Comparison

Ref vs LemonScore

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

LemonScore

Features
Read full description

LemonScore Remote turns your iPhone or iPad into a powerful remote control for the LemonScore scoreboard software. Connect wirelessly via your local network to the scoreboard. GAME CONTROL - Adjust the score for both teams – with a single tap - Start, stop, and manually correct the match clock - Timer mode for countdowns and custom time sequences - Enable and disable stoppage time - Full penalty shootout control – including Sudden Death MEDIA & ANIMATIONS - Trigger goal, offside, yellow/red card, and substitution animations - Select player and team for each animation - Play and control playlists with images and videos - Show and hide banners MUSIC - Browse and play music playlists - Control playback: Play, Pause, Next, Previous - Adjust volume, enable shuffle and loop CUSTOM SHORTCUTS - Create your own shortcut cards with colors and icons - Assign multiple actions to a single button - Customize the layout of your remote control CONNECTION & SECURITY - Automatic discovery of LemonScore on the network via Bonjour - Manual connection via IP address also available - Secure authentication with a 6-digit PIN - Real-time synchronization across multiple devices simultaneously ADDITIONAL FEATURES - Blackout mode - Haptic feedback (adjustable) - Coex display monitoring (brightness, temperature, status) - Optimized for iPhone and iPad Requirement: LemonScore Desktop App (v1.5.0 or later) on the same network. Available at lemon-score.ch.

Screenshots

Ref4 screens
LemonScore4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Ref at every 2 weeks against LemonScore's every 4 months. LemonScore's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.4). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ref ships an update every 2 weeks, LemonScore every 4 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Ref versus LemonScore: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefLemonScore
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS26.415.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSAMUEL LANE MADDOCKDario Tschannen

In-app purchases

None

Ref

No in-app purchases

None

LemonScore

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ref free?
Ref is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LemonScore free?
LemonScore is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ref or LemonScore have ads?
Neither Ref nor LemonScore shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ref or LemonScore?
Ref ships an update every 2 weeks, and LemonScore every 4 months. Most recently, Ref was updated on September 24, 2026 and LemonScore on September 24, 2026.

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