Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

FishAngler vs Fishbrain

FishAngler 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner FishAngler
Fishbrain 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60

Both FishAngler and Fishbrain are criticized for extensive paywalls, but FishAngler appears to have a slight edge due to its slightly better overall rating and some users finding it superior to Fishbrain despite its flaws.

Full reviews: FishAngler · Fishbrain

FishAngler and Fishbrain are both popular fishing apps that offer community features, catch logging, and fishing forecasts. However, both are heavily criticized for locking essential features behind expensive paywalls, leading to user frustration and a decline in perceived value. FishAngler has a marginally higher lifetime rating and some users prefer it, though it shares many of the same issues as Fishbrain.

Head to head

Features tieR2R3R7R8
FishAngler FishAngler offers features like weather and prime fishing times, AI for fish, social media aspects, and tracking catches and spots R8. However, many core features, such as seeing other people's catches, fish forecasts, depth charts, and specific maps, are now behind a paywall R7R19. Users also desire features like knot guides, lure recommendations based on location, and better lake/lat/long search capabilities R2R3. Some find the app too busy and difficult to understand R9R28.
Fishbrain Fishbrain provides a 'BiteTime' feature, which users find accurate, and allows checking logged catches in specific spots . It also helps users find fishing spots and connect with other anglers . However, a significant portion of its features, including bite guides, what people catch in certain spots, specific fish species information (like bass or catfish), and even viewing individual catch photos, are locked behind a premium subscription R63R66. Some users note a lack of certain fish species .
Ease of Use tieR4R6R9R28
FishAngler Some FishAngler users find the app easy to use and in-depth, even for beginners . However, others describe it as too busy, difficult to understand, and not user-friendly R9R28. There are reports of login issues, app crashes, and glitches with logging bodies of water R4R6R30. Logging multiple catches and setting bait for all catches at once is also reported as difficult .
Fishbrain Fishbrain users generally find the app helpful for finding spots and logging catches . However, the map interface is criticized for being poorly designed, making it difficult to zoom without accidentally pinging locations . Some users also report issues with the map not loading or not allowing them to access it . The constant pop-ups for premium subscriptions are also a major source of frustration, making the app annoying and difficult to use .
Reliability tieR4R6R12R16
FishAngler FishAngler has reports of login problems, infinite loading screens, and app crashes R4R6. Some users also note that kayak access points and public boat ramps do not show up R16. Catch reports on lakes and rivers are often old, sometimes five years or older R12.
Fishbrain Fishbrain users report issues with the map not allowing them to go onto it or not loading . One user mentioned submitting a new species at a location, but it was not updated after weeks . There are also reports of age restriction errors preventing users from accessing the app R61.
Price/Value tieR1R7R13R19
FishAngler FishAngler is heavily criticized for its paywalls, with many users stating that features that were once free, like seeing other people's catches, fish forecasts, and peak fishing times, are now behind a subscription R7R19. The annual subscription is reported to be around $60-$80, which many find too expensive and not worth it R1R13R37R40. Users feel the app has become 'cash hungry' and 'greedy' .
Fishbrain Fishbrain is widely criticized for its extensive paywalls, with users stating that 'everything is a paywall' and the app is 'useless' without a subscription . The premium subscription is reported to cost around $80-$170 per year, which many find too expensive for basic features R63R66R67R81. Users feel misled by ads claiming the app is free .
Support tieR1R30R61R67
FishAngler FishAngler receives criticism for terrible customer support, with one user reporting that the company refused a refund for an accidental charge, blaming Apple instead R1. Another user received an answer to a service request the next morning, but was still unsure if the app was working R30.
Fishbrain Fishbrain's developer responses to critical feedback are described as 'half assed ai response that doesn’t answer or fix your issue' R67. One user reported sending multiple requests to change an accidentally entered age but received no response R61. There are also claims of the app taking money without authorization and not issuing refunds .
Pick FishAngler if

Pick FishAngler if you are looking for a fishing app with a strong social media aspect and community interaction, and you are willing to pay for premium features like accurate weather and prime fishing times .

Pick Fishbrain if

Pick Fishbrain if you prioritize an accurate 'BiteTime' feature and want to find fishing spots and connect with other anglers, and you are prepared to pay for a subscription to access most of the app's functionalities .

Evidence note: Both apps suffer from significant negative sentiment regarding their paywall strategies, making it difficult to find dimensions where one clearly outperforms the other without caveats. The evidence for both apps is strong and consistent across many reviews.

