How we chose these apps
This guide was reviewed on August 20, 2026 using current official product pages. It is a feature and positioning review, not a hands-on test, accuracy test, or price comparison. Pricing and feature tiers change, so confirm current details with each developer before deciding.
The picks are organized by best fit, not by a universal score. A watch-first golfer, a handicap-focused golfer, and a course collector can all make different good choices.
Advanced GPS without a GPS subscription
Most major apps reviewed keep at least one of plays-like guidance, club recommendations, in-round planning tools, or green-reading maps in a paid tier. That does not mean their basic GPS is paid: many include useful yardages and scoring for free.
All current Course GPS Beta planning tools are included for everyone: live front, middle, and back yardages, scoring, hazard and layup targets, golfer-to-target and target-to-green distances, adaptive arcs, plays-like guidance using available wind, elevation, temperature, and altitude, club suggestions, supported-course 3D terrain, and LiDAR Green Books.
Keep the scope clear. Grassy Course GPS is in beta and currently on iPhone. Course eligibility, conditions, terrain, and green detail vary. The table summarizes official product positioning reviewed August 20, 2026, not a hands-on or accuracy test.
| App | Basic GPS and scoring | Hazard and layup planning | Plays-like and club guidance | Green and 3D maps | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GrassyOfficial evidence | Included for everyone: live front, middle, and back yardages plus scoring. | Included: draggable hazard and layup targets, both-leg distances, and adaptive arcs. | Included: available wind, elevation, temperature, and altitude, plus club suggestions. | Supported-course 3D hole terrain and LiDAR Green Books are included for everyone. | Ranking-first course identity, social discovery, and advanced GPS on iPhone. |
| 18BirdiesOfficial evidence | Free GPS, scoring, hazards, layups, carries, and targets. | Hazards, layups, carries, and targets are free; distance arcs are in Premium. | Plays Like distances and club recommendations are listed in Premium. | 3D Green Maps are listed in Premium. | Games, practice, digital-caddie guidance, and a broad improvement suite. |
| TheGrintOfficial evidence | Free front, center, and back GPS, hazards, layup markers, arcs, tracking, and scorecard. | Hazards, layup markers, and distance arcs are part of the rebuilt free GPS. | No current official weather or elevation Plays Like app claim was found. | Green Maps have limited free trials before Pro. | Existing official Index workflows, mature stats, watches, groups, games, and rankings. |
| GolfshotOfficial evidence | Free center-green distance, scoring, manual tracking, stats, and 3D previews. | Hazard and target distances plus pan and zoom are listed in Pro. | Club recommendations are listed in Pro; this guide makes no plays-like claim. | 3D previews are free; Green Maps are listed in Pro. | Pro watch-led tracking, swing analysis, and post-round performance tools. |
| Arccos CaddieOfficial evidence | AI GPS Rangefinder and mapped-shot experience within the Arccos hardware and membership ecosystem. | AI Strategy promotes personalized club recommendations and precise targets based on tracked performance. | Arccos promotes adjusted yardage using wind, slope, temperature, humidity, altitude, and related conditions. | Green Maps are promoted alongside shot maps and tracked-round analytics; confirm current membership and hardware access. | Automatic shot tracking, AI strategy, smart club distances, and strokes-gained analysis. |
| Garmin GolfOfficial evidence | Phone scoring and stats are available without a Garmin golf device; on-course distances vary by compatible device. | Approach watches range from green and hazard distances to higher-level PlaysLike and club guidance. | Available on selected Approach watches and listed for specified compatible watches with Golf Membership. | Green Contours and Premium CourseView Maps are listed with membership for compatible products. | Garmin watches, handhelds, rangefinders, tracking sensors, and launch-monitor workflows. |
| Bushnell GolfOfficial evidence | Free front, middle, and back yardages plus hazards, layups, doglegs, scoring, and manual shot marking. | Free hazard and layup references; Golf Plus lists tap-to-point slope GPS and 3D flyovers. | Golf Plus lists slope-adjusted GPS, while conditions-based features vary by connected Bushnell device. | 3D virtual views, approach heat maps, putt breaks, flyovers, and daily pins are listed in Golf Plus. | Golfers whose rangefinder, GPS watch, handheld, or speaker anchors their course setup. |
| Blue Tees GAMEOfficial evidence | Front, center, and back yardages plus dynamic hazards are documented for 42,000+ courses; confirm Guest and Member access in-app. | Dynamic hazards, flyover maps, one-tap shot tracking, and AI approach assistance are promoted; the official tier table is ambiguous. | True Distance uses slope, wind, temperature, humidity, and elevation; confirm current membership access. | Flyover maps, 3D round playback, shot dispersion, and analytics are promoted within the complete-experience membership page. | Apple Watch, USGA score posting, performance analytics, and connected Blue Tees gear. |
