# BestRugby vs RugbyREF

The clearest difference is rating: BestRugby at 4.5 against RugbyREF's 1.0. BestRugby also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (79% vs 43%). RugbyREF's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BestRugby sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and RugbyREF sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BestRugby holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BestRugby has 12 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of BestRugby's written reviews are positive against 43% of RugbyREF's.

BestRugby ships an update fortnightly, RugbyREF every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BestRugby | RugbyREF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bestrugby-cup/id1446190871/reviews)** | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rugbyref/id1488060220/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **79.2% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 20 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Antoine Barrault](https://appshunter.io/developer/391077788) | [SketchNZ](https://appshunter.io/developer/1660500276) |

## What reviewers say

### BestRugby

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bestrugby-cup/id1446190871)

Follow the Rugby Cup 2023 with live scores, breaking news, and game schedules. Get real-time updates, countdowns, and results for every match. Stay connected to the global rugby community and never miss a moment of the action.

**Highlights:** Live score push notifications, Next game countdown widget, Game results and fixtures, Latest competition news, Tournament table, Kickoff notifications, Dark mode compatible

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Rubgy 2023 Premium (Monthly) | $6.99 | per month |
| Be a supporter: give a thanks! | $0.99 | one-time |
| Be a supporter: one coffee | $2.99 | one-time |
| 2023 cup | $8.99 | one-time |


### RugbyREF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rugbyref/id1488060220)

This app assists rugby referees with on-field game management, including scoring, substitutions, and cards. It offers a simplified interface for live match control on Apple Watch and iPhone, with features like timers and a shot clock.

**Highlights:** Live match control, Scoring and substitutions management, Card tracking with timers, Shot clock functionality, Apple Watch integration, Injury and TMO support

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| RugbyREF (Basic) | $3.99 | per month |
| RugbyREF WatchAPP | $3.99 | per month |
| MyRugbyREF (Package) | $4.99 | per month |
| Subscription | $11.49 | per year |
| RugbyREF (Basic) | $29.99 | per year |
| RugbyREF WatchAPP | $29.99 | per year |
| MyRugbyREF (Package) | $34.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BestRugby free?

BestRugby is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is RugbyREF free?

RugbyREF is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BestRugby or RugbyREF?

BestRugby is rated higher. BestRugby averages 4.5 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while RugbyREF averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do BestRugby or RugbyREF have ads?

BestRugby shows ads; RugbyREF does not.

### Which is updated more often, BestRugby or RugbyREF?

BestRugby ships an update fortnightly, and RugbyREF every 6 weeks. Most recently, BestRugby was updated on October 22, 2026 and RugbyREF on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*