Free, no sign-up Scoreboard

How to keep score online

1. 1Add 2 to 12 players or teams and type a name on each row. If your group has played our games in this browser, "Use saved players" fills in the names for you.
2. 2Tap the big plus and minus buttons on a row to change that score. "Step" sets how much each tap is worth: 1, 5 or 10.
3. 3Pick a "Play to" target if your game has one: 10, 21, 50, 100 or a number of your own. Leave it "Off" for open-ended games.
4. 4Watch the "Leader" badge move to whoever is on top. When someone reaches the target, the scoreboard announces it, for example "Sam wins!"
5. 5Turn on "Sort by score" to line up the rows from first place to last. Turn it off to keep the seating order.
6. 6Tapped the wrong row? "Undo" reverses the last change.
7. 7When the game ends, "New game" sets every score back to 0 and keeps the names, so the same group can play again right away.

Scores that survive a refresh

Every change is saved in this browser as you go. If the page reloads, the phone locks or someone closes the tab by accident, open the scoreboard again and the game is right where you left it.

Nothing is sent to a server, and there's no sign-up or app. That also means the scores live on one device. Pick one phone, tablet or laptop to keep score and put it where everyone can see it.

A weekly game group or a class can keep one running board for weeks, as long as you open it in the same browser on the same device.

Scores can go below zero, down to -999, for games with penalties or points taken away for wrong answers. At the top, they go up to 9,999.

Games to keep score for

Any game where points pile up over several rounds works. A few favorites:

Scoring tips and house rules

• Pick one scorekeeper. Anyone can tap, but one person in charge avoids double points.
• Playing win by two in ping-pong? Set "Play to" to "Off" near the end and call the winner yourselves.
• Let the player in last place pick the next category or go first next round. It keeps everyone in the game.
• Try a catch-up round. In the last round of trivia, every right answer is worth 5, so set "Step" to 5 and give the trailing team a real chance.
• Take points away for penalties, like peeking in charades or shouting an answer out of turn. Negative scores are allowed.
• Tapped the wrong row? Skip the argument and tap "Undo".

Tips for hosts and teachers

• Lay the phone flat in the middle of the table, or prop up a tablet or laptop where everyone can see it.
• For big groups, use team names instead of player names. Twelve rows cover a whole class split into teams.
• Keep the roster between games. "New game" clears the scores and keeps the names.
• Read the scores out loud at the halfway point. It makes a natural snack break and gets some friendly teasing going.
• Turn on "Sort by score" right before the last round for a dramatic reveal.
• Crown a game night champion. Play several games, give 3 points for a win, 2 for second place and 1 for third, and add them up on one board.

Games and tools that go with the scoreboard

Need teams first? The Random Team Generator splits the group evenly in one tap, and its "Colors" team names make good row names here.

For a quick memory game that needs a scorekeeper, try What's Missing?: everyone studies a set of words, then races to spot the one that disappeared. Give a point to whoever calls it first. Planning the whole evening? Our family game night picks have more ideas, all free with no sign-up.

Questions