Picture a Saturday morning on the first tee. Four friends, one pencil that has mysteriously gone missing, a Nassau bet nobody can quite remember, and a heated debate about whether that putt on the seventh was a gimme. Sound familiar?

A good golf app fixes almost all of that. It keeps a live scorecard, settles the bets, shows you distances and even tells you how a putt breaks. The catch is the price. Some subscriptions cost more each month than a bucket of range balls, and nobody wants four separate bills for one friendly round.

So we went straight to the official websites of five popular apps on 7 October 2026 and lined up their real prices. Below you will find what each one costs, what you actually get, and which one suits your group best.

Golf App Prices at a Glance

Before we go app by app, here is the short version. Four of these apps let you start for free. Arccos is the exception: it asks you to buy hardware, though the first year of membership comes included. Every price below was taken from the company's own website on 7 October 2026. Hole19 and Arccos list prices in euros and pounds, so we converted them to US dollars using the rates on 7 October 2026 (€1 is about $1.125 and £1 is about $1.322). Prices can change, and your app store may show a slightly different figure, so treat this table as a guide rather than a final bill.

How We Picked These Apps?

Not every golf app suits a group of friends. Some are built for solo practice and some for tournament organizers. We looked for apps that make a normal round with your regular crew easier, without draining your wallet. We also kept the list to five apps and checked each one against its own website rather than relying on old reviews or guesswork. Think of it as a friendly pre-round chat: what does it cost, what does it do, and will your group actually use it on a cold, windy Sunday morning.

What Makes a Golf App Good for Friends?

A strong friends app does a few things well: simple shared scoring, support for the games you actually play, clear distances, and a fair price. Fancy swing analysis is a bonus, not a must.

How the Prices Were Checked?

We read each brand's pricing and features pages directly. Where a page did not list a monthly plan or free trial, we say so instead of guessing. Always confirm the final price in your app store before you subscribe.

1. ParTeeOf18: Best for Group Games and Side Bets

If your group lives for the friendly wager, start here. ParTeeOf18 was created by two members of a private golf club who were tired of tracking bets and randomizing teams across too many apps. It is the newest name on this list, and it is also the cheapest paid option for groups. The app is free to download, with Pro starting at $6.99 a month. It spends less effort on swing data and more on the fun between you and your playing partners.

What You Get for Free?

The free plan includes core game formats, precise yardages and fields of up to 24 players. For most casual foursomes, that already covers a normal Saturday. Download it, invite your group, and see whether you ever need more.

Features Friends Will Love

The app supports over 12 formats, including Skins, Nassau, Match Play, Stableford and Scramble. A built-in wallet settles side bets automatically. You also get a Randomizer, Blind Draw for teams, live leaderboards and in-app messaging, so nobody has to dig through a messy group chat.

Handicap Tracking

Pro includes Handicap Lookup. ParTeeOf18 is a USGA Authorized Handicap Data Affiliate, so you can connect your GHIN ID, submit scores after your round and see your handicap index updated nightly. A Free Golf Handicap Calculator is on its website too.

ParTeeOf18 Pricing

Pro costs $6.99 monthly, $67.90 for 12 months or $188.99 for 36 months. The 3D Green Heat Maps add-on is $4.79 monthly or $49.99 for 12 months. New Pro subscribers get a 7 day free trial, and referring a friend earns you $10.

A Real-Life Example

Say you play a weekly four ball with a $5 Skins game, where friendly betting is allowed. One person creates the round, everyone joins by invite, and the wallet handles payouts at the end. No cash changing hands, and no awkward chasing in the car park.

Who Might Skip It?

The site does not highlight AI swing analysis or automatic shot tracking. Its Trip Manager and Pro Shop plans are still marked as coming soon. If you care more about coaching data than group games, look further down this list.

2. 18Birdies: Best for Social Golf and AI Tools

18Birdies is the household name of the group. Its website calls it the number one rated golf GPS app, with around 290,000 ratings and a 4.9 star average. It was clearly built around playing with others. You can add buddies, follow live scoring even when you are on different courses, and track up to ten games automatically. The free app is generous, and that matters when you are trying to get a whole group on board. Premium is where the bill starts to climb, so it helps to know exactly what you would be paying for.

Free Features Worth Knowing

The free app is advertised as a GPS app and rangefinder with a scorecard, handicap tools and friend leaderboards. Games like Skins, Nassau, Vegas, Wolf and Sixes can be tracked automatically. For a relaxed group, that may be plenty.

What Premium Adds?

