PLATFORM COMPARISON
Best Super Bowl Squares App for 2026
We compared every major platform so you don't have to.
Looking for the best way to run Super Bowl squares? We tested them all - mobile experience, signup friction, pricing, features. Here's what we found and why it matters for your party.
🏆 Sportsball Exclusive Features - No Other Platform Has These!
📚 In This Guide
1. Why Sportsball is Different
2. The Mobile Reality Check
3. Quick Comparison: All Platforms at a Glance
4. Mobile-First Platforms
5. Desktop-First Platforms (The Old Guard)
6. The Gambling Option (Different Category)
7. Traditional Methods: Excel and Paper
8. What Happened to PlaySquares? (Cautionary Tale)
9. Why Sportsball Wins
10. Frequently Asked Questions
2. The Mobile Reality Check
3. Quick Comparison: All Platforms at a Glance
4. Mobile-First Platforms
5. Desktop-First Platforms (The Old Guard)
6. The Gambling Option (Different Category)
7. Traditional Methods: Excel and Paper
8. What Happened to PlaySquares? (Cautionary Tale)
9. Why Sportsball Wins
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Why Sportsball is Different
Most Super Bowl squares platforms were built a decade ago and it shows. They're clunky, require everyone to create accounts, and leave you manually tracking scores. Sportsball was built for how people actually play in 2026.
🏆 EXCLUSIVE Features - Only on Sportsball:
🔔 ONLY platform with in-game push notifications
Get alerted the instant you win at each quarter! No other squares platform offers this. Try Super Bowl squares →
🌟 ONLY platform with live Pro Bowl scoring
We're the only platform in the world that supports Pro Bowl squares with automatic scoring. Try FREE Pro Bowl squares →
What Else Makes Sportsball Stand Out:
No passwords or signups for players
Players tap a link and pick their squares. That's it. No accounts, no emails, no forgotten passwords. Zero friction means everyone actually joins.
Create a game in seconds
Pick your matchup, customize your settings, and share the link. The whole process takes less than 30 seconds. Seriously.
Only $0.99 for a 10x10 game
One payment, automatic scoring for the entire game. No subscriptions, no per-player fees, no hidden costs. Players always join free.
Automatic scoring in real-time
Scores update live as the game plays. Winners are announced instantly at each quarter. No spreadsheets, no manual calculations.
Free global public games
Don't want to create your own? Join our free public Super Bowl squares game and play with fans worldwide. Prizes included!
What You Won't Find on Sportsball:
No ads
We don't plaster your game with banner ads or interrupt your experience. You're not the product - you're the customer.
No cookie banners
No annoying popups asking you to accept cookies. We respect your privacy and your screen space.
No cumbersome signups
Players never need to create an account. Hosts sign in once with email - no passwords to remember.
Ready to see the difference?
The Mobile Reality Check
Here's a truth most Super Bowl squares platforms don't want you to think about: where will your participants actually be during the game?
They'll be on their phones. At the party. Checking the score. Showing their square to friends. Celebrating (or groaning) when quarters end. They won't be huddled around someone's laptop squinting at a tiny grid.
Yet most squares platforms were built in the desktop era and never evolved. They technically "work" on mobile the way a spreadsheet technically "works" on mobile - with lots of pinching, zooming, and frustration.
The Platform Landscape:
Mobile-First
Sportsball (the only platform with native iOS/Android apps + responsive web)
Responsive Web
Sunday Squares, Gameday Squares (work on mobile, designed for desktop)
Desktop-First
Super Bowl Pool Site, SuperBowlSquares.org, SquaresPool.com, and most others
Shut Down
PlaySquares (was mobile-first, closed January 2025)
[IMAGE NEEDED: Side-by-side comparison: Sportsball mobile board (clean, touch-friendly, readable) vs typical desktop-first platform viewed on phone (tiny text, requires zooming, cramped interface)]
Quick Comparison: All Platforms at a Glance
We evaluated every major platform across the features that actually matter for running a successful Super Bowl squares pool.
| Platform | In-Game Notifications | Pro Bowl Support | Mobile Experience | Native App | No-Account Signup | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportsball | ONLY ONE! | ONLY ONE! | Mobile-First | iOS + Android | QR Code | |
| Sunday Squares | Responsive | |||||
| Gameday Squares | Responsive | |||||
| Super Bowl Pool Site | Desktop-First | |||||
| SuperBowlSquares.org | Desktop-First | Paid Only | ||||
| FanDuel | App | ID Required | Gambling | |||
| Excel | Painful | N/A | ||||
| Paper | N/A (Offline) | N/A |
What's Wrong with Other Platforms
We tried every squares platform out there before building Sportsball. Here's what frustrated us (and probably frustrates you too):
Common Pain Points:
Not mobile-friendly
Most platforms were built for desktop in 2010. Tiny buttons, endless scrolling, pinch-to-zoom nightmares. Good luck getting your group to use them on their phones at the party.
