SoftGolf vs BirdEase: Is $299 Per Event Worth It When SoftGolf Is Free?

Competitor pricing verified August 2026

Quick answer: BirdEase charges $299 per event (or $498 with its site-building service) for its all-in-one tournament platform. SoftGolf delivers the same core toolkit - registration, payments, live scoring, pairings, sponsor showcase, donations, and reporting - for $0. The only SoftGolf cost is payment processing on paid tickets, which you can pass to buyers. For most charity tournaments, SoftGolf wins on price without giving up features. BirdEase has served the charity golf market for years with a simple pitch: one flat price, every feature included. The catch is the price. Here is how the two platforms compare.

How much does BirdEase cost?

BirdEase publishes two options on its pricing page:

  • BirdEase Standard: $299 per event. The full suite: dedicated event website, unlimited registrations, online payment processing, an auction system, live scoring, event-day check-in, pairings builder, text messaging, email marketing, year-round donations, invoicing, and reporting.
  • BirdEase + Site Building Service: $498 per event. Everything in Standard, plus BirdEase's staff custom-builds your event website for you.

Both cover one event for up to a year. Payment processing fees apply on top of the subscription.

How much does SoftGolf cost?

SoftGolf is free for organizers: unlimited tournaments, unlimited registrations, unlimited admins, live scoring, TV leaderboard mode, drag-and-drop pairings, sponsor logos, donations, 16 automated emails, and Excel exports. There is no per-event fee and no feature tier to unlock.

Paid tickets carry only payment processing: a 2.9% service fee plus Stripe's 2.9% + 30 cents, passable to buyers or absorbable by you. And right now, new organizers can get up to a $100 gift card through SoftGolf's limited-time launch offer.

What does BirdEase do well?

BirdEase's flat-fee honesty is refreshing, and its bundle is genuinely complete. The standout is the Site Building Service: send them last year's flyer and their team builds your event website in 24-48 hours. For a non-technical committee chair staring down a deadline, that done-for-you option is a real stress reliever. Its charitable letter builder and auction system are also thoughtful nonprofit touches.

Where does SoftGolf win?

  • The price is zero, not flat. Everything in the BirdEase Standard bundle that matters most - registration, payments, live scoring, pairings, donations, sponsor logos, reporting - is free on SoftGolf. A 100-player event saves the full $299 before processing fees on either platform.
  • A modern scoring experience. SoftGolf has a native iOS app for hole-by-hole scoring, a real-time leaderboard with individual and team views, achievement animations for birdies and eagles, and a fullscreen TV display mode for clubhouse screens.
  • Built-in discovery. SoftGolf lists your tournament on its searchable marketplace with SEO-optimized event pages, so golfers looking for events near them find yours organically. BirdEase hosts your site but does not market your event.
  • Guided setup instead of paid setup. SoftGolf's creation wizard walks you through name, date, course, tickets, and schedule in minutes - most organizers never need a $498 build service.
  • The gift card math. BirdEase costs $299 before your first registration. SoftGolf costs nothing and currently hands new organizers up to $100 for their event. That is a swing of nearly $400 for your cause.

What about messaging and marketing?

BirdEase includes unlimited text messaging and graphic email marketing in its bundle. SoftGolf covers the communication that matters most free: 16 automated email types (confirmations, reminders, pairings, refunds), and a tournament page with built-in SEO and a Google Events listing so your event markets itself. Add the searchable SoftGolf marketplace, and discovery is handled without a marketing budget.

Which should you choose?

Choose BirdEase + Site Building if your committee truly cannot build a web page and has budget to spare.

Choose SoftGolf if you want the same all-in-one toolkit with modern scoring and a marketplace, and you would rather spend $299 on prizes, signage, or the cause itself. For a fundraiser, every dollar of software overhead is a dollar not donated.

Frequently asked questions

How much does BirdEase cost?

BirdEase Standard is $299 per event for the full feature suite, or $498 per event with its site-building service. Each price covers one event for up to a year, with payment processing fees on top.

Is SoftGolf really free?

Yes. All organizer features are free, including live scoring, donations, sponsor tools, and pairings. The only cost is payment processing on paid tickets: 2.9% service plus Stripe's 2.9% + 30 cents, which you can pass to buyers.

Does SoftGolf have an auction like BirdEase?

BirdEase includes an online auction system in its $299 bundle. SoftGolf focuses on registration, ticketing, donations, sponsorships, and live scoring - the revenue streams most charity tournaments actually use.

Can SoftGolf handle check-in and pairings?

Yes. SoftGolf includes drag-and-drop pairings with tee time scheduling, per-round pairing management, player pairing email notifications, and QR-code ticketing (in development). Day-of scoring runs through the free native iOS app.

What is the best BirdEase alternative?

SoftGolf is the best BirdEase alternative for organizers who want the same all-in-one feature set without the $299-per-event fee, plus a native scoring app and a marketplace that promotes their event.