Head-to-Head · 2026
MyFishingBuds vs Co-Angler
Co-Angler and MyFishingBuds both help you find someone to fish with — and both are free. Co-Angler is a focused matchmaker. MyFishingBuds is free forever too, and its free tier adds compatibility matching, float plan safety + SOS, and 14 days of full Pro on signup. Here is how they compare.
Updated June 2026 · Co-Angler details from its public app listing
Why we wrote this comparison
Co-Angler proved the buddy-matching idea works
Co-Angler beat MyFishingBuds to market with a focused, well-designed matchmaker — and we mean that as a compliment. Watching it grow validated the thesis that anglers actively want to find each other, not just log catches. If you tried Co-Angler and liked the core idea, you are exactly who MyFishingBuds is built for. The question is whether you also want the things Co-Angler intentionally left off the table.
We tested both apps over the same June 2026 window — building a profile from scratch, seeing how the discovery feed surfaced nearby anglers, sending messages, and tracking what happened next. Co-Angler is genuinely simple: an anglers list, an "Open to Fish" status, DMs, trip reports, and ratings. That's the whole product. It is fast to learn and clean to use. MyFishingBuds layers on compatibility matching (style, species, skill, schedule), an AI Trip Planner wired to live NOAA + USGS conditions, a private catch journal with AI fish ID, and a free GPS float plan with automatic emergency-contact alerts.
Translation: if you want a single-purpose matchmaker and nothing else, Co-Angler is a great pick. If you want the matchmaker plus trip planning, safety, and a journal — all free at the same tier Co-Angler charges nothing for — MyFishingBuds is the broader bet. Both are honest products. Pick the surface area you actually want.
MyFishingBuds
Best for: A free platform that grows with you
Free matchmaking + float plan safety + SOS, all on the house. Pro unlocks AI trip planning, fish ID, catch heatmap, unlimited trips, and the full toolkit.
Free forever · 14 days of Pro on signup · Pro $12.99/mo · safety always free
🤝 Co-Angler
Best for: A simple, single-purpose matchmaker
Browse an anglers list, set an Open to Fish status, message, rate trips, and share trip reports. Single-purpose and easy to learn.
Free · subscription planned for upcoming features · iOS and Android
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | MFB | Co-Angler |
|---|---|---|
| Find a fishing partner | ✓ | ✓ |
| Compatibility matching (style, species, skill, availability) | ✓ | — |
| Available-now / Open to Fish status | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time messaging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ratings and reviews | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trip alerts for new trips near you | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trip creation with crew and gear list | ✓ | ✓ |
| Catch feed / trip reports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Float plans + GPS safety | ✓ | — |
| Emergency contact auto-alerts + SOS | ✓ | — |
| AI Trip Planner (NOAA + USGS + solunar) | ✓ | — |
| AI Fish ID with regulations | ✓ | — |
| Catch heatmap | ✓ | — |
| Private waypoints + catch journal | ✓ | — |
| Learn-to-fish library | ✓ | — |
| Guides marketplace + booking | ✓ | — |
| Tackle logbook | ✓ | — |
| Free to use | ✓ | ✓ |
Who Wins Each Scenario?
You want a no-frills, single-purpose matchmaker
Co-Angler is focused entirely on matching anglers — no other features to learn. If all you want is to fill or find a seat, it stays out of your way.
You want compatibility matching by style, species and skill
MFB ranks anglers by fishing style, species, skill, availability and distance. Co-Angler is a browseable list with an Open to Fish status.
Safety is a priority (offshore, solo, wading, ice)
GPS float plans, automatic emergency alerts, and SOS — free on every plan. Co-Angler does not list safety tools.
You want AI trip planning with live conditions
Live NOAA, USGS, barometric, and solunar data in one plan. Co-Angler does not list AI features.
You want trip alerts when a trip pops up near you
Both notify you of nearby trips. Co-Angler uses email within 100 miles; MFB uses push and in-app with species, type, and distance filters.
