Top 9 Best Free Golf GPS Apps for iPhone and Android
Have you ever found yourself standing in the middle of a golf course fairway, wondering which club to use for your approach shot to the green? It can be frustrating to be between the distance markers and end up hitting the ball too far past the green. While rangefinders exist, they can be expensive and not everyone has one. Fortunately, there is a solution, free golf GPS apps.
Thanks to modern technology, these apps are readily available on our smartphones, both iPhone and Android. They provide us with all the data and information needed to succeed in the course we are playing. With satellite image maps of each hole, we can locate hazards and doglegs along the way, as well as the distances to the back, middle, and front of the green. Some apps even offer scorekeeping and statistical measures.
What to Look for in a Golf GPS App?
Just like a rangefinder or a handheld GPS device, a golf GPS app should allocate your location on the course accurately as its first and most important function. It should provide distance to the front, back, and middle of the green and help golf players to detect hazards between their position and the hole. Modern golf GPS apps go beyond that. The top-notched one can also keep track of golfers’ scores, and shot distances, and even give key statistics. All these features contribute to helping golfers improve their professions and have a more enjoyable round of golf.
Best Free Golf GPS Apps
1. Hole 19
Hole 19
The best golf app is called Hole 19 and it can be downloaded on both iPhone and Android platforms. The best thing about this app is that it can also be linked to your smartwatch, which is a big advantage. What sets Hole 19 apart from other golf GPS apps is its fantastic user interface and sleek, easy-to-use design. You can use the free trial version for two weeks, and then subscribe to continue using.
This app has a vast database of over 42,000 courses worldwide, all integrated into the software. You can access bird’s eye satellite images of the course and view your distance from any point on the course, be it the front, middle, or back of the green, or distances to hazards, doglegs, or any other hidden features.
Hole 19 also has a scorecard feature that allows golfers to track their scores as well as those of their playing partners. At the end of the round, you can view statistics on your game, including fairway hits, putting strokes, and penalties.
2. Golfshot
Golfshot
Golfshot is undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive golf GPS apps available today, catering to both casual and professional golfers alike. The app is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices, as well as Apple watches and Android wearables. It has both free and Pro features.
The free version of Golfshot allows you to use GPS to track each shot you take on the course and the club you used for each shot, which is great for personal improvement. It also provides you with distance to the green, allows scorekeeping for up to 4 players, enables you to review statistics, and keeps up with golf news.
On the other hand, the Golfshot Pro version requires a membership but offers more features. Pro users get real-time distances to the center of the green, back edge, front, and all hazards on over 40,000 courses worldwide. Additionally, the app functions as a caddie, offering club recommendations based on your lie. The Pro version also includes a bird’s eye view of the course that lets you adjust your perspective for a full 3D display of the hole.
3. GolfLogix
GolfLogix
GolfLogix sets itself apart from other free golf apps that primarily help you get onto the green. It goes a step further with its Putt Breaks feature, which is a game-changer. This golf app offers an additional feature that displays a 3D, topographical, and in-depth map of each green, akin to watching a PGA event broadcast.
GolfLogix has more than 8,000 golf courses and is available in both Apple and Google Play stores. The Putt Breaks feature allows you to click the location of your ball on the smartphone screen and drag the box to your desired target on the green. It then shows you a close-up and precise map of the green, which is created using GolfLogix’s laser scanners. The zoomable 3D map features arrows indicating the location and direction of all the contours of the green.
4. SwingU
SwingU
SwingU is the best free golf GPS app for iPhone and Android devices. It is seamlessly compatible with the Apple Watch, providing golfers with easy access to check yardages or enter scores directly from their wrist instead of their phone. SwingU has one week free trial and then you will have to pay for it.
Even the FREE version of SwingU is exceptional in terms of GPS accuracy. Some golfers have even testified that the free version is more precise than their rangefinders or other free rangefinder apps.
SwingU features an extensive database of over 34,000 courses, and if your favorite course is not available, you can request it to be added to the database.
5. 18 Birdies
18 Birdies
The free golf yardage app, 18 Birdies, is a remarkable tool that all golfers should know about. The app boasts high-quality satellite images of the course and offers yardage to the front, back, and center of the green. Its user interface is well-designed, clean, and easy to use, and it even allows for simple score tracking during your round.
In addition to its GPS features, 18 Birdies offers the unique ability to create and manage live tournaments, making it a valuable tool for golfers looking to compete with friends or colleagues. Unlike many other golf apps, there are no premium upgrades to purchase, providing a refreshing change for golfers who simply want to enjoy the app’s many features without feeling pressured to spend more money.
