The Best Fishing Apps 2026: 11 Apps Compared (Free and Paid)

We make CastLog, one of the apps on this list, so we have tried hard to be fair about the others. Every price and rating below was checked on the US App Store on 24 October 2026. Many roundups still quote old prices, so check before you subscribe.

The quick list

The best free fishing apps

You can fish well without paying for anything. These apps are genuinely useful on their free tier:

• FishAngler: maps, a catch log, a community feed and photo fish ID, with most of it free.
• Fishing Points: maps, tides and solunar times, with offline NOAA charts.
• Windy.com: the best free wind forecast, which matters more than most anglers think.
• Fish Rules: free saltwater regulations from Maine to Texas, California, Hawaii and the Caribbean.
• Your state's wildlife app: free, and usually the quickest way to buy and carry your license.
• CastLog: 3 free photo IDs a day, with the catch log and conditions included.

Maps and community

Fishbrain

Fishbrain is the biggest fishing app in the world, with over 76,000 App Store ratings and millions of logged catches. It is the place to see what other anglers are catching near you. The best parts, such as exact catch locations and Garmin depth maps, need Pro. Expect to pay up to $89.99 a year after any introductory offer.

FishAngler

FishAngler is the strongest free alternative to Fishbrain. It has a map, a detailed catch log, a community feed and photo fish ID covering over 800 species. Forecasts and 3D contours need VIP, at $49.99 a year.

onX Fish

onX, known for its hunting maps, launched onX Fish in 2025. It has offline lake maps, aerial imagery and land-access data, which is handy for finding legal bank access. The catch: in October 2026 it covers only 13 states, mostly in the Midwest, plus Montana.

Depth charts

Fishing Points is the better value for most anglers: free offline maps and NOAA charts, with tides and solunar times on top. Navionics Boating (Garmin) has the most detailed depth charts at $49.99 a year for the US and Canada, but it is rated 2.9, with reviews reporting freezes on the water.

Rules and licenses

Fish Rules is the go-to for saltwater regulations, with size and bag limits for federal and state waters. It is saltwater only.

For freshwater, use your state's official wildlife app, often called Go Outdoors followed by the state name. They let you buy your license and carry it on your phone, and it works offline. They are not pretty, and most are rated around 3 stars, but they are the official source.

Weather and bite times

Windy.com shows wind, gusts and rain from several forecast models side by side. It is not a fishing app, but wind direction tells you which bank the fish will be on. BassForecast gives a daily bass bite rating and bait suggestions, with a free tier and a paid PRO.

If you want to understand the science rather than trust a score, our guides to the best time to go fishing and barometric pressure and fishing explain what actually moves fish.

Identifying and logging your catch

CastLog

This is our app, so take this section with that in mind. CastLog is built around one idea: a catch log only works if it is quicker than not bothering. You take a photo of the fish and it names the species, estimates the size, and saves the spot, time, weather and pressure automatically. It knows over 500,000 named waters in the US and UK, and over a season it shows the conditions you actually catch in. It can also store your fishing license and remind you before it expires.

What it does not do: there is no social feed, no depth maps, and it is iPhone only for now. It is also new, with very few App Store ratings so far. It is free with 3 photo IDs a day, and Pro makes them unlimited.

FishAngler and Fishbrain also identify fish from photos, and so do Fish AI and Catchr. Fish AI is subscription-only (around $79.99 a year) and has reviews complaining about billing after cancelling, so read the terms before you start a trial. For bass anglers, our guide to largemouth vs smallmouth bass shows what the apps are looking for.

ANGLR and Fishidy

You will still see these two on older lists. ANGLR, a detailed trip logbook, is still updated and now published by Rough Stone Software. Fishidy, owned by Teledyne FLIR, has had few meaningful updates since 2023 and is rated 3.4. Neither is a bad app, but there are better-supported choices above.

Booking a charter

FishingBooker is the biggest marketplace for fishing charters and guides, rated 4.9 from over 5,000 reviews. The app is free and you pay per trip.

Our picks

• For most freshwater anglers: FishAngler (free), Windy, your state's app, and CastLog to log what works.
• For the social side: Fishbrain, free or Pro.
• For boat anglers: Fishing Points, or Navionics if you need the most detail.
• For saltwater: Fish Rules, plus Windy for the wind.

Questions

What is the best free fishing app?

FishAngler gives you the most for free: maps, a catch log, a community and photo fish ID. Fishing Points is the best free map app, and Windy is the best free weather app for anglers. CastLog is free with 3 photo identifications a day.

Is there an app that shows where the fish are?

No app can see fish. Fishbrain and FishAngler show where other people report catching them, onX Fish and Navionics show depth and structure, and a sonar like a Deeper shows what is under you. Catch reports are the closest thing, but people rarely share their best spots accurately.

Is Fishbrain Pro worth it?

If you fish public water that lots of people fish, Pro's catch locations and depth maps can be worth it. If you fish private or quiet water, the free version plus FishAngler covers most of the same ground.

Which app identifies fish from a photo?

CastLog, FishAngler, Fishbrain, Fish AI and Catchr all do. Results depend on the photo: show the whole fish side-on, in good light. Our guide on how to identify a fish from a photo explains why.

Can I get my fishing license on an app?

In most states, yes, through the state wildlife agency's official app or website. Some, like Go Outdoors North Carolina, show your license offline. See how to find a fishing club in the US for more on getting started locally.

Fishing in the UK? See the best fishing apps for UK anglers.