Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

theScore vs ESPN

theScore 4.8★ · Free to download 75
Winner theScore
ESPN 4.6★ · Free + IAP 60

theScore offers a more reliable experience for quick scores and team tracking, while ESPN struggles with app stability and a cluttered paid streaming service.

Full reviews: theScore · ESPN

theScore is generally praised for its speed and accuracy in delivering live scores and news, though some users find it cluttered with new features and ads. ESPN, despite its comprehensive coverage, faces significant criticism for app crashes, slow loading times, and a frustrating paid streaming experience with excessive ads.

Head to head

Features and Content tieR3R11R12R13
theScore theScore is appreciated for its ability to track favorite teams, provide live scores, stats, and news, with some users highlighting its strength for college sports and MLB R11R32. However, some users find it has too many features, including live betting and chat, making it clunky R3R12. There are also complaints about missing coverage for specific leagues like Tour de France, NCAA Softball, Rugby, NWSL, and UFL R13R24R27R30.
ESPN ESPN is lauded for its comprehensive sports coverage, offering scores, highlights, headlines, and the ability to save favorite teams and players . Users appreciate its reliability for information and being first to know news . However, some users dislike the app's tendency to push content they don't care about, such as soccer or women's leagues, despite notification settings .
Ease of Use and Performance edge: theScoreR3R4R6R8
theScore Many users find theScore easy to use and a quick way to get scores and info R8R24R38R56. It's praised for real-time score updates R23R53. However, recent updates have led to complaints about the app being slow, clunky, and draining battery rapidly R3R60. Some users also report issues with missing comment notifications and blank scoreboards R4R6.
ESPN ESPN is described as easy to use by some R69, with reliable live scores and timely news R65. However, a significant number of users report the app is very slow to load, laggy, and frequently crashes R69. Issues like blank screens when trying to read articles are also common .
Ads and Monetization edge: theScoreR9R10R12R16
theScore theScore is a free app, but users frequently complain about intrusive and inappropriate ads, including auto-playing videos that interrupt music, and ads that redirect to app stores R10R16. There are also strong criticisms about the app being cluttered with gambling-related content and political ads R9R12.
ESPN ESPN is also free to download but offers in-app purchases and subscriptions. Users who pay for ESPN subscriptions, such as for Wimbledon coverage, are frustrated by the continued presence of numerous, repetitive, and long ads, even during live matches or replays R76R79R93. Some find the number of required subscriptions to access all content excessive .
Reliability and Stability edge: theScoreR6R21R23R46
theScore theScore is generally seen as reliable for real-time scores R23R53. However, some users have experienced issues like blank scoreboards R6, live activities not updating R58, and stat/standing updates not being real-time R21. There are also reports of the app crashing R46.
ESPN ESPN suffers from significant reliability issues, with frequent app crashes R69, slow loading times , and content failing to load or displaying blank screens . Streaming services, even for paid subscribers, are reported to stop working or buffer excessively .
User Interface and Experience edge: theScoreR3R4R11R32
theScore Users appreciate theScore's customizable home teams page and ability to follow games play-by-play R11. Some prefer the old UI display R32. However, recent revamped looks have led to missing comment notifications R4 and a clunkier feel due to too many features R3. The new football timeline is criticized for slowing down checking goal times . Some users find it difficult to pick favorite leagues versus individual teams .
ESPN ESPN is praised for a clean, intuitive interface by some R65. However, many users find the interface trash , cluttered, and difficult to navigate, especially for finding specific matches or content within paid subscriptions R76. There are also complaints about the table of contents placement and the app cutting off music or YouTube when opened .
Notifications and Customization edge: theScoreR11R53R58R65
theScore theScore allows users to customize their home teams page and receive notifications for game starts and scoring updates R11R53. However, some users report that live activities do not update on the lock screen and that notifications are sent for events they explicitly turned off R58.
ESPN ESPN offers personalized features to follow favorite teams and leagues R65. However, a common complaint is that the app sends too many notifications for sports or players users didn't pick or aren't interested in, even when notifications are supposedly turned off .
Editorial Content and Bias tieR1R7R9R49
theScore theScore faces significant criticism for its article content, with users complaining about too many articles on controversial figures, deletion of critical comments, and perceived racist, sexist, antisemitic, and hateful content R1R7R49. Some also dislike political ads R9.
ESPN ESPN also receives criticism for its editorial content, with users complaining about political undertones, perceived racist commentary, and a left-wing bias . There are also complaints about biased AI commentary for events like the World Cup .
Pick theScore if

You prioritize quick, reliable scores and team tracking, are willing to tolerate some ads and gambling content, and prefer a generally more stable app experience R8R23R38R56.

