Last updated November 2026 · Made by the MATCHUPS team
Best Golf Tournament App for Friends and Member-Guests
A good tournament app does three jobs. It sets up teams, it scores live, and it shows a leaderboard everyone can see.
Here is how the main options stack up for a friends event or a member-guest style day.
Disclosure: this page is made by the team behind MATCHUPS, so we list it first. Everything else is from each app's own site or App Store page, checked November 2026.
Quick comparison
| App | Platforms | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATCHUPS | iPhone + Apple Watch | Free. Tournament hosting free for 4 players, $49.99 one-time for 8 or 12 | Two-team friends tournaments of 4, 8 or 12 players |
| Squabbit | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch (App Store listing) | Free core. Tournament Pro $29.99/event or $99.99/yr | Big club events and 100+ player tournaments |
| 18Birdies | iPhone + Android, Wear OS | Free tournaments and leagues. Optional Premium | Free stroke play, Stableford, best ball or scramble events |
| Golf GameBook | iOS + Android | Free app. Tournaments and Reds vs Blues need Gold | Season events with an online back office |
| Golf Genius Trip Manager | App + trip website | $149 per trip (up to 36 players, 12 rounds) | Organized multi-round group trips |
The picks
1. MATCHUPS (made by us)
Best for: Two-team friends tournaments of 4, 8 or 12 players
Exactly two equal teams over 1–5 rounds. Free to host with 4 players, $49.99 one-time for 8 or 12.
iPhone + Apple Watch · Free. Tournament hosting free for 4 players, $49.99 one-time for 8 or 12
2. Squabbit
Best for: Big club events and 100+ player tournaments
Free core with many formats. Tournament Pro adds printable scorecards, sponsor logos and embeddable leaderboards.
iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch (App Store listing) · Free core. Tournament Pro $29.99/event or $99.99/yr
3. 18Birdies
Best for: Free stroke play, Stableford, best ball or scramble events
Create, invite and score on phone. Net or gross with its free handicap.
iPhone + Android, Wear OS · Free tournaments and leagues. Optional Premium
4. Golf GameBook
Best for: Season events with an online back office
Tournament Manager online service plus live scoring in the app.
iOS + Android · Free app. Tournaments and Reds vs Blues need Gold
5. Golf Genius Trip Manager
Best for: Organized multi-round group trips
$149 per trip with pairings and a trip website.
App + trip website · $149 per trip (up to 36 players, 12 rounds)
Pick by tournament type
- Two-team cup between friends: MATCHUPS or CupTracker.
- Field of individuals with a net leaderboard: 18Birdies or Squabbit.
- Club event with sponsors: Squabbit Tournament Pro.
- Need Stableford: Squabbit, 18Birdies or Golf GameBook. MATCHUPS does not do Stableford.
What MATCHUPS does not do
No Android. No Nassau, Wolf or Stableford. No GHIN sync. If you need those, pick another app above.
FAQ
What is the best app to run a golf tournament?
It depends on size. MATCHUPS for two-team friends events. Squabbit for large club fields.
Do golf tournament apps have live leaderboards?
Yes. Every app on this page has live scoring and a leaderboard.
How much does a golf tournament app cost?
MATCHUPS is free for 4 players and $49.99 one-time for 8 or 12. Squabbit Tournament Pro is $29.99 per event. 18Birdies tournaments are free.
Can MATCHUPS run a 20-player event?
No. MATCHUPS tournaments are exactly two teams of 4, 8 or 12 players total.
Does MATCHUPS sync with GHIN?
No. MATCHUPS does not connect to GHIN.
Try MATCHUPS
Free on iPhone and Apple Watch.
Get it on the App StoreVisit matchupsgolf.com© 2026 MATCHUPS · matchupsgolf.com