# Grid Ref UTM vs GPS OS Grid Reference

The clearest difference is update cadence: GPS OS Grid Reference at every 3 months against Grid Ref UTM's every 10 months. GPS OS Grid Reference also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 74%). Grid Ref UTM's advantage is ratings volume (183 vs 17) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Grid Ref UTM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and GPS OS Grid Reference sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Grid Ref UTM holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Grid Ref UTM has 183 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of Grid Ref UTM's written reviews are positive against 90% of GPS OS Grid Reference's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Grid Ref UTM ships an update every 10 months, GPS OS Grid Reference every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Grid Ref UTM | GPS OS Grid Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (183 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-ref-utm/id962314746/reviews)** | [4.4 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-os-grid-reference/id993436655/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **183** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | 73.7% of reviews | **89.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mike Irving](https://appshunter.io/developer/393933736) | [Tomstrails.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/425642318) |

## What reviewers say

### Grid Ref UTM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-ref-utm/id962314746)

Pinpoint your exact map reference location globally using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system. Displays UTM grid references, hemisphere, and WGS84 latitude/longitude. Share your location via Twitter. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** UTM Grid Reference display, WGS84 Latitude and Longitude, Hemisphere information, Location sharing via Twitter, Accuracy of readings indicator, International operation with USA UTM Zones guide

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Go Ad Free | $0.99 | one-time |


### GPS OS Grid Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-os-grid-reference/id993436655)

This app accurately pinpoints your location on Ordnance Survey maps for Great Britain and Ireland, even without a phone signal. It offers precise grid references, waypoint creation, and navigation features. The display is designed for clarity in all lighting conditions, and it optimizes battery usage.

**Highlights:** Offline map location, Accurate grid references, Waypoint creation and management, High-contrast display, Battery optimization, Share waypoints

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Features | $5.99 | per year |
| Feature Pack - Compass & sharing features. | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🎯 Accurate grid references
- 🚀 Fast and quick updates
- 💡 Works without phone signal
- 🗺️ Useful for navigation and backup

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Blurry satellite maps
- 🧭 Compass not accurate
- 📉 Accuracy dropped recently
- 🗺️ No map data included
- 🚫 Cannot search locations

**Reported bugs**

- Waypoint finder satellite view is blurry
- Compass is not accurate
- Accuracy has dropped recently
- Location services permanently dimmed off (iOS)
- App does not work for users not in England

**Requested features**

- Add map data and search functionality
- Improve satellite map clarity
- Add ability to view location on a map
- Enable navigation from point to point
- Add Apple Watch equivalent app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Grid Ref UTM free?

Grid Ref UTM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is GPS OS Grid Reference free?

GPS OS Grid Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Grid Ref UTM or GPS OS Grid Reference?

Grid Ref UTM is rated higher. Grid Ref UTM averages 4.6 out of 5 from 183 ratings, while GPS OS Grid Reference averages 4.4 from 17 ratings.

### Do Grid Ref UTM or GPS OS Grid Reference have ads?

Neither Grid Ref UTM nor GPS OS Grid Reference shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Grid Ref UTM or GPS OS Grid Reference?

Grid Ref UTM ships an update every 10 months, and GPS OS Grid Reference every 3 months. Most recently, Grid Ref UTM was updated on September 28, 2026 and GPS OS Grid Reference on October 9, 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.*