# GPS Tracks vs GPS OS Grid Reference

The clearest difference is update cadence: GPS Tracks at fortnightly against GPS OS Grid Reference's every 3 months. GPS Tracks also leads on ratings volume (18K vs 17) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GPS Tracks sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year and GPS OS Grid Reference sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

GPS Tracks holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GPS Tracks has 18K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of GPS Tracks's written reviews are positive against 90% of GPS OS Grid Reference's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

GPS Tracks ships an update fortnightly, GPS OS Grid Reference every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GPS Tracks | GPS OS Grid Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-tracks/id425589565/reviews)** | [4.4 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-os-grid-reference/id993436655/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | 88.1% of reviews | **89.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#66** | — |
| Size | 107 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Morneault](https://appshunter.io/developer/385491802) | [Tomstrails.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/425642318) |

## What reviewers say

### GPS Tracks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-tracks/id425589565)

**Currently charting:** #66 Top Grossing · Navigation, #177 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

This app allows users to track outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and running. It enables navigation to waypoints, storage of favorite destinations, and offers advanced features for route planning and data export with a subscription.

**Highlights:** Track hiking, biking, running, and walking routes, Navigate to saved waypoints, Store and manage favorite destinations, Offline map downloads, Export tracks and waypoints (GPX, KML, CSV), Real-time track sharing, Apple Watch app for direct activity tracking

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GPS Tracks Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| GPS Tracks Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Datum Add-On Pack | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate GPS tracking
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 💡 Versatile features for various activities
- 🚀 Responsive customer support
- 👍 Reliable and consistent performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data security
- 👎 Offline maps not fully functional

**Reported bugs**

- Tracks disappearing after updates
- GPS coordinates not always accurate
- Difficulty deleting unwanted waypoints

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit waypoint names
- Improved map synchronization across devices
- Integration with popular fitness apps
- Landscape map view option
- Automatic activity tracking without user interaction


### GPS OS Grid Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-os-grid-reference/id993436655)

This app accurately pinpoints your location on Ordnance Survey maps for Great Britain and Ireland, even without a phone signal. It offers precise grid references, waypoint creation, and navigation features. The display is designed for clarity in all lighting conditions, and it optimizes battery usage.

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

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Features | $5.99 | per year |
| Feature Pack - Compass & sharing features. | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🎯 Accurate grid references
- 🚀 Fast and quick updates
- 💡 Works without phone signal
- 🗺️ Useful for navigation and backup

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Blurry satellite maps
- 🧭 Compass not accurate
- 📉 Accuracy dropped recently
- 🗺️ No map data included
- 🚫 Cannot search locations

**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

**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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GPS Tracks free?

GPS Tracks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is GPS OS Grid Reference free?

GPS OS Grid Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, GPS Tracks or GPS OS Grid Reference?

GPS Tracks is rated higher. GPS Tracks averages 4.7 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while GPS OS Grid Reference averages 4.4 from 17 ratings.

### Do GPS Tracks or GPS OS Grid Reference have ads?

Neither GPS Tracks nor GPS OS Grid Reference shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GPS Tracks or GPS OS Grid Reference?

GPS Tracks ships an update fortnightly, and GPS OS Grid Reference every 3 months. Most recently, GPS Tracks was updated on September 25, 2026 and GPS OS Grid Reference on September 22, 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.*