DerbyFish vs Fishbrain
3 min read
What Fishbrain Does Well
Fishbrain built a massive fishing social network. Fifteen million users. Strong species identification. Location-based fishing forecasts. A polished app that feels good to use.
They earned their audience. Give credit where it's due.
Where the Gaps Are
No catch verification. Fishbrain has no system to verify that a catch is real. Anyone can post anything. There's no AI analysis, no reviewer consensus, no blockchain proof. In a social context, that's fine. In a competitive context, it's a dealbreaker.
Paywalled core features. Species ID, fishing forecasts, and catch statistics sit behind Fishbrain Pro ($9.99/month or $49.99/year). The free version is limited.
No competitive framework. Fishbrain has no derbies, no leagues, no leaderboards, no tournament infrastructure. It's a social app for logging catches, not a competition platform.
The DerbyFish Advantage
BHRV verification. Every competitive catch goes through the four-step verification process. AI analysis, captain review, blockchain proof. Catches on DerbyFish are trustworthy.
Free FishDex. 419 freshwater and saltwater species. Species identification. Catch logging. Collection tracking. All free. No paywall.
Competition infrastructure. Derbies. Leagues. Seasons. Leaderboards. Prize pools. The full competitive stack.
Fair economy. Compete Badge costs $20/year. Captain Badge costs $60/year. No $9.99/month subscription that quietly drains your bank account.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DerbyFish | Fishbrain |
|---|---|---|
| Species ID | Free (419 species) | Pro only ($49.99/yr) |
| Catch Verification | BHRV (AI + captain + blockchain) | None |
| Tournaments/Derbies | Yes (free creation) | No |
| Leaderboards | Yes | No |
| Social Feed | Yes | Yes |
| Location Forecasts | Coming soon | Pro only |
| Fish Collection | FishDex (free) | Pro only |
| Mobile App | iOS + Android | iOS + Android |
| Web App | Yes (derby.fish) | Limited |
| Location Privacy | Obfuscated by default | User-controlled |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | DerbyFish | Fishbrain |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Full social + FishDex + casual fishing | Limited logging |
| Compete Badge | $20/year | — |
| Captain Badge | $60/year | — |
| Fishbrain Pro | — | $49.99/year |
| Both badges | $80/year | — |
The Bottom Line
Fishbrain is a fishing social network. DerbyFish is a verified competition platform with social features.
If you want to scroll a feed of fishing photos, Fishbrain is fine. If you want your catches to mean something — verified, ranked, and permanent — DerbyFish is where you go.