If you are running a Pickleball Club - or a venue that hosts pickleball sessions - you are hopefully already using an app to help you manage the process of booking players into sessions. This article provides an overview of the main features of 4 such apps - Spond, OpenSports, PlayByPoint and CourtReserve - and a comparison of key features & pricing.
Spond
Spond offers a robust set of features specifically tailored for managing sports teams and clubs, including pickleball. It's designed to streamline various administrative tasks from scheduling and communication to payments and file storage. Key features of Spond include:
- Event Management: Spond allows you to organize single and repeating events, manage RSVPs, and automatically notify members about available slots through a waiting list system.
- Communication: The app provides a centralized messaging tool for group communication, ensuring GDPR-compliant interactions.
- Payments: Integration with Stripe allows for secure processing of payments for membership dues, match fees, and more.
- Fundraising: Tools for easy setup of fundraising campaigns are available, with Spond handling most of the logistics.
- File Storage: Secure cloud storage is provided for important documents, accessible directly from the app.
Importantly, and a key differentiator to the other apps described here, Spond is free to use and offers its main functionalities without a subscription fee, making it an economical option for managing sports teams and clubs at various levels - however any payments run through Spond attract a fee of 5% + AUD 0.50 in Australia, so if you want to get AUD 10 for a 2 hour session from your players, you will need to get them to pay AUD 11, aus Spond is taking 5% (AUD 0.50) + another fixed AUD 0.50 from that payment.
OpenSportsOpenSports is a comprehensive sports management platform that supports the organization of leagues, tournaments, pickup games, classes, and memberships. It's particularly strong in managing multiple types of sports events and includes features such as:
- Automated Scheduling: Helps in organizing events with tools for recurring events and bulk editing.
- Communication Tools: Includes direct messaging, event chat, and team chat options to facilitate communication within the app.
- Payment Handling: Integrated with Stripe for secure payment processing, and supports multiple payment methods including credit cards and digital wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay.
- Refunds and Waitlist Management: Automatically manages refunds and waitlists, ensuring a smooth experience for event organizers and participants.
- Customization and Reporting: Offers custom reporting, a branded interface, and Google Analytics integration for detailed insights into event and membership performance.
The pricing for OpenSports starts at $20 per month, and the platform charges a transaction fee of 3% on events, league, tournament, and membership fees, exclusive of additional Stripe fees. OpenSports does not offer a free trial, but it does provide a demo period where users can explore the features without making public events or collecting payments.
This makes OpenSports a versatile choice for those looking to manage diverse and recurring sports events, with a strong emphasis on payment and communication functionalities.
PlayByPoint is a versatile management software designed for racquet sports like pickleball, offering extensive customization options to suit various club needs. Key features include:
- Unified Customer Profiles: Consolidates all member activities and payments in one place.
- Seamless Payments: Facilitates easy and secure online payment transactions.
- Robust Booking Rules: Customizable booking configurations to meet specific club requirements.
- Program Management: Allows easy creation and management of club programs.
- Staff and Lesson Bookings: Enables staff to manage lessons and tracks revenue generated from these sessions.
PlayByPoint pricing starts with a Starter plan at $99.99 per month, moving up to more advanced plans that provide additional features like advanced booking rules, dedicated support, and white label services. The most advanced plan costs $399.99 per month.
CourtReserve
Here are some key features and pricing details:
- Online Court Reservations & Scheduling: Facilitates the booking of courts and scheduling of lessons through an intuitive app.
- Program & Event Management: Enables easy registration and management of classes, leagues, and events with features for waitlisting and upfront payments.
- Mobile App: Provides a seamless experience for both staff and players to manage bookings and payments on the go.
- Membership Management: Includes tools for member CRM, billing, and invoicing, which helps in managing renewals and marketing communications effectively.
- Integrated Payments: Supports online payments, making financial transactions easy and secure.
- Customizable: The platform can be tailored to specific club needs, enhancing functionality and user experience.
App | Monthly Fee | Transaction Fee | Comments |
Spond | 0 | AUD 0.50 + 5.0% | No refund management |
OpenSports | ~AUD 170 (USD 110)* | AUD 0.30 + 4.7%** | Complex Featureset, including automatic refunds when players cancel before the assigned deadline |
PlayByPoint | ~AUD 600 (USD 400) according the US website |
Customers connect their own Stripe account, so: AUD 0.30 +1.7% |
Refunds are possible, but no concept of an "Account Balance" |
CourtReserve | ~AUD 180*** | Not clearly documented, but likely passed through as cost like PlayByPoint |
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