Comparison

GCBuddy vs Looking4Cache Pro

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

Looking4Cache Pro

Discover and log geocaches with extensive offline map support. This app allows you to search for geocaches, store them with all details for offline use, and log your finds with images and trackables. It features offline topographic maps and intelligent GPS accuracy to conserve battery.

Highlights
  • Search millions of geocaches
  • Offline map downloads (topo, OSM)
  • Log finds with images and trackables
  • Store geocaches for offline use
  • Import GPX and pocket queries
  • Fieldnote uploads
  • Team logging support
Features
Read full description

Looking4Cache is a app with a wide set of functions around the fascinating hobby geocaching. With direct access to over two million geocaches on Groundspeak´s Geocaching platform you can search for a box nearly everywhere. In seconds you can store geocaches including all informations like the last logs, the waypoints and the images to your device over the direct API access (for this please read the annotation on the bottom). Or you can import a gpx file or a pocket query. All data will be stored on your device for offline usage. Log your founds with images and trackables instantly or after your trip in the app. You can upload fieldnotes to the geocaching website too. And this not only for you but also for your complete team. One of the highlights of Looking4Cache are the offline maps from OpenStreetMap like you found nowhere else. Choose and download the maps including contour lines directly in the app and use them in dead spots or in foreign countries without roaming costs. You can download whole states or complete countries. With the ability to cache completely offline your battery will be conserved. To save more power the GPS accuracy will be switched based on the distance to your next target. Here a list of the key functions: Load Geocaches: - through the Geocaching Live API - load Pocket Queries and geocaching.com lists - import own GPX and GGZ files - GSAK database import (InApp purchase) - Live Map: See surrounding caches - GCVote integration - Supports corrected Coordinates and pers. Notes Manage lists: - add Geocaches to lists - use a lot of filers and sorts - swipe a cache to build lists for your next trip Maps: - Offline topo vector maps - Online OpenStreetMap, OpenCycleMap, Bing - Online Apple Maps - Send coordinates to other navigation apps Log Geocaches: - for multiple users - with a log drafts, multiple for each log type possible - log Travelbugs, with auto-visit too - save logs locally - Fieldnotes Geocachers: - Link to your local contact - Find telephone jokers Export: - Create and send GPX files Integration in iOS: - search for GC-Codes in Safari - open GPX files from mail Attention: To access the geocaches you need a user on Groundspeak´s Geocaching plattform (.com). According to your membership type the amount of data is restricted. Basic Members could load 3 full cache descriptions per day and up to 6000 basic descriptions. As a Basic Member the geocache search is restricted to traditional caches. To get full access and use all functions of this app you should have a premium account. Attention: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

Screenshots

GCBuddy4 screens
Looking4Cache Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Looking4Cache Pro at Free against GCBuddy's $6.99. Looking4Cache Pro also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.3) and review sentiment (91% vs 81%). GCBuddy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On update cadence, ads 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

Looking4Cache Pro is free to download; GCBuddy costs $6.99 up front. Looking4Cache Pro sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. GCBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Looking4Cache Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Looking4Cache Pro has 17 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of GCBuddy's written reviews are positive against 91% of Looking4Cache Pro's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
GCBuddy versus Looking4Cache Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGCBuddyLooking4Cache Pro
Price$6.99Free — better
Rating3.3 (3 ratings)4.5 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.7% of reviews91.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings317 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBtStSoftMichael Andreas May

Customer experience

GCBuddy

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

Looking4Cache Pro

All ratings17 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews46 reviews
Positive91.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative4.3%

In-app purchases

None

GCBuddy

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Looking4Cache Pro

One-time5
  • Hillshades$0.99
  • GSAK Import$1.99
  • Tip glass$1.99
Show 2 more
  • Tip glass$3.99
  • Tip glass$5.99

Questions

Is GCBuddy free?
GCBuddy costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Looking4Cache Pro free?
Looking4Cache Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GCBuddy or Looking4Cache Pro?
Looking4Cache Pro is rated higher. GCBuddy averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Looking4Cache Pro averages 4.5 from 17 ratings.
Do GCBuddy or Looking4Cache Pro have ads?
Neither GCBuddy nor Looking4Cache Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GCBuddy or Looking4Cache Pro?
GCBuddy ships an update every 2 months, and Looking4Cache Pro every 2 months. Most recently, GCBuddy was updated on September 26, 2026 and Looking4Cache Pro on September 1, 2026.

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