# The Open vs Hole19

The Open and Hole19 both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 72% of Hole19's written reviews are positive against 28% of The Open's. Hole19 also leads on chart position (#60 vs unranked) and ratings volume (23K vs 4.9K). The Open's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hole19 sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. The Open asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for The Open against 4.7 for Hole19. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.9K and 23K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 28% of The Open's written reviews are positive against 72% of Hole19's.

The Open ships an update every 4 days, Hole19 every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Open | Hole19 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (4.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-open/id658257516/reviews) | **[4.7 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hole19-golf-gps-range-finder/id794462227/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4.9K | **23K** |
| Positive reviews | 28.0% of reviews | **72.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 6 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#60** |
| Size | 79 MB | 235 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.5** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [The R&A](https://appshunter.io/developer/378489775) | [Stat Track Technologies Lda.](https://appshunter.io/developer/444501822) |

## What reviewers say

### The Open

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-open/id658257516)

Experience live coverage of golf's original Championship, including feature groups, range sessions, and unique par-3 channel footage. Stay updated with real-time scores, tee times, news, and highlights. Access year-round content like films, documentaries, coaching videos, and podcasts.

**Highlights:** Live championship coverage, Feature group coverage, Live at the Range, Up-to-date scoring and tee times, Live blog, News, video highlights, and features, Films, documentaries, and podcasts

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent coverage and commentary
- 🚀 Fantastic app for following the Open
- 💡 Great radio coverage
- 👍 Brilliant app with lots of great features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🐛 Connection issues and video not working
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate and poor layout
- 🐛 Requires sign-up/login to access features
- 🐛 Missing key features like shot tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Leaderboard scores not updating properly
- Favorites list keeps getting reset
- Login/sign-up process not working
- App crashing on launch or during use

**Requested features**

- Player bios and stats
- Ability to sort leaderboard
- Live shot tracking
- Improved video streaming quality
- Easier navigation and UI


### Hole19

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hole19-golf-gps-range-finder/id794462227)

**Currently charting:** #60 Top Grossing · Sports (US App Store)

This app provides golfers with accurate GPS distances, digital scorecards, and advanced performance tracking. It helps users strategize shots, monitor handicaps, and connect with a global golfing community. Premium features offer enhanced course mapping, club recommendations, and augmented reality views.

**Highlights:** Accurate GPS distances, Digital scorecard, Performance tracking, Handicap calculator, Club recommendations, Augmented reality views, Golf social network

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Pro Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Pro Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Premium Pro Monthly - Legacy | $20.00 | per month |
| Intelligence 1 Month | $24.99 | per month |
| Lite Basic - Legacy | $29.99 | per month |
| Lite for Wearables - Legacy | $29.99 | per month |
| Lite Birdie - Legacy | $29.99 | per month |
| Premium Pro 6 Months | $49.99 | per 6 months |
| Premium Pro Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Premium Pro Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Intelligence 1 Year | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate GPS and distances
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 💡 Useful features like shot tracking and statistics
- 🤝 Responsive customer support
- 🌟 Great app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔋 High battery drain on Apple Watch
- 💰 Paywall for advanced features
- 🤔 Confusing scoring and shot tracking on Apple Watch

**Reported bugs**

- Hole numbers not displaying correctly on some courses
- Apple Watch app freezing or losing sync with phone
- Inconsistent GPS distances compared to other devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to manually adjust pin locations
- More customization options for scoring and statistics
- Standalone Apple Watch app with full functionality
- Support for 9-hole courses and shotgun starts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Open free?

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

### Is Hole19 free?

Hole19 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Open or Hole19?

Hole19 is rated higher. The Open averages 4.6 out of 5 from 4.9K ratings, while Hole19 averages 4.7 from 23K ratings.

### Do The Open or Hole19 have ads?

Hole19 shows ads; The Open does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Open or Hole19?

The Open ships an update every 4 days, and Hole19 every 6 days. Most recently, The Open was updated on October 29, 2026 and Hole19 on November 1, 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.*