CDFW License vs Kelpulator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CDFW License
Manage your California fishing and hunting licenses, preference points, and access permits. This official app allows you to view and store all your important wildlife documents in one convenient place.
- View fishing licenses
- View hunting licenses
- Store preference points
- Access permits
- Manage drawing applications
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CDFW License App is the official license management App for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Utilize this app to view and store all your CDFW fishing and hunting licenses, preference points, access permits, and drawing applications.
Kelpulator
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Kelpulator helps offshore anglers track kelp and fish, predict drift, and share intel with their crew. Currently covering Point Conception to Ensenada, with more regions coming soon. Mark kelp by dropping a pin or drifting alongside it, then let wind and current forecasts predict where it moves so you can navigate back and find the same paddy hours or days later. Key features: - Kelp drift prediction with land-masking and adjustable windage per paddy - Fish & kelp tracking with distance and bearing from your current position - Ocean data overlays: SST, chlorophyll, wind forecasts (48h + 7-day), surface currents, swell, and bathymetry - Spot forecasts: tap any location to see 1-3 hour interval wind and swell conditions out to 7 days - Tides & moon phases: on-device tidal predictions and scrollable moon phase calendar - Crews: share marks and reports with private or public groups - Reports: rich text, up to 10 photos, 90-second voice memos, and emoji reactions - Direct messaging with crew members - Offline maps: downloadable region packs for Southern California and Baja - Measurement tool: tap the map to measure distance and bearing between points - Time slider: scrub forward through wind and current forecasts - Guided tutorial with demo items for new users - Filtering & sorting by status, type, distance, or date - Metric / Imperial units - Light & dark themes Kelpulator Pro is an auto-renewing annual subscription ($29.99/year) that unlocks wind, current, swell, and bathymetry layers, higher mark limits, and direct messaging. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase and renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in your Apple ID settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://kelpulator.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CDFW License at none against Kelpulator's 1. CDFW License also leads on chart position (#190 vs unranked). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Kelpulator sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. CDFW License asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | CDFW License | Kelpulator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.8 (98 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 35.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 98 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | #190 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 69 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RA Outdoors, LLC, d/b/a Aspira | Alan DaCosta |
Bugs and requests
CDFW License
Reported bugs
6 issues- Error 403 when trying to buy
- Cannot associate ID info (DL, passport)
- App autofilled random password
- Login fails in app but works on website
- App says no active licenses when user has them
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- Invalid email/password error
Requested features
15 requests- Add Apple Wallet support
- Consolidate info dumps for efficiency
- Allow account creation directly in app
- Retain login credentials
- Add lobster reporting functionality
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- Specify location and harvest method
- Tailored regulations with fish search and ID guide
- Add interactive MPA map
- Add widget for high/low tides
- Allow purchasing and renewing licenses through the app
- Add tidal charts and lunar phases
- Tag harvest via the app
- Add hunting licenses
- Add fishing regulation map
- Make report cards virtual
Kelpulator
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
CDFW License
No in-app purchases
Kelpulator
- Kelpulator Pro$29.991 Year
Questions
Is CDFW License free?
Is Kelpulator free?
Do CDFW License or Kelpulator have ads?
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