Comparison

GridPoint GB vs Spine Guide

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

Head to head
About

GridPoint GB

Locate yourself on a paper Ordnance Survey map using your iPhone's GPS and compass, even without mobile reception. It provides your grid reference and heading, with accurate coordinate conversions. Features include Apple Watch integration, location sharing, and sunset/sunrise times.

Highlights
  • GPS and compass for location
  • Accurate coordinate conversions
  • Apple Watch app and complication
  • Location sharing
  • Sunset and sunrise times
  • Distress signal
Features
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If you have a paper Ordnance Survey (OS) map, GridPoint GB makes it easy to locate yourself β€” even when you've got no mobile reception. The app uses your iPhone's GPS and compass to provide your current grid reference and heading, and illustrates how to use this to locate yourself on the map. Coordinate conversions are implemented via OS's OSTN02, accurate to within 1m. The app also: * Includes an Apple Watch app and associated complication * Reports full numerical easting and northing, tetrad, raw latitude/longitude, a nearby postcode, and various heading parameters * Has a sharing facility so you can share, copy or store your location * Calculates next sunset and sunrise times * Can emit a distress signal, just in case All features are free to use β€” the in-app purchase is simply a tip you can give the developer to show appreciation. For details and instructions, please see http://mackerron.com/gridpointgb/ Please note: this app works ONLY in Britain (i.e. England, Scotland or Wales). It does not operate in other parts of the UK or British Isles and cannot provide coordinates in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, since a different coordinate system is used.

About

Spine Guide

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Welcome to Sheffield Innovation Spine - your energised urban innovation district in the centre of Sheffield, UK. Powered by two leading universities, global businesses and a flourishing cluster of startups and spinouts, we connect people, ideas and research in spaces that inspire. Get to know the Spine with our dedicated app, featuring a directory of local businesses and innovation hubs, a self-guided walking tour and a changing programme of events guides. Whether you live, work, study or want to invest in the Spine, the app provides information about the people and activities which bring the Spine to life. The Spine Guide includes the official guide to Open Doors 2026, happening on October 20th. This free event is for curious people to explore Sheffield Innovation Spine. Meet with people innovating, making and doing cool stuff from Sheffield's specialist lab, studio and coworking spaces. Download the Spine Guide now to unlock exclusive content about the people, businesses, buildings and neighbourhoods which make Sheffield an amazing and innovative place. The app is GPS-enabled. This feature is used to show you relevant content based on your location. Note that you do not need to be at the locations in Sheffield featured in order to access the app content. The app also optionally uses Location Services to determine your location when the app is running in the background. It will trigger notifications when you are close to a location of interest. However, as with all apps that use location, please note that continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. During Open Doors 2026 on 20th October, content in the app is β€˜unlocked’ by interacting with NFC tags at physical locations within Sheffield. Each scan will earn the user points. The user can optionally choose to join the event leaderboard, and a chance to win a Β£100 gift card.

Screenshots

GridPoint GB4 screens
Spine Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Spine Guide at none against GridPoint GB's 3. Spine Guide also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 16 months). GridPoint GB's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. GridPoint GB sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Spine Guide asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GridPoint GB ships an update every 16 months, Spine Guide daily. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 5 level
GridPoint GB versus Spine Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGridPoint GBSpine Guide
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews72.3% of reviewsβ€”
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsDaily β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesβ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 β€” better15.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size23 MB176 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperGeorge MacKerronLlama Digital

In-app purchases

3 purchases

GridPoint GB

One-time3
  • Magnificent tip$2.99
  • Majestic tip$4.99
  • Monumental tip$8.99
None

Spine Guide

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GridPoint GB free?
GridPoint GB is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Spine Guide free?
Spine Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do GridPoint GB or Spine Guide have ads?
Neither GridPoint GB nor Spine Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GridPoint GB or Spine Guide?
GridPoint GB ships an update every 16 months, and Spine Guide daily. Most recently, GridPoint GB was updated on October 23, 2026 and Spine Guide on October 13, 2026.

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