Comparison

OPTIMAL vs Slate Lock Picks

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

Head to head
About

OPTIMAL

This app compares major sportsbooks and pick'em apps to identify player props and lines with an edge. It provides projections, hit rates, and trends, along with tools for building parlays and comparing odds. Live scores and play-by-play are also included for various sports.

Highlights
  • Player prop projections and predictions
  • Edge-graded +EV picks
  • Odds comparison across sportsbooks
  • Live scores and play-by-play
  • Parlay builder with fair odds
  • Cheat sheets for pick'em and DFS
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Find the player props and lines the books got wrong. Optimal compares every major sportsbook and pick'em app, grades every edge and shows you the best price on every line. 7,700+ five-star ratings. 275,000+ users. OPTIMAL EV: GRADED +EV PICKS • Lines at any sportsbook priced better than the true odds, graded by edge • EV, chance to hit and suggested units on every pick • Pick alerts: a push the moment a new edge drops PLAYER PROPS & PREDICTIONS • Player prop projections: floor, projection and ceiling against the line • Hit rates, recent games, lineups and injuries • Trends: players on a hot streak against today's lines CHEAT SHEETS FOR PICK'EM & DFS • The best picks on PrizePicks, Underdog, Sleeper, DraftKings Pick6 and more, ranked by edge • Swipe Mode: swipe right on picks to build a slip PARLAY BUILDER • Fair odds and the estimated chance your parlay hits • Track the slip and watch every leg live ODDS COMPARISON & SHARP TOOLS • Compare every book's odds, with the best price on each side • Live odds during the game: spread, total and moneyline • Sharp Books: lines at your sportsbook that the sharpest books say are mispriced • Arbitrage: when two books disagree enough to cover both sides, with the stake for each side LIVE SCORES & PLAY-BY-PLAY • Live scores for every game, with your games first • Big plays as they happen, with fantasy points and what each play did to your picks • Every play of a game, player by player FANTASY PROJECTIONS • Free projections and rankings for NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and WNBA • PPR, Half PPR, Standard or your own scoring • Compare players side by side for start/sit calls SPORTS NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA, college football, college basketball, MLS, tennis and MMA. FREE AND OPTIMAL+ Optimal is free to download. Live scores, odds, fantasy projections, Swipe Mode and research are free for everyone. Optimal+ unlocks the rest: Optimal EV, Sharp Books, Arbitrage, Trends, player projections, every cheat sheet and pick alerts. New subscribers can start with a free trial. • Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase. • Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. • Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. • Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. PLAY RESPONSIBLY Optimal provides sports data and analytics only. We do not accept wagers, and no outcome is guaranteed. You must be 21+ to wager. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Terms of Service: https://www.optimal-bet.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.optimal-bet.com/privacy Support: team@optimal-bet.com

About

Slate Lock Picks

Features
Read full description

Slate Lock is a private scorekeeping app for friend leagues. Each week you pick a winner for every game, add a tiebreaker on the last game, and save your sheet. Picks lock at kickoff. Live scores and standings update as games go final. The commissioner can bench a player for the week and keep a simple dues note. NFL is first. Other sports can be added later. Slate Lock does not take entry fees, hold a pot, process payments, or pay winners. If your group collects money, do that outside the app (Venmo, cash, etc.). Create a league, share an invite code, and keep everyone on the same sheet. Support: support@blindsquirrelllc.com Privacy: https://blindsquirrelllc.com/privacy-policy.html

Screenshots

OPTIMAL4 screens
Slate Lock Picks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: OPTIMAL at #91 against Slate Lock Picks's unranked. Slate Lock Picks's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. OPTIMAL sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per 7 days and Slate Lock Picks sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OPTIMAL ships an update every 9 days, Slate Lock Picks fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
OPTIMAL versus Slate Lock Picks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOPTIMALSlate Lock Picks
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (8.4K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews64.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings8.4K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
Best chart rank#91 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB31 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperHergott Technologies, IncBlind Squirrel LLC

Bugs and requests

OPTIMAL

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Recurring billing issues and trouble with cancellations
  • Incorrect or outdated odds and lines displayed
  • Difficulty navigating the app and finding relevant information

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more sports and leagues
  • Improve notification system for custom settings
  • Integrate with more sportsbooks
  • Add ability to build and submit parlays directly in the app
  • Provide more detailed player and team performance data

Slate Lock Picks

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

OPTIMAL

Subscriptions9
  • Optimal 1-Week$12.997 Days
  • Optimal+ 1-Week3 Days trial$19.997 Days
  • Optimal 1-Month3 Days trial$29.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Optimal+ 1-Month7 Days trial$49.991 Month
  • Optimal Full Access 1-Month3 Days trial$69.991 Month
  • Optimal Full Access 3-Month$199.003 Months
  • Optimal 1-Year$199.991 Year
  • Optimal+ 1-Year1 Year trial$419.991 Year
  • Optimal Full Access 1-Year7 Days trial$419.991 Year
2 purchases

Slate Lock Picks

One-time2
  • season pass 20$9.99
  • season pass 50$19.99

Questions

Is OPTIMAL free?
OPTIMAL is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Slate Lock Picks free?
Slate Lock Picks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do OPTIMAL or Slate Lock Picks have ads?
Neither OPTIMAL nor Slate Lock Picks shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OPTIMAL or Slate Lock Picks?
OPTIMAL ships an update every 9 days, and Slate Lock Picks fortnightly. Most recently, OPTIMAL was updated on November 4, 2026 and Slate Lock Picks on October 31, 2026.

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