RootGolf vs SportsEngine
SportsEngine has new owners as of May 2026. If your organization is re-evaluating, here's an honest look at how the two platforms differ — pricing first.
What happened in May 2026 — and why clubs are re-evaluating
On May 1, 2026, PlayMetrics announced it had completed an acquisition of SportsEngine (including SportsEngine HQ, Motion, Tourney, Play, and AES) from Versant Media Group. PlayMetrics has publicly committed to service continuity for existing SportsEngine customers, and no product sunset has been announced.
Acquisitions like this are normal — but they are also the natural moment to re-check fit. Whatever platform you evaluate (including ours), it's fair to ask:
- Will my pricing and contract terms carry over at renewal?
- Which of the overlapping products will get long-term investment?
- Can I export my data — rosters, registrations, payment history — today?
- Who answers support tickets during the integration?
Source: PlayMetrics announcement, May 1, 2026. Statements about SportsEngine reflect public information as of June 2026.
Two very different pricing models
RootGolf
- $0/month, $0 setup, no contract. The software is free to run.
- $6 per paid registration (registrations of $150 or less) or 6% above $150 — published on our pricing page.
- Card processing is included. The fee you see is the only fee.
- Families see the full price upfront — before checkout, not at the cart.
- Your organization chooses whether families pay the fee or you absorb it.
SportsEngine HQ
- Organization pays an annual software fee (commonly reported in the ~$200–$2,000+/yr range depending on size and modules) — quoted through a sales process.
- Per-transaction processing fees apply to online registration payments.
- Contract renewals are negotiated; pricing is not published.
Based on publicly available information and customer reports as of June 2026. SportsEngine pricing varies by contract — confirm current terms with the vendor.
Head to head
| Feature | RG RootGolf | SportsEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing (no sales call) | ||
| Monthly / annual software fee | None | ~$200–$2,000+/yr |
| Setup fee | None | Varies by contract |
| Family sees full price before checkout | Varies | |
| Free league website + custom domain | Plan-dependent | |
| SafeSport certificate tracking | ||
| U18 waiver + COPPA-aware registration | ||
| Player ID card printing | ||
| Live standings, stats & schedules | ||
| Tournaments & brackets | ||
| Self-service signup |
Based on published plan descriptions and public product information as of June 2026. Features may vary by plan tier.
Where SportsEngine is genuinely strong
We'd rather you pick the right tool than win on spin. SportsEngine has a huge install base, long-standing relationships with national governing bodies (its USA Hockey partnership goes back roughly a decade), a mature tournament product, and brand recognition with parents who have used it across multiple sports. If your organization is deeply embedded in an NGB ecosystem that standardizes on SportsEngine tooling, that integration has real value.
Where we win is the operator experience for independent and community organizations: transparent per-registration pricing with no annual contract, compliance tooling (SafeSport tracking, U18 waivers, COPPA-aware registration) built in rather than bolted on, free league websites, and a team that answers fast because we're built by people who run leagues.
What switching actually involves
Export your data
Pull roster, registration, and contact exports from your current platform — you own that data. We send a checklist of exactly which reports to download.
We migrate it with you
We map players, teams, divisions, and guardians into your new workspace and review the result together before anything goes live.
Families confirm once
On their next registration, families verify their info through registration flows with smart pre-fill — no bulk password resets, no re-typing seasons of history.
Most organizations switch between seasons. We do the migration with you at no charge — real humans, not a help-center article.
Re-evaluating? Run your numbers first.
Our pricing is published and calculable — no sales call needed to know what you'll pay.