Comparison

HowToBowl vs StrikeMaster

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

Head to head
About

HowToBowl

Read full description

Inside the HowToBowl app, you can: Access all of your videos in one easy to use app Receive push notifications with the latest news and updates Access to all of your videos without having to remember your password Save your favorite posts so you can quickly find them later END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

StrikeMaster

Track your bowling games, analyze performance, and connect with a global community. Features include AI scoreboard scanning, frame-by-frame scoring, and detailed analytics to help you improve your game.

Highlights
  • AI Scoreboard Scanning
  • Frame-by-frame scoring
  • Pin-tracking
  • Ball arsenal management
  • League progress tracking
  • Offline mode
  • Community features
Features
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StrikeMaster is the bowling app for scoring your games, bowling with friends on one phone, and running your whole league. Free tracking, no game limit, no ads. BOWL TOGETHER (NEW) • Score up to 8 players on one device • Each player tracks their own balls and stats RUN A LEAGUE (NEW) • Create a league with USBC-style rules • Invite bowlers with a join code. Members join free • Schedules, lanes, weekly standings, points and handicaps • Members enter their own scores • Playoffs, roll-offs, dues and prize fund TRACK YOUR LEAGUE • Private leagues for your own season, or public for everyone • Team entry: Singles, Doubles, Trios and Teams • Match recaps, leaders, honors and charts • Share the standings AI • Connect StrikeMaster to ChatGPT or Claude • Ask anything about your games, stats, balls and leagues • Get reports and comparisons from your own data SCORE YOUR WAY • Frame by frame, pin by pin, or totals only • AI scoreboard scan from a photo • 9, 8 and 7-pin no-tap • Works offline, syncs when you're back online STATS • Average, strikes, spares, splits and pin leaves • Trends, handicap, lane and oil pattern BALLS • Large ball database, plus your own custom balls • Track the ball used on every roll • Ball bags and ball comparisons COMMUNITY • Friends, groups and chat • Leaderboards and 80,000+ bowling alleys StrikeMaster is free. Pro is an optional auto-renewing subscription. Privacy: https://www.strikemaster.io/privacy Terms: https://www.strikemaster.io/terms

Screenshots

HowToBowl3 screens
StrikeMaster4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HowToBowl at none against StrikeMaster's 5. HowToBowl also leads on iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). StrikeMaster's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads 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. StrikeMaster sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. HowToBowl asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HowToBowl ships an update every 3 weeks, StrikeMaster every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
HowToBowl versus StrikeMaster: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHowToBowlStrikeMaster
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (66 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—90.9% of reviews
Number of ratings—66 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB166 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperEmily SudduthAndrew Hill

In-app purchases

None

HowToBowl

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

StrikeMaster

Subscriptions2
  • Pro-Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro-Yearly1 Year trial$24.991 Year
One-time3
  • 20 AI Scans$2.99
  • 50 AI Scans$4.99
  • PinPal Migration Add-on$5.99

Questions

Is HowToBowl free?
HowToBowl is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is StrikeMaster free?
StrikeMaster is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HowToBowl or StrikeMaster have ads?
Neither HowToBowl nor StrikeMaster shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HowToBowl or StrikeMaster?
HowToBowl ships an update every 3 weeks, and StrikeMaster every 8 days. Most recently, HowToBowl was updated on October 1, 2026 and StrikeMaster on October 15, 2026.

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