New to ScoreCastr, or about to try something new with it? These are the questions that come up most, with short answers. Each one links to a guide with the full steps.
What does ScoreCastr do?
It makes live broadcast graphics for sports: scorebugs, scoreboards, lower thirds and more. You run the game from a dashboard in your browser, and the graphics show on your stream through a link you add to OBS. Every tap reaches the stream right away. Start with Your first broadcast.
Is it really free?
Yes. The Free plan includes the live scorebug for every sport, in the Classic template, with one active match at a time. No card is needed. Paid plans add the full graphics set and more matches. See Free, Starter, Pro and Enterprise.
Does ScoreCastr stream my video?
No. The web app makes the graphics; it doesn't send video anywhere. Your streaming software, such as OBS, streams the video with the graphics on top. If you'd rather stream from phones, use the ScoreCastr iPhone app. See Add your overlay to OBS.
Do I need to install anything?
Nothing from ScoreCastr. The dashboard is a web page and the graphics are a web link. You need a browser, and streaming software that accepts a browser source, like OBS Studio. See What you need.
Does it work with software other than OBS?
Any program that can add a web page as a browser source works the same way, at 1920 by 1080. If you use a hardware video switcher, the HDMI Output button shows the graphics on a green background you can key out. See Send graphics to a hardware switcher.
Can I keep score from my phone?
Yes. The dashboard runs in the browser on any phone or tablet. Sign in at scorecastr.co and open the match. See Run the dashboard from a phone or tablet.
Can someone else keep score while I run the stream?
Yes. They sign in to the same ScoreCastr account on their own device and open the match. The OBS computer only needs the overlay link. ScoreCastr has no separate team member accounts. See Who can see and change your matches.
What happens if the internet drops?
The status dot at the top of the dashboard turns Slow or Offline. Keep scoring: your changes are saved on your device and sent automatically when the connection comes back. Viewers see the last score that got through until then. See The status dot.
How much internet data does it use?
Very little on the dashboard, because it only sends small score updates. Your video stream uses far more, so plan your connection around the stream. The iPhone app's streaming phone uses about 5.4 GB for a two-hour game.
Which sports does it cover?
Twelve: football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, ice hockey, field hockey, baseball, softball, MMA, tennis, pickleball and swimming. Each has its own dashboard. See Create your first match.
Can I run more than one game at once?
Yes. Each match has its own dashboard and overlay links. Free allows 1 active match, Starter 10, Pro 25 and Enterprise unlimited. See Run several matches at once.
Which graphics templates are there?
Three: Classic on every plan, and Apex and Primetime on Starter and up, in your own colors. You can switch a match's template at any time. See Switch templates.
Can I use a Stream Deck?
Yes, on Starter and up. Turn on Listening Mode on the dashboard, then each button types a four-digit code. A numpad or X-Keys works too. See Set up a Stream Deck.
Can my graphics read the scoreboard or a stats system?
On Pro and up, the Data Hub takes live data from a webhook, an XML file or a Google Sheet, including scoreboard readers. Pro can also link StatsCastr for live player stats. See The Data Hub.
Can fans follow the score without the stream?
Yes, on every plan. Share Match on the dashboard copies a link to a public match page with the live score and stats. See Share the public match page.
Is there a phone app?
The ScoreCastr iPhone app is in public beta on TestFlight, free during the beta. One iPhone scores and another films and streams the game with the scorebug built in. Android is coming later. See Join the iPhone app beta.
My overlay is blank or not updating. What do I check?
Click Open Channel 1 on the dashboard. If the graphics show in that browser tab, the problem is in OBS; if not, check the graphic is switched on and on the right channel. See Overlay not showing or not updating.
How do I cancel?
Click your username, then Billing & Plan, then Cancel subscription. You keep your plan until the end of the period you've paid for, then the account moves to Free. Your matches stay. See Cancel, refunds and billing questions.
Where do I get more help?
Use the Support button at the top of the app, or ask on the ScoreCastr Discord. See Contact support.