BaselinesHQ Baseline vs. Sway
Same balance science. No app to install, no per-athlete bill.
Sway pioneered phone-based balance baselines. HQ Baseline keeps the motion-capture mBESS and adds a full seven-module battery — over the browser, with no app store, no per-athlete fee, and group testing in a single afternoon.
Side by side
HQ Baseline vs. Sway, line by line
Same balance science, broader battery, no app install, no per-athlete fee.
| Feature | HQ Baseline | Sway |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Included with HQ | $2 / athlete / year |
| Unlimited athletes | ||
| Unlimited re-tests | ||
| App install required | No — browser only | Yes — App Store / Play Store |
| Device | Browser-based, any phone or tablet | Phone or tablet (app) |
| Delivery | QR code, unique link, or passwordless login | Unique code or password |
| Languages | 195+ | 3 |
| Group testing | ||
| Modules coveredOrientation, memory, concentration, balance, gait, reaction, symptoms | All 7 | Balance + reaction time |
| Voice-scored word recallReduces practice effect on memory items | ||
| Motion-capture balance (mBESS) | ||
| Time per athlete | 10 min | ~20 min |
| Time per 1,000 athletes (in parallel) | 10 min | Simultaneous capacity undisclosed |
| Support | 24/7 — live video within 10 minutes | 9–5 Mon–Fri |
| COPPA compliantAudited for children's privacy |
Competitor data reflects publicly available product pages, pricing, and language support as of 2026. See something out of date? Tell us.
Why teams switch
HQ Baseline vs. Sway, in plain English.
Sway popularized the idea that a phone’s accelerometer could replace a force plate for mBESS. We agree — and we built on it.
The friction with Sway is the app: every athlete installs it, logs in, and your roster has to live in their system. HQ Baseline runs in the browser from a single shared QR code, so a roster of 200 can baseline in parallel without anyone downloading anything.
Pricing is the other gap. Sway charges $2 per athlete per year. HQ Baseline is included with HQ — unlimited athletes, unlimited re-tests.
No app download for athletes
Athletes scan a QR code and start. No App Store gate, no parental Apple ID friction, no version-mismatch problems with school-issued devices.
Unlimited athletes — flat price
Sway prices per athlete per year. HQ Baseline is included with HQ for the whole program, whether you have 50 or 5,000 athletes.
Seven modules, not three
Sway focuses on balance and reaction. HQ Baseline adds orientation, immediate and delayed memory, concentration, tandem gait, and symptom scoring — closer to a standard-of-care concussion assessment.
Voice-scored recall
Memory items are scored from the athlete's voice in real time. Sway uses tap-based recall, which inflates scores in repeat testing.
HQ Baseline vs. Sway — questions we hear
Honest answers about how HQ Baseline compares to the Sway Medical balance and cognitive app, and what switching actually looks like.
Is HQ Baseline a Sway alternative?
Can I import my existing Sway baseline data?
Do you have motion-capture mBESS, or is it just symptoms?
Does HQ Baseline work without wifi?
Compare HQ Baseline to other tools
One-vs-one breakdowns against the rest of the digital concussion baseline market.
Ready to switch from Sway?
Switching from Sway? We’ll migrate your prior baselines and onboard your full program in one afternoon — no app install for athletes.