Comparison

Tether vs GPS Metrics

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

Head to head
About

Tether

Features
Read full description

Tether remembers where you parked and leads you back along your own footsteps, even in an underground garage where GPS gives up. TIE YOUR SPOT IN ONE TAP Tap "Tie here" and the spot is saved the moment you touch the button. A mistaken tap can be undone for a few seconds. A photo, a note and a bay number are optional and can be added later. FOLLOW YOUR OWN THREAD BACK While Tether is open, it draws the path you walk away from the car. On the way back, "Find my car" follows that path, through the stairwell and across the lot, and shows the distance left and about how many steps. When GPS cannot reach, the path keeps growing from your steps and compass, so underground it is an estimate, not a survey. If Tether is open as you drive down, its barometer notices which underground level you parked on. Tether records the path only while the app is open; a stretch it missed shows as a dotted line, not a guess. PARKING METER TIMER Wind the meter with a dial, a preset from 30 minutes to 4 hours, or any length up to 24 hours. Choose how early you want a reminder, from 5 minutes to 2 hours before, and Tether sends a notification (allow notifications when asked). Choose more than 5 minutes and you also get a second one at 5 minutes left, and one when time runs out. It helps you avoid a parking ticket; it does not replace checking the meter. ALWAYS WITHIN REACH - Live Activity on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island - Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets - Control Center button (iOS 18 and later) - Siri and Shortcuts: "Where's my car in Tether?" - Pocket mode: taps that quicken as you get close, so you can look up from the screen while Tether is open - Open in Maps for walking directions to the spot - A history of your past parking sessions, saved in the app PRIVACY No ads and no account. Your spots, photos, notes and paths are saved in the app and never uploaded to us; street names and maps come from Apple Maps. Tether counts how the app is used and reports crashes so it can be improved; neither includes where you parked. Tether needs your location while you use it. Motion & Fitness access (steps and barometer) and the camera are optional. iPhone only, iOS 17.6 or later.

About

GPS Metrics

Features
Read full description

GPS Metrics is your compact and accurate companion on the move. See live speed, altitude, course and more, visualize your track on the map with color by speed, export GPX/KML, and send NMEA sentences over your local network to other devices or software. Highlights: • Live metrics: speed, (barometric) altitude, climb/descent rate, course, rate of turn, heading (true/magnetic), horizontal/vertical accuracy and timestamp. • Map with speed trail: track segments are color‑coded by average speed. • Export: save your trip as GPX or KML. • NMEA output: send RMC, GGA, GSA, VTG and GLL via TCP server or UDP sender (local network). • Coordinates: choose DD, DM, DMS, UTM or MGRS. • Units: metric or imperial. • Averaging window: smooth speed and climb/descent with a configurable time window. • Battery friendly: enable “Battery Saving Mode” to use significant‑change updates. • Keep screen awake during your trip. • Theme: follow system or pick light/dark. Privacy • Your location stays on your device unless you explicitly export or enable NMEA output to a device you choose on your local network. No account, no tracking, no ads. Requirements • Location permission is required for metrics and track. Local Network permission is required for NMEA output. No subscription! No tracking! No ads!

Screenshots

Tether4 screens
GPS Metrics4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Tether at monthly against GPS Metrics's every 9 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tether ships an update monthly, GPS Metrics every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Tether versus GPS Metrics: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTetherGPS Metrics
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.616.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMykola RudenkoBerend Hartman

In-app purchases

None

Tether

No in-app purchases

None

GPS Metrics

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tether free?
Tether is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GPS Metrics free?
GPS Metrics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Tether or GPS Metrics have ads?
Neither Tether nor GPS Metrics shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tether or GPS Metrics?
Tether ships an update monthly, and GPS Metrics every 9 months. Most recently, Tether was updated on October 30, 2026 and GPS Metrics on October 25, 2026.

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