The VolleyWrite Alternative.
VolleyWrite raised prices 44% in 2024, runs only on iPad and Windows, and locks you out of past seasons if you stop paying. VolleyRef.App enforces the same rules on any device you already own.
The Three Reasons VolleyWrite Users Look for Alternatives.
iPad-Only is a Real Problem
VolleyWrite runs on iPad and Windows desktop. That's it. No Android, no iPhone, no web browser. If your tournament hands you an Android phone, or your school-issued device isn't an iPad, you're stuck. VolleyRef runs on every device with a browser.
$129.99/Year After the July 2024 Hike
VolleyWrite's iPad annual plan jumped to $129.99 in July 2024 -- a roughly 44% increase. And that's a subscription, not a lifetime purchase. Skip a year, lose access to all your historical scoresheets. VolleyRef is $50/year, with a $5/week option for tournament use.
No Spectator View, No Live Sharing
VolleyWrite has no way to share the live score with parents, coaches, or spectators. VolleyRef generates a shareable link that anyone can follow on their phone in real time -- no app install, no setup.
TL;DR
VolleyWrite is a deep officiating tool for iPad and Windows -- excellent rule enforcement, but expensive, platform-limited, and with no spectator sharing. VolleyRef.App offers the same rule enforcement (plus FIVB) on any device for less than half the price, with live scoreboard sharing and full undo. If you're not on iPad or Windows, VolleyWrite isn't an option at all.
VolleyRef vs VolleyWrite.
| Feature | VolleyRef.App | VolleyWrite |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Any device (web, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac) | iPad and Windows only |
| Annual price | $50/year | $129.99/year (iPad) |
| FIVB rules | Yes | No |
| USAV rules | Yes | Yes |
| NFHS rules | Yes | Yes |
| NCAA rules | Yes | Yes |
| Libero enforcement | Full enforcement | Full enforcement |
| Substitution enforcement | Yes | Yes |
| Full undo/redo | Yes -- every action | Not documented |
| Live scoreboard sharing | Yes -- shareable link | No |
| Offline support | Yes | Not documented |
| PDF scoresheet export | Yes | Yes |
| History after not renewing | Accessible | Locked |
| Per-tournament option | $5/week | None |
Try VolleyRef Free
Score 3 matches free on any device. No credit card, no install.
What You Get Instead.
Any Device You Own
VolleyRef is a progressive web app. Open it in Chrome, Safari, or Firefox on any phone, tablet, or laptop. Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Chromebook -- it runs on all of them from the same URL. No app store, no download.
Four Rulesets Including FIVB
FIVB, USAV, NFHS, and NCAA rules are built in. VolleyWrite stops at USAV/NFHS/NCAA -- no FIVB. If you ref club or international events under FIVB rules, VolleyRef has you covered where VolleyWrite doesn't.
Undo Every Action Mid-Match
Tapped the wrong team's point? Accidentally called a timeout that wasn't taken? Undo it. Every action in VolleyRef -- score, substitution, timeout, libero swap -- has full undo and redo. Go back as many steps as you need.
Live Scoreboard -- One Link
Share a link. Parents in the stands open it on their phones. Coaches follow from the bench. Cast it to a TV or projector at the scorer's table. VolleyWrite has no equivalent -- its iOS Buddy app requires a separate device on the same WiFi network.
$50/Year -- or $5 for a Weekend
VolleyRef is $50/year for unlimited matches, or $5 for a single week. VolleyWrite's iPad annual is $129.99. There's no per-weekend option -- you pay the full season price or nothing. For tournament-only referees, VolleyRef's weekly plan is a fraction of the cost.
Works Offline
Score through a full match with no cell signal or WiFi. VolleyRef saves everything locally and syncs when you reconnect. Gym basements, outdoor courts, facilities with bad reception -- it doesn't matter.
Where VolleyWrite Still Has an Edge.
We're not going to pretend VolleyWrite is bad. It's a mature product used at real NCAA championship events. Here's where it genuinely excels.
NCAA Tournament Track Record
VolleyWrite was used at the 2025 NCAA Men's Championship. If your institution has an existing relationship with VolleyWrite and requires it specifically, that may not be negotiable.
Predictive Substitution Prompts
VolleyWrite auto-suggests the next substitution based on lineup history, which can speed up workflow for scorekeepers who don't already know the rosters. VolleyRef tracks substitutions but doesn't auto-suggest the next one.
If your tournament software mandates VolleyWrite specifically, or you need sub-suggestion prompts for volunteer scorekeepers unfamiliar with the rosters, VolleyWrite may be the right call despite the limitations.
Switch to VolleyRef If You...
Switch to VolleyRef if you...
- Don't have an iPad or don't want to be tied to one
- Ref on Android, iPhone, or any non-iPad device
- Want FIVB rules in addition to USAV/NFHS/NCAA
- Want to share the live score with spectators
- Don't want to pay $130/year or lose history when you pause
- Want to pay per-tournament ($5/week) rather than per-season
- Ref outdoors or in venues with unreliable connectivity
Stay on VolleyWrite if you...
- Are required to use VolleyWrite by your institution or tournament
- Need predictive substitution prompts for inexperienced scorekeepers
- Are on iPad and comfortable with the current price
- Only need NCAA/NFHS/USAV and never work FIVB events
Common Questions.
Yes. VolleyRef.App is a progressive web app that runs in any browser on any device: Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows laptop, Mac, Chromebook. You are not tied to Apple hardware.
Yes. VolleyRef enforces FIVB, USAV, NFHS, and NCAA rules automatically. The app blocks illegal substitutions, enforces substitution limits, tracks libero restrictions, and enforces timeout counts per ruleset.
With VolleyRef, your match history stays accessible. VolleyWrite's subscription model means if you stop renewing, you can be locked out of scoresheets from past seasons -- a complaint common in reviews after their July 2024 price increase.
VolleyRef costs $50/year for unlimited use. VolleyWrite iPad annual is $129.99/year as of July 2024 -- more than double. VolleyRef also offers $5/week for a single tournament weekend, which has no equivalent in VolleyWrite.
Yes. VolleyRef generates a shareable link that anyone can open on their phone to follow the score in real time. No separate Buddy app required -- one link works on any device.
No. VolleyWrite only supports NCAA, NFHS, and USAV. It does not cover FIVB. VolleyRef.App supports all four rulesets including FIVB.
Related Comparisons.
Score Your Next Match Free
3 matches free. Any device. No credit card, no install.
FIVB / USAV / NFHS / NCAA. Full undo. Live scoreboard sharing.