App comparison · 2026
| Golf Pad | 18Birdies | Golfshot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid plan, per year | Premium $39.99 | Premium $99.99 | Pro $79.99 (Champions $99.99) |
| Other billing | Not applicable | $19.99 per month, 7-day trial | No monthly price listed |
| Free GPS | Rangefinder and aerial maps | Front, center and back of green, plus hazards, targets and layups | Center of green with basic hole info, with ads |
| Free shot tracking | Yes | Manual only | Shot and club tracking |
| Club recommendations | Premium | Premium | Pro |
| Courses | 43,000+ | Not published on its pricing page | Pro distances on 40,000+ |
Sources: golfshot.com/get-pro, 18birdies.com/premium, 18Birdies Premium help page and Golf Pad product facts. Checked Nov 2, 2026.
All three give you GPS yardage, so the free tier is where they differ. 18Birdies gives you front, center and back of the green plus hazards and layups for free, which is generous. Golfshot's free tier shows the center of the green with basic hole info and ads, and moves real-time hazard and target distances behind Pro. Golf Pad's free rangefinder comes with aerial maps, so you see the hole and not just a number.
Shot tracking is where I see the biggest gap for everyday players. 18Birdies free tracking is manual, and its automatic Smart Tracking is Premium. Golfshot includes shot and club tracking in the free edition. Golf Pad includes shot tracking free, and it is the only golf GPS app with both Golf Pad Click (a Bluetooth button with single and double click actions and audio callouts) and Golf Pad TAGS (a chip on each grip: tap your phone to the grip and the shot and club log automatically). That means less time with your phone out between shots.
All three apps run on Apple Watch, so you can check distances and keep score from your wrist. For more, see our Apple Watch golf GPS guide.
This is where 18Birdies earns its price. Premium adds Strokes Gained, advanced stats and benchmarks, shot dispersion insights, an AI Swing Analyzer and personalized drills. Golfshot Champions at $99.99 a year adds Swing ID on the range and a library of 350-plus coaching videos from Revolution Golf. Golf Pad Premium adds PLAYS LIKE distance, club recommendations and advanced stats for $39.99 a year. If AI swing tools are the reason you are shopping, 18Birdies is the stronger pick.
Over a year, Golf Pad Premium costs $39.99, Golfshot Pro costs $79.99, and 18Birdies Premium costs $99.99. That is $40 to $60 a year more for the other two. Golf Pad also offers a 14-day Premium trial, so you can test the paid features before you spend anything.
Which golf GPS app is best for free?
Golf Pad. Its free tier includes the rangefinder, scoring, aerial maps and shot tracking.
How much does Golfshot Pro cost?
$79.99 a year, or $99.99 a year for Champions, per golfshot.com/get-pro.
How much does 18Birdies Premium cost?
$99.99 a year or $19.99 a month, each with a 7-day free trial, per 18birdies.com/premium.
Is 18Birdies or Golfshot better?
18Birdies has stronger stats and AI swing tools. Golfshot has 3D flyovers and Pro hazard distances. Both cost more than Golf Pad Premium.
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