Pick ESPN if

You need comprehensive sports coverage and news from a well-known brand, and are willing to put up with frequent app crashes, slow loading, and intrusive ads even with a paid subscription R65.

Evidence note: Both apps are free to download, but ESPN has in-app purchases for subscriptions. Many of ESPN's negative reviews stem from the poor experience of paid subscribers, highlighting an asymmetry where free users of theScore complain about ads, while paid users of ESPN complain about ads and poor service.

Frequently asked

Which app is better for live scores?
theScore is generally considered better for quickly getting live scores and stats, with many users praising its real-time updates and ease of use for this purpose R8R23R38R56.
Does ESPN's paid subscription remove ads?
No, ESPN's paid subscriptions, such as the $29.99 option for Wimbledon, do not remove ads; users report still experiencing numerous and repetitive commercials even after paying R76R79R93R112.
Do these apps cover niche sports or leagues?
Both apps have gaps in coverage for niche sports or specific leagues; theScore is criticized for missing Tour de France, NCAA Softball, Rugby, NWSL, and UFL R13R24R27R30, while ESPN users note the absence of AUSL coverage .
Which app has better app stability?
theScore generally has better app stability, though some users report occasional crashes and slowness after updates R3R46R60; ESPN, however, faces widespread complaints about frequent crashes, freezing, and slow loading times R69.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] theScore 3/5 · US Was good, too many features now: Good app overall, a bit slow, feels like the jammed in as many features as possible which makes it more clunky. It also drains battery tremendously fast now after some recent updates so will be looking for a different app. Literally drained 5% of my battery in 6 minutes the other day, so absurd. I just need the score, I don’t need chat, live updates, fancy play-by-
  2. [R11] theScore 5/5 · US Best app for following live sports: I’ve found this to be the best app for following live sports, tracking your favorite teams, and keeping up to date with major news of the day. I love that the developers are constantly updating it with new features and improved user interface. Whether following a game play by play or customizing your home teams page to your preferred layout, this is #1 in my boo
  3. [R12] theScore 3/5 · US Too much gambling info: Great app regarding scores, sports news, and all that good stuff. -2 stars because there is way much content geared towards gambling. I wish there was just a setting to toggle off all gambling related info so only useful content was shown.
  4. [R13] theScore 2/5 · US No Tour de France coverage: No Tour de France coverage
  5. [R4] theScore 2/5 · US Odd changes made: With the recent revamped look, comment notifications are missing and there’s no way to find them
  6. [R6] theScore 3/5 · US Score: Was great until a few weeks ago when the score showed nothing, blank scoreboard
  7. [R8] theScore 5/5 · US Amazing: Super helpful when trying to get good info fast
  8. [R9] theScore 3/5 · US Political Ads: Love the App but these Trump Ads need to go!
  9. [R10] theScore 1/5 · US terrible ads: Every time I open the app there's inappropriate ads and if I accidentally click on it, it takes me to the app store to download the app connected to the ad. I would leave zero stars if I could.
  10. [R16] theScore 1/5 · US Was great until videos and ads: Great app, until recently they decided to auto play videos with ads so it shuts off my music when I’m checking scores. Apple sports is better
  11. [R21] theScore 3/5 · US Stat/Standing Updates: Need real time stat and standing updates
  12. [R23] theScore 5/5 · US Review: Gives me the correct score in real time I like that.
  13. [R46] theScore 1/5 · US Crashes: App crashes and black screen. Don’t bother replying. Your meta software is programmed to respond with general comments . Your app sucks now
  14. [R32] theScore 5/5 · US Really good app: I’ve been using theScore for 4 years now and I love how convenient it is. I’m particularly a big college sports fan and I find that this app makes college scores, stats, and schedule information the most accessible. I honestly did prefer the old UI display for college matchups where it showed the full team name and record. An option to change it back to the old view would be nic
