The Best Baseball Scorekeeping Apps (And Which Ones to Skip)

When we set out to review the best baseball and softball scorekeeping apps, we expected to find many different options. But in the end, our research and testing turned up just two apps that we think are worth your time: GameChanger and iScore.

In this article we’ll talk about the pros and cons of both apps, covering their user interfaces, features and limitations, with plenty of screenshots from our testing to illustrate how they work.

Table of Contents
#1. GameChanger Review
#2. iScore Review
#3. Other Baseball Scorekeeping Apps

If neither of these apps have the features you’re looking for, you may need to stick with a paper scorebook. Check out our list of the best baseball scorebooks for detailed reviews and comparisons of our 10 favorite options.

#1. GameChanger

Why we ranked it #1: GameChanger is miles ahead of its competition, thanks to the combination of an easy-to-use interface, a surplus of statistics tracking tools and a thorough team management system.

Who it’s best for: GameChanger is extremely versatile, making it a worthwhile option for teams in a variety of leagues. For older or more serious teams, the app is a must-have because it compiles extensive statistics and charts for each game and over the course of a season.

Younger teams, or those that don’t need to keep track of detailed statistics, will still benefit from GameChanger’s straightforward nature, which is suitable for even the most novice scorekeepers.

Key Features:

• Clean user interface: GameChanger includes all the necessary features without overcomplicating the scoring process.
• Organized pop-up interfaces: The pop-up boxes, which are used to log pitches and plays, are well-organized and guide you through scoring the game. After a few minutes, using the app feels like second nature.
• Effective pitch count tracking: USA Baseball’s “Pitch Smart” guidelines are easily accessible within the app, and pitch count alerts can be set to keep track of limits.
• Variety of statistics: The app automatically calculates 145+ statistics, from common ones like batting average to more granular metrics like hard hit balls (HHB) and opponent’s batting average on balls in play (BABIP). You can see the full list here.

Downsides:

• Limited editing: It’s not possible to change a play that was already scored, such as changing an error to a hit. This is a major downside that can lead to incorrect metrics.

GameChanger Pricing

GameChanger Premium is free for coaches and scorekeepers, and each team can have up to four free users.

There are three different pricing tiers for players, parents and fans who want to use the app to access their team’s data:

• Free.
• Plus: $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year.
• Premium: $7.99 per month or $49.99 per year.

Here’s a comparison of the features available in each tier:

Feature	Free	Plus	Premium
Animated live games	✓	✓	✓
Game and practice schedules	✓	✓	✓
Game start notifications	✓	✓	✓
Team Messaging	✓	✓	✓
Live play-by-plays	X	✓	✓
Box scores	X	✓	✓
Automated game recaps	X	✓	✓
Season stats	X	X	✓
Spray charts	X	X	✓

Our GameChanger Review

The GameChanger app compiles real-time statistics and spray charts for each player on your team as you score the game. You can also use GameChanger to manage your team and communicate with players and their families, as well as to live stream games.

Owned by Dick’s Sporting Goods, GameChanger is officially called “GameChanger Team Manager.” The app has three main functions, all of which are easily accessible from the app’s toolbar:

• Function #1: Keeping score during a baseball or softball game.
• Function #2: Accumulating batting, pitching and fielding statistics.
• Function #3: Communicating with players and their families.

In other words, it’s designed to work as both a baseball scoring app and a central team management hub.

How to Use GameChanger:

• Step #1: Enter your league’s basic information and adjust settings as necessary.
• Step #2: Input your team’s roster and include families’ contact information if preferred.
• Step #3: Schedule a game and set your team’s lineup. You can also save frequently used lineups to use for future games.

How to Keep Score with GameChanger:

To start an at-bat, click the large baseball with “PITCH” that’s in the middle of the infield, where the pitcher’s mound would be.

Clicking that symbol will open a pop-up window, allowing you to click the results of the pitch (ball, called strike, swing and miss) and the results of the batter making contact (foul ball or ball in play).

