Comparison

MLB vs Ballplayer

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

Head to head
About

MLB

This app provides live baseball video and audio, offering personalized programming and on-demand content. Subscribers gain access to out-of-market games, MLB Network, and extensive minor league coverage. Enjoy real-time highlights and game updates directly on your device.

Highlights
  • Live game video and audio streaming
  • Real-time highlights and alerts
  • Customizable news feed
  • Player position and batted ball tracking
  • Minor League Baseball game streaming
  • MLB Film Room video library
Features
Read full description

The MLB App is the #1 destination for live baseball video and audio, directly on your iOS device. Watch and listen live or on-demand! -- Jump directly into your favorite team's live game from your home tab -- Customize and filter your News content for the headlines that interest you most -- Get real-time highlights and on-deck alerts for your followed players -- Follow the action of the game with real-time player positions and batted balls -- Live Activities support for game updates right on your lock screen WATCH & LISTEN, FREE -- The Watch experience has 24/7 personalized programming, curated content collections and the deepest baseball-on-demand video library anywhere -- Watch free in-game, real-time highlights for every game -- Watch select Minor League Baseball games -- MLB Film Room: Search millions of videos -- Picture-in-Picture streaming for live video and highlights -- Watch MLB Network programming (pay TV authentication required) SUBSCRIBERS GET MORE -- Access your The Official Site of Major League Baseball subscription to watch every out-of-market game -- Stream MLB Network 24/7 on the MLB app -- Listen to Home, Away and Spanish-language (where available) radio broadcasts live and on demand with MLB At Bat -- Watch 7,000+ Minor League Baseball games with MLB At Bat -- Universal audio support for MLB+ subscribers, accessible on iPhone, iPad and other supported smartphones and tablets Privacy Policy: MLB Privacy Policy | MLB.com Terms of Use: MLB.com Terms of Use | MLB.com © 2026 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights used herein are the property of the applicable MLB entity. All rights reserved.

About

Ballplayer

Track and share baseball and softball game statistics in real-time. This app allows players to record every hit, catch, walk, and stolen base, and share live stats with friends and family. Features in-app messaging and live activity feeds for a social game-day experience.

Highlights
  • Real-time stat tracking
  • Share stats with friends and family
  • In-app messaging
  • Live activity feeds
  • Comprehensive stat recording
Features
Read full description

Ballplayer is a scorekeeping app designed to stay with you from the little leagues to the big leagues. Share your stats with your friends and family – every hit, every catch, every walk, every stolen base. Ballplayer is the social app for ballplayers to share and compare LIVE stats during their game, featuring in-app messaging and LIVE activity feeds.

Screenshots

MLB4 screens
Ballplayer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MLB at 4.7 against Ballplayer's 4.0. MLB also leads on ratings volume (936K vs 58) and chart position (#4 vs unranked). Ballplayer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 16) and ads (none vs shown). On price and update cadence 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. MLB sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Ballplayer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MLB holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MLB has 936K ratings behind it against 58, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of MLB's written reviews are positive against 53% of Ballplayer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MLB ships an update every 2 weeks, Ballplayer weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
MLB versus Ballplayer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMLBBallplayer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (936K ratings) — better4.0 (58 ratings)
Positive reviews39.6% of reviews53.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings936K — better58
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#4 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size512 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMajor League Baseball Advanced MediaBaseball App LLC

Customer experience

MLB

All ratings936,497 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral2.1%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews3,175 reviews
Positive39.6%
Neutral8.7%
Negative51.7%

Ballplayer

All ratings58 ratings
Positive72.4%
Neutral3.4%
Negative24.1%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive53.3%
Neutral6.7%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

MLB

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App freezes and crashes
  • Incorrect game dates and times
  • Audio playback issues and delays
  • Unreliable video streaming

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to hide scores for spoiler-free viewing
  • Improved navigation and UI
  • Resume watching functionality for archived games
  • Better support for older devices and iOS versions

Ballplayer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

MLB

Subscriptions6
  • MLB+$5.991 Month
  • MLB+ with Trial7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • MLB+ Monthly$5.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • MLB.TV Monthly$29.991 Month
  • MLB.TV Monthly Trial7 Days trial$29.991 Month
  • MLB+ Annual$59.991 Year
One-time6
  • 2021 MLB.TV for T-MobileFree
  • 2023 MLB.TV Yearly2 variantsFree
  • 2024 MLB.TV YearlyFree
Show 3 more
  • 2026 MLB.TV SeasonalFree
  • MLB.TV for T-Mobile CustomersFree
  • 2025 MLB.TV YearlyFree
None

Ballplayer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MLB free?
MLB is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ballplayer free?
Ballplayer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MLB or Ballplayer?
MLB is rated higher. MLB averages 4.7 out of 5 from 936K ratings, while Ballplayer averages 4.0 from 58 ratings.
Do MLB or Ballplayer have ads?
MLB shows ads; Ballplayer does not.
Which is updated more often, MLB or Ballplayer?
MLB ships an update every 2 weeks, and Ballplayer weekly. Most recently, MLB was updated on September 25, 2026 and Ballplayer on September 24, 2026.

Other comparisons