Comparison

GCBuddy vs Wherigo®

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

GCBuddy

This app helps geocachers solve multi-caches by recording values and automatically calculating waypoint coordinates. It also allows you to navigate to parking spots and view cache details offline.

Highlights
  • Automatic waypoint coordinate calculation
  • Offline cache management
  • Paperless caching with image downloads
  • Parking spot navigation
  • Built-in compass and map
  • Log directly to geocaching.com
Features
Read full description

GCBuddy is the perfect tool for the serious geocacher when solving multi-caches. With this application you can record all found values for A...Z and use them to automatically calculate new waypoint coordinates. The final cache coordinates are also calculated as soon as all required puzzles have been solved and entered. You can also record the exact spot where you parked your car or bike, so you can find it back after caching. FIRST LOOK: To get an idea of the functionality, read the Quick Start Guide on the gcbuddy.com website. List of possibilities: ========================== - Management of multiple caches in a list of downloaded caches - Download from geocaching.com, opencache.uk and other opencaching sites - Prepare a multi-cache at home, also possible on your PC or Mac using a simple web interface. - All images in the description are downloaded: paperless caching! - Navigate to the parking place - Enter answers to questions at each waypoint * Common text calculations like word value * Stack counting * Convert roman numbers - Change the value of an answer and immediately see the effect on a map with waypoints - Waypoints are automatically calculated using the values for A...Z - Location of the final cache is also calculated automatically in this way - Built-in compass/map for navigation to the next waypoint - Overview map with all waypoints - Warning by vibration or sound when you are near the waypoint - Accurately record data at a waypoint with your camera. - Album for each cache with the possibility to view the pictures with the ultra zoom photo viewer. - Notes can be entered before or during the cache - Log directly on geocaching.com after the find if you wish - Find your way back to the car park - Send an e-mail with all the information of a cache as backup or to a friend - Write with one click all cache information in the (online) personal cache note - Restore a cache from a backup e-mail - Protect a cache against changes - Backup/Restore via iCloud Problems/questions/feedback please send an e-mail (info@gcbuddy.com) so I can answer quickly.

About

Wherigo®

Embark on GPS-enabled real-world adventures. Navigate to physical locations to interact with virtual objects and characters. Download and play free cartridges at your own pace.

Highlights
  • GPS-enabled adventures
  • Interact with virtual objects
  • Navigate to physical locations
  • Download free cartridges
  • Cartridges do not expire
Features
Read full description

Play Wherigo™ cartridges on your iPhone! Wherigo™ cartridges are GPS-enabled adventures in the real world. Use GPS technology to guide you to physical locations and interact with virtual objects and characters. Download cartridges for free from the official Wherigo™ web site right from the app and play at your leisure. Note that cartridges are retained for as long as you need them and do not expire. Time estimates given on the web site and in the cartridge description are for expected playing time. 1) With newer devices, you can download cartridges with your computer and drag and drop to the Wherigo app folder in iTunes. 2) You can also drag and drop .gws files to upload with your browser if you have trouble uploading from the app. 3) Be sure to select "PocketPC" as the device when downloading cartridges for best results, although any device should work.

Screenshots

GCBuddy4 screens
Wherigo®4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Wherigo® at Free against GCBuddy's $6.99. Wherigo® also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (1K vs 3). GCBuddy's advantage is review sentiment (81% vs 42%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Wherigo® is free to download; GCBuddy costs $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Wherigo® holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Wherigo® has 1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of GCBuddy's written reviews are positive against 42% of Wherigo®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GCBuddy ships an update every 2 months, Wherigo® every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
GCBuddy versus Wherigo®: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGCBuddyWherigo®
Price$6.99Free — better
Rating3.3 (3 ratings)4.5 (1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.7% of reviews — better42.1% of reviews
Number of ratings31K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBtStSoftGroundspeak Inc.

Customer experience

GCBuddy

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews83 reviews
Positive80.7%
Neutral10.8%
Negative8.4%

Wherigo®

All ratings989 ratings
Positive87.3%
Neutral4.6%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews57 reviews
Positive42.1%
Neutral5.3%
Negative52.6%

Bugs and requests

GCBuddy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Wherigo®

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to download cartridges
  • Cartridges not showing up
  • App freezing and crashing
  • Login/authentication problems

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved Wherigo support
  • Better integration with Geocaching
  • Save state functionality

In-app purchases

None

GCBuddy

No in-app purchases

None

Wherigo®

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GCBuddy free?
GCBuddy costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Wherigo® free?
Wherigo® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GCBuddy or Wherigo®?
Wherigo® is rated higher. GCBuddy averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Wherigo® averages 4.5 from 1K ratings.
Do GCBuddy or Wherigo® have ads?
Neither GCBuddy nor Wherigo® shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GCBuddy or Wherigo®?
GCBuddy ships an update every 2 months, and Wherigo® every 4 months. Most recently, GCBuddy was updated on October 27, 2026 and Wherigo® on October 27, 2026.

Other comparisons