Comparison

Ref vs HockeyUmpire

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

Head to head
About

Ref

Features
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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

HockeyUmpire

Features
Read full description

Built by an active umpire, for umpires at every level — from youth to competitive. HockeyUmpire keeps match time, score, cards and penalty corners in one focused flow, so you stay present on the pitch instead of managing screens. Run the match from your wrist or your iPhone, and review everything afterwards. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT Live Activities and Dynamic Island Period, score, match clock and total playing time on the Lock Screen, for matches controlled on iPhone. A glance is enough — no unlocking, no app switching. Home Screen widgets (Pro) Between matches: your last match, your umpire statistics, or a combined dashboard with a workout summary. During a match: a status card that opens the live match in one tap. Choose per widget what a tap opens and whether it follows light or dark appearance. Live scoreboard from Apple Watch (Pro) Run the match on your Watch and follow it read-only on your iPhone — including the Live Activity and the Dynamic Island — with a connection status that tells you plainly whether the two are in sync. Hockey5s The standard two-half format on iPhone or Apple Watch, with the right card timings and no penalty corners. A home screen that is yours A larger header photo at the top, from a standard set — fixed, or changing every day — or one of your own (Pro). MATCH CONTROL Match timer built for hockey Track match time per period with clear visual feedback and dependable recovery after pauses or interruptions — even when your Watch or iPhone is locked. Instant goal registration Register goals for both teams on a clean, readable live scoreboard. Long-press to correct. Card management Issue green, yellow and red cards with an automatic countdown — no separate timer. You get a warning before a card expires. Match history A full timeline after every match — goals, cards, corners — shareable as a graphic in one tap. Health and movement The Health workout follows the match clock, so distance, heart rate and playing time line up with the match instead of with the walk to the pitch. Built for real match pressure Large controls, a calm interface, no unnecessary distraction. Designed to stay reliable when the match gets messy. PRO UPGRADE (ONE-TIME PURCHASE) Log goal type (field goal, penalty corner, penalty stroke) and player numbers Track card recipients and reasons for post-match review Assign penalty corners to home or away for accurate stats Personal Umpire Stats — spot patterns across all your matches GPS route and movement heatmap for outdoor matches Home Screen widgets and the live scoreboard from Apple Watch Your own header photo Core match control is free. Pro is a one-time purchase — no subscription.

Screenshots

Ref4 screens
HockeyUmpire4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ref at none against HockeyUmpire's 1. HockeyUmpire's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.4). 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. HockeyUmpire sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ref asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ref ships an update every 3 weeks, HockeyUmpire every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Ref versus HockeyUmpire: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefHockeyUmpire
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.418.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSAMUEL LANE MADDOCKLudo Raedts

In-app purchases

None

Ref

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

HockeyUmpire

One-time1
  • Full Umpire Toolkit$2.99

Questions

Is Ref free?
Ref is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HockeyUmpire free?
HockeyUmpire is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ref or HockeyUmpire have ads?
Neither Ref nor HockeyUmpire shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ref or HockeyUmpire?
Ref ships an update every 3 weeks, and HockeyUmpire every 9 days. Most recently, Ref was updated on October 24, 2026 and HockeyUmpire on October 24, 2026.

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