Comparison

Steel Scoring vs Blast Buddy

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

Head to head
About

Steel Scoring

This app streamlines the entire process of managing steel shooting competitions, from registration and squadding to real-time scoring and instant result generation. It integrates with electronic timers and offers manual entry options for a quick and efficient experience.

Highlights
  • Event registration and squadding
  • Real-time scoring
  • Instant HTML result generation
  • ProTimer BT integration
  • Manual time entry
  • Custom division and stage setup
  • Dropbox backup
Features
Read full description

Steel Scoring was developed to bring Static and Knockdown Steel scoring to the Apple iPad. Steel Scoring can handle the whole event from start to finish. Registration, squadding, scoring and results. Final results are generated in an HTML format that can be uploaded to our SteelScoring.com website or your clubs website following the event. We’ve made it easy to use and streamlined for quick scoring. No need to wait for results. You can generate the final results, at the end of the match, right on the iPad. Steel Scoring features include: • Free — Thanks to our sponsors! • Synchronization with our SteelScoring.com website, which provides online registration for matches. • Quick and easy entry of new Persons. • A person can be signed up for one or more divisions. • Easy Squadding. • Setup custom Divisions and Stage names for non-official Steel Challenge events. • Completion Electronics ProTimer BT integration. Times can be pulled directly from the ProTimer BT in to the Steel Scoring app. No typing necessary. Note: Bluetooth LE is required. An iPad 3 or newer is required to communicate with the ProTimer BT Bluetooth timer. • Times can be quickly entered manually via a Big button keypad. • Good contrast even in bright sunlight. • iPad’s can be synchronized with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. • Backup to Dropbox. Steel Scoring website (http://steelscoring.com). Clubs can setup events and post results. Users can register for the events and pre-squad themselves. Sync with the Steel Scoring iPad app before the event to pull the information. Clubs please email us for details.

About

Blast Buddy

Enhance your shooting skills with real-time data and AI coaching. Analyze performance, build stages in 3D/AR, and create shareable video footage of your training sessions.

Highlights
  • Real-time shot detection via microphone
  • AI-powered performance analysis and drills
  • 3D/AR stage builder with AI generation
  • Automatic video analysis with shot detection
  • Detailed performance analytics and tracking
  • Apple Watch app for timer and metrics
  • Competition scoring for IPSC/USPSA
Features
Read full description

Train smarter. Shoot faster. Win more. Blast Buddy is the shot timer and training companion for competitive shooters, airsoft players and paintball enthusiasts. Time your drills with nothing but your iPhone, film your runs, and turn every session into data you can improve on. Built for IPSC, USPSA and IDPA practice, at the range or in dry fire. FREE SHOT TIMER, NO SHOT LIMIT Your device's microphone detects every shot in real time, no extra hardware needed. Fixed or random start delay, splits to the hundredth and unlimited shots, free. Tune detection for firearms, airsoft or paintball with the audio calibration wizard, and choose from five timer skins. NEW: PAR TIMER Set a par time and train hands-free. A start beep, then a lower beep when the window closes. Run a single rep, a set number of reps or a loop, then check your best and average times. VIDEO ANALYSIS WITH PRO OVERLAYS Import a video of your run and Blast Buddy finds the start signal and every shot from the audio. Fix any marker in the waveform editor, then export with the timer, splits and shot list burned into the video. 18 overlay styles, ready to share. MULTI-ANGLE EDITOR Film the same run from two cameras. Blast Buddy syncs them by sound and cuts them together: side by side, stacked, picture-in-picture or auto-cut highlights. Projects are saved, so you can reopen them and keep editing. STAGE BUILDER WITH 3D & AR Design stages with paper targets, steel plates, walls, barrels and fault lines. Walk the course in 3D or augmented reality, export the briefing as PDF, or let the AI generate a stage for you. AI PERSONAL COACH Blast Buddy analyzes your draw-to-first-shot speed, split consistency, accuracy tradeoffs and fatigue patterns, then recommends specific drills for your weak points. PERFORMANCE ANALYTICS Track split times, cadence, consistency and hit factors across sessions. See your week at a glance on the Home screen and spot trends over time. COMPETITION SCORING Score alpha, charlie and delta hits, track hit factor and power factor, and pair a scored session with its video. APPLE WATCH, LIVE ACTIVITIES AND SYNC Run the timer from your wrist and capture heart rate. Keep your timer on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. Sessions, stages and settings sync across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Works with your SpecialPie shot timer or just your device's microphone. Blast Buddy Pro unlocks watermark-free and multi-angle exports, saved sessions, advanced training modes, AI coaching and more. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Blast Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Steel Scoring at none against Blast Buddy's 2. Steel Scoring also leads on ratings volume (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). Blast Buddy's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating 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. Blast Buddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Steel Scoring 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 Steel Scoring against 5.0 for Blast Buddy. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Steel Scoring ships an update every 2 months, Blast Buddy every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Steel Scoring versus Blast Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteel ScoringBlast Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB87 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOn-Core Software LLCENDCODE SRL

Customer experience

Steel Scoring

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Blast Buddy

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Steel Scoring

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Blast Buddy

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Yearly$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Steel Scoring free?
Steel Scoring is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Blast Buddy free?
Blast Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Steel Scoring or Blast Buddy?
Steel Scoring and Blast Buddy are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Steel Scoring or Blast Buddy have ads?
Neither Steel Scoring nor Blast Buddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Steel Scoring or Blast Buddy?
Steel Scoring ships an update every 2 months, and Blast Buddy every 2 weeks. Most recently, Steel Scoring was updated on October 19, 2026 and Blast Buddy on October 27, 2026.

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