Question 1

What is Prophet Pools?

Accepted Answer

Prophet Pools is an all‑in‑one platform for creating and running skill‑based sports pick'em pools. Host or join pools with friends, family, or coworkers across multiple sports and leagues. Choose from three formats—Season, Survivor, and Head‑to‑Head—create your pool, invite participants, and they pick in the app. Live scoring, automated deadlines, reminders, analytics, and built‑in messaging keep everyone engaged from kickoff to final whistle.

Question 2

How do I create my first pool?

Accepted Answer

Click Start Your Pool, choose your sport and league, pick a format and tier, then share a join code or send email invites. Pools of up to 25 players are free and need no card. If your pool is larger, you are billed once, 14 days after the first kickoff.

Question 3

How do people join my pool?

Accepted Answer

Share the join code — they enter it in the app or open the link. You can also send email invitations if you have addresses. You do not need a full email list to get started.

Question 4

What sports are supported?

Accepted Answer

We currently support Football (Soccer), Rugby Union, and American Football. Major competitions include the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, UEFA Champions League, MLS, Liga MX, and Brasileirão; Six Nations, Rugby World Cup, The Rugby Championship, Premiership Rugby, Top 14, URC, and Super Rugby; plus NFL and FBS college football (the full slate or a single conference). We’re continuously adding more leagues based on demand.

Question 5

Is Prophet Pools free?

Accepted Answer

For pools of up to 25 players, yes — no card, no subscription, no trial to remember. You only pay if your pool is bigger than that, and then it is once for the season. Participants never pay to join at any size.

Question 6

When do I pay?

Accepted Answer

Only if your pool is over 25 players, and then 14 days after the pool's first kickoff — not when you create it. If you set up a 40-person NFL pool in August and Week 1 is 10 September, you pay on 24 September. We email the manager before that date with a link to pay on the website. Pools of 25 or fewer are never billed.

Question 7

What happens if I don't pay?

Accepted Answer

This only applies to pools over 25 players. The pool stays visible — leaderboard, results, and picks already made stay up. New picks, pick changes, and new invites pause until the manager pays.

Question 8

Who pays?

Accepted Answer

Only the pool manager. There is no subscription and no per-player charge. Participants join free, make picks free, and never see a price.

Question 9

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

We email the manager a link to pay on prophetpools.app — before the due date, and again if the pool pauses. You pick the plan when you create the pool; that is the amount billed. You do not pay inside the iOS app. Participants never see a checkout.

Question 10

What do the plans cost?

Accepted Answer

Apprentice is free (up to 25 people), Oracle is $19.99 (up to 50), and Grand Prophet is $79.99 (up to 100, with divisions). Tournament-only Novice is free. You pick a tier when you create the pool; that is what you are billed after kickoff, not a surprise upgrade.

Question 11

How do I make my picks?

Accepted Answer

Once you join a pool, head to the 'Make Picks' section. You'll see upcoming games and make selections based on the format: pick winners for each game in Season and Head‑to‑Head, or choose a single team each week in Survivor.

Question 12

When is the deadline for making picks?

Accepted Answer

Pick deadlines are typically set before the first game of each week or matchday begins. You'll receive email reminders and can see countdown timers on the platform. You can modify your picks until the deadline.

Question 13

What happens if I miss the deadline?

Accepted Answer

If you miss a deadline, you'll typically receive zero points for that week's games. Some pool managers may allow late picks with point penalties, but this depends on your specific pool rules.

Question 14

Can I change my picks after submitting?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can modify your picks as many times as you want before the deadline. Once games begin, picks are locked and cannot be changed.

Question 15

How does the Survivor format work?

Accepted Answer

In Survivor, you pick one team to win each week. If your pick wins, you advance to the next week; if it loses, you're eliminated. Last participant remaining wins the pool.

Question 16

What's the difference between Season and Head‑to‑Head?

Accepted Answer

Season pools award points for each correct pick across the entire season; standings are based on total points. Head‑to‑Head pits participants against each other weekly—wins and losses determine standings (with ties and playoffs optional based on pool rules).

Question 17

Do Season pools include playoffs?

Accepted Answer

Season format pools track the regular season only and exclude postseason/playoff fixtures. If your competition has playoffs, you can start a new pool for the postseason or manage those fixtures manually.

Question 18

How many participants can join my pool?

Accepted Answer

Pool sizes range from 25 participants on the free tier up to 100 on Grand Prophet. You can always upgrade if you need more capacity.

Question 19

Can I customize my pool rules?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can customize scoring systems, pick formats, deadlines, and many other aspects to create the perfect competition for your group.

Question 20

How are scores calculated?

Accepted Answer

Scores are automatic: Season awards points for correct picks; Survivor tracks who remains alive each week; Head‑to‑Head records weekly wins/losses to determine standings. Tiebreakers and points per win can be configured by the pool manager.

Question 21

What analytics are available?

Accepted Answer

We provide helpful summaries like participant performance, standings history, and accuracy statistics to help you understand your pool's dynamics.

Question 22

Can I send messages to participants?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can send announcements, reminders, and updates to all participants or specific groups through our built-in messaging system.

Question 23

How do real-time updates work?

Accepted Answer

Scores and standings are updated automatically as games conclude. Participants can see live updates without needing to refresh the page.

Question 24

Can I run multiple pools simultaneously?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can manage multiple pools across different sports and leagues simultaneously from your dashboard.

Question 25

What if I encounter technical issues?

Accepted Answer

Our support team is here to help! Contact us through the support portal, and we'll resolve any technical issues quickly.

Question 26

Do you have a mobile app?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Prophet Pools is on the App Store and Google Play. Participants make picks, follow standings, and get a reminder before kickoff. Managers can still create and run a pool from the web.

Question 27

Is Prophet Pools gambling?

Accepted Answer

No. Prophet Pools is not gambling. It’s a friendly competition for friends, family, and coworkers with no wagering or monetary prizes. There’s no house, no betting odds, and no games of chance—pool managers simply set rules and scoring so participants can track picks and standings for bragging rights only.

Question 28

Can I use this at work?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Prophet Pools is workplace-friendly since it's skill-based competition rather than gambling. Many offices use our platform for employee engagement and team building.

Question 29

Are there geographical restrictions?

Accepted Answer

Prophet Pools has universal access with no geographical restrictions. You can create and participate in pools from anywhere in the world.

Question 30

Is my data secure?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We use enterprise-grade security measures to protect your data, including encryption, secure servers, and regular security audits.

Frequently asked questions

Getting Started

Pricing

Gameplay

Pool Management

Features & Functionality

Technical Support

Legal & Compliance