Which app for your rec league?

The best app for your rec league depends on what you run: a team, an independent league or a league affiliated with a federation. Spond fits a team or a club that wants to take payments online; Spordle, the organizations of a federation; a spreadsheet, a small and stable league. Notre Ligue is an option for independent leagues that want automatic subs, no app for players and a low price, but it doesn't collect payments online.

Key takeaways

• Start with what you run: a team, an independent league or an affiliated league.
• Look at how each tool charges.
• Ask what your players have to install, and who receives the money.
• Prices and features change: check each tool's site before you choose.

Which tools should you look at for a rec league?

Here is what each tool listed as of October 2026.

Spond. Free to download and use, built around its mobile app, for teams, clubs and groups. It earns its money on payments made through it: in Canada, $1.00 plus 3.29% per payment, paid by the group by default. For a league, read a Spond alternative for your rec league.

Spordle. Three platforms for the federation system: Spordle ID, Spordle PLAY and Spordle PAGE. It's Hockey Canada's official registration partner, and its price isn't published. To see whether your league needs it, read do you need Spordle for a rec league.

BenchApp. PRO: $9 per team, per month. League: $10 per team, per month (according to BenchApp's site, October 2026). For the full comparison, read a BenchApp alternative for leagues.

TeamSnap. A team-management app. For its price and features, check its site.

League2GO (MaLigue). Two names of the same Montreal company. The mobile app is free. Attendance works by email, text or the app, subs are called automatically by position, and online payments go through Stripe. Games are paid in credits: $6.99 per game before taxes, with 15 free games to start.

Ligue de Garage. In Quebec, a "ligue de garage" is an adult rec league. Ligue de Garage is a web app in French for garage hockey, ball hockey, dek and pickup leagues: schedules, lineups, attendance and automatic sub requests, where the first to accept takes the spot.

A spreadsheet. Nothing to buy if you already use one, but everything is done by hand: following up, finding subs, keeping the standings. To see when it stops being enough, read spreadsheet or league software.

Notre Ligue. For independent rec leagues. The details are below.

How do these tools charge?

Free with fees on each payment (Spond), per team (BenchApp PRO), in credits per game (League2GO), per league by number of players (Notre Ligue), or with no published price (Spordle). For the method, read how much rec league management software costs.

Do players have to install an app?

Spond is built around its mobile app: check how a player who doesn't install it can answer. With League2GO, attendance can be done by email or text. With Notre Ligue, players answer from an email, with no account and no app.

Who receives the money?

Spond takes payments for you, with a fee per payment; with League2GO, online payments go through Stripe. Notre Ligue collects nothing: you record the payments. For Interac e-Transfers, read how to collect league fees without chasing players.

How do the tools compare?

Who does each tool fit?

• A single team that wants to take payments online: a team app like Spond.
• A league affiliated with a federation: what your federation asks for, Spordle included if needed.
• A league that wants online payments and to pay per game: look at League2GO (MaLigue).
• A small, stable league: a spreadsheet.
• An independent league with no app for players, automatic subs and a low price: Notre Ligue.

How do you choose, in 5 questions?

• Do you run a team, an independent league or a league affiliated with a federation?
• How much does the tool cost for your whole season, taxes and currency included?
• Do your players have to install an app, or can they answer by email?
• Who receives the money: the tool, with fees, or you, by e-Transfer?
• When players are missing, who finds subs: you, or the tool?

Doing it by hand

Test it on paper: for two or three tools, write down your season's price and what your players will have to do to answer.

With Notre Ligue

Notre Ligue is built for independent rec leagues. Your players get an email and answer yes or no from the link, with no account and no app; those who want to can add their "My games" page to their home screen. When players are missing, your sub list is invited automatically, in waves. The site generates the season's games, and the schedule, standings and stats can be shown on the league page.

Notre Ligue doesn't collect payments online: you record payments, and you can send a reminder by email with the league's Interac details. It's free under 15 regular players (one free league per organizer), then $9.99 CAD a month up to 50 players and $19.99 CAD up to 100, before taxes, with 2 free months and no card. See the plans

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free app for a rec league?

It depends on your league. As of October 2026, Spond is free and earns its money on payments, and Notre Ligue is free under 15 regular players, one league per organizer.

Do you need an app to run a rec league?

No. A spreadsheet and emails are enough for a small league.

Does Notre Ligue collect payments?

No. Your players pay you directly, for example by Interac e-Transfer, and you record the payments.

Are the prices in this article up to date?

They date from October 2026. Always check each tool's site before you choose.