# Golf Genius vs 18Birdies

Golf Genius and 18Birdies both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 74% of 18Birdies's written reviews are positive against 26% of Golf Genius's. 18Birdies also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and chart position (#5 vs #93). Golf Genius's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 18Birdies sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Golf Genius asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Golf Genius against 4.9 for 18Birdies. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76K and 306K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of Golf Genius's written reviews are positive against 74% of 18Birdies's.

Golf Genius ships an update every 3 weeks, 18Birdies weekly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Golf Genius | 18Birdies |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (76K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/golf-genius/id555651262/reviews) | **[4.9 (306K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/18birdies-golf-gps-tracker/id892700751/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 76K | **306K** |
| Positive reviews | 26.3% of reviews | **73.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | #93 | **#5** |
| Size | 59 MB | 297 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Golf Genius Software, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/453374622) | [18Birdies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/955324369) |

## What reviewers say

### Golf Genius

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/golf-genius/id555651262)

**Currently charting:** #93 Top Free · Sports (US App Store)

This app enhances the golf experience by allowing live score entry, access to member portals with stats, and easy photo uploads for events. It also provides mobile access for club pros and league managers to event details and offers sponsorship branding opportunities.

**Highlights:** Live score entry, Real-time leaderboards, Member portal access, Photo gallery uploads, Event management for pros, Sponsorship branding

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Versatile and powerful
- 💡 Useful for groups
- 👍 Great app for tournaments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Barely functional
- 👎 Not easy to navigate
- 🐛 Entries disappear
- 🐛 App opens on wrong date
- 👎 Difficult to use

**Reported bugs**

- Compatibility issues with newer devices
- Syncing problems between app and website
- Incorrect handicap calculations
- Scores not saving properly

**Requested features**

- Allow reorganizing player names
- Increase font size
- Add Apple Watch functionality
- Ability to cancel registrations
- Putt tracking feature


### 18Birdies

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/18birdies-golf-gps-tracker/id892700751)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Grossing · Sports, #52 Top Free · Sports (US App Store)

This app provides advanced GPS technology and game improvement tools for golfers. It offers personalized training, AI swing analysis, and a community to connect with friends and compete. Improve your game with detailed stats and course insights.

**Highlights:** GPS Rangefinder, Digital Scorecard, Handicap Tracking, AI Swing Analyzer, Golf Community, Shot Tracking, 3D Green Maps

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 18Birdies Premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium Subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium Subscription WB | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| 18Birdies Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium Subscription WB | $69.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate GPS
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful features
- 👍 Great app
- 👍 Useful for improving game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Yardages inaccurate on Apple Watch
- 🐛 Buggy after updates
- 🐛 Difficult to use
- 🐛 Annoying referral prompts

**Reported bugs**

- Yardages not syncing correctly between watch and phone
- Inability to save rounds or enter scores
- Incorrect course information and tee box layouts
- Frequent crashes and performance issues

**Requested features**

- Automatic handicap calculation
- Customizable home course stats
- Dark mode option
- Ability to record scores for non-app users
- Layup yardages and hazard distances


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Golf Genius free?

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

### Is 18Birdies free?

18Birdies is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Golf Genius or 18Birdies?

18Birdies is rated higher. Golf Genius averages 4.8 out of 5 from 76K ratings, while 18Birdies averages 4.9 from 306K ratings.

### Do Golf Genius or 18Birdies have ads?

Neither Golf Genius nor 18Birdies shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Golf Genius or 18Birdies?

Golf Genius ships an update every 3 weeks, and 18Birdies weekly. Most recently, Golf Genius was updated on November 6, 2026 and 18Birdies on November 6, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Golf Genius or 18Birdies?

Golf Genius currently peaks at #93 in the App Store charts, and 18Birdies at #5. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*