Compare
The Free Alternative to Paddle Logger & RiverApp
The paid paddling apps put trip history, flow forecasts, and live safety tracking behind a subscription. We read the same public USGS gauges and keep it free.
| Feature | Paddling Hubs Free | Go Paddling | Launch directories | Booking sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Put-in & launch discovery | ||||
| Outfitter, livery & school directory | Booking only | |||
| Book guided trips & rentals | ||||
| Maps & GPS | ||||
| River & water conditions | Partial | |||
| Events & meetups | ||||
| No account required to browse |
FAQ
Paddling Hubs vs Paddle Logger and RiverApp
Yes. Current flow and gauge height on our river pages are free, with no subscription. RiverApp reserves historical charts, forecasts, and satellite comparisons for its Premium tier. Our readings come straight from the public USGS gauge network, so there is no data bill to pass on.
Yes. Every gauged reach shows its latest reading and whether it is running today, free and without an account. We pair that with put-in and take-out detail where we have it.
No. Saving runs and planning a trip are free. Paddle Logger is free to download but gates trip folders, pins, photo galleries, and its PaddleLIVE tracking behind a PRO subscription. A free account here only syncs your saved runs between the web and the app.
Those apps license and maintain flow data across tens of thousands of stations worldwide, and that breadth is what you pay for. We stay on US waters and read the free public USGS streamflow and NOAA tide feeds. The businesses listed here pay for their own pages, bookings and app, and that pays for the free tools.
