Most leagues end up paying for two platforms: one for operations (registration, scheduling, payments) and one for live stats. SidelineStats does both in a single product.
Operations-first platforms (SportsEngine, LeagueApps, TeamSnap) handle registration and scheduling but treat live scoring as a weak add-on. Stats-first apps (GameChanger) do live scoring and stats but don't handle registration, payments, or league operations. SidelineStats is the only platform that does the full stack — registration, payments, scheduling, league websites, live scoring, live play-by-plays, stats, and tournaments — in one product, free for leagues.
Operations + live scoring + stats + websites + tournaments. Free for leagues. Parents pay $3/registration.
Operations layer (registration, schedules, communication). Live stats are limited / paid add-on.
Operations and registration platform. No native live scoring or play-by-play. Subscription pricing.
Team and roster communication. Strong on rosters and chat, weak on registration depth and live stats.
Live scoring and stats app. No registration, no payments, no league website, no scheduling tools.
Green = built-in. Yellow = limited or add-on. Red = not offered.
| Feature | SidelineStats | SportsEngine | LeagueApps | TeamSnap | GameChanger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations | |||||
| Online registration | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | ✗ |
| Stripe payments | ✓ Direct to your account via Connect | ✓ Through SportsEngine | ✓ | Limited | ✗ |
| Promo codes & add-on sales | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Digital waivers | ✓ Per-program, state-specific | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | ✗ |
| Birth certificate OCR age verification | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Background checks (Checkr) | ✓ | ✓ | Add-on | ✗ | ✗ |
| Schedule generator with conflict detection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Basic | ✗ |
| Tournament brackets (pool, single, double, RR) | ✓ Auto-scheduler with rest enforcement | ✓ | Limited | ✗ | ✗ |
| Player draft (snake / linear) | ✓ Live board, pick timer | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Live scoring & stats | |||||
| Live scorekeeper app | ✓ Configurable rules, 24 penalty types, OT | Add-on | ✗ | Limited | ✓ |
| Live play-by-play for fans | ✓ No app download needed | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Player stats & analytics | ✓ 10+ charts, sport-aware | Limited | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Standings & leaderboards | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | Limited | Team-level |
| Achievement badges | ✓ 25 badges, 3 tiers | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Natural-language stat queries (AI) | ✓ Scout AI | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public-facing | |||||
| Public league website on subdomain | ✓ Multiple templates, sponsor bar, news, FAQs | ✓ | ✓ | Team page only | ✗ |
| Multi-sport master org site | ✓ Per-sport sub-sites | Limited | Limited | ✗ | ✗ |
| Custom branding (logo, colors) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Communication | |||||
| In-app messaging | ✓ Coach broadcasts, DMs, player threads | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Limited |
| Email blasts with audience targeting | ✓ By conference, age group, team | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | ✗ |
| Native push notifications (iOS / Android) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Calendar subscribe (Google / Apple / Outlook) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Limited |
| Roles & portals | |||||
| Parent portal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Limited |
| Coach portal w/ practice scheduling | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Referee portal w/ availability + pay | ✓ | Limited | Add-on | ✗ | ✗ |
| Scorekeeper portal w/ active-game lock | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Limited |
| Pricing | |||||
| Cost to leagues | Free | % of registration | Subscription + % | Subscription | Free / Premium |
| Cost to parents | $3 service fee per registration | Variable | Variable | Subscription for full features | Premium subscription for advanced stats |
| Setup or onboarding fees | $0 | Varies | Varies | $0 | $0 |
Many leagues run SportsEngine, LeagueApps, or TeamSnap for operations and bolt on GameChanger for live stats. That means two subscriptions, two logins, two sets of player records, and reconciliation work to keep rosters in sync. Stats live in one app; standings, schedules, and registration live in another. Parents juggle two apps.
SidelineStats covers both layers in one platform with a single data model. Registration creates the roster. Scorekeeper logs the play. Stats roll up automatically into standings, leaderboards, and player profiles — visible on the public league website. Parents subscribe to one calendar, get one set of push notifications, and use one app. Free for leagues.