| Hole19Official evidence | Free GPS yardages, scorecard, community features, and draggable target measuring. | Free map measuring shows target and target-to-green distance; labeled hazards and in-round arcs are listed in Premium. | Plays Like distances and club recommendations are listed in Premium. | Free aerial Flyover preview; no green-contour or true 3D terrain claim. | Multi-platform phone and watch use plus downloaded-course offline access. |
| SwingUOfficial evidence | Free GPS rangefinder, scorecard, and basic stats; the product page also promotes green and hazard distances plus shot tracking. | Advanced caddie and planning guidance are listed in Plus. | Wind, elevation, Plays Like distances, and club recommendations are in Plus. | Green Maps are listed in Plus. | Coaching, strokes-gained analysis, devices, and game improvement. |
| GolfLogixOfficial evidence | Free slope-adjusted GPS yardage, basic measuring, and four-player scorecards. | Immersive 3D and flyover planning are listed in Premium Membership. | Slope-adjusted yardage is free; this guide makes no wind or temperature claim. | 3D, approach heat, green, and putt-line tools are listed in Premium Membership. | Immersive course views, green reading, tracking, and Apple Watch. |
| Golf PadOfficial evidence | Free aerial maps, basic GPS, scoring, manual tracking, stats, and leaderboards. | Free any-point measuring covers bunkers and water; fuller watch tools are Premium. | Plays Like distance and club recommendations are listed in Premium. | Green contour maps are listed in Premium. | Flexible tracking, multi-platform use, leaderboards, and integrations. |
| GHINOfficial evidence | Standard GPS for eligible members has 3D color maps, touchpoint, and center distance. | The paid Enhanced GPS add-on adds front and back distance and a movable hole. | No current official weather or elevation Plays Like claim was found. | The paid Enhanced GPS add-on adds approach heat and putt-break maps. | Official Handicap Index, score posting, statistics, games, and groups. |
| ForeFunOfficial evidence | Free front, center, and back yardages, score tracking, targets, and hazards. | Target planning plus bunker and hazard distances are free. | The pricing section lists Play Like elevation and wind guidance in Premium; hero copy calls it free. Confirm in-app. | The pricing section lists AI green contours in Premium; hero copy calls them free. Confirm in-app. | Broad free GPS planning, phone and Apple Watch access, and optional analytics. |
The best golf app for each priority
Use these categories as a starting point, then read the direct comparisons for the tradeoffs that matter to you.
Grassy
Best for: Course ranking, social discovery, and included advanced GPS planningGrassy connects personal course rankings, lists, friends, and discovery to Course GPS Beta. All current Course GPS Beta planning tools are included for everyone, from hazard and layup targets through plays-like guidance, club suggestions, scoring, and supported-course LiDAR and 3D detail.
Tradeoff: Grassy is currently on iPhone, Course GPS is in beta, course detail varies, and the app does not claim automatic shot tracking or watch GPS.
Explore Grassy Course GPS →18Birdies
Best for: A broad game-improvement and digital-caddie suite18Birdies combines free GPS, scoring, hazards, layups, carries, and targets with games, wearable support, community benchmarking, and AI-powered swing practice.
Tradeoff: Plays Like distances, club recommendations, distance arcs, and 3D Green Maps are listed in Premium.
Compare Grassy and 18Birdies →TheGrint
Best for: A full-stack app with existing Index workflows, stats, groups, and course rankingsTheGrint combines linking and score posting for an existing official Handicap Index with free GPS, mature statistics, games, groups, watches, live scoring, a Course Rankings Game, and a searchable discovery map. Obtaining or maintaining the Index membership is separate.
Tradeoff: Green Maps have limited free trials before Pro, while Grassy includes plays-like and supported-course LiDAR and 3D tools for everyone.
Compare Grassy and TheGrint →Golfshot
Best for: Watch-led automatic shot tracking and swing analysisGolfshot emphasizes GPS, scoring, statistics, Pro automatic shot tracking with a compatible watch, swing analysis, 3D previews, and wearable use.
Tradeoff: Hazard and target distances, club recommendations, pan and zoom, and Green Maps are listed in Pro. This guide makes no Golfshot plays-like claim.
Compare Grassy and Golfshot →Arccos Caddie
Best for: Automatic shot tracking, AI strategy, and strokes-gained analysisArccos combines shot-detection hardware with automatic shot mapping, Smart Distances, an AI GPS Rangefinder, AI Strategy, and strokes-gained analysis.
Tradeoff: The reviewed Smart Sensor workflow depends on compatible detection hardware and an active membership or trial. Grassy does not provide automatic shot tracking, but its current GPS planning tools are included for everyone.
Compare Grassy and Arccos Caddie →Garmin Golf
Best for: A connected golf-watch and device ecosystemGarmin Golf connects scorecards, stats, leaderboards, tournaments, and training with compatible Garmin watches, handhelds, rangefinders, tracking sensors, and launch monitors.
