Comparison · Facts checked · Written by the Golfonaut team
Golfonaut vs Hole19 vs 18Birdies for Apple Watch
All three apps put golf GPS distances on your Apple Watch. Hole19 and 18Birdies are larger apps that also run on Android, with more course-strategy tools in their paid plans. Golfonaut is a smaller, Apple-only app built around the watch: free distance to the green and scorecard with no adverts, and one-tap shot recording, swing speed and 3D replays in its Private Club subscription.
We make Golfonaut, so read this with that in mind. Every competitor fact comes from their own public pages, linked below, on the date shown. Features and prices change, so check before you buy.
Side by side
| Feature | Golfonaut | Hole19 | 18Birdies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms[7][1][6] | iPhone with Apple Watch only (iOS 16 or later, watchOS 7 or later) | iPhone with Apple Watch (watchOS 8 or later), and Android | iPhone with Apple Watch, and Android with Wear OS watches |
| Distance to the green on the watch (free)[1][4] | Yes, centre of the green. Front and back need Private Club | Yes, GPS distances are free | Yes, front, middle and back. Plays Like distances need Premium |
| Start a round from the watch[1][4] | No, start on the iPhone, then play from the watch | No, start and finish on the iPhone | Yes, a round can be started on the Apple Watch |
| Keep score on the watch[1][4] | Yes, free: strokes and putts, stroke play or Stableford. Net scores need Private Club | Watch scoring needs Premium | Yes: score plus optional stats such as putts, fairways and greens |
| Shot tracking[1][5] | Tap the watch to record each shot | Shot Tracker needs Premium | Manual tracking on the watch; automatic swing detection needs Premium |
| Swing speed from the watch[7] | Yes, measured by the watch sensors (Private Club) | Not listed on the pages we checked | Not listed on the pages we checked |
| Hole maps on the watch[1][4] | No, distances only | Yes, flyover maps (Premium) | Yes, maps and 3D greens (Premium) |
| Plays-like distances (slope, wind, weather)[1][3] | No | Yes, Plays Like distances (Premium) | Yes, slope, wind, temperature and altitude (Premium) |
| Game statistics[1][3] | Detailed stats: greens and fairways hit, putting, chipping, scoring by par (Private Club) | Club and overall stats (Premium) | Advanced stats and strokes gained (Premium) |
| Heart rate and calories[7] | Yes, recorded as a workout that counts towards your Activity rings | Not listed on the pages we checked | Not listed on the pages we checked |
| Replays and extras[1][3][6] | 3D replays of your shots (Private Club) | Augmented reality distances, LivePlay with friends, community | AI swing analyzer, side games, leaderboards, tournaments |
| Adverts[1] | No adverts | Free version shows adverts; Premium removes them | Not stated on the pages we checked |
| Paid plan[7][2][3] | Golfonaut Private Club; price shown in the app and on the App Store listing | Premium, yearly or monthly, with a 14-day free trial | Premium, yearly, monthly or weekly; 7-day free trial on yearly and monthly |
| US App Store rating (24 September 2026)[8] | 3.4 from 42 ratings | 4.7 from 22,041 ratings | 4.9 from 304,677 ratings |
“Not listed” means we did not find it on the pages we checked, not that the app cannot do it. For prices, see Hole19 Premium pricing and 18Birdies Premium pricing.
Where Hole19 and 18Birdies are stronger
- They work on Android, and 18Birdies also on Wear OS watches. Golfonaut is iPhone and Apple Watch only.
- Hole maps on the watch, plays-like distances and club recommendations, none of which Golfonaut offers.
- 18Birdies lets you start a round from the watch and can detect swings automatically with Premium.
- Social play: live scoring with friends, side games, leaderboards and tournaments.
- Far more ratings, and higher ones, on the US App Store: 4.7 and 4.9 against Golfonaut’s 3.4 on 24 September 2026.
Where Golfonaut fits
- No adverts, including in the free version.
- Distance to the green and a scorecard on the watch without paying.
- Swing speed measured by the watch, and each round recorded as a workout with heart rate and calories for your Activity rings.
- 3D replays of your shots with Private Club.
- A simple, watch-first design, if you want distances and a score rather than a full strategy tool.
Which one should you choose?
- If you or your group use Android, choose Hole19 or 18Birdies.
- If you want course strategy on your wrist (maps, plays-like distances, club recommendations), try the free trials of Hole19 or 18Birdies Premium.
- If you want free distances and scoring on Apple Watch without adverts, plus swing speed and a workout record, try Golfonaut.
Whatever you pick, a handicap and a few numbers make the choice easier: see our handicap calculator, the guide to greens in regulation and the bag gapping calculator.
Sources (all accessed 24 September 2026)
- Hole19, Apple Devices page
- Hole19, Premium page
- 18Birdies, Premium page
- 18Birdies Help, Using 18Birdies on Apple Watch
- 18Birdies Help, Apple Watch Auto Swing Detection
- 18Birdies, Features page
- Golfonaut on the App Store
- Apple iTunes Search API (US storefront) for app ids 1439007580, 794462227 and 892700751
Golfonaut facts also come from the app itself. Hole19 and 18Birdies are trademarks of their owners; this page is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
