Comparison

HighlightLab vs NextPlay Highlights

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

Head to head
About

HighlightLab

This app uses AI to automatically detect made baskets and other key moments in your basketball game footage. Easily create and edit highlight reels, tag specific plays, and manage teams and players for seamless sharing with others.

Highlights
  • AI shot detection for made baskets
  • Automatic player tagging and stat saving
  • Customizable highlight reel editor
  • Smart video tagging for key moments
  • Team and league management
  • Easy sharing of highlights
Features
Read full description

Transform your game footage into highlight reels with HighlightLab, the sports video app built for athletes, parents, and content creators. Perfect for AAU teams, rec leagues, open gym sessions, park runs, pickup games, or any time you want to capture what happened on the court. AI SHOT DETECTION Let AI do the tagging for you: -Record live or upload existing footage and let our on-device AI automatically detect made baskets -Review detected shots and save the clips you want -Player images are automatically captured during recording and can be clustered together after AI tagging, so stats are saved to the correct player -Option to save the full recording to your Photos library HIGHLIGHT EDITOR Build custom highlight compilations with ease: -Select and arrange clips to craft the perfect sequence -Preview your reel before exporting -Combine clips from multiple games into season-long mixtapes -Export in HD quality with optional filters SMART VIDEO TAGGING Tag key moments while watching game footage: -3-pointers, 2-pointers, free throws, and assists -Create instant clips from tagged moments -Build a highlight library organized by game TEAM AND LEAGUE MANAGEMENT Stay organized across teams and leagues: -Create teams for different seasons -Manage rosters and track players -Share your squad with viewers using a squad code SHARING Share highlights with your team/league: -Join any team/league with a code, no subscription required -View and export highlights from teams/leagues you've joined -Great for parents, teammates, and fans who want access to game footage Terms of Use: https://highlightlab.app/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://highlightlab.app/app-privacy

About

NextPlay Highlights

Automatically transform game footage into polished highlight reels using AI. Simply upload your videos, and the app identifies and compiles the best plays for easy sharing on social media or with college recruiters.

Highlights
  • AI play detection
  • Multiple cut lengths
  • Combine games
  • Season recap
  • Game snapshot
  • Content kit
  • Recruiting-ready reels
Features
Read full description

Make a highlight reel of your child's best sports moments from the videos already on your phone. NextPlay Highlights helps parents turn sideline clips, tournament footage and game film into videos to share with family, teammates and coaches. Start with the footage you have, review the plays AI finds, and choose the moments that tell your athlete's story. FOR SPORTS PARENTS - Combine phone clips from a game or across the season. - Keep highlights organized by athlete, including siblings who play different sports. - Make a season recap, a short social highlight or a recruiting video. - Download an MP4 to Photos or share a viewing link in a family group chat. - Use the same account on iPhone, iPad and the website. Sign in with Apple is available on the app and web. FROM CAMERA ROLL TO HIGHLIGHT REEL 1. Upload phone clips or game footage. 2. Review the detected plays and choose what to include. 3. Create a Highlight, Recruiting Highlight or Hype version. 4. Save the video or share it yourself through your preferred app. FOR YOUTH TEAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS Coaches and club organizers can manage athlete profiles and team rosters, review full-game film, and prepare clips to share with families. Game Tape keeps every detected play in order; Coach Film lets you remove plays from the cut. Choose a plan for the number of athlete profiles and teams you manage. FILMING YOUR ATHLETE For individual highlights, keep your athlete and the action in frame. With wide team footage, review the plays and remove those that are not your child's. NextPlay does not automatically identify your child in every play or contact recruiters for you. Full-game analysis takes over an hour; allow time for uploading and preparing the video too. SPORTS Soccer, football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, flag football, hockey, wrestling, swimming, track and field, and more. SUBSCRIPTIONS The app is free to download. Adding film requires a paid plan. NextPlay offers auto-renewable monthly Athlete, Family, Team and Team Pro subscriptions. Current prices are shown in the app before purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Manage or cancel purchases made through Apple in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://nextplayhighlights.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://nextplayhighlights.com/privacy Support: https://nextplayhighlights.com/contact

Screenshots

HighlightLab4 screens
NextPlay Highlights4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: NextPlay Highlights at every 5 days against HighlightLab's fortnightly. NextPlay Highlights also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.5). HighlightLab's advantage is ratings volume (11 vs 3). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. HighlightLab sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and NextPlay Highlights sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for HighlightLab against 5.0 for NextPlay Highlights. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HighlightLab ships an update fortnightly, NextPlay Highlights every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
HighlightLab versus NextPlay Highlights: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHighlightLabNextPlay Highlights
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (11 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11 — better3
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.515.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPeter AtsavesNeil Brown

Customer experience

HighlightLab

All ratings11 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

NextPlay Highlights

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

HighlightLab

Subscriptions5
  • Solo Monthly14 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Pro Plan$9.991 Month
  • Lite14 Days trial$19.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Pro14 Days trial$49.991 Month
  • Premium14 Days trial$99.991 Month
5 purchases

NextPlay Highlights

Subscriptions5
  • Athlete$9.991 Month
  • FlagPlay Add-On$9.991 Month
  • Family$19.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Team$99.991 Month
  • Team Pro$199.001 Month

Questions

Is HighlightLab free?
HighlightLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NextPlay Highlights free?
NextPlay Highlights is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, HighlightLab or NextPlay Highlights?
HighlightLab and NextPlay Highlights are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 11 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do HighlightLab or NextPlay Highlights have ads?
Neither HighlightLab nor NextPlay Highlights shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HighlightLab or NextPlay Highlights?
HighlightLab ships an update fortnightly, and NextPlay Highlights every 5 days. Most recently, HighlightLab was updated on October 6, 2026 and NextPlay Highlights on October 5, 2026.

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