Honest comparison · Last reviewed Q2 2026
Permitly vs OpenGov Permitting
Permitting intelligence for the applicant — not the city hall.
Disclosure: We make Permitly. We try to represent OpenGov Permittingfairly based on publicly available information, but we're naturally biased. Verify pricing and features on their website before deciding.
Where OpenGov Permitting shines
OpenGov is the leading permitting software sold to cities and counties. If your local government already uses it, the applicant portal is polished and integrated end-to-end.
Where Permitly fits
OpenGov is sold to the city, not to you. Permitly is sold to the person actually trying to pull a permit — it answers the questions OpenGov's portal won't, in plain English, for OKC specifically.
Side-by-side
Hand-researched. Updated quarterly. If you spot an outdated fact, tell us— we'll fix it.
| Feature | Permitly | OpenGov Permitting | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who pays | Contractor / homeowner | City / county government | Tie |
| Tells you WHY a permit was rejected | Yes — AI explains code sections | Shows status, not reasoning | Us |
| Requires OKC to use it | No — works against any jurisdiction | Yes — only where city deployed it | Us |
| Integrated city workflow | No — we prep, you submit | Full end-to-end city integration | Them |
| Price to you | $29/mo | Free (city pays) | Them |
| Best for | Independent applicants | Cities buying permit software | Tie |
Pick Permitly if...
- Your jurisdiction does not use OpenGov (most of OKC metro).
- You want proactive guidance, not a portal that just tells you "rejected".
- You need to understand WHY a permit is likely to be rejected before you apply.
Pick OpenGov Permitting if...
- Your city already uses OpenGov and the portal covers your needs.
- You only need to track an in-flight application, not prep one.
Common questions
- Does Permitly replace my city's permit portal?
- No. You still file through Oklahoma City's Development Services (or whichever jurisdiction). Permitly helps you prepare a submission-ready packet before you touch the portal.
- Does OKC use OpenGov?
- As of 2026, OKC Development Services does not use OpenGov for building permits. Most OKC-metro jurisdictions run proprietary or older systems — which is exactly the gap Permitly fills.
Try Permitly — see if it fits
If it doesn't beat OpenGov Permittingfor your business in the first 30 days, we'll refund you.