# GPS OS Grid Reference — Great Britain and Ireland

> Ordnance Survey grid reference finder for Great Britain and Ireland. (iPhone/iPad app by Tomstrails.com.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-os-grid-reference/id993436655 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Tomstrails.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/425642318)
- Category: Navigation, Health & Fitness
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.40/5 from 17 App Store ratings · 99 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 11 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-05-30
- Data updated: 2026-09-12
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-os-grid-reference/id993436655/reviews.md

## What is GPS OS Grid Reference?

GPS OS provides a fast and accurate way to locate your position on an Ordnance Survey map, both in Great Britain and Ireland.
• No phone signal required - works in the most remote locations.
• OSTN15 transform data for high conversion accuracy (better than 1m).
• 6, 8 and 10 figure grid references.
• A large, clear, high contrast display ensures you can easily read your position in any light conditions.
• Optimises the frequency of position updates depending on battery charge and speed of travel to make sure you can always make calls at the end of the day.
• Create waypoints from a map, your current location or manually enter Ordnance Survey coordinates.
• Explore waypoints and get directions in Apple Maps.
• Share waypoints with other apps or users.
• No adverts.

Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Includes OSTN15 transform data licensed with permission.
Copyright and database rights Ordnance Survey Limited 2016, ©Crown copyright and database rights Land and Property Services 2016 and/or ©Ordnance Survey Ireland, 2016. All rights reserved.

## Key features

- Offline map location
- Accurate grid references
- Waypoint creation and management
- High-contrast display
- Battery optimization
- Share waypoints

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Features | $5.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feature Pack - Compass & sharing features. | Free | one-time |


## What do users think of GPS OS Grid Reference?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🎯 Accurate grid references
- 🚀 Fast and quick updates
- 💡 Works without phone signal
- 🗺️ Useful for navigation and backup
- ✅ Does what it says on the tin
- 🌟 Clear and legible display
- 🆓 Free to use (mostly)
- 👍 Good for emergency services
- ⛰️ Helpful for outdoor activities
- 📱 Works on Apple Watch (some)
- 💯 Reliable performance
- 💡 No ads (for some)
- 👍 Lightweight and efficient

**Cons**

- 🐛 Blurry satellite maps
- 🧭 Compass not accurate
- 📉 Accuracy dropped recently
- 🗺️ No map data included
- 🚫 Cannot search locations
- Static page, no options
- 📍 Not useful outside of UK
- 📉 Accuracy varies indoors
- ⬆️ Letters smaller than numbers
- 🤷‍♂️ Cannot link to a map
- 💾 No ability to store/recall info
- ❓ Purchased better grade, no added functionality
- 🚫 No Apple Watch support (for some)
- 🐛 Location services dimmed/unusable (iOS)
- ❓ Lat/long display missing

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Waypoint finder satellite view is blurry
- Compass is not accurate
- Accuracy has dropped recently
- Location services permanently dimmed off (iOS)
- App does not work for users not in England

**Most requested features**

- Add map data and search functionality
- Improve satellite map clarity
- Add ability to view location on a map
- Enable navigation from point to point
- Add Apple Watch equivalent app
- Display latitude and longitude
- Add a dynamic display for accuracy improvement
- Implement time averaging for accuracy
- Allow copying grid reference to clipboard
- Add facility to store and recall reference information

## Recent user reviews (10 of 99)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-os-grid-reference/id993436655/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Perfect

*2026-08-02*

What an excellent app, I used to carry around my Garmin Etrex to mark find spots when I’m out metal detecting, now I just use this brilliant app, it uses the grid reference that Scottish treasure trove prefers for find spots-my only regret is that I wish I’d have found the app sooner, well done to the app developers for making this app.

