Upgrade
BracketForge is free. These upgrades add AI-powered tools for players who want more, and pool experiences that make your whole group come back every round.
Tournament Pass
For the AI-powered player
$10/ season
One-time seasonal purchase. No auto-renewal. Covers this tournament season.
- ✓Ad-free experience across every page and every pool
- ✓AI pick assistant — matchup analysis, upset probabilities, and historical trend insights (before bracket lock)
- ✓Advanced bracket analytics — bracket strength rating and upset risk assessment with per-round breakdown
- ✓Expert pick overlays — win probabilities per matchup on the bracket picking interface
- ✓AI bracket scanning — upload a photo of your paper bracket to auto-fill picks (3 per entry)
- ✓Premium badge displayed on your entry in pool standings
Commissioner Upgrade
For the pool host — unlocks premium features for every pool member
$25/ pool / season
One-time seasonal purchase per pool. No auto-renewal. For a 12-person pool, that's ~$2.08 per member.
- ✓AI-generated narrative analysis of pool standings after each round — visible to ALL pool members
- ✓Win probability percentages for every entry based on remaining game scenarios
- ✓Live score integration with real-time standings movement indicators
- ✓Enhanced standings — elimination tracking, animated rank movement, round-by-round breakdowns
- ✓Premium Pool badge displayed for all members
Commissioner Upgrade is purchased per pool by the pool commissioner. Open any pool you manage from your dashboard, go to the Manage tab, and look for the upgrade card.
Compare Plans
No subscriptions. No auto-renewals. Tournament Pass and Commissioner Upgrade are one-time seasonal purchases.
| Feature | Free For everyone | Tournament Pass $10 / season | Commissioner Upgrade $25 / pool / season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create & run a bracket pool | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Join unlimited pools | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom scoring rules | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time standings | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI Bracket Upload | 1 free scan | Unlimited | Unlimited for all members |
| AI Pick Assist | 1 free pick | Unlimited | Unlimited for all members |
| AI Commentary | Read 1 post/pool | Read all posts | Daily AI posts for your pool |
| Ad-free experience | — | ✓ | ✓ for all members |
| Priority support | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pool branding | — | — | ✓ |
| Standings history | 30 days | Forever | Forever |
| Pool member cap | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
All tiers include core features. Upgrades add AI-powered tools and enhanced pool experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tournament Pass include?
Tournament Pass ($10/season) is a one-time seasonal purchase that unlocks AI features across every pool you join: unlimited AI Bracket Upload scans, unlimited AI Pick Assist through every round, and access to all AI Commentary posts in every pool you're in. It also removes all ads, gives you advanced bracket analytics, expert pick overlays, and a premium badge on your entry in all pool standings.
Does Tournament Pass auto-renew?
No. Tournament Pass is a one-time seasonal purchase — it covers this tournament season and does not auto-renew. When the bracket is done, you're done. No subscription, no surprises on your card next year.
Do free users lose any functionality?
No. Free users have access to all core features: pool creation and management, bracket picking, scoring, standings, notifications, payment tracking, and multiple entries per pool. Free users also get one free try of each AI feature — one AI Bracket Upload scan, one AI Pick Assist, and one AI Commentary post per pool. Upgrades add unlimited AI access; they never take away what's already free.
Does Tournament Pass apply to all my pools?
Yes. Tournament Pass follows your account across every pool you join this season. You'll have unlimited AI tools, ad-free browsing, and your premium badge in all pools. Commissioner Upgrade, on the other hand, is purchased per pool by the commissioner and unlocks AI Commentary and enhanced features for everyone in that specific pool.
What does Commissioner Upgrade include?
Commissioner Upgrade ($25/pool/season) is a one-time upgrade purchased by the pool commissioner. It unlocks daily AI-generated commentary about your specific pool and members, pool branding (logo and colors), forever standings history, and an ad-free experience — for ALL members of that pool, not just the commissioner. For a 12-person pool, that's about $2.08 per member for the full season.
How do I purchase Commissioner Upgrade?
Only the pool commissioner can upgrade a pool. Go to your pool's Manage page (the “Manage” tab in the pool navigation) and look for the upgrade card in the Overview section. Payment is processed securely through Stripe.
Does Commissioner Upgrade carry over to next season?
No. Commissioner Upgrade is a one-time seasonal purchase and does not auto-renew. If you want the upgraded pool experience next season, the commissioner purchases it again. No subscription, no automatic charges.
Always Free
BracketForge's core experience is and will always be free. Create pools, pick brackets, track standings, invite friends, and manage payments — all without paying a cent. Tournament Pass and Commissioner Upgrade add optional AI-powered tools for those who want more.