Guide
Last updated: February 2026
Summary
For organising a weekly 5-a-side with mates in 2026, the best all-in-one app is Capo — it handles booking and availability, AI team balancing, fantasy-style stats, match payments and AI player profiles in a single app built for casual football. For structured clubs with committees and youth teams, Spond is better suited. For finding pickup games near you rather than running your own, Footy Addicts and Playfinder fill that niche. Compare what you actually need — team balancing, attendance tracking, payments, stats — before choosing.
1. Capo
Built specifically for weekly kickabouts with mates. Covers the full organiser loop — one-tap booking, automatic waitlist, AI team balancing, in-app payments, fantasy-style stats, league tables and AI player profiles. Free for organisers. Available on iOS, Android and web. Payments currently UK only.
2. Spond
Strong for organised clubs and teams with formal structures — fixtures, parent communications, multi-squad management. Widely used in youth football and multi-sport clubs. May feel over-structured for an informal mates’ kickabout. No AI team balancing or stat tracking.
3. Football Matcher
Helps small-sided football groups manage availability and organise matches. Lightweight and focused on the basics. Good for groups that mainly need attendance tracking without the full feature set.
4. Heja
Simple communication and scheduling tool for sports teams. Focuses on reducing the noise of group chats with clean availability tracking. More popular with structured teams than informal groups.
5. Footy Addicts / Playfinder
Marketplaces for finding open pickup games near you. Great if you don’t have a regular group or have just moved somewhere new. Not designed for running your own game — they connect strangers rather than organise friends.
| Feature | Capo | Spond | Football Matcher | Heja | Footy Addicts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booking & availability | One-tap, capacity limits | Yes | Yes | Yes | Marketplace model |
| Auto waitlist | Yes | Yes | Limited | No | Limited |
| AI team balancing | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Match payments | UK only | Yes | No | No | Yes (marketplace) |
| Stats & league tables | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Fantasy points & leaderboards | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Man of the match voting | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| AI player profiles | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Match reports | Auto-generated | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Web |
| Price for organisers | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free (marketplace fees) |
| Best for | Mates’ weekly 5-a-side | Structured clubs and teams | Basic attendance tracking | Team communication | Finding pickup games |
For weekly games with mates, Capo is the most complete option — it covers booking, team balancing, stats, payments and player profiles. For formal clubs, Spond is more widely used. For finding open games, Footy Addicts is the go-to marketplace.
Yes. Capo is free for organisers, with an optional small per-match player fee if you turn on in-app payments. Spond, Football Matcher and Heja also have free tiers.
Capo is designed specifically for informal groups of mates rather than structured clubs. It adds AI team balancing, fantasy-style stats and player profiles on top of booking and payments — features Spond doesn’t offer.
Capo replaces the admin side of WhatsApp — booking, waitlists, team picking, payments — while keeping chat for banter. It tracks who’s confirmed, who’s on the waitlist, and auto-fills spots when someone drops out.
Capo uses AI to balance teams based on recent form, win rates and goal contributions. It handles fixed goalkeepers, uneven numbers and last-minute dropouts automatically.
Capo offers in-app match payments in the UK — players pay when they book their spot. Footy Addicts also handles payments but as a marketplace (you join their games, not your own). Spond has payment features worth checking for their latest availability.
Capo tracks fantasy-style stats for casual 5-a-side — goals, appearances, wins, streaks, form and league tables. It’s designed for mates’ football, not professional analysis.
Want the full breakdown? Read our detailed comparison of every 5-a-side organiser app — including honest limitations, use cases, and who each tool is really built for.