Golf Caddie vs 18Birdies: do you need to switch?
You may not need to switch. As of November 2026, 18Birdies’ free tier includes GPS yardages, a scorecard, handicap tracking, group scoring, and scoring on Apple Watch. Golf Caddie fits golfers who want only a scorecard: no account, no GPS, Siri and Lock Screen scoring, and a one-time Pro purchase instead of a yearly Premium plan.
| As of November 2026 (US prices) | 18Birdies | Golf Caddie |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring on iPhone | Free | Free, unlimited rounds |
| Scoring on Apple Watch | Free | Pro, one-time $2.99 |
| Paid tier | Premium: $99.99 a year, $19.99 a month, or $7.99 a week | Pro: one-time $2.99 |
| GPS distances | Free on 45,000+ courses | None (scorecard only) |
| Handicap tracking | Free | Not offered |
| Group scoring and side games | Free | One golfer per round |
| App Store privacy label | Lists Usage Data under “Data Used to Track You” | Data Not Collected |
18Birdies facts come from its Premium page, its help center article on Premium, and its App Store listing, checked on November 2, 2026. Prices and plans change, so check them before you buy.
Is 18Birdies free?
Yes, and the free tier is generous. 18Birdies’ help center says you can “use its core GPS, scoring, handicap, stats, shot tracking, and community features for free.” That includes GPS distances to the green and hazards, a digital scorecard, handicap tracking, round history, multi-player scoring, side games, leagues, and core Apple Watch features.
Premium is a subscription: $99.99 a year or $19.99 a month with a 7-day free trial, or $7.99 a week with no trial (US prices, November 2026). It adds things like Plays Like distances for wind and slope, 3D Green Maps, Smart Tracking, an AI swing analyzer, and strokes gained.
Can you score on Apple Watch with 18Birdies for free?
Yes. 18Birdies’ App Store listing puts “APPLE WATCH: Distances, scoring, and shot tracking” in its free features, and its help center says core watch features don’t need Premium. On the watch, Map View, Green Maps, Plays Like Distances, Auto Swing Detection, and Smart Tracking need Premium.
That’s a real point in 18Birdies’ favor. In Golf Caddie, the Apple Watch app is part of Pro, a one-time $2.99 (US price) after a 14-day free trial with no card. If free watch scoring with GPS is what you want, 18Birdies already gives you that.
Should you switch from 18Birdies to Golf Caddie?
Only if you’ve found that you use 18Birdies mainly as a scorecard and want less around it. If you use its GPS, handicap tracking, group scoring, or community, stay with 18Birdies: Golf Caddie has none of those. Switching makes sense if you want no account, no GPS, and faster scoring.
Signs Golf Caddie may suit you better:
- You only ever look at your score. Golf Caddie opens straight to Quick Start, with no feed, no course search, and no sign-up.
- You’d rather not share data. Golf Caddie’s App Store privacy label says “Data Not Collected,” and rounds stay in your own iCloud.
- You want to score by voice or from the Lock Screen. Golf Caddie Pro adds 8 Siri commands and a Lock Screen Live Activity.
What does 18Birdies do that Golf Caddie doesn’t?
Most things beyond the score. 18Birdies has free GPS yardages on 45,000+ courses, handicap tracking, shot tracking, multi-player scoring, side games, leagues and tournaments, a community feed, and swing playback. With Premium it adds Plays Like distances, green maps, and strokes gained. Golf Caddie offers none of these.
It’s also one of the most-rated golf apps on the App Store, with a 4.9 rating from over 300,000 ratings in the US as of November 2026. If you want one app for yardages, handicap, and friends, it’s a strong choice, and you can use most of it free.
How do the privacy labels compare?
On the App Store, 18Birdies’ developer-declared label lists Usage Data under “Data Used to Track You,” and Location, Contact Info, Identifiers, Usage Data, and Diagnostics among “Data Linked to You.” Golf Caddie’s label says “Data Not Collected.” Both are declared by each developer, and Apple notes it hasn’t verified them.
An app with GPS, friends, and leagues needs your location and an identity, so a longer label is expected. Read it before you download: scroll to “App Privacy” on the app’s App Store page. Our guide to a golf scorecard app with no account explains what each label means and where Golf Caddie stores your rounds.
What about battery on Apple Watch?
GPS uses more battery than a scorecard. 18Birdies’ App Store listing carries Apple’s note that the app “may use your location even when it isn’t open, which can decrease device battery life.” Golf Caddie doesn’t use location at all, so scoring taps on the watch are light on battery.
How long your watch lasts still depends on your model, its battery health, and whether a workout or Always On Display is running. Our Apple Watch battery guide covers what drains it during a round and the settings that help.
Which should you choose?
Choose 18Birdies if you want free GPS, handicap tracking, group scoring, or a golf community. Choose Golf Caddie if you only want your own scorecard, with no account and no GPS, and like scoring by voice or from the Lock Screen. The iPhone scorecard is free, and Pro is a one-time $2.99 (US price).
Comparing other apps too? See Golf Caddie vs TheGrint, where watch scoring is a paid feature.
Frequently asked questions
How much is 18Birdies Premium?
As of November 2026, the 18Birdies Premium page lists $99.99 a year or $19.99 a month, each with a 7-day free trial, and $7.99 a week with no free trial (US prices). Premium is an auto-renewing subscription.
Is Apple Watch scoring free in 18Birdies?
Yes. Its App Store listing includes “APPLE WATCH: Distances, scoring, and shot tracking” in the free features, and its help center says core watch features don’t need Premium. Map View, Green Maps, Plays Like Distances, Auto Swing Detection, and Smart Tracking on the watch do.
Does Golf Caddie track my handicap?
No. Golf Caddie records strokes, putts, and penalties and shows your score vs par and scoring stats, but it doesn’t calculate a handicap. 18Birdies’ free tier includes handicap tracking.
Can Golf Caddie score my whole group?
No. Golf Caddie keeps one scorecard per round: yours. 18Birdies’ free tier includes multi-player scoring and side games, so it’s the better pick for scoring a foursome.