November 7, 2026 · 3 min read · MATCHUPS Editorial Team
MATCHUPS vs CupTracker: Ryder Cup Apps Compared
MATCHUPS vs CupTracker for a Ryder Cup-style golf trip. Pricing by group size, formats, rounds, handicaps and features, from each app's own pages.
Disclosure: this site is made by the MATCHUPS team. Facts about other apps come from their own pages, checked in November 2026.
CupTracker and MATCHUPS are both built for the same moment: two teams, a golf trip and a cup on the line. They are close. The details decide it.
We make MATCHUPS. Everything about CupTracker comes from its own site and App Store page, checked in November 2026.
The short answer
- Pick CupTracker for a pure Ryder Cup-style match play event with handicap strokes worked out, alternate shot or shamble formats, up to 6 rounds, or more than 12 players.
- Pick MATCHUPS for a trip of 4, 8 or 12 on iPhone that wants a free option for 4, side games like Skins and Hammer, a lock-screen scoreboard, end-of-trip awards and AI pro-style headshots.
Side by side
| MATCHUPS | CupTracker | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, 4 players | Free | $25 per event |
| Price, 8 players | $49.99 one-time | $50 per event |
| Price, 12 players | $49.99 one-time | $75 per event |
| Bigger groups | Not supported | $100 for 16 to 20; $5 per player at 24+ |
| Rounds | 1 to 5 | Up to 6 |
| Formats | Stroke, Match, Best Ball, Scramble, Skins, High/Low, Low/Low, Hammer | Best ball, team total, alternate shot, singles, scramble, shamble; skins |
| Handicaps | No GHIN sync | Enter each handicap index; strokes assigned with USGA course handicap calculations |
| Spectators | Follow via a shared web link, no download | |
| Platforms | iPhone + Apple Watch | iPhone |
| Extras | GPS, lock-screen scoreboard, end-of-trip awards, AI pro-style headshots | Draft matches on the course, player records |
Price
For four players, MATCHUPS is free. CupTracker is $25.
For eight, they are about the same: $49.99 one-time for MATCHUPS, $50 per event for CupTracker.
For twelve, MATCHUPS is $49.99 one-time. CupTracker is $75 per event.
CupTracker says you can build your event free and pay when you publish.
Group size
MATCHUPS supports exactly 4, 8 or 12 players in two equal teams.
CupTracker's site lists up to 48 players depending on tier, with pricing up to 20 and per-player pricing at 24 and above.
If your trip is 16 or 20 people, CupTracker fits. MATCHUPS does not.
Formats
CupTracker focuses on team match play. It lists best ball, team total, alternate shot, singles, scramble and shamble, and lets you mix formats between rounds. It also lists automatic skins, net or gross.
MATCHUPS covers the main team formats plus side games: Skins, High/Low, Low/Low and the Hammer side game.
If you want alternate shot or shamble, CupTracker lists them.
Handicaps
CupTracker says you enter each player's handicap index, and it uses USGA course handicap calculations to assign strokes automatically.
MATCHUPS does not connect to GHIN.
For groups that play net match play with strokes, this is a real point for CupTracker.
Following along
CupTracker says spectators can follow via a shared web link with no download.
MATCHUPS puts a live scoreboard on the lock screen, so players can check the cup between shots without opening the app.
After the trip
MATCHUPS hands out end-of-trip awards and makes AI pro-style headshots. That is the content the group shares afterwards.
Who should pick which
| Your trip | Better fit |
|---|---|
| 4 friends, want it free | MATCHUPS |
| 8 friends, want Skins and Hammer too | MATCHUPS |
| 12 friends, want awards and headshots | MATCHUPS |
| Net match play with strokes per hole | CupTracker |
| Alternate shot or shamble sessions | CupTracker |
| 16 to 20 players | CupTracker |
| 6 rounds | CupTracker |
What MATCHUPS does not do
No Android. No Nassau, Wolf or Stableford. No GHIN sync. No uneven teams or groups above 12.
Bottom line
Both are strong Ryder Cup apps for iPhone. CupTracker leans into handicapped match play and bigger fields. MATCHUPS leans into the trip experience, side games and a free option for four.
See the full field on our Ryder Cup app comparison, or the Ryder Cup app pricing guide.
Cup Points is made by the MATCHUPS team. Our app runs two-team cups on iPhone and Apple Watch, with live points on the lock screen. Download it free or visit matchupsgolf.com.
FAQ
How much does CupTracker cost?
CupTracker lists $25 for 4 players, $50 for 8, $75 for 12 and $100 for 16 to 20, per event.
Is MATCHUPS cheaper than CupTracker?
For 4 players MATCHUPS is free. For 12 players it is $49.99 one-time versus CupTracker's $75 per event.
Which Ryder Cup app handles handicap strokes?
CupTracker says it assigns strokes automatically using USGA course handicap calculations. MATCHUPS does not connect to GHIN.