Tradeoff: On-course features vary by device. Garmin lists Green Contours, Premium CourseView Maps, Touch Targeting, and PlaysLike for specified compatible products with Golf Membership.
Compare Grassy and Garmin Golf →Bushnell Golf
Best for: A rangefinder and course-device ecosystem with a capable free appBushnell lists free green distances, hazards, layups, doglegs, scoring, manual shot marking, and stats, while connecting its app to rangefinders, GPS devices, watches, and speakers.
Tradeoff: Bushnell Golf Plus contains the listed 3D virtual views, approach heat maps, putt breaks, flyovers, slope-adjusted GPS, and daily pin tools.
Compare Grassy and Bushnell Golf →Blue Tees GAME
Best for: Apple Watch, AI guidance, USGA posting, and connected Blue Tees gearBlue Tees GAME combines GPS for 42,000+ courses, dynamic hazards, True Distance, scoring, leaderboards, one-tap shot tracking, AI club guidance, analytics, Apple Watch, USGA integration, and a connected-device ecosystem.
Tradeoff: Blue Tees says GAME is free to get started and membership unlocks the complete experience. Its current Guest-versus-Member table is ambiguous; the promoted 30-day trial renews at $79.99 per year, so confirm exact feature access in-app.
Compare Grassy and Blue Tees GAME →Hole19
Best for: Multi-platform GPS, watches, community, and downloaded coursesHole19 offers free GPS yardages, scoring, community, and an aerial Flyover course preview across iOS, Android, Apple Watch, and Wear OS, with previously downloaded courses available offline. This guide does not treat Flyover as a contour map or true 3D terrain.
Tradeoff: Its central tier page lists Plays Like distances, hazards, club recommendations, in-round arcs, and watch maps and scoring in Premium.
Compare Grassy and Hole19 →SwingU
Best for: Coaching, strokes-gained analysis, and game improvementSwingU’s free core includes a GPS rangefinder, scorecard, and basic statistics; its product page also promotes green and hazard distances plus shot tracking across a broader coaching and performance-analysis platform.
Tradeoff: Green Maps, wind and elevation adjustments, Plays Like distances, club recommendations, and advanced statistics are listed in Plus.
Compare Grassy and SwingU →GolfLogix
Best for: Immersive 3D course views and green readingGolfLogix combines free slope-adjusted GPS yardage and scorecards with a Premium focus on immersive 3D, flyovers, approach heat maps, and putt-line tools.
Tradeoff: Its immersive 3D, flyover, and advanced green-reading experience is listed in Premium Membership.
Compare Grassy and GolfLogix →Golf Pad
Best for: Flexible tracking, leaderboards, devices, and integrationsGolf Pad includes aerial maps, basic GPS, any-point measuring to bunkers and water, scorecards, manual shot tracking, statistics, live leaderboards, and basic watch distances in its free set.
Tradeoff: Plays Like distance, club recommendations, green contours, fuller watch tools, and official handicap integration are listed in Premium.
Compare Grassy and Golf Pad →GHIN
Best for: Official Handicap Index, score posting, games, and groupsGHIN is the USGA’s official Golf Handicap Information Network service for participating golf associations and combines score posting, statistics, games, group scoring, watches, and tiered GPS tools.
Tradeoff: GPS eligibility varies, 30-day trial users do not receive GPS, and the paid Enhanced GPS add-on adds front and back distances, movable holes, approach heat, and putt-break maps.
Compare Grassy and GHIN →ForeFun
Best for: Broad free GPS planning with phone and Apple Watch reachForeFun lists free front, center, and back yardages, score tracking, target planning, and bunker and hazard distances across its supported devices.
Tradeoff: Play Like elevation and wind guidance, AI green contours, shot dispersion, and advanced analytics are listed in Premium.
Compare Grassy and ForeFun →What to look for in a golf GPS app
A long feature list is less useful than a clear answer to three questions: what distance do you need, how do you want to plan the shot, and what record should remain after the round?
- For simple distance, confirm whether the app shows the green references and targets you actually use.
- For strategy, look for a map interaction that makes layups, hazards, and landing zones easy to read.
- For performance analysis, decide whether manual stats, watch tracking, or club tags fit your habits.
- For course memory, look beyond the scorecard to rankings, lists, notes, friends, and discovery.
- Confirm supported courses and current feature tiers directly. Do not assume every map layer is universal.
The short answer
Choose Grassy when the course is the center of your golf life: where it ranks, who has played it, what you want to play next, and how you navigate today’s round with all current Course GPS Beta planning tools included. Choose another major app when automatic shots, watch workflows, official handicap administration, multi-platform access, coaching, or deep game statistics are more important than Grassy’s ranking-first course identity.
The best app is the one whose main job matches your own. Use the official sources below and the direct comparison pages to check that fit before downloading or subscribing.