# Lafayette GPS vs Garmin Alpha

The clearest difference is update cadence: Lafayette GPS at every 3 days against Garmin Alpha's monthly. Lafayette GPS also leads on iOS requirement (15.5 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Lafayette GPS ships an update every 3 days, Garmin Alpha monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lafayette GPS | Garmin Alpha |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.7 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-alpha/id6449200205/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **136** |
| Positive reviews | — | 25.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | — | Subscription |
| Size | 58 MB | 478 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Lafayette AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1593172299) | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) |

## What reviewers say

### Lafayette GPS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lafayette-gps/id6446142001)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Garmin Alpha

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-alpha/id6449200205)

Track your dog's movements using cellular technology and your smartphone. This app works with a compatible Garmin dog tracking system to provide real-time location data and navigation features.

**Highlights:** Cellular dog tracking, Smartphone integration, VHF tracking signal support, Integrated mapping, Waypoint marking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Peace of mind for dog owners
- 👍 Good technology for hunting
- 👍 Easy to use software
- 👍 Good maps
- 👍 Customer service is second to none

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Many bugs currently
- 🐛 New update needs tweaking
- 🐛 New update is garbage
- 🐛 Map options don't work
- 🐛 Lost functionality from old app

**Reported bugs**

- Cursor lag on opening
- No distance, heading, or name on map when tracking dog
- Tracks won't clear
- Green screen when satellite map selected
- Unable to view any data from Alpha 10 on the map

**Requested features**

- Add yards as a unit of measure
- Add watch app
- Option to make corrections directly from the app
- Easier to switch between Bluetooth devices
- Option to connect multiple devices at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lafayette GPS free?

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

### Is Garmin Alpha free?

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

### Do Lafayette GPS or Garmin Alpha have ads?

Neither Lafayette GPS nor Garmin Alpha shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lafayette GPS or Garmin Alpha?

Lafayette GPS ships an update every 3 days, and Garmin Alpha monthly. Most recently, Lafayette GPS was updated on October 24, 2026 and Garmin Alpha on October 27, 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.*