Best Golf GPS Apps 2026
We run down the best golf GPS apps that offer accurate yardages as well as many other useful features
Technology is such a huge part of golf these days and your smartphone has the ability to download a whole range of top golf apps to help you play better golf and just make the game a little easier whether that's on the course, or when practicing. The best golf GPS technology combines with your smartphone to give you a clearer picture of the golf hole ahead.
A great golf app nowadays is like having a pro caddie in your pocket. You get highly detailed satellite maps that pinpoint every bunker and water hazard, plus the front, middle, and back yardages everyone needs to hit more greens and shoot lower scores. Some apps even feature A.I Club Suggestions which learn exactly how far you hit each iron and tell you what to pull for your next shot.
Best Golf GPS Apps
Working in tandem with the Arccos' Smart Sensors, Arccos caddie offers a ton of data that you can look at and use to help you play your best golf. The application automatically tracks your shots and data and gives advice on how to strategize around a golf course. After logging five or more rounds, Arccos will get truly familiar with your game, we found the information given to be very accurate and would definitely recommend using it.
Another huge benefit of the Arccos app is that once your round is over, an in-depth insight into performance through the strokes-gained algorithm is available. For those looking to improve, this is invaluable and has allowed us to practice more efficiently in the areas where we actually lose shots. For that reason this application is great for any golfer looking to improve their scores on the golf course.
The GPS app from Motocaddy is completely free to use and will offer up key distances including front, middle and back yardages, hazard information and hole data like flyovers for more than 40,000 courses around the world. We like the redesign it has been given since its initial launch, as well as the incredible lifesaving AED and CPR features for golfers in the UK and Ireland. The biggest plus point, for us anyway, is its ability to track stats, which helps golfers learn more about their games.
We found the yardages given to be mostly accurate, although there was the odd exception. On the whole though, this a solid and user-friendly golf GPS app that doesn't cost a penny and, although Motocaddy maybe famous for producing some of the best electric golf trolleys on the market it certainly knows a thing or two about creating a superb GPS app.
The 18Birdies app is one of the most popular golf apps you can download and provides an immersive experience through high-quality satellite imagery and a movable cursor for precise yardages to any point on the course. The free version offers significant value, including access to over 43,000 pre-loaded courses, digital scorecards with automatic handicap calculation, and social features like live scoring and friend connections.
Like most apps in this guide, paying a membership fee unlocks another side to the technology on offer. The premium membership on 18Birdies includes advanced performance tools such as an AI Swing Analyzer, strokes gained analysis, and 3D green maps. This app is best suited for those who play cart golf or for players playing a new course for the first time as it will mean you're staring at your phone a lot during your round (something that, personally, I'm not a big fan of). Nevertheless, this app is one of the most comprehensive golf apps available.
Bushnell are one of the best in the game when it comes to producing laser rangefinders and it's application is free to download for Apple and Android users. The app allows you to use your smartphone for GPS distances on 38,000 courses around the world while also showing 3D graphic layouts of each hole.
For those that like to enter their scores as they play, this is really easily done and can help the user track trends in their game. Analyzing swing speed is also possible while there are some nice fitness perks. For example, daily steps can be monitored as can average speed, pace and distance for people who enjoy running and/or cycling. While you’re here, why not check out our guide on the best Bushnell golf rangefinders, too.
Much like the 18Birdies app, the Shot Scope app delivers brilliantly detailed course maps as well as course previews and 'MyStrategy', features that help golfers navigate the course and make better decisions.
Whether you're using a watch on your wrist, a handheld attached to your belt, or even your mobile phone in your pocket, the app allows for easily achievable shot tracking to help you understand your distances and overall game. This shot tracking then gives you yardages for each club including longest, average and performance-average numbers.
As for the MyStrategy mode, it helps generates a dispersion cone with a right or left tendency based on every tee shot taken by the user for an elite level of course management.