Premium brings wind and slope adjusted distances, 3D green maps, club recommendations, Strokes Gained scoring, advanced stats and an AI Swing Analyzer with drill ideas. It suits the friend who wants to fix a slice, not just settle a bet.

18Birdies Pricing

Premium is $99.99 a year, $19.99 a month or $7.99 a week. The yearly and monthly plans include a 7 day free trial, while the weekly plan does not. That weekly option is handy for a one-off trip.

A Real-Life Example

Imagine a four day golf getaway with old college friends. Skip the yearly plan and buy a single week for $7.99. Use the green maps and plays like distances at unfamiliar courses, then cancel before it renews.

Where It Falls Short?

At $99.99 a year, it is the second priciest on this list. If your group mainly wants scoring and bets, you can pay less elsewhere. Also check which features your phone and watch support before you commit.

3. Hole19: Best for GPS and Smartwatch Players

Hole19 is a favourite with golfers who like to leave the phone in the bag and glance at a watch instead. The company says more than 4.8 million golfers use it, and its course database covers over 42,000 courses. It offers Live Leaderboards so you can compete with friends, and its Premium plan is one of the cheapest on the list. Pricing is shown in euros, so keep exchange rates in mind. If you are happy with a quiet, wrist based way of playing, it deserves a close look.

Free vs Premium

You can download Hole19 for free and get the basics. Premium unlocks plays like distances, club recommendations, shot tracking, game modes, watch scoring, maps on watch and an ad free experience. Augmented reality is Premium and iOS only.

Hole19 Pricing

Premium is €69.99 a year or €14.99 a month. An Intelligence plan costs €99.99 a year and adds Otto AI reports, Strokes Gained analysis, auto shot detection and a free CORE Golf subscription on iOS.

A Real-Life Example

Think of a Tuesday morning walking group. The friend with a smartwatch calls out the plays like distance for the uphill ninth, saving everyone from guessing into the wind. Small things like that add up over eighteen holes.

Where It Falls Short?

Premium is billed in euros, so your price can shift with exchange rates. Game modes sit behind Premium too, so factor that in if your group wants to track side games. We did not see a free trial listed on its pricing page.

4. Golfshot: Best for Simple Scoring and Stats

Golfshot has been around for years, and its site says five million golfers trust it. It covers GPS, scoring, statistics and auto shot tracking, with Apple Watch support getting the most attention. The free edition is better than many paid apps, and Pro is a single flat yearly fee, with no monthly option shown. For friends who just want clean, dependable scoring, it is a solid pick. Just be ready to choose between its free edition and the flat yearly Pro fee, because there is no monthly middle ground.

What the Free Edition Includes?

Free gets you distance to the center of the green, shot and club tracking, in depth statistics, 3D hole flyovers, Stroke Play and Stableford scoring, tee time booking and round sharing with friends. Ads appear in the free version.

What Pro Adds?

Pro adds distances to every hazard and target, club recommendations, GHIN handicap posting and advanced games such as Skins, Nassau and Match Play. It also comes with partner perks, like 40 percent off Golf Digest+ and $20 off a GolfNow Hot Deal tee time.

Golfshot Pricing

Golfshot Pro costs $79.99 a year. Golfshot Champions is $99.99 a year and adds Swing ID on the range plus a library of more than 350 coaching videos. Check the Get Pro page for any current deals.

A Real-Life Example

Say your Sunday group plays Skins and Nassau every week. Those games sit behind Pro, so it is worth checking how your group will keep score before anyone upgrades. A quick chat can save a few people from paying for features they will not use.

Where It Falls Short?

Auto Shot Tracking is highlighted for Apple Watch, with Android listed separately. The free tier has ads, and no monthly plan is shown. If your group wants a built-in wallet and payouts, its site does not mention one.

5. Arccos Caddie: Best for Friends Who Want to Improve

Arccos is a different animal. Instead of a free app with an optional upgrade, it is a shot tracking system that pairs sensors, a wearable or a rangefinder with an AI powered app. It calls itself the official game tracker of the PGA TOUR. It is not the cheapest option here, but the first year of membership comes free with your hardware, which softens the blow for friends who want serious data. Just go in knowing that you are buying a system, not simply downloading an app.

What You Get?

You get automatic shot tracking, Strokes Gained analytics, AI Strategy with club recommendations and target lines, green maps and post round analysis. Arccos says members lower their handicap by 25 percent on average in the first year.

