The best golf app depends on what you want help with: yardages on the course, keeping score and a handicap, or analysing your swing. Check which features are free, whether it works on your watch, and what's allowed in competition. Ten apps follow in no particular order, with a setup routine.
Most golfers download an app for yardages and then find they use something else entirely: the scorecard, the games with friends, or the swing camera on the range. It helps to know which of those you care about before you pick, because the apps are built around different jobs.
These ten apps are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and nearly all are made by smaller specialist companies. Each description comes from the app's own website or store listing, re-checked today. If you film your swing on a phone, it's worth learning how to set the iPhone camera timer so you can record yourself.
Golf apps side by side
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own site or store listing describes a free app or free version, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated. Most free golf apps sell a premium tier with extra features such as club advice or 3D views.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18Birdies | GPS and scorecard app | All-round GPS, scoring and games | Yes |
| Golf GameBook | Scorecard and social app | Group scoring and friendly games | Yes |
| Golf Pad | Rangefinder and stats app | Distances and stats on a watch | Yes |
| GolfLogix | 3D course GPS | 3D hole flyovers and putt lines | Yes |
| Golfshot | GPS and shot tracking | Auto shot tracking on Apple Watch | Yes |
| Hole19 | Golf GPS app | Course GPS with watch sync | Yes |
| Swing Profile | Swing analysis app | Recording and replaying your swing | Yes |
| SwingU | GPS and caddie app | Club advice and course management | Yes |
| TheGrint | Handicap and score app | Keeping a handicap in the US | Yes |
| V1 Golf | Swing video app | Video lessons and coach reviews | Yes |
Ten golf apps worth a look
18Birdies
Best for: Weekend golfers who want course GPS, a digital scorecard and side games with friends in one free app.
Golf GameBook
Best for: Groups who play regularly together and want shared live scorecards, game formats and a feed of rounds.
Golf Pad
Best for: Players who want free distances and stat tracking on a phone or smartwatch, with optional tags for clubs.
GolfLogix
Best for: Golfers who like to preview each hole in 3D before teeing off and read putting greens on screen.
Golfshot
Best for: Apple Watch owners who want shots tracked automatically while they play, with GPS and stats on the wrist.
Hole19
Best for: Anyone who mostly wants accurate yardages and a tidy scorecard, with the option to add premium insights later.
Swing Profile
Best for: Range regulars who want their phone to record and replay each swing automatically so they can spot faults.
SwingU
Best for: Mid-handicappers who want a digital caddie with club suggestions and course management tips on top of free GPS.
TheGrint
Best for: Social players in the US who want to post scores and keep a handicap record alongside GPS maps.
V1 Golf
Best for: Golfers working with a coach who want slow-motion swing video, drawing tools and a library of model swings.
The Rules of Golf limit on app features
Before you rely on an app in a competition, it's worth reading this. The R&A's Rule 4.3a(1) says getting distance or direction information from a distance-measuring device or compass is allowed. Measuring elevation changes is not allowed, and neither is using a device to get a recommended line of play or club selection based on where your ball lies.
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What that means for you: yardages are fine, but slope readings and club suggestions aren't, unless the competition's Local Rule says otherwise. Many golf apps have exactly those features, so switch them off before a counting round.
GPS, scoring or swing: which kind you need
Golf apps fall into three rough camps. GPS apps give you distances to the front, middle and back of the green, plus hazards, and they're the ones most people start with. Scoring and social apps keep a shared card, run side games and track your stats over a season. Swing apps use the camera to record and replay your swing, so you can see what you're doing rather than guess.
You don't need one of each. If you're a casual player, a free GPS app with a scorecard covers most of it. If you're working on your game, a swing app you open on the range every week will do more for your scores than any map.
Getting a golf app ready before your round
- Download the app and find your home course before you leave the house.
- Download the course map for offline use in case signal drops on the back nine.
- Pair your watch if you'll use one, and check yardages appear on the wrist.
- Turn off slope and club suggestions if it's a competition round.
- Set up your playing partners if you want a shared scorecard or side games.
- After the round, check your score saved before you close the app.
Getting more from a swing camera
- Keep the angle the same. Film from face-on or down the line every time, so swings are comparable.
- Line the shot up. Turning on the camera grid on an iPhone helps you keep the club and body square in the frame.
- Compare, don't obsess. Look at one change at a time rather than ten.
- Save your good swings. A clip of a swing that worked is the best reference you'll have.
Do you make a golf app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice for choosing a golf app
If you just want yardages, start with a free GPS app and play three rounds with it before paying for anything. If you play with the same group each week, a shared scorecard app with games will probably get more use than fancy maps.
For improvement, a swing video app on the range does more than any stat. Film from the same angle each time, compare a good swing with a bad one, and keep the competition settings in mind whenever the round counts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free golf app?
Several apps here offer free GPS yardages and scorecards, with upgrades for extras like 3D flyovers or club advice.
Can I use a golf GPS app in competitions?
Distance information is allowed under the Rules of Golf, but slope and club recommendations are not, unless a Local Rule says otherwise.
Do golf apps work without phone signal?
Many let you download a course before you play, so yardages still work when signal is weak.
Can a golf app keep my handicap?
Some apps help you post scores and track a handicap. Check how your national golf body handles official handicap records.
Is a swing analysis app worth it?
If you practise on a range, yes. Recording and replaying your swing helps you spot faults a coach would point out.
Do I need a smartwatch for a golf app?
No. Most work on a phone alone, but a watch saves you taking the phone out on every shot.