Cumbersome signups for everyone
Want to join a game? First create an account. Verify your email. Create a password. Remember that password next week. Most people just give up.
No notifications
You have to keep checking the website to see if you won. At a Super Bowl party. While the game is on. That's not fun - that's homework.
Ads everywhere
Banner ads, pop-ups, auto-playing videos. You're trying to run a fun game and the platform is screaming 'BUY CAR INSURANCE!' at your guests.
Cookie consent nightmares
Before you can even see the game, you're hit with a wall of text about cookies and privacy. Click here, click there, manage preferences... just let me play!
Manual scoring
Some platforms make you enter scores yourself. At the end of each quarter. While you're trying to watch the game. And if you miss one? Good luck figuring out who won Q2.
These aren't minor inconveniences. They're the difference between a game everyone plays and enjoys, and a game where half your group gives up during signup.
Mobile-First Platforms
Sportsball
We built Sportsball specifically because we were frustrated with the existing options. Here's what makes it different:
True mobile-first design
Native iOS and Android apps plus a responsive web experience. The board is designed for thumbs, not mouse cursors.
5x5 and 10x10 boards
Perfect for groups of any size. 5x5 works great for smaller parties; 10x10 is the classic 100-square experience.
QR code signup
Participants scan a code and claim squares without creating accounts or remembering passwords. Zero friction.
Digit shift option
Choose whether target numbers stay fixed or shuffle each quarter. More number combinations get a chance to win.
Host-only or open entry
You decide: manage all entries yourself, or let anyone with the link claim their own squares.
Practice with any NFL/NCAA game
Run squares for any game leading up to the Super Bowl - completely free. Evaluate the platform before the big day.
Push notifications
Winners get notified instantly. No more checking the board manually after every quarter.
[IMAGE NEEDED: Sportsball mobile squares board showing a partially filled 10x10 grid. Highlight the clean interface, easy-to-tap squares, and clear team names along the axes. Show it on an iPhone frame.]
[IMAGE NEEDED: QR code signup flow: Show the QR code that participants scan, then the simple 'Claim Your Square' interface where they tap to select squares without creating an account.]
PlaySquares (Shut Down - January 2025)
PlaySquares was a solid mobile-first option - until it wasn't. In January 2025, their payment processor reclassified them as "gaming/gambling" and terminated their account. The platform shut down overnight.
This is the risk of platforms that handle money directly. More on this cautionary tale below.
Desktop-First Platforms (The Old Guard)
These platforms have been around for years - some for decades. They work, but they're showing their age. If your participants are all on laptops, they're fine. If they're at a Super Bowl party with just their phones... good luck.
Super Bowl Pool Site (superbowlpoolsite.com)
Pros
Free, customizable, has hosted 200,000+ contests since 2018. Supports multiple grid sizes.
Cons
Desktop-first interface. No mobile app. Requires account creation. No digit shifting. The UI screams '2015.'
SuperBowlSquares.org
Pros
25+ years of experience. Reliable. Good for fundraisers. Email support.
Cons
Paid only (flat fee). Very dated interface. Desktop-optimized. No mobile app. Limited customization.
Sunday Squares (sundaysquares.com)
Pros
Claims responsive design. Has payment integration. Custom payout structures. NFL and March Madness support.
Cons
No native app. Payment integration means payment processor risk (see PlaySquares). Desktop heritage shows on mobile.
Gameday Squares (gamedaysquare.com)
Pros
Real-time scoring. NFL and NBA support. Claims mobile optimization.
Cons
No native app. 10x10 only (no 5x5 option). No digit shifting. Account required.
Others: SquaresPool.com, iamSquare.net, TD Squares, SquareOff
There are dozens of smaller squares sites. Most share the same DNA: built for desktop, work "okay" on mobile, require account creation, limited customization. They're functional but forgettable.
The Gambling Option (Different Category Entirely)
FanDuel Super Bowl Squares
Let's be clear: FanDuel's Super Bowl squares is sports betting, not a social squares game. It's a completely different product for a completely different use case.
FanDuel is great if you want to gamble on Super Bowl squares solo. It's completely wrong for office pools, family groups, watch parties, or fundraisers.
If anyone in your group lives in a non-legal state, is under 21, doesn't want to upload ID, or just wants casual fun without gambling compliance... FanDuel isn't an option.
Traditional Methods: Excel and Paper
Sometimes you want to keep it old school. We respect that. Here's an honest look at traditional methods.
Excel Spreadsheet
Pros
Complete control. Free (if you have Excel). Customize everything. No account on any platform.
Cons
Mobile experience is painful. Manual scoring. Manual number generation. Sharing is awkward (email attachments, Google Sheets permissions). Version control nightmares. Someone has to be 'the spreadsheet person.'
Excel works if you're technical, everyone's on desktop, and you enjoy being the person who manages everything manually during the game instead of watching it.
Paper Grid
Pros
The classic. No technology required. Everyone signs their name. Physical artifact to keep. Zero friction at in-person parties.