  15. [R53] theScore 5/5 · US BEST SPORTS APP: It has the scores from all the games reminders of when they start and even all the notifications for every sports.
  16. [R58] theScore 1/5 · US Live Activities do NOT work: The notification settings for this app are absolutely, unbelievably bad. I set all my notifications to only show me scoring updates and have live activities. Guess what - live activities never update AT ALL on my lock screen (and yes I have them enabled in iOS settings). Additionally, despite me choosing explicitly not to have notifications sent for the end of an innin
  17. [R65] ESPN 5/5 · US The greatness of ESPN: Dear ESPN, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The ESPN app delivers an outstanding sports experience with a clean, intuitive interface and exceptionally reliable coverage. Live scores update seamlessly, breaking news is timely and comprehensive, and the personalized features make it effortless to follow my favorite teams and leagues. The streaming quality is consistently excellent, and the app strikes
  18. [R1] theScore 1/5 · US Awful Articles: Bad , too many articles on female assaulter Conor McGregor . They delete comments if you criticize female assaulters. Shame and lame. I’d give zero stars if I could.
  19. [R7] theScore 1/5 · US The Score isn’t a sports app. Racist, sexist, antisemitism and hatred.: The Score is not a sports app. It’s a mouthpiece for racist, sexist, antisemitism and hatred! I’ve reviewed this each of the past 4 months. Nothing changes, even though the controllers claim to be concerned. Total joke that they claim to have a 4.8 rating. Trash, trash, more trash! Goodbye for good. Deleted!
  20. [R49] theScore 1/5 · US Getting worse: Political machine. Deleting of posts arbitrarily.
  21. [R38] theScore 5/5 · US Great Option!: theScore gives you the scores quickly. There are many options that you can choose from them.
  22. [R56] theScore 5/5 · US Score Mobile: Great app! Get all scores very easily
  23. [R76] ESPN 1/5 · US The worst: Downloaded this to watch Wimbledon and have found it incredibly frustrating to find the matches I want to see or navigate all the noise. Plus the amount and repetition of ads is crazy making.
  24. [R79] ESPN 1/5 · US Do not waste your money on subscriptions: I subscribed to ESPN specifically to watch the Wimbledon 2026 men’s and women’s singles matches in the US. Because of the time difference, the matches are played while I’m at work, so I expected to watch the replays in the evening. Instead, I paid for a subscription that still includes a lot of advertising, and by the time I get home, many of the matches
  25. [R93] ESPN 3/5 · US 29.99 for adds: Purchased the app to watch Wimbledon matches. I think for 29.99$ I don’t have to watch 2 min ads every time I want to fast forward the video. Those ads are so annoying!
  26. [R112] ESPN 1/5 · US Commercials: I pay for espn unlimited I should get no commercials. They throw in commercials in the middle of matches when the announcers are explaining something important. Just let me watch without a damn commercial, I’m not gonna buy whatever is on there because I saw a commercial on here.
  27. [R24] theScore 3/5 · US Missing NCAA Softball & Rugby: Hi. Love the app actually. Easy to use - 1st Star NFL - 2nd Star NCAA Football - 3rd Star NCAA Softball - 4th Star Any Rugby at all gets the 5th Star LIke I said. I love the app. It is easy to pick out who you want to follow and rank the leagues so my personal best of show is on the top. I like the notifications when I can’t be watching my teams. The interface is s
  28. [R27] theScore 3/5 · US Add extra sport leagues: You should add more sport leagues. Like Lacrosse(PLL & MLL and WLL) and Volleyball (MLV & LOVB) even like. Just like more leagues. Thank you.
  29. [R30] theScore 3/5 · GB Leagues missing: The fact that it doesn’t have the NWSL yet is kind of a joke… lack of women’s leagues on here is glaring
  30. [R60] theScore 1/5 · US Slow: Everything is super slow and none of the videos load to watch. I get this news sooner on another app.
  31. [R69] ESPN 3/5 · US App Crashing: I like the app, and it’s easy to use. The issue with it though is that it will randomly crash while I’m reading an article. Happens too often and I don’t experience this with my other apps. If it weren’t for this I’d give it 5 stars.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store