Best free golf apps to use on the course

Golf is a complicated game, especially for new players. Thankfully, as a result of technology upgrades in the golf industry, there are more tools available to help players than there’s ever been before.

One popular new technology in the last decade is the rise of free golf GPS apps. The best GPS apps for golf are available on your phone and provide course mapping, which allows you to get yardages from the green and swing more confidently. These apps started as a basic map of the course, but have evolved over the past couple of years. There are a lot of features in the apps on the market today, despite the common theme of keeping access to the golf GPS apps free.

So, what are the best free golf GPS apps?

18 Birdies

There are scores of free golf apps on the market. One of the better-known golf GPS apps is called 18 Birdies. It has a free version, as well as a premium subscription. The free version includes GPS mapping, in-app scoring, and connectivity with friends for a robust social feed. The premium tier allows for more advanced swing analysis, 3D green maps, club recommendations, and a live coach. View the full list of Premium features

The Grint

Another of the golf course navigation apps is called The Grint. It links to your USGA handicap and offers competitive events amongst friends or groups. The free version includes scoring, basic statistics, maps, and a shot tracker. The pro version for an upgraded monthly payment unlocked advanced statistics, an unlimited number of friends you can connect with, and green mapping.

Hole 19

Hole19 is another software used for course mapping. In addition to the free GPS mapping and scoring, there’s also a head-to-head feature you can use with your friends when you play. The upgraded version contains distances that adjust for slope, watch compatibility, and an augmented reality feature for iPhone users. View premium features.

SwingU

We also have SwingU, which has multiple tiers of paid subscriptions. The basic tier includes the usual GPS features, a handicap, and a content feed. The upgraded versions have many similar features to the previous options, as well as training and practice resources, personalized recommendations, and an analytical web portal for players who want to deep dive into their data, Bryson-style. View Pro Version

GolfNow Compete

Finally, there is GolfNow Compete, which is a product of GolfNow. The app itself doesn’t have a premium version, but the company also operates GolfPass, a subscription service with access to deals on tee times. In addition to the standard features and this tee time access, GolfNow Compete also offers a content feed for players.

All of these free golf rangefinder apps have very similar features, aimed at topping the list of apps for improving golf accuracy and lowering scores for users. Golf GPS app reviews show many of these apps ranked closely together, with only minimal variation in what users think of one app compared to another.

Coming April 2025: The GolfN difference

There is a new option coming to the market of free golf apps for iPhone and Android. GolfN is another of these free apps to track golf scores and distances, but with some added features that aren’t present in the other options on the market. It aims to be one of the best golf GPS apps for accuracy and provide users with the best golf GPS tools on the market. By creating even more ways to connect with both friends and the game of golf in the app, all with fewer upcharges than other options on the market, GolfN is working towards launching their beta soon, where players will be able to experience a wider variety of ways to connect on the course, as well as increasing community experiences and rewards that are redeemable even after that final putt is made on the 18th green.

In addition to the golf GPS app with a distance tracker and scorecard, as well as social and community features, the real differentiator in the GolfN app is the inclusion digital golf collectibles and rewards. Golfers will be able to earn points in the GolfN app and then redeem them on digital and physical golf items and experiences.

GolfN will be shortly releasing its app into beta for golfers looking for a new free golf GPS download with even more features and ways to enjoy the game with friends.

So, with all of these additional features, will GolfN still be amongst the best golf GPS apps for beginners? A beginner may not need every feature to start with, but access to more features will be helpful as their game grows. The swing analysis and social aspects of GolfN will help players as they start their journey in the game of golf, and as a golf app for course navigation, new players will start their career having as much information at their fingertips as they can process, making it easier than ever for new golfers to make informed decisions on the course.

GolfN already has an active community of golf enthusiasts who love to discuss what’s happening in the game of golf, as well as the ways that new technology can add to the experience of the game that is loved by so many around the world. Another benefit of GolfN will be access to golfers all around the world, who can connect, meet, and help to support one another in everyone’s never-ending quest to lower their golf handicap.

If you’re looking for the newest way to advance your game, meet fellow golfers, earn golf rewards, and enjoy the latest that technology has to offer, sign up for the GolfN beta today!