StayFree

What StayFree does

StayFree GmbH is a German mobile-first platform that helps vanlife travelers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts discover and document overnight camping spots across Europe. The company operates a single unified iOS and Android application offering access to a database of over 100,000 curated camping spots spanning wild camping locations, microcamping spots (farms, vineyards, alpaca farms), RV parks, campsites, and service stations. Core features include map-based discovery with advanced filters, a Travel Tracker road trip logbook, Wishlists for trip planning, check-ins, and a Clean-Up community feature supporting environmental stewardship. The app maintains a 4.7 rating from 8,000+ iOS reviews.

The platform's data layer is community-driven, with 1.5M+ contributed spots, 100,000+ reviews, and 350,000+ user-generated highlights driving organic content growth. StayFree aggregates microcamping listings from a partner network that includes HomeCamper, Campspace, CampPilot, Campervanspot, VanSite, AlpacaCamping, Campio, and Campcation, creating a differentiated supply of small, private camping experiences alongside free wild camping options. The product architecture is a standard mobile application with offline map capabilities, social sharing, and partner integration layers; no proprietary AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

The business model is freemium with premium subscription tiers. The app is free to download with basic features; recurring subscription revenue is generated from premium features and partner microcamping access. Marketing is product-led and community-led, leveraging content marketing through StayFree Magazine and Guides, organic social media presence on Facebook/YouTube/Instagram, and app store discovery. The company is bootstrapped with no external funding rounds referenced, registered in Stuttgart (Amtsgericht Stuttgart: HRB 799997), headquartered in Bad Herrenalb, Germany, and led by sole Managing Director Benjamin Heisch. Operating geographies span at least Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, and France.

Name

StayFree

Legal name

StayFree GmbH

Website

https://stayfree.app

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

StayFree GmbH operates a mobile app for vanlife travelers and campers to discover over 100,000 camping spots across Europe, including wild camping locations, microcamping partner sites, and RV parks. The community-driven platform offers trip tracking, spot reviews, and road trip planning tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Camping & Outdoor Travel Apps

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAMAJAB

Traditional Campgrounds (Tent & Mixed-Use)

Travel & Hospitality/Vacation Rentals & Short-Term Stays/Campgrounds, Glamping & RV Parks

SECONDARYTHAGAOAA

Campgrounds & RV Parks (Developed Sites)

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Camping & Glamping Facilities

SECONDARYTHAGAOAG

Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps)

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Camping & Glamping Facilities

Keywords

• Camping spot discovery
• Vanlife mobile app
• Wild camping spots
• Microcamping network
• Travel trip tracker

Headquarters

HQ city

Konstanz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Freemium App with Premium Subscription: The app is free to download and use with basic features. Premium subscription tiers offer additional features. The FAQ explicitly asks 'Is StayFree free to use?' and 'How can I pay for a plan?' indicating a freemium model with paid upgrade options.
2. Subscription Recurring Revenue: FAQ mentions plan options and billing cycles, indicating recurring subscription revenue from premium app features and access to exclusive microcamping partner spots.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

StayFree operates a mobile-first vanlife and camping companion app that enables users to discover over 100,000 camping spots across Europe, including wild camping, microcamping on private farms and vineyards, RV parks, campsites, and stopovers. The app integrates a travel tracker (road trip logbook), wishlists, community reviews, and a Clean-Up environmental initiative, with a freemium model offering a premium subscription tier for advanced features.

Product overview

StayFree operates as a single unified mobile application (iOS and Android) focused on vanlife and camping. The core product centers on a camping spot discovery platform with over 100,000 listed locations across Europe and beyond. Key integrated features include the Travel Tracker (road trip logbook), Clean-Up environmental initiative, Wishlists for trip planning, and a review/check-in system. Content extensions include the StayFree Magazine and StayFree Guides sections providing editorial vanlife content. Spots are categorized into Wild Camping, Microcamping (partner-hosted farm/vineyard spots), campsites, and RV parks. The platform also aggregates partner campsite listings from HomeCamper, Campspace, CampPilot, Campervanspot, Campio, Campcation, AlpacaCamping, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• StayFree Mobile App (Vanlife & Camping App) The StayFree mobile app for iOS and Android is the company's core product, enabling vanlife travelers, campervan users, and outdoor enthusiasts to discover 100,000+ camping spots across Europe, track road trips via the Travel Tracker, create wishlists, check-in at locations, write reviews, and participate in the Clean-Up community initiative.
• StayFree Premium Subscription A paid premium subscription tier within the StayFree app that unlocks advanced features beyond the free tier, including exclusive access to microcamping partner spots from farms, vineyards, alpaca farms, and other private partner locations. Billing is on a recurring cycle.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ camping spots available for discovery
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HomeCampercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner platform integrated with StayFree for microcamping spot discovery, expanding the range of unique camping locations available to StayFree users.
• CampspacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner platform integrated with StayFree for microcamping spot discovery, providing access to unique nature spots and private land camping opportunities.
• CampPilotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner platform for camping spot discovery integrated with StayFree's microcamping network.
• CampervanspotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner platform integrated with StayFree for campervan and camping spot discovery across Europe.
• VanSitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner platform integrated with StayFree for vanlife and camping spot discovery.
• AlpacaCampingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner platform for alpaca farm camping experiences, part of StayFree's microcamping network offering unique rural camping locations.
• CampiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner platform integrated with StayFree for camping spot discovery, expanding Nordic and European coverage.
• CampcationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner platform integrated with StayFree for microcamping and vacation camping spot discovery.
• The Big BeastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner provider of camping equipment and gear, potentially integrated for equipment recommendations or affiliate opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HomeCamper: Private-land camping platform focused on backyards, farms, and small properties across Europe. A StayFree partner with directly overlapping microcamping supply and booking functionality.
• Campio: Nordic camping marketplace with a focus on Norwegian and Scandinavian sites, integrated as a StayFree partner. Operates a directly comparable booking and discovery model for campsites in Northern Europe.
• Park4Night: One of the largest European camping-spot discovery apps, directly competing with StayFree across wild camping, microcamping, and RV parks. Operates a similar freemium/community model and serves the same vanlife traveler segment.
• FreeRoam: US-centric free and dispersed camping app with community reviews and a freemium model. Closest North American analog to StayFree in feature set and audience, though geography is split.
• Campspace: European microcamping marketplace with private-land camping spots on farms, vineyards, and nature locations. Already integrated as a StayFree partner, making it both an ally and a directly overlapping microcamping offering.
• Campercontact: European-focused campervan and motorhome stopover app with paid motorhome aire listings. Competes with StayFree on RV parks, campsites, and service stopover categories across Europe.
• iOverlander: Community-driven overlanding and camping app with global coverage of wild camping, free stays, and user-submitted spots. Strong overlap with StayFree's wild camping and community review features.

Broad incumbents

• The Dyrt: US-focused campground review and booking platform with a freemium tier. Comparable on community reviews and trip planning, though StayFree skews European and microcamping vs. The Dyrt's traditional campground focus.
• Hipcamp: Larger private-land camping marketplace in the US with bookings, hosts, and insurance. Operates at greater scale with a venture-backed model; comparable microcamping category but geographically separate from StayFree.
• KOA: Largest North American campground franchise system. KOA listings appear on StayFree's chain category; comparable as a campground inventory source but operates its own booking platform rather than a discovery layer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@stayfreeapp7325
• Facebookfacebook.com/StayfreeApp
• Instagraminstagram.com/stayfreeapp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stayfree

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about StayFree