Youth Sports Software Pricing and Fees

What volunteer boards actually pay to run a league online

Software pricing can be complex when you factor in subscription pricing, setup fees and processing rates. Learn what to look for, questions to ask and how platforms compare. For product-by-product tradeoffs, start at the compare hub.

Five common ways youth sports software is priced

Last verified .

Published annual pricing

A public pricing page that contains plans priced per year and includes all fundamental features. This is best when boards want pricing they can review without talking to sales. Jersey Watch and LeagueLineup use this pricing model.

Free core plan

Free plans cost $0 for the organization but are mainly funded by processing fees, ads for users and revenue from optional paid plans. This is best for organizations that don't have a budget for software and are ok with ads. TeamLinkt uses this model with their Core plan.

Custom pricing

This is common in sports software and means that pricing is not listed publicly and instead is given after speaking with a representative of the company. Quote or custom-based pricing requires learning more information about your needs first. TeamSnap ONE, PlayMetrics, Crossbar, SportsEngine and Sports Connect all fall into this category.

Registration volume plus setup

Platforms that follow this model take a percentage of all registration payments plus charge a one-time setup fee. Exact transaction rates aren't published and often are based on total volume from the organization. LeagueApps uses this pricing model.

Website-only plans

It's pretty uncommon for sports management platforms to follow this pricing model but it's standard for platforms like Wix and Squarespace. Organizations purchase a site plan and then add registration, communication and scheduling tools from another site. This is best when you only need a marketing site.

What each platform publishes

Use this comparison table to help understand platform pricing. Details can change, so confirm with each vendor before deciding. Last checked on .
Sports management platforms
PlatformModelPublished software pricePayment processingSetup / contractsAds to families
Jersey WatchPublished annual pricing$19 first month then $348/yr3.5% + $1 for allNo setup fee or contracts.No ads for admin or parents
TeamSnapCustom pricingONE: not publishedNot publishedNot publishedUnknown for ONE, free app has ads
TeamLinktFree core planFree tier, plans start at $425/yrBased on volumeNone on CoreAds on free plans
SportsEngineCustom pricingNot publishedNot publishedPackage-dependentSells in-app and web ads to families
Sports ConnectCustom pricingNot publishedNot publishedOften bundle-dependentUnknown
PlayMetricsCustom pricingNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedUnknown
CrossbarCustom pricingNot publishedNot publishedNot published. Demo requiredAd-free public sites
LeagueAppsRegistration volume plus setupSetup fee + custom payment feesBased on volumeOne-time setup fee. Amount not publishedNo platform ads, unknown for app
LeagueLineupPublished annual pricingFree with ads3.99% + $0.30 for cardsNone on the free siteAds on free sites
PlaypassMonthly plans plus a payment feeFree, then $9 to $99/mo1% to 3% on top of StripeNo setup fee listed. Custom domain $99/yrUnknown
General website builders (sports tools extra)
PlatformModelPublished software pricePayment processingSetup / contractsAds to families
WixWebsite-only plansFree plans, paid start at $17/mo billed annually2.9% + $0.30 for cardsNo site setup fee. Sports apps extraAds on free plans
SquarespaceWebsite-only plansAnnual plans start at $228/yrDependent on planNo site setup fee. Sports tools extraAd-free
We only print a price the vendor publishes. Trademarks belong to their owners; Jersey Watch is not affiliated with the vendors listed here.

Questions to ask on a demo

If the vendor does not publish pricing upfront, be sure to ask:
  1. Is there a setup or onboarding fee, and what work does it cover?
  2. Is there a contract term, or can we leave after this season?
  3. What is the card processing rate? What about ACH? Who pays registrant disputes?
  4. Are SMS, background checks, a custom domain, or extra admin seats billed separately?
  5. Will families see ads on any plan we would use?
  6. What does migration cost, who does the work, and how long does it take?
  7. If you offer volume discounts on processing, when do they expire or reset?

When another model is a better fit

The best software pricing is the one that fits your needs.

High payment volume

Processing fees that are set based on volume can beat a flat rate. If you process a lot of payments, be sure to get your actual rate in writing.

Zero software budget

If your organization is just getting started or doesn't have funds to put towards software, look to a free platform. Tradeoffs typically include ads.

Complex needs

If your organization needs a lot of complex tools, a platform that is quote or custom-based may be best. They often offer more complexity and their pricing may beat having to piece together multiple tools.

Marketing site first

If you only need a marketing site and have design experience, a general website builder may be your best fit. Pricing is typically lower than an all-in-one solution that includes tools like registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the pricing model and what your organization needs. Pricing ranges from free with ads, published annual pricing, volume-based pricing and custom pricing. Be sure to factor in the software cost, processing fees, setup fees and migration costs.

Free products are funded, just not by the organization that uses them. Common sources of revenue for free platforms include: ads to users, payment processing fees, paid ad-removal and optional paid plans. TeamLinkt is the best example with a free Core and paid plans.

Processing fees vary across platforms. Some are published, like Jersey Watch at 3.5% + $1, and others are custom-based. Confirm each processing fee amount with your vendor and then use a fee calculator to set registration fees.

They can be but it depends on your feature needs. If you only need a website, Wix or Squarespace could be cheaper than an all-in-one platform. But, if you're piecing together various tools then those costs can add up.

Ask for software, processing, setup, contract term, ads, and add-ons as separate lines. Put your athlete count and typical registration fee next to each line. Comparisons only work if you have answers to each item so be sure to ask each vendor for their pricing details.

No. If a vendor does not publish a price on their marketing website, we say Not Published or Unknown and notate the last date this was checked.

See Jersey Watch pricing in plain numbers

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