Comparison

Ref vs Rugby Referee Watch

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

Rugby Referee Watch

Features
Read full description

Time, score, card and replacement keeping for Rugby Referees. Works for Apple watches, and most Garmin watches (find it in the Connect IQ Store). The watch app works standalone and will help you keep track of your game. The companion app for the iPhone is there for convenience and to share match reports. Features * Keep game time * Keep score (with player number) * Record cards * Sin bin clocks * Kick clocks (penalty, conversion and restart), tap this clock to confirm success or miss * Vibrate to indicate end of a half or sin bin * Undo any event entered by mistake * Track which team kicks off a half * Set team color * Penalty tracking * Show report for completed games * Different game types (15s, 10s, 7s, league, etc.) * Custom game type, change game time, sin bin time, etc. * Count the game time up or down * Store games for 30 days Features on phone * Load games from the watch * Share a game report via Whatsapp, email, etc. * Edit game report (add reason for yellow card) * Prepare game settings on your phone and send it to your watch * Create and store custom match types

Screenshots

Ref4 screens
Rugby Referee Watch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ref at Free against Rugby Referee Watch's $0.99. Rugby Referee Watch's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.2 vs 26.4). On 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; Rugby Referee Watch costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ref ships an update every 3 weeks, Rugby Referee Watch every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Ref versus Rugby Referee Watch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefRugby Referee Watch
PriceFree — better$0.99
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS26.415.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSAMUEL LANE MADDOCKBart Vullings

In-app purchases

None

Ref

No in-app purchases

None

Rugby Referee Watch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ref free?
Ref is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Rugby Referee Watch free?
Rugby Referee Watch costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ref or Rugby Referee Watch have ads?
Neither Ref nor Rugby Referee Watch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ref or Rugby Referee Watch?
Ref ships an update every 3 weeks, and Rugby Referee Watch every 5 days. Most recently, Ref was updated on October 25, 2026 and Rugby Referee Watch on October 31, 2026.

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