Head-to-Head · 2026
MyFishingBuds vs FishBud
FishBud matches anglers with a swipe. MyFishingBuds matches you by how you actually fish — then helps you plan the trip and stay safe on the water. Here is how they compare.
Updated August 2026 · FishBud pricing and features verified on fishbud.app. FishBud is a Sweden-based app; paid tiers are priced in Swedish kronor.
The short version
Both apps help you find people to fish with. FishBud does it with a fast, swipe-style flow and puts message-without-matching, unlimited likes, and other features behind paid tiers. MyFishingBuds matches on fishing style, species, skill, and schedule, keeps messaging your matches and the full safety stack free, and goes further than the match — trip planning with a crew, free GPS float plans and SOS, a catch journal, and AI trip planning.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | MyFishingBuds | FishBud |
|---|---|---|
| Match with fishing partners | ✓ | ✓ |
| Message your matches for free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Message without a mutual match | — | ✓ |
| Unlimited daily likes | ✓ | — |
| Free float plans + GPS safety / SOS | ✓ | — |
| Emergency contact auto-alerts | ✓ | — |
| Plan a trip with a crew | ✓ | — |
| AI Trip Planner (live NOAA + USGS) | ✓ | — |
| Fish ID from a photo | ✓ | — |
| Private catch journal | ✓ | — |
| Real free-forever tier | ✓ | ✓ |
Who Wins Each Scenario?
You want to message anglers without paying
MyFishingBudsMessaging your matches is free on every plan. FishBud gates message-without-matching behind its Gold tier.
You like a fast swipe / like discovery flow
FishBudFishBud is built around a Tinder-style swipe. If that is the experience you want, it does it well.
Safety matters (offshore, solo boating)
MyFishingBudsFree GPS float plans, auto emergency alerts, and SOS. FishBud has no safety tools.
You want to actually plan and run the trip
MyFishingBudsCreate a trip, invite a crew, agree on meeting point and shared costs in-app. FishBud stops at the match.
You want compatibility-based matching
MyFishingBudsMatches by fishing style, target species, skill level, and when you are free — not just a photo swipe.
You want AI trip planning + fish ID
MyFishingBudsLive NOAA/USGS/solunar trip planning and photo fish ID. FishBud has neither.
Where FishBud is a fine choice
If you want a fast, swipe-style way to browse anglers and do not mind paying for extras, FishBud does that well. It is a Sweden-based app, so it is most useful where it has a local user base. We are not saying FishBud is bad — we built MyFishingBuds to answer a different question: not just “who is nearby” but “who am I actually compatible with, and how do we plan a safe trip together.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FishBud free?
FishBud has a free tier, but it caps daily likes and limits messaging to matched connections. Messaging without a mutual match, unlimited likes, and seeing who liked you require its paid tiers (Premium and Gold). Note that FishBud is a Sweden-based app and its paid plans are priced in Swedish kronor (roughly 79–129 kr / month as of August 2026).
Does MyFishingBuds charge to message other anglers?
No. Messaging the anglers you match with is free on every MyFishingBuds plan, including the free-forever tier. FishBud gates message-without-matching behind its Gold tier.
How is MyFishingBuds different from FishBud?
FishBud is a swipe-style matcher — like a dating app for finding someone to fish with, and stops once you match. MyFishingBuds matches you by fishing style, target species, skill, and schedule, then helps you actually plan and safely run the trip: create a trip with a crew, file a free GPS float plan with SOS, and log your catches. It also adds AI trip planning and photo fish ID that FishBud does not have.
Which is the better free fishing buddy app?
If you want a real free tier that lets you match, message, plan trips, and stay safe without paying, MyFishingBuds goes deeper — messaging your matches and the full float-plan/SOS safety stack are free on every plan, and new accounts get 14 days of Pro automatically.
Find your fishing crew — free
Match by how you fish, message for free, and plan the trip. Never fish alone again.
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