Comparison

Alpha GPS vs AlphaFTP

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

Head to head
About

Alpha GPS

Automatically geotag your photos by sending your iPhone's location data to your camera via Bluetooth. Streamline your workflow with reliable background syncing and easy device management. This open-source utility offers a privacy-focused solution for photographers.

Highlights
  • Automatic photo geotagging
  • Bluetooth location syncing
  • Background GPS syncing
  • Quick device pairing
  • Automatic device reconnection
  • Open source
  • In-app troubleshooting
Features
Read full description

Geotag photos automatically while you shoot. Alpha GPS sends your iPhone’s current location to compatible cameras over Bluetooth. Pair your camera once, switch it on, and the app reconnects automatically - keeping GPS data up to date in the background. KEY FEATURES • Automatic GPS location syncing • Reliable background operation and reconnection • Support for multiple cameras at the same time • Remote shutter control on supported models • Camera clock and time-zone synchronization • Guided setup and practical troubleshooting • No account, advertising, or paywall • Free and open source COMPATIBILITY Designed for cameras that support Bluetooth location linking, including compatible Sony Alpha, ILCE and ZV models. Confirmed reports include the A6400, A6700, A7 V and ZV-E10. HOW IT WORKS 1. Enable Bluetooth location linking on your camera. 2. Pair the camera with Alpha GPS. 3. Keep shooting while location data is transferred automatically. PRIVACY Your location is used only to send coordinates to connected cameras. Alpha GPS does not create or sell a location history. Optional diagnostic reporting can be disabled at any time. Alpha GPS is an independent open-source app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any camera manufacturer.

About

AlphaFTP

This app allows photographers to wirelessly transfer photos directly from compatible Sony Alpha cameras to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It supports saving images to folders, importing them into the Photos library, and viewing them full-screen with EXIF data as they are received.

Highlights
  • Direct Sony Alpha camera-to-iOS FTP transfers
  • Save photos to a folder
  • Import uploads into Photos library
  • Live connection and upload activity
  • View photos full-screen with EXIF data
  • Built-in Sony camera setup guide
Features
Read full description

AlphaFTP is a simple FTP server for photographers who want Sony Alpha cameras to transfer photos directly to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Start the app, enter the username and password you want your camera to use, choose where uploads should go, and AlphaFTP listens on your local network. The app shows the Ethernet and Wi-Fi addresses your camera can connect to, along with the FTP port. AlphaFTP can save received photos to a folder, import them into your Photos library, and display photos full-screen as you take them! AlphaFTP is ideal for: - Casual shooters who want to quickly transfer photos to their iOS, iPadOS, or MacOS device wirelessly - Event photographers who want their photos backed up - as they take them - Portrait photographers who want clients to be able to review the photos as they are taken without being tethered to a cable. Features: - Direct Sony Alpha camera-to-iOS FTP transfers - Save photos to a folder - Import uploads into the iOS Photos library - Recent photo thumbnails on the main screen - Live connection and upload activity - View photos full-screen with EXIF data as they are received - RAW, JPEG, and HEIF session counts - Built-in Sony camera setup guide - Optional sounds for camera connection and photo receipt - No accounts, analytics, tracking, or external servers AlphaFTP uses standard FTP and is intended for trusted local networks. Camera transfers happen directly between your camera and your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Supported cameras: - Sony α1 II (ILCE-1M2) - Sony α1 (ILCE-1) - Sony α9 III (ILCE-9M3) - Sony α9 II (ILCE-9M2) - Sony α9 (ILCE-9) - Requires camera firmware version 5.00 or later. - Sony α7R VI (ILCE-7RM6) - Sony α7R V (ILCE-7RM5) - Sony α7R IV A (ILCE-7RM4A) - Sony α7R IV (ILCE-7RM4) - Sony α7R III A (ILCE-7RM3A) - Sony α7R III (ILCE-7RM3) - Sony α7S III (ILCE-7SM3) - Sony α7 V (ILCE-7M5) - Sony α7 IV (ILCE-7M4) - Sony α7 III (ILCE-7M3) - Sony α7CR (ILCE-7CR) - Sony α7C II (ILCE-7CM2) - Sony α7C (ILCE-7C)

Screenshots

Alpha GPS3 screens
AlphaFTP3 screens

Verdict

The call

Alpha GPS and AlphaFTP both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Alpha GPS's written reviews are positive against 0% of AlphaFTP's. Alpha GPS also leads on price (Free vs $9.99) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). AlphaFTP's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). On rating and ads 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

Alpha GPS is free to download; AlphaFTP costs $9.99 up front. Alpha GPS sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. AlphaFTP asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Alpha GPS against 5.0 for AlphaFTP. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Alpha GPS's written reviews are positive against 0% of AlphaFTP's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Alpha GPS ships an update every 2 weeks, AlphaFTP every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Alpha GPS versus AlphaFTP: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAlpha GPSAlphaFTP
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating5.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSascha Alexander RudolfKristopher Linquist

Customer experience

Alpha GPS

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

AlphaFTP

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Alpha GPS

One-time3
  • Donation (Tier 1)$0.99
  • Donation (Tier 2)$2.99
  • Donation (Tier 3)$3.99
None

AlphaFTP

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Alpha GPS free?
Alpha GPS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AlphaFTP free?
AlphaFTP costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Alpha GPS or AlphaFTP?
Alpha GPS and AlphaFTP are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Alpha GPS or AlphaFTP have ads?
Neither Alpha GPS nor AlphaFTP shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Alpha GPS or AlphaFTP?
Alpha GPS ships an update every 2 weeks, and AlphaFTP every 3 days. Most recently, Alpha GPS was updated on October 2, 2026 and AlphaFTP on October 15, 2026.

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