You want a full platform, not just matchmaking
Catch heatmap, fish ID, learn-to-fish library, guides marketplace, and tackle logbook in one app.
You are new and want to learn while you find buddies
A full learn-to-fish library plus compatibility matching helps beginners more than a directory alone.
You want the best free tier today
Both apps are free. MFB Free includes matchmaking + 3 trip joins/mo + 15 messages/mo + the full safety stack, and every new account gets 14 days of full Pro on signup. Co-Angler is free for matchmaking, ratings, and trip alerts.
Where Co-Angler is Better
- 🎯
Single-purpose simplicity
It does one thing — match anglers — without extra features to learn. Great if all you want is to fill or find a seat with zero learning curve.
- 📱
No subscription tier today
Every Co-Angler feature is currently free, with no Pro upsell — though the app listing notes a subscription is planned for upcoming features.
- 🌱
Focused, growing community
A dedicated matchmaker built solely around connecting anglers for trips.
Where MyFishingBuds is Better
- 🧭
Compatibility matching
Ranks anglers by style, species, skill, availability, and distance — not just a list to scroll.
- 🛟
On-the-water safety
GPS float plans, automatic emergency alerts, and SOS — free on every plan. Co-Angler does not list safety tools.
- 🤖
AI trip planning and fish ID
Live NOAA, USGS, barometric, and solunar data, plus AI fish ID with regulations by state.
- 🧰
A full platform
Catch heatmap, private waypoints and journal, learn-to-fish library, guides marketplace, and tackle logbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MyFishingBuds a good Co-Angler alternative?
Yes. Co-Angler is a free, focused matchmaker for finding a fishing partner. MyFishingBuds does the same buddy-finding and adds compatibility matching, on-water safety (float plans and SOS), AI trip planning, a catch heatmap, fish ID, a learn-to-fish library, and a guides marketplace. If you want more than matchmaking, MyFishingBuds is the fuller platform.
What is the main difference between MyFishingBuds and Co-Angler?
Co-Angler is a single-purpose matchmaker — browse an anglers list, set an Open to Fish status, message, and rate trips. MyFishingBuds is a full fishing platform: it ranks compatible buddies for you, then adds trip planning, float plan safety, AI tools, a catch feed and heatmap, and a learn-to-fish library.
Are MyFishingBuds and Co-Angler both free?
Yes — both are free to use. Co-Angler is currently free (its app listing notes a subscription is planned for upcoming features). MyFishingBuds is free forever — browse matches, join up to 3 trips a month, send 15 messages a month, and use float plans, GPS tracking, and SOS without paying. New accounts get 14 days of full Pro included on signup; Pro is $12.99/mo after that for unlimited trips, unlimited messaging, and the full AI toolkit.
Does Co-Angler have safety features like float plans?
Co-Angler does not list float plans, GPS tracking, or SOS alerts. MyFishingBuds includes GPS float plans, automatic emergency-contact alerts, SOS, and weather alerts — all free on every plan.
Which app has better matching?
It depends on what you want. Co-Angler keeps it simple: an anglers list plus an Open to Fish status you browse and message. MyFishingBuds ranks compatible anglers for you by fishing style, target species, skill level, availability, and distance, so you spend less time scrolling.
Which is better for finding a fishing partner — MyFishingBuds or Co-Angler?
Both work. Pick Co-Angler if you want a free, no-frills way to find a seat. Pick MyFishingBuds if you want compatibility matching, on-water safety, AI trip planning, and the rest of the platform in one place.
The Bottom Line
Both apps are free, so the question is really: which free tier gives you more?
Use Co-Angler if you want a single-purpose matchmaker with zero learning curve and nothing else to manage.
Use MyFishingBuds if you want matchmaking plus on-water safety (float plans + SOS), trip coordination, and a path into AI trip planning when you are ready — all free, with 14 days of full Pro on signup.
Get 14 days of Pro free
Full Pro access. No credit card. Float plans and SOS free on every plan.
Get Started Free →