Golf Caddie vs TheGrint: which golf app do you actually need?
Choose TheGrint if you want GPS yardages, an official USGA Handicap ID, games, and leaderboards with friends. Choose Golf Caddie if you mainly want to keep your own score, especially from your Apple Watch: as of November 2026, TheGrint’s watch scoring needs a Pro membership at $59.99 a year, while Golf Caddie Pro is a one-time purchase with no account.
| As of November 2026 (US prices) | TheGrint | Golf Caddie |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring on iPhone | Free | Free, unlimited rounds |
| Scoring on Apple Watch | Pro, $59.99 a year | Pro, one-time $2.99 |
| Free trial of the paid tier | 7 days | 14 days, no card |
| GPS distances | Free on 40,000+ courses, phone and watch | None (scorecard only) |
| Official handicap (US) | Link or buy a Handicap ID in the app | Not offered |
| Games and leaderboards | 6 games free (skins, Stableford, best ball and more), 11 with Pro; live leaderboards | Not offered |
| Built for | Your golf group: games, leaderboards, handicaps | Your own scorecard |
| App Store privacy label | Lists Usage Data and Diagnostics under “Data Used to Track You” | Data Not Collected |
TheGrint facts come from its free vs Pro page, its Apple Watch page, and its App Store listing, checked on November 2, 2026. Prices and plans change, so check them before you buy.
Is TheGrint free?
Mostly, yes. TheGrint is free for scoring on your phone, GPS on 40,000+ courses, headline stats, live leaderboards, and 6 games. A Pro membership, $59.99 a year in the US with a 7-day free trial, adds scoring on the watch, 50+ detailed stats, unlimited Green Maps, and 11 games.
The free tier is generous. If you score on your phone and like GPS yardages, you may never need to pay. The paid tier starts to matter when you want to score from your wrist.
Can you keep score on Apple Watch with TheGrint for free?
No. TheGrint’s own Apple Watch page says: “On your phone, basic and advanced score tracking are free. On the watch, any score tracking requires Pro.” GPS distances to the front, center, and back of the green stay free on the watch. Scoring, the watch Shot Tracker, and Green Maps need Pro.
So with TheGrint, scoring from your wrist costs $59.99 a year (US, as of November 2026). In Golf Caddie, scoring from your wrist is part of Pro too, but Pro is a one-time $2.99 (US price) after a 14-day free trial with no card.
What does TheGrint do that Golf Caddie doesn’t?
A lot. TheGrint is a full golf platform: GPS yardages on 40,000+ courses, USGA Handicap IDs in the US (it’s a licensed data affiliate of the USGA), live leaderboards, side games like skins and Stableford, a scorecard photo service, and 50+ stats with Pro. Golf Caddie has none of these. It’s only a scorecard.
If any of these is why you play with an app, TheGrint is the better pick:
- You need an official handicap. TheGrint can link or sell you a USGA Handicap ID and sync eligible scores to it. Golf Caddie doesn’t do handicaps.
- You want yardages. TheGrint’s GPS is free on the phone and the watch. Golf Caddie has no GPS.
- You play games with your group. Skins, Stableford, best ball, and leaderboards are TheGrint’s home ground.
When is Golf Caddie the better fit?
When you mainly want to keep your own score with as little app as possible. Golf Caddie opens straight to a round with no account, scores from your wrist, by voice with Siri, or from the Lock Screen, and keeps your rounds in your own iCloud. Its App Store privacy label says “Data Not Collected.”
What you get in Golf Caddie:
- Free on iPhone: unlimited rounds, strokes, putts, penalties, score vs par, stats, a shareable scorecard, CSV export, club distances, and Apple Health golf workouts.
- Pro, one-time $2.99: the Apple Watch app, 8 Siri voice commands like “Add a stroke in Golf Caddie”, and a Lock Screen Live Activity.
- No account: you never sign up. See golf scorecard app with no account for where your rounds are stored.
How much does Apple Watch scoring cost in each app over three years?
As of November 2026, TheGrint Pro costs $59.99 a year in the US, so three seasons of watch scoring cost about $180 if the price stays the same. Golf Caddie Pro is $2.99 once (US price) and keeps working through updates. TheGrint Pro also includes much more than watch scoring.
That last point matters. The fair comparison isn’t price alone: TheGrint Pro buys GPS maps, detailed stats, and games, and Golf Caddie Pro buys only ways to score without your phone in hand. If you’d use TheGrint’s extras, its yearly price can be worth it. Our guide to one-time purchase vs subscription explains how to check any golf app’s in-app purchases before you download.
How do the privacy labels compare?
On the App Store, TheGrint’s developer-declared privacy label lists Usage Data and Diagnostics under “Data Used to Track You,” and Location, Contact Info, and Identifiers among “Data Linked to You.” Golf Caddie’s label says “Data Not Collected.” Both labels are declared by each developer, and Apple notes it hasn’t verified them.
An app with accounts, handicaps, friends, and leaderboards needs to know who you are, so a longer label is expected. It’s still worth reading before you download. Scroll to “App Privacy” on any App Store page, or see Apple’s privacy labels page.
Which should you choose?
Pick TheGrint if you want an official handicap, GPS yardages, or games and leaderboards with your group. Pick Golf Caddie if you keep your own score, want to do it from your watch or by voice, and would rather pay once than every year. Try Golf Caddie Pro free for 14 days: there’s nothing to cancel.
Not sure you need GPS at all? Read Apple Watch golf scorecard without GPS for what you give up and the simple ways around it.
Frequently asked questions
Does TheGrint give you an official handicap?
In the US, TheGrint says its Free and Pro plans don’t include an official handicap on their own. You can link a Handicap ID you already have or buy one in the app, at a price set by your local Allied Golf Association. Outside the US, TheGrint offers a GHAP handicap, included with Pro. Golf Caddie doesn’t calculate handicaps.
Is TheGrint Pro a subscription?
Yes. As of November 2026, TheGrint lists Pro at $59.99 a year with a 7-day free trial, and says monthly prices vary by country. Golf Caddie Pro is a single in-app purchase that never renews.
Does Golf Caddie have GPS yardages?
No. Golf Caddie is a scorecard, not a rangefinder. It keeps your own club distances one tap from the scorecard, and you can use the course’s yardage markers. If you want GPS on your watch, TheGrint’s watch GPS is free.
Can I score my whole group in Golf Caddie?
No. Golf Caddie keeps one scorecard per round: yours. If you play games with your group, like skins or best ball, TheGrint is built for that.