# GHIN vs Simple Handicap

GHIN and Simple Handicap both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of Simple Handicap's written reviews are positive against 26% of GHIN's. GHIN's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (21K vs 382). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GHIN sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $49.99 per year and Simple Handicap sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for GHIN against 4.7 for Simple Handicap. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GHIN has 21K ratings behind it against 382, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of GHIN's written reviews are positive against 82% of Simple Handicap's.

GHIN ships an update every 3 weeks, Simple Handicap fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GHIN | Simple Handicap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ghin/id491796218/reviews)** | [4.7 (382 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-handicap/id1521336140/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 382 |
| Positive reviews | 26.1% of reviews | **81.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#27** | — |
| Size | 359 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [United States Golf Association](https://appshunter.io/developer/319204553) | [Nicholas Breetz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1521336142) |

## What reviewers say

### GHIN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ghin/id491796218)

**Currently charting:** #27 Top Grossing · Sports, #101 Top Free · Sports (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to GHIN Enhanced GPS | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

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


### Simple Handicap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-handicap/id1521336140)

Track your golf handicap index for free with this easy-to-use application. It calculates your handicap based on the World Handicap System and allows you to log rounds and favorite courses. Ideal for everyday golfers seeking a simple way to manage their game.

**Highlights:** Free handicap tracking, World Handicap System (WHS) compliant, Course handicap calculation, Add favorite courses, Log golf rounds, Easy to use interface

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Simple Handicap Pro (Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| Simple Handicap Pro (Yearly) | $7.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Straightforward interface
- 👍 Accurate handicap calculations
- 🚀 Simple and efficient
- 💰 Free to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Handicap not calculating correctly for some users
- 🔍 Unable to find/add certain golf courses
- 🔒 Concerns about credit card requirement and data privacy

**Reported bugs**

- Scores disappearing after being entered
- Login/account issues for some users

**Requested features**

- Add ability to enter Stableford scores
- Include course tee information
- Provide handicap trend/history visualization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GHIN free?

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

### Is Simple Handicap free?

Simple Handicap is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, GHIN or Simple Handicap?

GHIN is rated higher. GHIN averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Simple Handicap averages 4.7 from 382 ratings.

### Do GHIN or Simple Handicap have ads?

Simple Handicap shows ads; GHIN does not.

### Which is updated more often, GHIN or Simple Handicap?

GHIN ships an update every 3 weeks, and Simple Handicap fortnightly. Most recently, GHIN was updated on September 25, 2026 and Simple Handicap on September 21, 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.*