Cons
In-person only. Manual scoring. Manual number drawing. Can't include remote participants. Easy to lose or damage. No notifications.
Paper is perfect for small in-person parties where everyone's in the same room. For remote participants, distributed teams, or larger groups, it falls apart.
We actually offer a free printable Super Bowl squares template if paper is your thing.
Want to learn more about squares fundamentals? Check out our complete guide to football squares or see which squares win most often.
What Happened to PlaySquares? (A Cautionary Tale)
In January 2025, PlaySquares - one of the better mobile-first squares platforms - shut down overnight. Their payment processor (Stripe) reclassified them under "gaming/gambling" and terminated their account.
From PlaySquares' Shutdown Notice:
"The terms of service for our payment processor recently changed...they categorized our platform under the 'gaming' category of activity they no longer support."
This is the risk with any platform that processes payments: payment processors are increasingly skittish about anything that looks like gambling, even social games among friends.
How Sportsball Avoids This Risk:
We don't process payments. You collect money however you want - cash at the party, Venmo, PayPal, whatever works for your group. We handle the game, scoring, and notifications. This keeps us firmly in the "game platform" category, not "payment processor."
Plus, our focus on jelly beans and bragging rights means there's no gambling element at all. It's just a fun way to make the Super Bowl more exciting.
Why Sportsball Wins
We built Sportsball because we were tired of the options. Every Super Bowl, someone in our group would suggest squares, and then we'd spend more time fighting with clunky platforms than actually enjoying the game.
🏆 EXCLUSIVE - Only on Sportsball:
🔔 ONLY platform with in-game push notifications
Get alerted the instant you win at each quarter! No other squares platform offers this. Try Super Bowl squares →
🌟 ONLY platform with live Pro Bowl scoring
We're the only platform in the world that supports Pro Bowl squares with automatic scoring. Try FREE Pro Bowl squares →
Plus All These Great Features:
No passwords or signups for players
Players tap a link and pick squares. That's it. No accounts, no emails, no friction. Everyone actually joins.
Create a game in seconds
Pick your matchup, customize settings, share the link. Less than 30 seconds from start to finish.
Only $0.99 for automatic scoring
One payment covers the whole game. No subscriptions, no per-player fees. Players always join free.
Free global public games
Join our worldwide Super Bowl squares game for free. Prizes included, no payment needed.
No ads, no cookie banners
Clean experience from start to finish. Your game, your guests, no distractions.
Learn more about how squares work in our complete squares guide, or dive into how automatic scoring works.
Only Sportsball! We're the only Super Bowl squares platform with in-game push notifications. Download our free mobile app and get alerted instantly the moment you win at each quarter. No other platform offers this feature.
Only Sportsball! We're the only platform in the world with live automatic scoring for Pro Bowl squares. Other platforms don't support the Pro Bowl at all. Try our FREE Pro Bowl squares as a warmup before Super Bowl Sunday!
No app required to join! Players tap a link and pick their squares instantly via web browser - no account, no email, no password. However, for the best experience, download our free mobile app to get live scoring push notifications when you win!
Just $0.99 for a 10x10 Super Bowl squares game with automatic scoring, mobile notifications, and unlimited players. Players always join for free. Pro Bowl squares are 100% FREE!
Under 30 seconds. Pick your matchup, choose your settings (5x5 or 10x10, digit shifting options), and share the link. That's it. No complicated setup wizards or multi-page forms.
Yes! Sportsball has native iOS and Android apps with push notifications. You'll get an instant alert the moment you win a quarter. No more checking the website during the game. No app is required to join and play - the app just enhances the experience!
Nope. Sportsball has no ads and no annoying cookie consent popups. We believe your Super Bowl party shouldn't be interrupted by 'ACCEPT ALL COOKIES' banners or auto-playing video ads.
We run a free global Super Bowl squares game that anyone can join. It's completely free to play, includes prizes, and lets you compete with fans worldwide. Perfect if you don't want to create your own game.
Sportsball connects to live NFL data and updates scores in real-time. At the end of each quarter, winners are automatically determined and notified. No manual score entry, no spreadsheets, no mistakes.
PlaySquares shut down in January 2025 after their payment processor reclassified them as 'gaming/gambling.' This is why Sportsball doesn't process pool payments - we just run the game. You collect money however you want (cash, Venmo, etc.).
No. FanDuel is sports betting against the house, legal only in certain states, with ID verification required. You can't invite friends to a private pool. Sportsball is a social game platform for groups - completely different.
Absolutely! We're perfect for fundraisers - the platform handles the game and scoring while you collect payments offline. No payment processor risk, and automatic notifications keep participants engaged.
Ready to Play Super Bowl Squares?
Super Bowl LX is February 8, 2026. Try FREE Pro Bowl squares this weekend as a warmup, then create your Super Bowl squares with exclusive in-game notifications!
No app required to join. Download our free app for live scoring notifications!
Or download a free printable template