"I'm amazed, and I'm really happy with how good the results are."
Sideline vs CodeReplacements.ai
Your Shutter Count
Shouldn't Be a Bill.
CodeReplacements.ai bills you per image — 1 to 3 credits every time, even with AI switched off, on top of a separate roster subscription. Sideline is $14.99/mo flat: unlimited AI captions, rosters, live galleries, and tethering, one login, one bill.
-
Flat $14.99/mo — no per-image credit packs
-
Rosters included — no second subscription just to load a team
-
Caption a 2,000-frame doubleheader for the same $14.99
as a single JV game
500 free AI captions · $0 today · Cancel anytime
Trusted by world-class photographers from these leagues and organizations
At a glance
One charges by the frame.
One doesn't.
Sideline is $14.99/mo, flat. AI sports captioning, Photo Mechanic code replacement files, live FTP galleries, wireless tethering, and FTP auto-download — on macOS and in the browser, unlimited, one bill. Caption ten frames or ten thousand; the price doesn't move.
CodeReplacements.ai meters you. Every image costs 1–3 credits, including images you caption with AI turned off, and the app can't load rosters at all without a paid CodeReplacements.com subscription running alongside it. Live delivery and tethering aren't part of the product.
Feature comparison
Sideline vs CodeReplacements.ai
| Feature |  Sideline |
 CodeReplacements.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly pricing model | One flat rate | Subscription + credits |
| Unlimited AI captions | |
 1–3 credits per imageCharged even with AI off |
| Rosters & code replacement files included | |
 Requires a separate subscription |
| Live FTP galleries | | |
| Wireless camera tethering | | |
| Remote FTP auto-download | | |
| Web access | | |
| Native macOS app | | |
| Roster database coverage | 1.6M+ athletes · 340+ leagues · 116,000+ teams | Via CodeReplacements.com (extra subscription required) |
| Caption styles | Getty, AP & custom presets Unlimited variations | 3 styles |
| AI sports captioning | | |
| Voice tag transcription | | |
| Free trial | 14 days | |
| One-time lifetime license | $249, once | |
| Typical monthly cost |
$14.99/mo Everything included Start Free Trial |
$20/mo + credits Roster sub + 1–3 credits per image |
Monthly pricing model
SidelineOne flat rate
CodeReplacements.aiSub + credits
Unlimited AI captions
Sideline
CodeReplacements.ai1–3 credits per image
Charged even with AI off
Charged even with AI off
Rosters & code replacement files included
Sideline
CodeReplacements.aiRequires a separate subscription
Live FTP galleries
Sideline
CodeReplacements.ai
Wireless camera tethering
Sideline
CodeReplacements.ai
Remote FTP auto-download
Sideline
CodeReplacements.ai
Web access
Sideline
CodeReplacements.ai
Native macOS app
Sideline
CodeReplacements.ai
Roster database coverage
Sideline1.6M+ athletes · 340+ leagues · 116,000+ teams
CodeReplacements.aiVia CodeReplacements.com
Caption styles
SidelineGetty, AP & custom
Unlimited variations
Unlimited variations
CodeReplacements.ai3 styles
AI sports captioning
Sideline
CodeReplacements.ai
Voice tag transcription
Sideline
CodeReplacements.ai
Free trial
Sideline14 days
CodeReplacements.ai
One-time lifetime license
Sideline$249, once
CodeReplacements.ai
Frequently Asked Questions
Good Questions, Straight Answers.
Everything you need to know before you switch.
Why choose Sideline over CodeReplacements.ai?
Price predictability, mostly. Sideline is $14.99/month flat for unlimited AI sports captioning, with Photo Mechanic code replacement files, live FTP galleries, wireless tethering, and FTP auto-download included. CodeReplacements.ai charges 1–3 credits per image on top of a separate CodeReplacements.com roster subscription, so your bill moves with your shutter count.
Does Sideline charge per image?
No. Sideline includes unlimited captioning in your monthly plan. CodeReplacements.ai charges 1–3 credits per image, even in no-AI mode, on top of a CodeReplacements.com roster subscription.
How does caption quality compare?
Both use AI. Sideline builds captions from your roster data, jersey numbers, and in-camera voice tags, then writes them into IPTC fields so they're live when you open the file in Photo Mechanic or push to your CMS. Run it against your own take during the trial — 500 free captions is enough to judge it on a real game.
What happens to my existing code replacement files?
Nothing breaks. Sideline exports the same TSV format Photo Mechanic already expects, so your shortcuts carry over. Import what you have or rebuild a team in a few seconds from the roster database.
Are Photo Mechanic code replacement files included in Sideline?
Yes. Sideline Rosters builds Photo Mechanic code replacement files from 1.6M+ athletes across 16 sports, 340+ leagues, and 116,000+ teams — included in the same $14.99/month plan. CodeReplacements.ai requires a separate CodeReplacements.com subscription just to access roster data.
Does Sideline write IPTC caption metadata?
Yes. Sideline writes publication-ready IPTC caption fields directly into your images using your rosters, jersey numbers, and in-camera audio — so captions are ready when you open files in Photo Mechanic or your CMS.
Is Sideline cheaper on busy game days?
Yes, and the gap widens the more you shoot. At 1–3 credits per image, a 1,000-frame weekend costs 1,000–3,000 credits before you've touched the roster subscription underneath it. Sideline is $14.99 that weekend and $14.99 the weekend you shoot nothing.
Does Sideline include a free trial?
Yes. Sideline offers a 14-day risk-free trial with full platform access. CodeReplacements.ai does not offer a free trial.
Start Free Trial
500 free AI captions · 14-day full access · $0 today · Cancel anytime
From photographers who switched
Don't Just Take Our Word For It.
Sideline might be the single most important thing I've bought in my whole photography journey. Incredible in every way.
"I gave Sideline a try and I quite like it! The app works well, and the ability to generate code replacements for different sports is a great help to me!"
"I think this product is a game changer. It saves me a ton of time. I can't wait to see what improvements are on the horizon for the future."
Stop Counting Credits. Start Captioning.
Unlimited captions, rosters, galleries, and tethering.
$14.99/mo, or .
Start Free Trial
500 free AI captions · 14-day full access · $0 today · Cancel anytime