# GPS OS Grid Reference vs GPS Locate

The clearest difference is review sentiment: GPS OS Grid Reference at 90% against GPS Locate's 0%. GPS OS Grid Reference also leads on price (Free vs $0.99) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). GPS Locate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and device support (4 vs 2). On update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

GPS OS Grid Reference is free to download; GPS Locate costs $0.99 up front. GPS OS Grid Reference sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per year. GPS Locate asks for nothing beyond the download.

GPS OS Grid Reference holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GPS OS Grid Reference has 17 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of GPS OS Grid Reference's written reviews are positive against 0% of GPS Locate's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GPS OS Grid Reference | GPS Locate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | **[4.4 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-os-grid-reference/id993436655/reviews)** | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-locate/id1475887688/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **17** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **89.9% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 13 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tomstrails.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/425642318) | [David Southgate](https://appshunter.io/developer/1468605548) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### GPS Locate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-locate/id1475887688)

This app provides a quick and precise method for determining your current geographical coordinates and altitude across multiple systems. View your location within the app, on your Apple Watch, or as a watch face complication for easy access.

**Highlights:** Multiple coordinate systems (UTM, DMS, MGRS, etc.), Current location and altitude display, Apple Watch app support, Watch face complication for at-a-glance viewing, HealthKit integration for workout tracking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GPS OS Grid Reference free?

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

### Is GPS Locate free?

GPS Locate costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

GPS OS Grid Reference is rated higher. GPS OS Grid Reference averages 4.4 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while GPS Locate averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do GPS OS Grid Reference or GPS Locate have ads?

Neither GPS OS Grid Reference nor GPS Locate shows ads.

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

GPS OS Grid Reference ships an update every 3 months, and GPS Locate every 3 months. Most recently, GPS OS Grid Reference was updated on October 14, 2026 and GPS Locate on October 5, 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.*