An Honest Review of GoodRec (2026)

I moved to a new city and wanted to play pickup basketball. That's it. That was the whole problem. I didn't know anyone with a regular game. I didn't know which parks had courts with actual pickup culture. I didn't want to join a formal league and commit to a season. I just wanted to show up somewhere on Saturday and play.

GoodRec solved that problem in about ten minutes.

How It Works

You pick your sport, set your city, and browse open games. Each listing shows the time, location, skill level, and how many spots are left. You tap join, show up, and play. GoodRec also has organized leagues if you want something more structured. Pickup games are free. Leagues have fees that vary by sport and city.

What I Liked

It works immediately

I downloaded GoodRec on a Friday afternoon, found a Saturday morning basketball game at a park fifteen minutes from my apartment, and played for two hours the next day. No waiting for 500 signups. No approval process. No personality quiz. I just showed up and played. For a specific need ("I want to play sports"), this is the most direct solution I've found.

The user base is real

400,000+ players across 50+ cities. Over 1,000 games a week. Those aren't vanity numbers. In New York, I had multiple basketball and soccer options every single day of the week. In smaller cities, the density will vary, but the network is big enough that you'll find something.

All skill levels welcome

Games are tagged by skill level, and the culture is genuinely inclusive. My first basketball game had people ranging from former college players to guys who hadn't played in years. Nobody cared. The pickup format is naturally welcoming. You run, you play, you high-five at the end. It's the most organic social experience on any app I've reviewed.

What I Didn't Like

It's only for sports people

Obvious, but worth stating. If you don't play sports, GoodRec has nothing for you. There are no social features beyond the games themselves. No chat, no profiles, no community. You show up, play, leave. The social connection is entirely organic and depends on the pickup culture at each location.

Game availability varies by sport and city

Basketball and soccer were easy to find in New York. Pickleball was growing but had fewer options. In smaller cities, you might only have one or two games a week for your sport. The platform is strongest in major metros.

League fees can add up

Pickup is free. Leagues are not. Depending on the sport and city, a season can run $50-150. That's normal for recreational leagues, but it's worth knowing going in.

The Verdict

GoodRec is the best app for finding pickup sports in your city. If you want to play, it gets you playing faster than anything else. The user base is large, the interface is simple, and the experience of showing up to a game with strangers is one of the most natural ways to meet people that exists. It won't help you find dinner companions or a book club. But if you miss playing team sports and don't know where to start, download GoodRec tonight and book a game for tomorrow.