Frequently asked

What is the cost of FishAngler's premium features?
FishAngler's premium subscription is reported to cost around $60 to $80 per year, which many users find expensive R1R13R37R40.
What is the cost of Fishbrain's premium features?
Fishbrain's premium subscription, known as 'Pro,' is reported to cost between $80 and $170 per year, which many users consider too expensive for the features offered R63R66R81R87.
Do FishAngler and Fishbrain offer free versions?
Both FishAngler and Fishbrain offer free versions, but users widely report that most useful features, including those that were previously free, are now locked behind a paywall, making the free versions very limited or 'useless' R7R27R31R43.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] FishAngler 5/5 · US Great: This is a great app for fishing though I wish it would help me with knots. Maybe you can add
  2. [R3] FishAngler 3/5 · US How to find the best lures to fish: It doesn’t say what to fish depending on where you are and that should be provided wether you have plus or not
  3. [R7] FishAngler 1/5 · US Paywalls have ruined FishAngler: After years of contributing and using FishAngler as a community tool for anglers all over the world, the March 2026 update that paywalls seeing other peoples catches has killed the app for me. FishAngler still allows you to log your catches but now they own that data and sell it to other users as a ‘premium’ feature. I’m very sad to be deleting all my data and the
  4. [R8] FishAngler 5/5 · US Made me a pro: Best app ever it’s fish AI. It’s the best. Let’s go fish.
  5. [R4] FishAngler 1/5 · US Day 6 of trying to get past the sign in page: Cant sign in. Infinite loading screen. Fix it. Is this app abandoned or something?
  6. [R6] FishAngler 3/5 · US My app keeps crashing: I can’t log in
  7. [R9] FishAngler 3/5 · US Hate the app: I do not like the new app, It is way to busy and difficult for me to understand and use, I will no longer be using it. Good bye!!!
  8. [R28] FishAngler 1/5 · US I am too dumb to use this app: I was completely lost using this app maybe I am too dumb but there was no fish id that I could find every screen was over loaded with stuff I was not interested in and I had to pay for Like I said I am just too dumb for this app 🤣 Good luck to all you smart fishermen out there
  9. [R12] FishAngler 3/5 · US Upgrade: I really wanted this to be the tool to use. I checked out many of the places I like to fish. I liked many of the options the upgraded version had. I was very disappointed in the catch reports on the lakes and rivers. Most of the reports were five years or older. Seems there are not many people reporting catches since the app went to two tier system. I will keep using the free version fo
  10. [R16] FishAngler 2/5 · US kayak access points don’t work: It would be nice to be able to filter and see where all the “ez dock kayak launch” platforms are located. The “kayak access” pin and filter does not work at all. All the public boat ramps do not show up either.
  11. [R1] FishAngler 1/5 · US Terrible support: Talk about trash. These people claim to support veterans but when a vet accidentally was charged for a full year 59.99 for their app they wouldn’t even offer a refund after it was immediately deleted and u used. No customer service. They just blamed Apple. Apple isn’t the owner of the company. They are. They are a joke. Shame on you
  12. [R13] FishAngler 1/5 · US Expensive: This apple run you $80 per year not worth it not even close. You still have people that report their catches at their houses so you don’t really know where they got caught. Not worth it delete it from your phone.
  13. [R19] FishAngler 1/5 · US Fees, fees, fees: They ruined a good thing by charging for the fish forecast. Greedy.
  14. [R30] FishAngler 3/5 · US New User: App was not working correctly while signing up. Sent a service request. Answer next morning. Still not sure if the App is working, but all things deserve a chance that includes if I did something to cause the issue.
  15. [R61] Fishbrain 2/5 · US Age restrictions error: I am 13 about to turn 14 but for age question I put I was 12 by accident I’ve sent in so many request to get it changed but no one has responded I love Fishbrain I’ve been using it for over 2 years and I would like to continue using it If I get reinstated this review might change
  16. [R67] Fishbrain 2/5 · US Paying: It’s good and all and I know that the owners need to make a living but a monthly payment feels crazy, it really should just be a one time pay instead of a monthly payment to unlock basic things like images. On top of that instead of giving useful information when responding to critical feedback the developers give you a half assed ai response that doesn’t answer or fix your issue, overall
  17. [R37] FishAngler 1/5 · US Terrible: This is not a good app. Don’t waste your time. And if you miss the free trial deadline you’re absolutely screwed. They will hit you HARD for $$$.
  18. [R40] FishAngler 1/5 · US Was good. Now will delete: Will not pay 60 dollars a year for their supposed best bite windows. It used to free.
  19. [R63] Fishbrain 3/5 · US Good but pay to get most things: It is good but if you are going to travel you would need the pro witch is 170$ per year and it only tells you stuff on bluegill so you can’t look at bass or catfish without pro
  20. [R66] Fishbrain 3/5 · US Pay to use: The best parts of this app are locked behind a 155$ paywall and I don’t spend money like that. Sad because this could have been amazingly helpful. Will still be using this app to find places as that is one feature bass forecast lacks. Bass forecast is another app that seems to be cheaper and have more free features and I hope fish-brain takes notes on their competitors because I am thi
  21. [R81] Fishbrain 3/5 · US 80$ of pro are you series: It ok but I can not git to see catches and other information without pro Wichita 80$ and sum people don’t hav that type of expense
  22. [R87] Fishbrain 3/5 · US Money: You can’t really do anything without paying $80
  23. [R27] FishAngler 3/5 · US Nice: Overall the app is good but everything you do It requires you to buy the other version
  24. [R31] FishAngler 1/5 · US Used to use religiously: They want to charge for the core function of this app now?!? I get having advanced features to offer at a premium, but to take the basic function of this app and lock behind a paywall is ridiculous. Such a shame.
  25. [R43] FishAngler 1/5 · US Paid app.: It’s a free app but you get deep into registration and you have to pay a subscription. Kindof shady and deceptive.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store