6. Golf Pad GPS
Golf Pad GPS
This golf app is a great tool for scoring and measuring distances, making it the top golf rangefinder app available. It comes at no cost and includes a PGA-grade scorecard that can accommodate up to four players, perfect for a single flight. It can track strokes, putts, penalties, sand, and fairways for each player as long as the data is entered into the app. Additionally, you can make notes during the round and review them later.
Apart from scoring, the app also doubles as a golf distance app. With GPS, it can measure distances to the middle, front, and back of the green, as well as bunkers and other hazards around the course.
7. TheGrint
TheGrint
TheGrint is a user-friendly golf GPS app that offers a hassle-free way to track your handicap. With its integrated Golf Handicap Tracker, golfers can quickly and easily obtain valid handicaps for USGA-registered golf clubs, making it simple to monitor your own or your friends’ handicaps.
In addition to this, TheGrint has a variety of fantastic features, including a live leaderboard function that allows you to compare scores with other users in real-time. The app also features a GPS, giving golfers a comprehensive view of the course from the front to the back of the green. What’s more, this app is available on both iOS and Android, so everyone can enjoy its benefits.
8. Free Caddie
Free Caddie
Free Caddie is among the most incredibly dependable golf GPS apps that have gained the trust of thousands of golfers thanks to its impressive accuracy and functionality. The app’s advanced golf range finder ensures players never lose track of where they are on the course, while its virtual scorecard helps them keep track of their scores.
With over 33,000 mapped golf courses from around the world, Free Caddie makes it effortless for golfers to find their way around. The app’s precise GPS distances provide golfers with a comprehensive overview of each hole, making it an invaluable tool for any golfer. Best of all, the app is available for free on both Android and iPhone.
9. Tag Heuer Golf
Tag Heuer Golf
The Tag Heuer Golf app is packed with fantastic features that can be very useful for golfers on the course. Among these is the app’s GPS function which displays a realistic 3D bird’s eye view of the golf course with actual depth and incredible detail. The app can now be used on Apple Watches, allowing users to view detailed images of the golf course right from their wrist, almost as if a drone were following their every move.
Moreover, with over 30,000 mapped golf courses available on the app, golfers can easily track their shots and know where they stand. That’s not all! There are plenty of other fantastic features available on the Tag Heuer Golf app that are sure to excite you for your next golf game. Download and enjoy it in your own way.
Experiment with all of the top golf GPS apps and determine which one you prefer to use over time. They are all quite effective and have similar functions, so choose one of the best free golf GPS apps available and suitable to your preference. Contact us if you cannot choose a suitable one or need further golf advice.
Read more: Top 6 Best Swing Analysis Apps for iOS and Android 2023
SwingU is not free. Like too many other apps that claim to be free, it only has a “free” one-week trial period. Then you have to pay.
Thank you so much for your information!
They finally invented a golf ball that uses GPS signal to locate the hole, and then roll in….Just dont put it your back pocket.
I really like the tag Heuer app. It is free if you just want it on your phone, but using it on an Apple Watch is paid with a free trial. I’m considering moving to android and would like to know if it can be used (paid for) on a non-Tag android watch.
I’ve used GolfPad and Hole 19. GolfPad is a really nice tool with very accurate yardage and heaps of courses. The free version runs great on my android phone, but if I want to use it on my smartwatch, then you have to pay for the premium. Similarly, Hole 19 has a free version and a paid version. The free version does sync with my smartwatch and also has accurate GPS yardage. It’s a little more cumbersome to use than GolfPad but the most annoying part of Hole 19 is the incessant ads that you have to skip through while playing. Both apps’ premium service can be a bit pricey ($29 – $49). Would love to know of an app that is truly free without the annoying ads.
Hi Kona,
Thank you so much for your sharing!
If you know any other golf apps that are truly free, don’t hesitate to share with us and our readers.
Best regards,
Alice Pham.
Similarly, Hole 19 is free for two weeks then requires a subscription.
Hi Jeff,
Thank you so much for your precious information! We will updated our article accordingly!
Best regards,
Linh Chi
Oeps, forgot to mention; this is in Hole 19 App…
18 birdies is NOT free. It has a 1 week free trial, pathetic
Hi Jenny,
Thank you so much for your updated information! We have edited our article accordingly.
Have you ever tried other golf GPS apps? Feel free to share us and our readers your experience.
Best regards,
Linh Chi.