Student-athletes have many digital options that make promises to help them make money, build their brands, increase their exposure, and create new opportunities. Many of those digital options meet those promises; some don’t.
In 2025, one platform significantly outperformed the others.
SurveyNow Software recently released its National Athlete App Trust Index, a study that examines which apps college athletes use and why. The study polled almost 2,500 NCAA athletes nationwide, and the results identified a clear winner. NIL Club was voted the most trusted app among college athletes nationally.
That means a lot to student-athletes. Trust is not just an idea – it influences everything from how student-athletes spend their time to their income to their eligibility and their futures. The apps student-athletes choose to use impact how they earn money, protect their personal data and present themselves publicly. The SurveyNow study provided one of the most in-depth views ever of how athletes perceive technology and what they care about most.
How the National Athlete App Trust Index Was Developed
SurveyNow developed the study to examine actual app use – not just casual downloads. The study only included athletes who used each app at least once a week. Each athlete answered the same basic question – “How much do you trust this app to do what it says it will do?”
Athletes were asked to assess trust in three ways. First was data privacy – assessing how confident athletes were that their personal information would be protected. Second was reliability – determining if the app reliably worked as promised. Third was compliance trust – assessing whether athletes believed the platform was operating within NCAA and state compliance guidelines.
SurveyNow contacted 2,497 NCAA athletes from colleges and universities across the country. The sample included a large number of athletes representing various athletic divisions, sports, and academic disciplines. Men, women, and non-binary athletes made up roughly equal portions of the sample. The results offered a unique and comprehensive picture of how athletes engage with digital platforms in their everyday lives.
Why NIL Club Received the Highest Rankings
Approximately half of the athletes surveyed reported selecting NIL Club as the platform they trusted most. This level of confidence wasn't accidental. NIL Club's design resolves many of the largest issues athletes encounter when using apps that allow them to monetize their name, image and likeness.
Many student-athletes struggle with the complexity of contracts, vague expectations, and the possibility of making errors that could jeopardize their eligibility. NIL Club simplifies many of those challenges with a streamlined system that empowers athletes to take control of their NIL opportunities. NIL Club doesn't depend on transactional relationships between athletes and brands; instead, it promotes consistent participation, equitable revenue-sharing, and open communication.
Payments are received at the agreed-upon times. The rules are clearly defined. The workload is reasonable. Revenue is divided fairly – not based on an athlete's popularity, but on their willingness to contribute.
How NIL Club Works for Student-Athletes
Ultimately, NIL Club enables athletes (or groups of athletes) to create a club associated with their team, program or activity. Those clubs are athlete-led. Participants can generate and upload content, update fans and invite new followers via social media or direct messaging. Revenue created through subscription fees is then divided equally among participating athletes.
Athletes are not required to produce results, win games or achieve a certain status to earn. What matters is that athletes show up and contribute. That alignment is a better fit with the reality of college life, where time is finite and priorities vary throughout the season.
“We aim to minimize the time commitment required for NIL Club.” an NIL Club press release stated.
The majority of athletes update fans weekly rather than engaging continuously. Fans understand that they are paying a subscription fee for access and connection, not continuous interaction.
What Fans Get in Exchange for Their Fees
Fans and supporters pay a monthly subscription fee that is usually very low. In exchange for that fee, they receive access to content that isn't publicly available. Examples of exclusive content may include behind-the-scenes updates, inside information regarding the team, or direct messages. The value lies not in volume, but in access.
Subscribers commonly report that the experience feels more personalized than donating to a general fund. Rather than donating to a generic fund, they are supporting specific athletes. That connection creates loyalty and community, and it is a key reason why satisfaction ratings remain high despite relatively low levels of interaction.
Technology Behind the Platform
NIL Club relies on the YOKE software platform to manage payments, distribute content and divide revenue. The YOKE software ensures that revenue is divided evenly and paid on time. Additionally, the YOKE software removes the need for schools or coaches to participate, a requirement that state laws often prohibit.
NIL Club is accessible to college athletes nationwide and to high school athletes in select states through a controlled expansion process. There are more than 650,000 athletes and over 20,000 teams utilizing the platform. NIL Club has a 4.7-star rating in the App Store, based on numerous reviews from satisfied customers.
Trust Beyond Income
One other finding from the SurveyNow study is important to note. Apps related to wellness and mental health also received very high ratings. Apps such as MyFitnessPal, Calm, and Headspace performed well because athletes consider physical and mental wellness to be critical tools – not additional items.
Athletes view NIL Club as a component of a well-rounded system, not as a potentially lucrative but unreliable method of earning income.
Going Beyond Fan Subscriptions
In August of 2025, NIL Club expanded its capabilities with the introduction of its Brand Deals feature. With brand deals, NIL Club transitioned from simply relying on fan-driven content to structured endorsement opportunities. Through Brand Deals, athletes can browse verified brand partnerships directly from within the NIL Club app.
We specifically designed the rollout of Brand Deals to seamlessly integrate with the existing experience. Athletes can review available opportunities, agree to partner deals, create relevant content, and track progress from within the platform.
Rapid Growth and Measurable Results
The reaction to Brand Deals was immediate. Within 90 days of launching Brand Deals, over 50,000 athletes had completed at least one campaign. Campaigns generated over 100,000 verifiable conversions – including sales and engagement metrics. These statistics demonstrate the platform's scalability.
These results place NIL Club firmly within the larger NIL economy, which is growing at an incredible rate.
Different Approach Than Other NIL Platforms
Most existing NIL platforms focus primarily on elite athletes or individual influencers. NIL Club has taken a different approach. NIL Club utilizes team-based revenue sharing and widespread participation.
Both popular and non-popular athletes benefit from this model.
National Brands Partner With NIL Club
NIL Club has partnered with a large number of national brands across various industries. Brands confirmed to be collaborating with NIL Club include SoFi, LoveShackFancy, Amazon, Acorns, Revolut, Gatorade, and Ulta Beauty. Partnerships span finance, clothing/apparel, e-commerce, performance/sports nutrition, and retail.
Brand campaigns frequently prioritize education, creativity, and community engagement. Finance sector brands concentrate on imparting financial literacy and long-term planning knowledge to athletes. Apparel and retail brands focus on creating compelling stories and limited-time product drops. Training/recovery-related content aligns with performance brands. The diversity of partners reflects the varied interests of student-athletes today.
Why This Matters for the Future of NIL
The SurveyNow study suggests a trend shift in how athletes evaluate opportunities. Platforms that establish transparency, fairness, and compliance are gaining traction. Athletes are thinking long-term about their brands and reputations rather than seeking instant payment.
For developers and brands, the takeaway is clear. Gen Z athletes are discerning users. They reward platforms that respect their time, protect their data, and produce consistent results.
Clear Message From Athletes
The National Athlete App Trust Index reveals how athletes wish for technology to assist them. They desire tools that operate without requiring ongoing attention or anxiety.
NIL Club’s top spot sends a strong signal about its approach. This suggests that athletes value platforms rooted in their experiences.
For students interested in using NIL Club, the NIL Club mobile app is available for Android and iOS. Many athlete reviewers praise the platform for allowing them to exceed their earnings expectations and giving them control over their NIL opportunities.
In a space full of opportunity yet short on trust, NIL Club has achieved something rare.