For each pitch, simply tap the corresponding event. If the ball is put in play, tapping the blue “Ball In Play” option opens a second pop-up window, allowing you to input the type of contact that was made (ground ball, hard ground ball, fly ball, line drive, bunt or pop fly).

Once you choose the type of contact, another pop-up will open, allowing you to record if the event resulted in an out, a hit or an error.

Once you tap through to enter this information, the screen allows you to move the gloves (representing the fielders) to the location where the ball was hit. This data is used for producing spray charts.

After you’ve successfully logged the event, clicking “DONE” will retire the batter (if they made an out) or place the batter on the base they ended up at (if there was a hit or error).

You’ll repeat this process with each at bat. After the third out of an inning is made, you’ll be asked to “Accept and Switch” the brief half inning summary and the batters coming to the plate next; GameChanger automatically switches the fielders and brings the other team up to bat.

As the game goes along, the “Plays” tab at the bottom-left of the screen will show a running list of each play as well as a scoreboard visual tallying runs scored each inning, as well as each team’s cumulative runs, hits and errors.

The “Stats” tab directly to the right of the “Plays” tab allows you to view standard and advanced statistics for each player, and team totals in three categories: batting, pitching and fielding.

GameChanger also keeps track of pitch counts. As previously mentioned, you can set an alert to be notified when a pitcher reaches his or her limit. If you want to check in on their status mid-game, clicking the current pitcher above the diamond will bring up an option to view pitch counts, spray charts, or sub in a new pitcher.

Clicking “View Pitch Counts” shows the totals, along with strike percentage, for each pitcher in the game so far.

Similarly, clicking the current batter will allow you to bring in a pinch hitter.

Once the game is over, you’ll be able to view a few different helpful options that GameChanger generates automatically, including an AI-generated summary of the game (see an example in the image below). The list of plays and box score will be available here as well. You have the option to share all of this information with friends or family members.

Final Thoughts on GameChanger

GameChanger exceeded my expectations for a baseball scorekeeping app. It was easy to use and intuitive, making it a great option for teams who don’t have an experienced scorekeeper.

If you’re a coach looking to track and quickly access stats, GameChanger is the most comprehensive option available. All of the standard batting, pitching and fielding statistics are compiled in a table that can be sorted any way you wish.

The advanced statistics may not be useful for every team or league, but they are wonderful if you’re looking for ratio statistics and batted ball events like you would find on FanGraphs.

Whether you’re looking for a simple baseball scoring app or a serious way to record statistics, GameChanger is the best app available.

#2. iScore

Why we ranked it #2: iScore functions as a comprehensive digital baseball scorebook, but the user interface would benefit from better organization to reduce clutter.

Who it’s best for: iScore is the best app for more advanced teams that need to track pitch type, speed and location. The app allows the scorekeeper to set each pitcher’s arsenal ahead of time, based on commonly thrown pitches. (You can also set their “default” velocity, which makes adjusting the pitch speed super quick.)

A plot of each pitch can then be viewed for each pitcher after the game, as shown below:

Key Features:

• Pitch tracking: iScore offers detailed tracking of pitch type, velocity and location.
• Visible spray chart: A hitter’s spray chart is automatically shown when they come to the plate.
• Easy-to-read game details: An inning-by-inning scoreboard, both teams’ lineups, pitch counts, and game timer are prominent on the scoring screen.
• Detailed tutorials: Extensive video tutorials are available on the app’s homepage.

Downsides:

• Cluttered pop-up interfaces: The “In-Play” button brings up many options organized only by “Out” or “Safe,” making it difficult to quickly scan for the specific event you need.
• Unorganized play log: The play log is organized on a pitch-by-pitch basis, so it can feel like endless scrolling if you’re looking for a specific play.

iScore Pricing

iScore is free. If you want to create a website for your team that’s linked to the data you collect in the app, there’s a one-time fee of $19.99.

