extremely busy park like Yosemite, you’ll benefit by opting for the Awesome tier. This one scans more frequently, which can be helpful. There are two higher-level tiers, but I discourage those for all but a few members who need to run a lot of scans at the same time.

Downgrade at non-peak times

You might opt for a mid- or high-level tier during the busiest months; however, this probably isn’t necessary after the summer passes. If you’re still camping in the fall, winter, and spring, you can downgrade your tier as there’s typically less demand.

This approach allows you to keep getting alerted to new openings, at a lower price point. You can downgrade (or upgrade) your plan tier whenever you like, from your Plan page. Our system will automatically pro-rate your purchase based on where you’re at in the billing cycle. It will then adjust your balance accordingly.

Know your region

Each area works a little differently when it comes to booking campsites and the associated park policies. Getting familiar with your camping region can help inform the plan tier you choose—and the associated cost. For example, parks far from big cities commonly see less traffic. So, if you live in a place like Iowa, Nova Scotia, or Wisconsin you can probably choose our lowest-price tier.

Curiously, a lower-priced tier can also suffice at some of California’s most popular state beaches. This is because these parks often hold canceled campsites for future release. (You can learn more about these sorts of openings in our article about campsites set to unlock.) When these reservations are cancelled, we notify members via unlock alerts. As these openings aren’t immediately available, a lower-priced tier can often suffice—in spite of how popular these campgrounds are.

Cancel your plan

Remember my note about streaming services and how our prices aren’t comparable? This is because of the duration you involved. I’ve paid for Netflix every month since 2007, year in and year out. Very few people do this with Campnab. In fact, many of our members sign up for a month, find the campsites they’re after, and then cancel their membership to Campnab. As such, their annual Campnab purchase can be as little as $10.

Almost every fall I write a quick post on our newsfeed encouraging members to cancel if they’re done camping for the season. If you don’t need our service, there’s no reason to stay signed up. Besides, you can return at any time and re-subscribe to Campnab. When you do, your account will be waiting for you, with all of your settings and scan history in place.

Use your affiliate code (and you might get Campnab for free!)

As a company of two, our marketing approach is pretty bare-bones. It essentially involves happy members telling their friends. And some of y’all are really, really happy about your experience with Campnab. For what it’s worth, your positive feedback makes us downright giddy at times! 🤗

As a little thank you to all of you who spread the word, we created our affiliate program. Just share your affiliate code with your camping friends and family. We’ll pay you $3.00 when someone you refer purchases a single scan, or $7.00 when they subscribe to a Campnab membership. It only takes a few of those to offset the cost of your Campnab membership. 

We couldn’t do this without you

Hopefully, the above tips help you get the best price on Campnab—and the most value for your dollar. I want to finish this article with one closing thought: I see members like you not as customers, but like sponsors. I’ll explain.

Campnab isn’t a funded startup with deep pockets. We’re just two guys working on a little app we like. When you pay for Campnab, you’re supporting the ongoing development of this product. That’s not all, though. You’re also helping us pay the rent, go on occasional camping trips, and even put some beer in the cooler. So, thank you! We’re grateful for your support. 🙌

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