Best Tally Counter for Darts Scoring
Darts scoring has dedicated apps like Pro-Darter, DartConnect, and Lidarts that understand game rules — x01 countdown, cricket, checkout suggestions, and per-dart statistics. A basic tally counter can track scores but won't calculate checkouts or enforce game rules. Here's how they compare honestly.
What makes a great darts scoring app?
Darts is a countdown game with variable point values per throw:
- Decrement support — darts counts DOWN from 301/501, not up.
- Custom step amounts — a single throw can score 1-60 points (triple 20).
- Quick-add buttons — common scores (20, 26, 40, 60) as preset taps.
- Multiple counters — one per player for league and tournament play.
- Undo last throw — mis-entered scores need quick correction.
- Statistics dashboard — average per throw, checkout percentage, scoring trends.
- Responsive design — works on a phone propped up near the dartboard.
Darts scoring features — compared
We compared dedicated darts apps (Pro-Darter, DartConnect, Lidarts) against a general-purpose tally counter (DTC) for a full 501 game.
| Feature | dartconnect.com | digitaltallycounter.com | lidarts.org | pro-darter.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key Features for Darts | ||||
| Increment counter | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple counters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Responsive design | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Statistics dashboard | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Decrement counter | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom step amounts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Undo last action | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Quick-add amount buttons | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Game-Friendly Features | ||||
| Player turn tracking | — | — | — | — |
| Dice roller integration | — | — | — | — |
| Round/phase counter | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Life/health point tracker | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Victory point tracking | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Multi-player score layout | — | ✓ | — | — |
The verdict
Pro-Darter.com
Purpose-built darts scorer with x01 and cricket modes, checkout suggestions (tells you what to aim for), per-dart statistics (PPD, checkout %), practice drills, webcam play, and tournament brackets. 293M darts thrown on the platform. Free.
Visit Pro-Darter →DigitalTallyCounter.com
Set starting value to 501, use decrement with custom step amounts for basic countdown scoring. Works for casual pub games, but no checkout suggestions, no game rules, no per-dart statistics. Free, no signup.
Open DigitalTallyCounter.com →Dedicated darts apps vs. a basic counter
Pro-Darter, DartConnect, and Lidarts understand darts rules — they calculate checkout routes, enforce double-out rules, track per-dart averages, and manage tournaments. A tally counter like DTC can subtract scores from 501, but you have to know the rules yourself and calculate checkouts mentally. For league play or serious practice, use a real darts app.
When a simple counter works for pub darts
For a casual pub game where you just need to subtract throw totals from 501, you can use DTC: create a counter per player, set each to 501, configure quick-subtract buttons for common three-dart totals (-40, -60, -100), and count down. It's faster to set up than creating an account on a darts app, but it won't help you figure out what to throw to check out on 36.
Need a quick pub darts counter?
Basic 501 countdown with multi-player. No game rules or checkouts — just simple subtraction. Free.
Open DigitalTallyCounter.com