**Developer response:** Thank you for your kind comments Lamoie, I am please you find the app useful. Happy hunting!

### 5/5 — Very useful

*2026-05-01, version 3.0.2*

I don’t use it often, but when I need it, it’s invaluable

### 1/5 — Not bad

*2026-04-24, version 3.0.2*

Not that bad of an app

### 4/5 — Good App

*2026-01-31, version 3.0.2*

Great app, however I’m finding that on the Waypoint finder in the map section when changed to Satellite it’s extremely blurry

### 5/5 — An Excellent Tool

*2025-12-13, version 3.0.2*

We find this perfect for marking up find spots whilst metal detecting!

### 5/5 — Os

*2025-11-24, version 3.0.2*

Excellent

### 5/5 — GPS coordinate’s

*2025-08-01, version 3.0.1*

This app didn’t let us down even in torrential rain swollen rivers on the Knoydart Peninsula thank you .

### 3/5 — Accuracy

*2025-07-24, version 3.0.1*

Compass not at all accurate.

### 5/5 — Great application

*2025-07-21, version 3.0.1*

Superb performance

### 5/5 — Super

*2025-07-16, version 3.0.1*

Great little app. Does just what you want.

## Frequently asked questions about GPS OS Grid Reference

### What does the GPS OS Grid Reference app do?

This app provides a fast and accurate way to determine your precise location on Ordnance Survey maps for Great Britain and Ireland. It works even in areas with no phone signal, making it ideal for remote locations. You can view your position, get grid references, and manage waypoints.

### What are the key features of this app?

Key features include offline map functionality, highly accurate OSTN15 transform data for precise grid references (6, 8, and 10 figure), a large high-contrast display for readability, optimized battery usage, the ability to create and manage waypoints, and the option to share waypoints.

### Is this app free to use?

The app is free to download and use, but it offers in-app purchases. This suggests that some advanced features or data might require an additional purchase to unlock.

### What devices is this app compatible with?

The description mentions features like 'Apple Maps' for directions and sharing with 'other apps or users', implying compatibility with iOS devices. It also highlights its ability to work without a phone signal, suggesting it relies on GPS hardware.

### Who would benefit from using this app?

This app is designed for individuals who need precise location data on Ordnance Survey maps, such as hikers, climbers, surveyors, emergency services, and anyone exploring remote areas of Great Britain and Ireland where mobile reception is unreliable.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.0.4 — 2026-08-11

Minor improvements to the interface.

### 3.0.3 — 2026-05-17

Improvements to the interface for iOS 26.

### 3.0.2 — 2025-11-19

Support for iOS 26.

### 3.0.1 — 2025-07-09

Create, edit and organize Ordnance Survey waypoints. Share with other apps and users.

### 3.0.0 — 2025-07-08

Create, edit and organize Ordnance Survey waypoints. Share with other apps and users.

## Apps similar to GPS OS Grid Reference

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [GPS Tracks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-tracks/id425589565) | 4.7 (17,491) | Free | Navigation |
| [MilGPS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/milgps/id405835358) | 4.8 (5,517) | $12.99 | Navigation |
| [onX Hunt: GPS Hunting Maps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onx-hunt-gps-hunting-maps/id672902340) | 4.9 (274,343) | Free | Navigation |
| [3D Offline Maps: GPS tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-offline-maps-gps-tracker/id1629505231) | 4.6 (638) | Free | Navigation |
| [Tomstrails GPS UTM](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tomstrails-gps-utm/id1004370364) | 4.8 (1,599) | Free | Navigation |
| [Topo GPS - Topographic maps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/topo-gps-topographic-maps/id578960575) | 4.5 (463) | Free | Navigation |

## More apps by Tomstrails.com

- [Tomstrails GPS Duo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tomstrails-gps-duo/id425642315)
- [Tomstrails GPS UTM](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tomstrails-gps-utm/id1004370364)
- [Cotswold Walks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cotswold-walks/id1279020717)
- [Cornwall Walks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cornwall-walks/id1411191127)
- [Lake District Walks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lake-district-walks/id1463266357)

All apps by Tomstrails.com: https://appshunter.io/developer/425642318

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-12.*