# Golf Channel vs USGA

The clearest difference is ads: USGA at none against Golf Channel's shown. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Golf Channel against 4.7 for USGA. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32K and 22K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 29% of Golf Channel's written reviews are positive against 37% of USGA's.

Golf Channel ships an update every 5 weeks, USGA every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Golf Channel | USGA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (32K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/golf-channel/id466053027/reviews) | **[4.7 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usga/id1612139159/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **32K** | 22K |
| Positive reviews | 28.9% of reviews | **36.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 145 MB | 218 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Versant Media LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840809836) | [United States Golf Association](https://appshunter.io/developer/319204553) |

## What reviewers say

### Golf Channel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/golf-channel/id466053027)

Access live golf tournament coverage from major tours, including PGA and LPGA. Get breaking news, video highlights, expert analysis, and interviews. Watch and listen to the best golf content anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Live tournament coverage, Major championship news, Video highlights and interviews, Expert analysis, 24/7 Golf Channel stream, Women's golf coverage

**In-app purchases:** none


### USGA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/usga/id1612139159)

Stream live golf coverage of featured groups and track real-time scores for all USGA championships. Follow your favorite players with personalized updates and access on-site tools for attendees, including mobile ticketing and course maps.

**Highlights:** Free live streaming of featured groups, Real-time scoring and statistics, Personalized player tracking with AI recaps, Mobile ticketing and on-site tools, Full-screen vertical story highlights, Latest tee times and push notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive user interface
- 🚀 Smooth live streaming
- 📊 Detailed course and player information
- 💡 Useful features like shot tracing and maps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
- ⚠️ Constant update prompts with no actual updates available
- 🔋 High battery drain during live streaming
- 📱 Readability issues on smaller screens
- 🚫 Lack of Chromecast support

**Reported bugs**

- Glitches with adding/removing favorite players
- Inability to navigate back in the app
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Auto-refresh function for leaderboards and scoring
- Ability to customize favorite players
- More comprehensive live coverage and video highlights


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Golf Channel free?

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

### Is USGA free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Golf Channel or USGA?

USGA is rated higher. Golf Channel averages 4.6 out of 5 from 32K ratings, while USGA averages 4.7 from 22K ratings.

### Do Golf Channel or USGA have ads?

Golf Channel shows ads; USGA does not.

### Which is updated more often, Golf Channel or USGA?

Golf Channel ships an update every 5 weeks, and USGA every 3 weeks. Most recently, Golf Channel was updated on November 2, 2026 and USGA on November 2, 2026.

---

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