Our iScore Review

iScore has four main modes:

• Mode 1: Game Manager.
• Mode 2: Team Manager.
• Mode 3: Player Manager.
• Mode 4: League Manager.

When you open the app, you’re asked to select the mode you want to work in.

You’ll input the relevant information for each aspect of your team in the appropriate mode. For example, to get set up and start using the app, you have to follow this process:

• Step 1: Use the League Manager mode to create your league, adding any pertinent details.
• Step 2: Use the Team Manager mode to add your team and any necessary information.
• Step 3: Use the Player Manager mode to input players onto your team’s roster. You can set position details, contact information, and any other notes.
• Step 4: Use the Game Manager mode to schedule a game and set the settings for the game and the lineups. You also use the Game Manager mode to actually keep score.

Besides automating the scorekeeping process, Game Manager creates a scorecard similar to a paper scorebook page that you can print out after the game is complete.

The ability to print out a completed scorecard may be useful for a team that plays the same opponent multiple times over the course of a tournament or season, allowing the scorekeeper to quickly reference past games while scoring a new game.

This makes iScore much more useful than flipping back and forth through pages with a physical scorebook.

How to Score with iScore:

To log pitches, you’ll use the buttons on the bottom of the screen. The pitch you log (ball or strike) will briefly appear on the screen and be logged in the play-by-play section. If the ball is put in play, you’ll select that button and a screen will pop up with various options to choose from, organized by whether an out was made or the runner was safe. There are also routine plays listed under the “quick” tab.

Once you choose an event, you’ll be prompted to touch the field where the ball was hit. You can also adjust for type of contact and result using the selection buttons below the diamond.

Once completed, another screen pops up prompting you to log what happened to the hitter and, if applicable, any runners.

With each at-bat, you’ll repeat this process. After the third out of an inning is made, the fielders will be switched and the other team comes up to bat. On the right side of the screen, a play log will be listed with each pitch that is logged. Below the play log is the pitch tracking section, set to the pitch arsenal of the current pitcher.

Once the game has ended, you can view statistics and the scorebook from the game. Batting, pitching and fielding statistics are available for both teams on the game information page. You can also share these via email.

Final Thoughts on iScore

The features that iScore does well are done better than GameChanger, but the app’s interface is cluttered, making it difficult to find the necessary items quickly — a crucial aspect of successfully scoring a fast-paced game.

If you’re a coach looking for a way to easily keep track of your players’ pitch type, velocity and location on the mound, iScore is a valuable tool to chart pitches. Doing this by hand in a physical scorebook is tedious and difficult.

iScore also automatically tracks statistics for each player on your team, which may be useful for a player or parent who wants to view their own statistics. However, other apps (namely, GameChanger) offer better team-wide options for coaches looking to sort and adjust the accumulated statistics.

Baseball Scoring Apps We Don’t Recommend

There are a handful of scorekeeping apps recommended by other publications, but we think they’re mostly a waste of your time and/or money.

• Baseball Score: More of a baseball scorecard than a full-fledged scorekeeping app, this allows you to easily keep track of top-level game data like score and inning. It doesn’t offer any features beyond that, but may be useful for parents who struggle to stay on top of what’s happening in their kids’ Little League game.
• Kennedy Score: Available for Android devices (it doesn’t offer an iPhone app), Kennedy Score provides the bare minimum of scoring options, like hits and errors.
• Lazy Guy’s Baseball Scorecard: Like the “Baseball Score” app noted above, this app allows you to easily track top-level game information but provides no play-by-play scorekeeping functionality.
• PenScore: Has limited features and a clunky interface that takes far too much time when trying to score a live game. It’s not a practical option.
• Personal Baseball Scorecard: This does not function as a scorekeeping app and is not worth spending $2.99 to download, which was its price at the time of publication.

The Best Baseball Scorekeeping Apps: Final Thoughts

If you’ve used any of the apps mentioned above, please share your thoughts in the comments section below. And if you know of any that we’ve missed, we’d love to review them and expand this list!