Fishing app comparison
The Best Fishing Apps, Compared
CatchVault, Fishbrain, FishAngler, and Fishing Points side by side: measuring your catch, identifying it, knowing the rules, and what each one costs.
Checked against each app's App Store listing on November 7, 2026.
| Feature | CatchVault | Fishbrain | FishAngler | Fishing Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure fish length from a photo | LiDAR on iPhone Pro (free, unlimited); AI estimate on other iPhones | –Not listed | –Not listed | –Manual length entry |
| Measurement method shown on each catch | Manual, AI, or LiDAR tag | –Not listed | –Not listed | –Not listed |
| Photo species identification | 335+ species, works offline | 300+ species | 866+ species | –Species info, no photo ID listed |
| State fishing regulations | 48 states, by species and water | 30+ states | –Not listed | 5 states |
| Public land map | All 50 states + DC, by managing agency | Parks & government land layer | Property lines & land access | –Not listed |
| AI fishing assistant (chat) | 5 free messages/day, unlimited with Pro | –AI bite forecasts, no chat listed | AI fishing guide | –Not listed |
| Gear setup recommendations | Rod, reel, line & lures by species and budget | –Not listed | –Not listed | –Not listed |
| Depth / nautical charts | –Not offered | Navionics & C-MAP | Navionics, 3D lake maps | Select states + NOAA charts |
| Fishing forecasts | 4 days free; 7 days + hourly with Pro | BiteTime forecasts | 14-day + bite windows | Feeding times, tides |
| Android app | –Coming soon (iOS today) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paid plan (US App Store) | $6.99/mo or $39.99/yr, 1-week free trial | From $12.99/mo or $79.99/yr | $6.99/mo or $49.99/yr | Several premium tiers |
“Not listed” means the feature isn't described in that app's App Store listing as of November 7, 2026; it may exist elsewhere in the app. Sources: Fishbrain, FishAngler, Fishing Points. Prices are US App Store prices and can change.
The apps at a glance
Who each app is best for, based on what its App Store listing offers.
Fishbrain
Best for: A large social catch map and depth charts
Fishbrain is free to download and use, with Fishbrain Pro unlocking its advanced features (from $12.99/month or $79.99/year). Its listing highlights a catch map built from community reports, Fish ID for 300+ species, BiteTime AI forecasts, Garmin Navionics and C-MAP depth charts, and regulations for 30+ US states.
How CatchVault differs: CatchVault measures your catch from a photo with LiDAR, covers regulations in 48 states, and costs $39.99/year for Pro.
CatchVault vs Fishbrain →FishAngler
Best for: The biggest species ID library and a generous free tier
FishAngler's free account includes spot finding, catch logging, AI Fish ID for 866+ species, land boundaries, and IGFA records. FishAngler VIP ($6.99/month or $49.99/year) adds bite-window forecasts, verified catch locations, 3D contour maps, a 14-day forecast, and monthly AI guide credits.
How CatchVault differs: CatchVault adds LiDAR length measurement and state-by-state regulations, which FishAngler's listing doesn't mention.
Fishing Points
Best for: Boaters who want offline NOAA charts, tides, and feeding times
Fishing Points focuses on maps and conditions: saved fishing spots, feeding-time forecasts, tides, marine weather, offline NOAA nautical charts, and lake depth maps in select states. Its listing covers regulations for five states (Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Louisiana).
How CatchVault differs: CatchVault is built around the catch itself: identify it, measure it, and check the rules for that water.
Why LiDAR measurement matters
A length you type in is only as good as the tape and the angler. CatchVault measures from the photo itself.
Real depth, not a guess
iPhone Pro models have a LiDAR scanner that measures distance to every point in the frame. CatchVault uses that depth to turn the fish in your photo into a true length, without a tape on the deck.
Works on every iPhone
No LiDAR? CatchVault's AI estimates length straight from the photo, so standard iPhones can size a catch too. Free accounts get 5 AI measurements a day; Pro is unlimited.
Every catch shows how it was measured
Each catch is tagged Manual, AI, or LiDAR, so leaderboards and personal records are honest about how a length was taken.
Single-purpose LiDAR ruler apps exist, but they only measure. In CatchVault the length lands in your logbook with the species ID, location, and the regulation for that water, so you know on the spot whether it's a keeper. How LiDAR measurement works →
What else sets CatchVault apart
Regulations for 48 states →
Size limits, bag limits, and seasons by species, plus pages for individual lakes and rivers with their own rules.
Public land in all 50 states →
Tap any parcel to see who manages it, so you can find open-access water and stay off private ground.
Offline species ID →
The identification model runs on your phone, so it works at the lake with no signal.
Gear setups that fit the fish →
Pick your water, species, method, and budget, and get a matched rod, reel, line, and lure setup.
Where the others are stronger
- Depth and nautical charts. Fishbrain and FishAngler include Navionics charts, and Fishing Points has lake depth maps for select states and NOAA charts offline. CatchVault doesn't offer depth charts.
- Android. All three are on Android today. CatchVault is iPhone-only for now, with Android on the way.
- Community size. Fishbrain and FishAngler have years of shared catches behind their maps. CatchVault's community is newer, so catch heatmaps are thinner in some areas.
- Species count. FishAngler lists 866+ identifiable species, more than CatchVault's 335+.
Common questions
Which fishing app can measure a fish with LiDAR?
CatchVault measures fish length from a photo using the LiDAR scanner on supported iPhone Pro models, and estimates length with AI on iPhones without LiDAR. Fishbrain, FishAngler, and Fishing Points do not list photo-based length measurement in their App Store descriptions; their catch logs take a length you enter yourself.
Which iPhones have LiDAR?
iPhone Pro and Pro Max models from the iPhone 12 Pro onward include a LiDAR scanner. Standard (non-Pro) iPhones do not, so CatchVault uses an AI length estimate on those phones and tags the catch as AI-measured.
Is CatchVault a good Fishbrain alternative?
If you want to measure and identify fish from a photo, check state regulations, and see public land in one app, yes. If depth charts, a large social feed, or an Android app matter most to you, Fishbrain is currently stronger in those areas.
Is CatchVault free?
Yes. Species ID, unlimited LiDAR measurement, regulations, the public land map, and catch logging are free. CatchVault Pro ($6.99/month or $39.99/year with a one-week free trial) adds unlimited AI measurements and assistant messages, the full 7-day and hourly forecast, and species targets for every water.
Which fishing app identifies the most species?
By their App Store listings as of November 7, 2026: FishAngler lists 866+ species, CatchVault 335+, and Fishbrain 300+. CatchVault's identification runs on the phone, so it also works without cell service.
Measure your next catch with LiDAR
Identify it, measure it, and check if it's a keeper, all from one photo. Free on iPhone.
Fishbrain, FishAngler, and Fishing Points are trademarks of their respective owners. CatchVault is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Comparison based on public App Store listings as of November 7, 2026.