Comparison

Ref vs Ref90

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

Head to head
About

Ref

Features
Read full description

Ref-Vision captures a referee’s match on Apple Watch and iPhone: GPS, heart rate, speed, distance, match clock, event taps, and sideline video, all heading to one game on your Ref-Vision account. Start the watch at kick-off. Put the iPhone on a tripod if you want film. The watch is built to be glanced at, not stared at. Large buttons, haptics, and an always-on clock. APPLE WATCH • Start at kick-off: one workout records GPS and heart rate for the whole appointment, including half-time • Match clock with half-time, second half, and full-time • Live heart rate, speed, distance, and GPS lock • Four large event buttons by default: Foul, Yellow, Red, Goal • Extra buttons (Advantage, Stoppage, Injury, Sub, Penalty, and more) from a second page if you enable them on iPhone • Undo the last event with a swipe • Sessions are saved on the watch first, then sent to iPhone automatically. No network required during the match IPHONE • Live glance of clock, heart rate, distance, and last event while the watch is recording • Finished sessions arrive from the watch automatically • Review distance, heart rate, and events after the match; edit or delete a mis-tap • Attach the session to a game, or create one, then upload to your Ref-Vision account • Sign in once with the same email code you use on ref.vision • Customise which event buttons appear on the watch and push the layout across RECORD • New Record tab for sideline match film from a tripod-mounted iPhone • Checks before you start: phone on its side (landscape), on the tripod, and on a power bank • Ultra-wide (0.5x) so the pitch fills the frame; 1080p by default, 4K if you want it • Built for a full match — keep the app open and don’t lock the phone • Recordings stay on this iPhone first, even with no signal • Attach or create a game, then upload. We’ll start processing the film onto that game soon • Watch capture and phone film can run together: movement and events on the watch, video on the phone AFTER UPLOAD Watch sessions land on your game with GPS, heart rate, and event tags. Phone film is uploaded from the app; after we process it, it appears on the same game at ref.vision. Attach footage and set one sync offset so movement, heart rate, and watch events line up with the film together. Capture works without an account. Upload to Ref-Vision requires sign-in. Ref-Vision records referee performance (location, heart rate, and optional sideline video). It is not a medical device and does not provide medical advice. Requires a compatible Apple Watch for GPS, heart rate, and event capture. Video recording uses iPhone. Designed for referees at every level.

About

Ref90

This app helps football referees manage matches directly from their Apple Watch. It tracks game timers, logs incidents, and records earnings, allowing officials to focus on the game without distractions. Designed for ease of use, it works offline and provides post-match review capabilities.

Highlights
  • Match timers
  • Full match control
  • Offline functionality
  • Post-match review
  • Earnings tracking
  • Digital coin toss
Features
Read full description

Ref90 – The Referee’s Match Companion Managing a game is hard enough. Let your Apple Watch handle the admin. Ref90 is built for grassroots to semi-pro football referees. It helps you track everything that matters during a match — quickly, clearly, and without breaking focus. • No phone. • No signal. • No distractions. Key features • Match timers – Kick-off, half-time, added time, sin bins, water breaks and period breaks, all managed directly from your wrist. • Full match control – Log goals, fouls, substitutions and key incidents in seconds, even while play is live. • Ref-first design – Built for fast taps, sweaty hands and quick glances. No fiddly menus. • Works offline – No iPhone or internet connection required. Ideal for rural pitches and Sunday mornings. • Post-match review – Check full match logs after the final whistle to support reports and admin. • Easy sharing – Share game logs, reviews and bank details when needed. • Earnings tracking – Keep track of match fees and season totals. • Digital coin toss – One tap. No lost coins. No arguments. Why Ref90? Because referees should referee — not juggle notebooks, watches and guesswork. Ref90 keeps the basics under control so you can focus on positioning, decisions and player management. Designed for • Grassroots referees • Semi-pro officials • Sunday league to Saturday tournaments • Anyone who wants less hassle on match day This is a one-time purchase that permanently unlocks the app. No subscriptions or recurring payments. Terms of use: https://ref90.com/terms Privacy policy: https://ref90.com/privacy

Screenshots

Ref4 screens
Ref904 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ref at Free against Ref90's $7.99. Ref90's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.4). On update cadence, 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

Ref is free to download; Ref90 costs $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ref ships an update every 2 weeks, Ref90 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
Ref versus Ref90: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefRef90
PriceFree — better$7.99
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.418.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSAMUEL LANE MADDOCKInstride Ltd

In-app purchases

None

Ref

No in-app purchases

None

Ref90

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ref free?
Ref is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ref90 free?
Ref90 costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ref or Ref90 have ads?
Neither Ref nor Ref90 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ref or Ref90?
Ref ships an update every 2 weeks, and Ref90 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Ref was updated on September 24, 2026 and Ref90 on September 25, 2026.

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