Head to head
CoachSigns vs PitchCom
Both systems let a coach send a sign to players without hand signals a dugout can steal. The biggest practical difference is not a feature — it is what happens to the equipment. PitchCom states that it only leases its systems, and its lease terms say the equipment is returned at the end of the term. CoachSigns is bought once and is yours to keep.
The short answer
How the two compare
If you want to own your sign-calling equipment outright, with no term to renew and nothing to return, CoachSigns is the buy-it-once alternative. If you need spoken audio in a pitcher's or catcher's ear, or you play in a competition that specifically lists PitchCom as approved equipment, PitchCom is the better fit.
| CoachSigns | PitchCom | |
|---|---|---|
| How you get it | One-time purchase | Lease — its softball page states it only leases its systems |
| Who owns the gear | You do, permanently | Returned at the end of the lease; lost or unreturned parts are subject to a fee |
| Ongoing commitment | None — no subscription, no renewal | A lease term, renewed to keep using the system |
| Paperwork to start | Order it | Systems are not shipped without a signed lease agreement |
| How players receive the sign | Wrist watch vibrates and displays the call | Spoken audio systems and visual display systems |
| Whole-team use | Add a watch per player; every watch gets the sign at once | Kits are sized by piece count |
| Connectivity needed | None — private encrypted radio, no Wi-Fi or cell service | Self-contained radio system |
| App | Free iPhone and Android app; free firmware updates | Handled on the system's own hardware |
Where PitchCom is the better choice
An honest comparison has to include this. PitchCom is established at the highest levels of the game, and there are cases where it is clearly the right call:
- You need spoken audio. PitchCom offers in-ear audio so a pitcher or catcher hears the call. CoachSigns is visual and haptic only — the watch buzzes and shows the sign.
- Your competition names it. PitchCom holds partnerships with a number of softball and baseball organizations. If your sanctioning body or tournament lists a specific approved system, that list decides it — check the current rules before you commit to either system.
- You would rather not own hardware. Some programs genuinely prefer leasing, with the equipment handed back at the end of the term.
Yours to keep
Why the ownership model matters
A lease is a recurring commitment: the system has to be kept track of and handed back at the end of the term, and PitchCom's terms note that lost or unreturned parts are subject to a fee. For a travel or high-school program where equipment moves between coaches, parents and seasons, that is real administrative overhead on top of the cost.
CoachSigns is the opposite model. You buy the base station and one watch per player, and the gear belongs to the program. If a season is cancelled, if you change coaches, or if you simply skip a year, nothing expires and nothing has to go back in a box.
Before you decide
Common questions
Is there an alternative to PitchCom that you buy instead of lease?
Yes — that is the core difference here. CoachSigns is sold outright: a base station plus one watch per player, owned permanently, with no term to renew and nothing to send back.
Do you own PitchCom equipment after leasing it?
No. PitchCom's published lease terms state the system must be returned at the end of the lease, and that lost or unreturned parts are subject to a fee.
Does CoachSigns use audio?
No — it is visual and haptic. The watch vibrates and displays the sign. If you need a spoken signal in a pitcher's ear, PitchCom offers that and CoachSigns does not.
Is an electronic sign system legal in my league?
Rules differ by sanctioning body and age level, and approved-equipment lists change season to season. Check the current rulebook for your league before buying or leasing any electronic signaling device.
What CoachSigns is
A coach taps a sign in a free app. A dugout base station relays it over a private, encrypted radio link, and every player's watch buzzes and shows the call in under a second — no Wi-Fi, no cell service, no subscription. Watches run 500–600 signals on a charge. Every device is hand-prepared and shipped from Boise, Idaho.
Comparison last reviewed 17 August 2026. Statements about PitchCom are drawn from its own published pages and lease terms at pitchcom.com and were accurate as of that date; check with PitchCom for its current terms. PitchCom is a trademark of its respective owner and is not affiliated with, or an endorser of, CoachSigns.