Comparison

GHIN vs Garmin Golf

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

Head to head
About

GHIN

Track your golf scores, analyze your game statistics, and utilize GPS course maps with advanced features. This official app helps golfers manage their handicaps and compete with friends.

Highlights
  • Score Posting
  • Stat Tracking
  • Course Maps & GPS
  • Handicap Calculator
  • Group Score Keeping
  • Apple Watch Integration
Features
Read full description

GHIN is the app built for golfers by the USGA — post scores, track your Handicap Index®, play with GPS, and see the stats that show how your game is trending. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Post scores and track stats — Update your Handicap Index by posting total or hole-by-hole scores, with the option to track fairways, greens in regulation, and putts. • Play a round with GPS: simplified setup, richer course graphics, one-handed scoring, or switch to a simple digital Scorecard if you'd rather skip GPS • See your game in the new Stats section: recent trends, score history, hole-by-hole, advanced stats, and course-specific performance • Set up and play fair matches against other golfers with a Handicap Index — including front nine / back nine / overall results • Compete on virtual leaderboards through Challenges, at select courses through your Allied Golf Association • Play hands-free — track your whole round right from your Apple Watch GETTING STARTED & UPGRADES • Start with a Free Trial: post 3 scores to get an Estimated Handicap Range, and continue posting for 30 days after that • Enhanced GPS is available as a premium upgrade — Green Maps and front/back yardages on your phone, plus hazard and layup yardages on Apple Watch. • Membership through an Allied Golf Association is required for full app functionality Terms of Service - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy - https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/Handicap-ghin/ghin-privacy-policy.html

About

Garmin Golf

Enhance your golf performance by tracking rounds, competing with friends on global leaderboards, and analyzing your game with detailed stats. Unlock advanced features like virtual rounds and green contour mapping with an optional membership.

Highlights
  • Track golf rounds
  • Compete on global leaderboards
  • Analyze course and performance stats
  • Set up custom tournaments
  • View shot maps and green contours
  • Virtual rounds with launch monitor
  • Swing video storage
Features
Read full description

However you want to elevate your golf game, the Garmin Golf app has you covered. You can track your rounds and compete with your friends and fellow golfers on weekly leaderboards at more than 43,000 courses around the world. You can also set up your own tournament events and invite your friends to play along. Once you pair your phone with an Approach®, fēnix® or another compatible Garmin device¹, you can view shot maps of each hole on your scorecard as you track your golf rounds. Course stats and performance stats are available after your rounds to evaluate your game and look for ways to improve. With a paid Garmin Golf Membership, even more great features are available: • Home Tee Hero. Play virtual rounds for more than 43,000 courses around the world with a compatible Garmin launch monitor. • Green Contours. View green slope arrows and contour lines, so you can plan your approach and sink the putt. • Swing Video Storage. Once you pair a compatible Garmin launch monitor, you can back up all your swing videos for future reference in our cloud. This is just the beginning of how the Garmin Golf app can improve your game. Download the app today to get started. ¹See a full list of compatible devices at https://www.garmin.com/golfdevices Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.  Privacy Policy: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/privacy/golf/ Garmin Golf Membership Terms and Conditions: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/TC-garmin-golf/

Screenshots

GHIN4 screens
Garmin Golf4 screens

Verdict

The call

GHIN and Garmin Golf both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 50% of Garmin Golf's written reviews are positive against 26% of GHIN's. GHIN's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

Both are free to download. GHIN sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $49.99 per year and Garmin Golf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for GHIN against 4.6 for Garmin Golf. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21K and 7.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of GHIN's written reviews are positive against 50% of Garmin Golf's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GHIN ships an update every 3 weeks, Garmin Golf every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
GHIN versus Garmin Golf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGHINGarmin Golf
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (21K ratings) — better4.6 (7.3K ratings)
Positive reviews25.9% of reviews49.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings21K — better7.3K
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#29 — better#56
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size248 MB835 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUnited States Golf AssociationGarmin

Customer experience

GHIN

All ratings20,679 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews263 reviews
Positive25.9%
Neutral16.7%
Negative57.4%

Garmin Golf

All ratings7,230 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.2%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews1,004 reviews
Positive49.9%
Neutral16.2%
Negative33.9%

User reviews

GHIN

From 21K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Reliable GPS and course data
  • 👍 Handicap tracking and management
  • 💡 Green contour and heat maps
  • 🚀 Efficient score entry and posting

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and disconnections
  • 🔌 Poor Apple Watch integration and performance
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find desired features
  • 🔋 High battery drain when using GPS

Garmin Golf

From 7.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Great app for golf tracking
  • 🏌️‍♂️ Helpful for game improvement
  • 📊 Provides useful statistics and data
  • ⌚ Seamless integration with Garmin watches
  • 🗺️ Accurate course maps and GPS

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches after updates
  • 🔍 Inaccurate shot tracking and location
  • 🤖 Confusing or unintuitive interface
  • 🔋 Battery life issues on watches
  • 🚫 Lack of iPad support

Bugs and requests

GHIN

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Scorecard data not syncing properly between devices
  • Inability to end rounds early and post partial scores
  • GPS distances not updating correctly on Apple Watch
  • Course data not loading consistently

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow customization of tracked stats
  • Implement landscape mode support
  • Integrate with Apple Health/Activity
  • Improve handicap calculation accuracy

Garmin Golf

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Rounds not syncing between watch and app
  • Scorecard and shot data not displaying correctly
  • Connectivity issues between app and devices
  • Courses not updated with recent layout changes
  • Inability to edit or move incorrectly tracked shots

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add Stableford scoring option
  • Allow editing of shot data and club info
  • Provide more detailed course previews
  • Integrate with other golf apps and platforms
  • Improve shot tracking accuracy and customization
Show 1 more
  • Enhance stat tracking and visualization

In-app purchases

1 purchases

GHIN

Subscriptions1
  • Upgrade to GHIN Enhanced GPS$49.991 Year
2 purchases

Garmin Golf

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Membership1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Yearly Membership1 Month trial$99.991 Year

Questions

Is GHIN free?
GHIN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Garmin Golf free?
Garmin Golf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GHIN or Garmin Golf?
GHIN is rated higher. GHIN averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Garmin Golf averages 4.6 from 7.3K ratings.
Do GHIN or Garmin Golf have ads?
Neither GHIN nor Garmin Golf shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GHIN or Garmin Golf?
GHIN ships an update every 3 weeks, and Garmin Golf every 6 weeks. Most recently, GHIN was updated on October 30, 2026 and Garmin Golf on October 30, 2026.
Which is more popular, GHIN or Garmin Golf?
GHIN currently peaks at #29 in the App Store charts, and Garmin Golf at #56. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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