Golfshot has over four million members and provides accurate and real-time distances to greens, hazards and other targets on more than 45,000 courses around the world. It also comes with the ability to input your score on each hole for those who prefer that to getting your scorecard out.
Detailed statistics are also at your fingertips, meaning golfers will be able to learn more about their game than ever before. The best feature, however, comes in the form of Golfshot’s AR (Augmented Reality). This turns your phone camera into a detailed 360-degree course map, enabling users to identify targets and hazards and plot their way round the course like never before.
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One of the most widely used GPS golf apps in the game, Hole 19 offers a staggering amount of features and is completely free! The application has over 42,000 courses mapped and delivers players precise GPS distances to the green, hazards and also gives you a complete overview of the hole from a birds-eye map. You don't need an internet connection either and we've found that it isn't too draining on your battery life.
For those with an Apple Watch, Hole 19 also works for free on your wearable device and broadcasts distances as well as allowing you to keep track of your scoring from your watch. If you want to have an even more immersive experience with the Hole 19 app, a premium membership options is available. The premium membership comes with an initial 14-day free trial and then costs $7.99 a month from there - or you can save money with a year membership for $49.99.
VPAR is much more than just a GPS app, although it will give you accurate distances on more than 30,000 courses around the world. Its real standout feature, aside from the GPS aspect, is the ability to play tournaments and set up matches with friends or in larger society groups.
It shows live leaderboards and genuinely adds something to a tournament round. As well as strokeplay, it also supports matchplay and stableford formats. And for those who want to get serious about their golf, a host of performance stats can be analyzed to inform your practice and make tangible improvements in the areas where it's most needed. They can all help you tailor and improve your swing so that you can perform better on the golf course.
How to choose the right golf GPS app for you
Features
While most apps provide basic yardages and hazard locations, the level of visual detail varies significantly. You must decide whether you prefer a minimalist 2D layout with clean, easy-to-read numbers for quick decisions, or an immersive 3D interface that offers high-resolution course flyovers and a deeper perspective on hole architecture.
Ease of use
An app is only useful if it’s easy to navigate while you’re standing on the fairway. We suggest downloading a few of our recommended picks to see which one 'clicks' for you. Look for a clean design where the yardages are bold and the menus are simple.
GPS maps
The value of a golf GPS app is directly tied to the breadth of its database and the depth of its tactical mapping. While global leaders like 18Birdies and Hole19 now boast coverage for over 43,000 courses, you should verify that your specific local tracks are mapped with high-resolution detail.
Shot tracking features
Shot tracking and smart scorecards are becoming essential for any golfer who wants to improve, as they reveal the real-world stats behind every round. By capturing your true club averages and miss patterns, these apps take the guesswork out of your game.
Compete and share rounds with your friends
Apps like 18Birdies feature dedicated social feeds . You can post photos of your round, share your ;shot of the day' and follow other golfers, including pros and celebrities, to see their live stats. It unlocks another layer of features for those who look for it.
If you're looking to improve as a player, why not also check out our buyers guides on some of the best golf gadgets and best golf launch monitors that you can use alongside these apps to help you play.
FAQs
How do I download a golf GPS app?
Many of the golf apps we have included here will be available through your smartphone on an app store, such as Apple Store, Samsung Galaxy Store, or Google. To download you would simply click on the download icon and use your login information that you first used to set up the phone.
What is the best golf GPS app?
There are lots of high-quality golf apps on the market right now so the best would come down what a particular person is after. For shot-tracking and data analysis, the Arccos Caddie app is hard to beat, whereas if you want an app with a whole range of features the Motocaddy GPS App is an excellent choice. We have included some more of our favorites in our handy guide.
Do I need Wifi to use an app?
Initial configuration of your golf GPS platform requires a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to download the global course database and high-resolution satellite assets.
How accurate are golf GPS apps?
The tech in your phone is powered by the same experts who build pro-grade lasers, meaning brands like Bushnell and SkyCaddie have poured their engineering into apps that provide pinpoint yardages and hazard data.
