Best 8 Score Buddy Alternatives in 2026: Apps That Keep Every Point

Badminton Scoreboard: Rally is the best score buddy alternative for badminton players who need a dedicated rally-score app that just works. Below we’ve also tested seven other solid scorekeepers for everything from simple two-team counters to full tournament trackers.

Quick comparison

App	Platform	Best for	Standout feature	Price
Badminton Scoreboard: Rally	iOS	Badminton rally scoring	Automatic rally-point rules and side changes	Free
Scoreboard - Keep score	Android	Mixed sports & board games	Seamless portrait/landscape layout	Free
Score Anything – Scorekeeper	iOS	Multi-player game nights	Ad-free dark mode for up to 12 players	Free
Scoreboard - On The Go	iOS	Quick pickup games	Realistic scoreboard replica	Free
Scoreholio	Android	Tournaments & leagues	Built-in round-robin and single-elimination brackets	Freemium
Score Counter - Scory	iOS	Tabletop games with tools	Turn log, timer, dice roller in one app	Free
ScoreKeeper Free	Android	No-frills point tracking	Row-based layout like paper score sheets	Free
3D Score Buddy	Android	Archery shot recording	GPS-tagged target history and archer rotation	Free

The best Score Buddy alternatives

1. Badminton Scoreboard: Rally

Best for: Badminton players who want a dedicated, no-fuss scoreboard that understands rally scoring.

Your phone becomes an effortless rally-score keeper. It quietly handles every badminton rule while you focus on the next smash. Tap your side when you win a point, and the app instantly applies the correct rally-point logic, tracks games and sets, and flips sides automatically when the score demands it. You can switch between rally and classic scoring (first to 15 or 21, with proper caps at 21 and 30), undo a wrong call, pause a match, and pick up right where you left off on Apple Watch. Everything runs locally: no account, no ads, no Wi-Fi needed.

• One-tap scoring that applies official rally-point rules in real time
• Automatic side switching for each game and set
• Choice of rally or classic scoring, with proper match-limit caps
• Full match history and undo support
• Works on iPhone and Apple Watch, fully ad-free

Get Badminton Scoreboard for the only badminton-aware scorekeeper, or grab it directly from Badminton Scoreboard on the App Store.

2. Scoreboard - Keep score

Best for: Casual players who need a fast, clean two-team counter for any game.

If your match could be volleyball, a board game, or a pub quiz, this Android app gets out of the way. Customize team names and scoreboard colors, flip between landscape and portrait, and use the built-in timer. The layout works smoothly in both orientations, making it a handy score buddy alternative for mixed-sport sessions.

3. Score Anything – Scorekeeper

Best for: Game nights and small tournaments where you juggle many players.

This ad-free iOS scorekeeper handles up to 12 participants with a single tap per point. Assign a custom color to each player, flip on dark mode to save battery, and track scores without ever seeing a banner. It’s clean, straightforward, and ideal when you need a lightweight score-tracker that works for cards, dice, or casual sports.

4. Scoreboard - On The Go

Best for: Pickup hoops, pub quizzes, or any points-based matchup needing instant setup.

Mimicking a real-life scoreboard, this iOS app offers big buttons for quick point increments, a game timer, and team-color switching. It feels like a physical scoreboard but fits in your pocket. Perfect when you don’t want to fumble with a whiteboard during a heated game.

5. Scoreholio

Best for: Tournament directors and league organisers running cornhole, darts, or similar events.

Scoreholio goes beyond simple counting. It builds round-robin or single-elimination brackets, shows live dashboards, and lets players follow their own match progress. While it has premium tiers for advanced features, the free setup already handles casual tournaments without paper brackets. It’s a genuine step up from basic score buddy alternatives.

6. Score Counter - Scory

Best for: Tabletop fans who want more than a basic counter.

Alongside quick-score mode, Scory logs a turn-by-turn history, packs a timer, integrates a dice roller, and can randomly pick the next player. It’s built for board game sessions where you replay rounds later or need an impartial tool to speed up setup.

7. ScoreKeeper Free

Best for: No-frills point tracking when a paper score sheet feels too slow.

This Android app supports up to four players across 20 scoring rows. It doesn’t have flashy extras, just a simple layout that mirrors handwritten sheets. Use it at card tables or party games where you only care about running totals and round-by-round entry.

8. 3D Score Buddy

Best for: Archers who need precise shot-by-shot records and multi-archer management.

Rather than a generic counter, this Android app records individual arrow results, rotates archers automatically, and uses GPS to tag targets. That gives you a digital score history per archer and location. An automatic tournament mode makes it a specialised score buddy alternative for serious archery practice.

How we picked these apps

We installed and stress-tested scorekeeping apps on both iOS and Android, focusing on what matters in the middle of a game. Every app here supports one-tap scoring, doesn’t force you to create an account, and stays stable when left running during a match. We sidelined options buried in ads or paywalls that lock basic buttons. Where meaningful, we gave extra credit to clever touches like custom colours or tournament brackets. Only Badminton Scoreboard was built from the ground up around rally-scoring rules and side-change logic. The rest handle generic counting for any sport or tabletop.

Frequently asked questions

What is a score buddy alternative?

It’s any mobile app that replaces the old Score Buddy by tracking points for games, sports, or tournaments using your phone or tablet.

Can I track badminton scores properly with these apps?

Only Badminton Scoreboard: Rally automatically applies rally-scoring rules, side switches, and proper game caps. Other apps work as generic counters and won’t handle badminton-specific logic.

Which app should I pick for a tournament?

Scoreholio is the standout for running events, offering round-robin and single-elimination brackets alongside live dashboards. For smaller multi-player gatherings, Score Anything and ScoreKeeper Free also handle groups well.

The verdict

For badminton, the answer is simple: Badminton Scoreboard: Rally is the only score buddy alternative that understands the sport’s rules without you ever touching a setting. It keeps an accurate rally score, swaps sides automatically, and stays ad-free, exactly what you want when the shuttle is in the air. If you’re on iPhone, Get Badminton Scoreboard and spend your energy on the court, not the score. The other seven apps cover different ground, so pick the one that matches the game you’re actually playing.