# TR vs Garmin Alpha

The clearest difference is rating: TR at 5.0 against Garmin Alpha's 3.7. TR also leads on monetization model (free vs subscription) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Garmin Alpha's advantage is ratings volume (137 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

TR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin Alpha has 137 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

TR ships an update fortnightly, Garmin Alpha monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TR | Garmin Alpha |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tr-dog/id1626062954/reviews)** | [3.7 (137 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-alpha/id6449200205/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **137** |
| Positive reviews | — | 27.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 84 MB | 478 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Shenzhen qiyue technology co.,ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1623545243) | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) |

## What reviewers say

### TR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tr-dog/id1626062954)

Track your dog's location and historical routes with this app, which works with compatible collar devices. It allows for offline map downloads, waypoint marking, and geofencing with alarm notifications. Manage your dog collar list and ensure you can always find your way back.

**Highlights:** Real-time dog collar position tracking, Historical track playback, Offline map downloads, Waypoint marking, Geofencing with alarms, Dog collar list management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Garmin Alpha

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-alpha/id6449200205)

Track your dog's movements using cellular technology and your smartphone. This app works with a compatible Garmin dog tracking system to provide real-time location data and navigation features.

**Highlights:** Cellular dog tracking, Smartphone integration, VHF tracking signal support, Integrated mapping, Waypoint marking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Peace of mind for dog owners
- 👍 Good technology for hunting
- 👍 Easy to use software
- 👍 Good maps
- 👍 Customer service is second to none

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Many bugs currently
- 🐛 New update needs tweaking
- 🐛 New update is garbage
- 🐛 Map options don't work
- 🐛 Lost functionality from old app

**Reported bugs**

- Cursor lag on opening
- No distance, heading, or name on map when tracking dog
- Tracks won't clear
- Green screen when satellite map selected
- Unable to view any data from Alpha 10 on the map

**Requested features**

- Add yards as a unit of measure
- Add watch app
- Option to make corrections directly from the app
- Easier to switch between Bluetooth devices
- Option to connect multiple devices at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TR free?

TR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Garmin Alpha free?

Garmin Alpha is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TR or Garmin Alpha?

TR is rated higher. TR averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Garmin Alpha averages 3.7 from 137 ratings.

### Do TR or Garmin Alpha have ads?

Neither TR nor Garmin Alpha shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TR or Garmin Alpha?

TR ships an update fortnightly, and Garmin Alpha monthly. Most recently, TR was updated on October 24, 2026 and Garmin Alpha on November 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*