Comparison

BBQ Sheriff vs Simple Pool

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BBQ Sheriff

Read full description

BBQ Sheriff makes running a BBQ competition simple. Track judges' scores, automatically calculate results, and give your organization an easy way to run a professional BBQ contest fundraiser. So let's have a BBQ fundraiser, but who will calculate the scores? BBQ Sheriff! Buy BBQ Sheriff for about the cost of a meal. When the last score is entered, the results are ready. All that's left to do is print the reports and hand out the awards! A proven app with a great reputation. How do you raise funds? Locally we use team entry fees, spectator admission, food sales, vendor fees, sponsorships, and raffles. Our local VFW and Shrine typically raise $5000 to $8000 per contest using BBQ Sheriff to make the scoring effortless, fair, and transparent. The teams like It because it is quick and reliable. Each team can get a their own detailed score report for each turn-in. If you have tried this before, you know what a challenge BBQ contest scoring and accounting can be. You’ve used calculators, Excel, pencil and paper. No matter how hard you try, you rarely finish accounting on time. Sometimes it’s hours before the results are known. Purchase BBQ Sheriff and you will never again wait on results! BBQ Sheriff handles score entry, final accounting and so much more. Contest results are calculated in the background as scores are entered. So when judging is finished, results are ready. All that’s left to do is present the awards! BBQ Sheriff can score contests large or small. Results are always instantly ready after judging. Scoring rules default to Kansas City Style Barbecue rules. BBQ Sheriff can be user configured to score almost any other style contest. Some are pre-configured for you. BBQ Sheriff is powerful. You can customize any contest. For example add BBQ categories. Maybe sausage or sauce or? How about a desert category? Add a judging criteria. Aroma, color, sweetness, heat or whatever. Anyone can operate BBQ Sheriff. Scoring is as easy as 1-2-3. 1) Setup the BBQ contest 2) Enter the judges scores 3) Print results Since its development in 2017, BBQ Sheriff has been used successfully by VFW’s, Eagles Clubs, Shrine Clubs and others. They continue to use BBQ Sheriff as it solved their judging issues and generates good revenue. Doug and Neil are the developers of BBQ Sheriff. They manage judging for local BBQ Contests all through the BBQ season. Their continuing research insures BBQ Sheriff is the best it can be. Questions? We LOVE to answer questions. Email your questions to support@BBQSheriff.com. Doug or Neil will answer your questions promptly, listen to your suggestions. Discover for yourself how BBQ Sheriff can streamline your contest! Download your FREE COPY of BBQ sheriff today! All features work in the free version. An example contest is included. We encourage you to use the demo version of BBQ Sheriff to score any BBQ contest, private or commercial. Score up to 5 teams free of charge. Everything works in the free demo program. Print some score cards using our free score card printing template. You can find the template under Forms & Checklists. Have fun! If you like BBQ Sheriff, the paid version costs as little as a meal! A Few BBQ Sheriff Features: • Handle any size contest • Rules default to Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) rules • Included guides show what we have learned as best practice for judges, table captains, and turn in managers • Select from our preset contest rules or make your own • All contest rules 100% configurable such as Low Score Thrown Out • Detailed HELP files • Break ties automatically • Award prizes INSTANTLY after the last score card is entered • Print Winners, Teams, Judges reports • Blank score card template included in PDF format • More info is available at BBQSheriff.com Purchasing an auto renewable 12 month Annual Subscription allows more than 5 teams for all contests. The User License Agreement can be found at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Simple Pool

This app helps you precisely test, dose, and track your pool and spa water chemistry. It offers practical dosing recommendations and tools to simplify routine maintenance for various pool types. Get accurate chemical calculations without ongoing fees.

Highlights
  • Water test logging
  • Dosing recommendations
  • Chemical tracking
  • LSI/CSI monitoring
  • Shock treatment mode
  • Test reminders
  • Chemical effects preview
Features
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Unlock crystal-clear pool water with Simple Pool - the pool chemistry calculator with no subscription, ever. One purchase, lifetime access. Simple Pool helps you test, dose, and track your pool water chemistry with precision. Get CYA-aware sanitizer targets, practical dosing recommendations, and powerful tools that make routine pool maintenance faster and easier. Whether you manage a chlorine pool, saltwater pool, bromine pool, or hot tub and spa, Simple Pool gives you accurate chemical calculations - including algae treatment dosing - every time. No more overspending at the pool store - just enter your test results and get exactly what your pool needs. What you can do: • Keep a chemical log of every addition with the unified Activity History • Log full water tests or Quick Tests in seconds • Built-in LSI calculator tracks the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI/CSI) to prevent scale and corrosion • Get dosing recommendations for chlorine, acid, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, stabilizer, and more • Set your exact chlorine concentration and acid strength for precise dosing • Use Shock Treatment mode (chlorine/saltwater pools) with progress tracking • Set recurring test reminders and shock retest reminders • Use the Chemical Effects Calculator to preview chemical changes before dosing • Track trends and test history over time with interactive charts • Haptic feedback confirms pool status at a glance • Support for chlorine, saltwater, and bromine pools • Keep visual track of how your pool is doing over time by snapping a photo during water testing • Share your pool's progress by tapping the share icon on your water test details Simple Pool Pro (one-time purchase, no subscription): • One-time purchase - no subscription, no recurring fees • Unlimited pools and spas • Full test and activity history • 90-day and all-time trend ranges • iCloud sync across Apple devices Free includes: • 1 pool • Test logging and dosing recommendations • 7-day and 30-day trends • 30 days of history Spend less time managing pool chemicals and more time enjoying your pool. Download Simple Pool and make pool care simple. Links: • Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/simple-pool-privacy-policy/home • Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

BBQ Sheriff4 screens
Simple Pool4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Simple Pool at every 6 days against BBQ Sheriff's every 5 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BBQ Sheriff sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $24.99 per year and Simple Pool sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BBQ Sheriff ships an update every 5 months, Simple Pool every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
BBQ Sheriff versus Simple Pool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBBQ SheriffSimple Pool
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (21 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—21 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB29 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperFairwinds SoftwareGrey Park, LLC

In-app purchases

1 purchases

BBQ Sheriff

Subscriptions1
  • Annual Subscription$24.991 Year
1 purchases

Simple Pool

One-time1
  • SimplePool - Lifetime$9.99

Questions

Is BBQ Sheriff free?
BBQ Sheriff is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Simple Pool free?
Simple Pool is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BBQ Sheriff or Simple Pool have ads?
Neither BBQ Sheriff nor Simple Pool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BBQ Sheriff or Simple Pool?
BBQ Sheriff ships an update every 5 months, and Simple Pool every 6 days. Most recently, BBQ Sheriff was updated on October 29, 2026 and Simple Pool on November 5, 2026.

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