Comparison

FTC Decode Scouting vs Normal

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

Head to head
About

FTC Decode Scouting

This app helps FIRST Tech Challenge robotics teams efficiently scout competitors at events. It allows for detailed recording of robot capabilities, match performance, and real-time data synchronization for team collaboration. Analyze data intelligently to gain a competitive edge.

Highlights
  • Pit scouting for robot capabilities
  • Match scouting for performance statistics
  • Real-time data sync for teams
  • Automatic event detection
  • Advanced data analysis and filtering
  • Offline scouting capability
  • Team collaboration features
Features
Read full description

FTC Scouting - The Ultimate Competition Scouting Tool Transform your FIRST Tech Challenge scouting strategy with FTC Scouting, the comprehensive app designed by FTC Sounder Bots for competitive robotics teams. Scout efficiently, analyze strategically, and dominate your competition. COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING SYSTEM • Pit Scouting - Visit teams in the pit area and record detailed robot capabilities including autonomous preferences, scoring abilities, cycle times, and special features like sorters and lifts • Match Scouting - Track individual team performance or full alliance data during competition matches with detailed autonomous, teleop, and endgame statistics • Real-Time Data Sync - All scouting data automatically syncs to the cloud and shares instantly with your entire team POWERFUL TEAM COLLABORATION • Create or join scouting teams using your FTC team number • Share data seamlessly with teammates • Track member contributions and scouting progress in real-time • Everyone on your team has access to the same up-to-date information INTELLIGENT EVENT INTEGRATION • Automatic event detection from the official FTC events database • Browse and search competitions by date, month, or location • View participating teams and event schedules • Track your team's upcoming competitions with countdown timers ADVANCED DATA ANALYSIS • Filter and sort match data by team or alliance • View summary statistics including averages and totals • Track artifact scoring in classified, overflow, and depot locations • Analyze autonomous performance and endgame parking levels • Detailed breakdowns for every scouted team and match CLEAN, MODERN INTERFACE • Beautiful, intuitive design that's easy to use in the pit or stands • Dark mode support for low-light environments • Color-coded sections for quick navigation • Smooth animations and professional presentation BUILT FOR COMPETITION • Works offline - scout without internet and sync when connected • Fast data entry designed for quick scouting between matches • Review and verify data before submission • Export and analyze team performance trends Whether you're a team strategist, drive coach, or scout, FTC Scouting gives you the tools to make data-driven decisions and gain a competitive edge. Join teams already using FTC Scouting to elevate their competition performance. Perfect for: FTC Teams of all skill levels Drive coaches planning match strategy Scouts collecting data at competitions Team strategists analyzing opponent performance Anyone involved in FIRST Tech Challenge competitions Download FTC Scouting today and take your team's scouting to the next level! --- Developed by Sounder Bots #23270 - A competitive FTC team that understands your scouting needs.

About

Normal

This app helps you reduce phone usage by blocking selected applications by default. To access blocked apps, you must physically scan an NFC tag, QR code, or barcode, or be at a specific location. It offers granular control, timed unblocks, and scheduling to help you regain control of your screen time.

Highlights
  • Block apps via NFC, QR codes, and barcodes
  • Use any NFC tag, QR code, or barcode
  • Unblock/block specific apps
  • Timed unblocks
  • Scheduling
  • Granular control
  • Bypass prevention options
Read full description

Normal actually makes you use your phone less by keeping selected apps blocked by default. To unblock you have to physically scan an NFC Tag, QR Code or use a Location. This can be any NFC Tag, QR Code, Barcode, Location you set in the app. This 'opt-in' approach is backed by research and actual use. Normal is made to be the most powerful screen time app available. Saving your hours of your day. It's fully open-source and no features are behind paywalls. It can also be made to be impossible to bypass. Highlights of Normal: - Block Apps via NFC Tags, QR Codes and Barcodes - Use ANY NFC Tag, QR Code or Barcode - Unblock/Block specific Apps - Timed Unblocks - Emergency Unblocks - Scheduling - Complete Granular Control - Can make it as easy or as hard to bypass Normal was made because of issues with some other screen time apps. - Other screen time apps are easy to bypass. Normal can be made to be impossible to bypass, or easy to bypass. You have complete control. - Most other screen time apps work on opt-out strategy, where you have access to all apps, then lose access through usage. - Normal works on opt-in strategy. The apps you have blocked are always blocked, to use them you have to physically get up and scan your NFC tag or QR Code. - Most screen time apps are paid, either one-time or more commonly, subscriptions. There are no paid features. Everything is free and open-source. - Normal is privacy-focused. We don't log any data, everything stays on device. Since we're open source, you can check our code and confirm. - Normal allows timed unlocks. Other NFC/QR Code blockers don't have this. If you want to use an app for 15min, you can unlock it for 15min only. You don't have to remember to reblock. Normal was made by actual users, research on smartphone addiction and developments in dumbphones in-mind. If you want to turn your iPhone into a dumbphone, you can. Block all smart apps, block the app store, prevent disabling normal (via preventing delete and the shortcuts trick). Now you have a dumbphone, which you can't make smart without your NFC Tag (which you can make as difficult as you need). If you want a semi-dumbphone, you can. Do the above but have some apps like maps, music, messaging, etc. If you're a professional who needs access to apps distracting sometimes, Normal is for you! Block all distractions with Normal. Set schedules for you work apps or used timed unblocks. Need 15min to post content or check email? You can do that! You just have to physically get up and scan your NFC Tag, QR Code, or Barcode. The apps will automatically reblock after your timer is over. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

FTC Decode Scouting4 screens
Normal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FTC Decode Scouting at none against Normal's 9. Normal's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 75%) and update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). On price, rating, ads and monetization model 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. Normal sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.00 per month. FTC Decode Scouting asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for FTC Decode Scouting against 4.9 for Normal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Normal has 39 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of FTC Decode Scouting's written reviews are positive against 100% of Normal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FTC Decode Scouting ships an update weekly, Normal every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
FTC Decode Scouting versus Normal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFTC Decode ScoutingNormal
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better4.9 (39 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings439 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHatkesh JoshiNormal Engineering Inc.

Customer experience

FTC Decode Scouting

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

Normal

All ratings39 ratings
Positive97.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

FTC Decode Scouting

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Normal

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Support$5.001 Month
  • Monthly Support$10.001 Month
  • Monthly Support$20.001 Month
One-time6
  • One-time Donation$5.00
  • One-time Donation$10.00
  • One-time Donation$20.00
Show 3 more
  • One-time Donation$50.00
  • One-time Donation$100.00
  • One-time Donation$200.00

Questions

Is FTC Decode Scouting free?
FTC Decode Scouting is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Normal free?
Normal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FTC Decode Scouting or Normal?
FTC Decode Scouting is rated higher. FTC Decode Scouting averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Normal averages 4.9 from 39 ratings.
Do FTC Decode Scouting or Normal have ads?
Neither FTC Decode Scouting nor Normal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FTC Decode Scouting or Normal?
FTC Decode Scouting ships an update weekly, and Normal every 2 days. Most recently, FTC Decode Scouting was updated on October 16, 2026 and Normal on October 15, 2026.

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