Arccos Hardware Pricing

On the UK store, Smart Sensors cost £224.99, the Smart Laser rangefinder costs £279.99 and the new Arccos Air wearable costs £309.99. An Autumn Prime Week sale lists up to £146 off, so check before you buy.

Arccos Membership Cost

Game Tracking membership is £131.88 a year, with the first year free when you buy hardware. Arccos also lists a 30 day money back guarantee on most items, with a few exclusions.

A Real-Life Example

Two friends in a weekly match decide to chase lower handicaps together. One buys Smart Sensors, and after a month the Strokes Gained report shows that approach shots are costing the most. They spend the next range session fixing exactly that.

Who Should Skip It?

If you want live group games, side bets and a big shared leaderboard, Arccos is not what its site highlights. With upfront hardware plus a yearly fee from year two, it is also the priciest route on this list.

How the Five Apps Compare on Cost?

Sticker prices only tell half the story, so here are the yearly and monthly plans side by side, all in US dollars. The Hole19 and Arccos figures are converted from euros and pounds at the 7 October 2026 rates, so they are close estimates rather than exact bills. Remember that the Arccos figure leaves out the hardware each golfer needs, and that its first year of membership is free with a purchase. Free tiers matter just as much, since many groups only need one or two paid accounts.

The Monthly Price Gap

This is where ParTeeOf18 pulls ahead. At $6.99, its monthly plan costs less than half of Hole19 and roughly a third of 18Birdies. Most rivals push you toward a yearly commitment to get a fair price, while ParTeeOf18 stays affordable even if you only pay month to month.

The Yearly Price Gap

On yearly plans, ParTeeOf18, Hole19 and Golfshot sit close together, all within about $12 of each other. 18Birdies costs noticeably more, and Arccos is the most expensive once you add sensors or a wearable.

What the Free Plans Cover?

If nobody wants to pay, all four free apps still give you scoring and distances. ParTeeOf18 allows up to 24 players on its free plan, Golfshot includes round sharing, and 18Birdies markets a free GPS and rangefinder.

Which Golf App Fits Your Group?

The cheapest app is not always the right one. A group that bets every week needs different tools than a group that wants to cut five shots by next summer. Think about how your friends really play, how many of you are serious about improving, and who is willing to pay. Then match your group to one of the quick profiles below and start with a free trial. Remember that a small group can often get by with one or two paid accounts, so there is no need to rush into four subscriptions.

The Weekend Betting Crew

Go with ParTeeOf18. Its wallet, 12 plus formats and live leaderboards were designed for exactly this kind of group, and Pro is the lowest yearly price in US dollars. Try the free plan first, then upgrade only if you need every format.

The Social Group Spread Across Cities

Try 18Birdies. Live scoring with friends lets you compete even when you are not on the same course, and the free version is a strong place to begin. It also works well if one friend lives far away but still wants in on the weekly competition.

The Watch Wearers

Pick Hole19 if most of your group would rather glance at a wrist than a phone. Premium at €69.99 a year is competitively priced. Check that your watch is supported before you pay, since features differ between iOS and Android.

The Scorecard Purists

Choose Golfshot. The free edition handles stroke play and Stableford with friends, and Pro at $79.99 a year adds Skins, Nassau and Match Play. It is a calm, no fuss choice for friends who like their scorecard simple.

The Improvers

Pick Arccos if two or three of you truly want data on every shot. Budget for the hardware, and enjoy the free first year of membership. Keep in mind that the yearly fee returns in year two, so plan for it early.

Smart Ways to Save Money on Golf Apps

A few simple habits can keep your total cost low, whichever app you choose. Most of these take no effort at all, and some can save you well over $100 across a group in a single year. Here is what worked out best when we compared the numbers on each site. None of it is complicated, and most of it comes down to patience before you pay and a little maths once you do. Take a few minutes before you hit subscribe, and your wallet will thank you after the round.

1. Start with the free version. Play two or three rounds before you pay for anything.

2. Use the free trials. ParTeeOf18 offers 7 days, and 18Birdies offers 7 days on its monthly and yearly plans.

3. Pick yearly over monthly. Twelve months of ParTeeOf18 monthly costs $83.88 against $67.90 yearly. 18Birdies monthly adds up to $239.88 a year against $99.99, and Hole19 monthly adds up to €179.88 against €69.99.

4. Use weekly plans for trips. 18Birdies offers a $7.99 weekly plan that fits a golf holiday.

5. Watch for sales. Arccos runs seasonal discounts, so check before buying hardware.

6. Refer friends. ParTeeOf18 pays $10 for each signup through your link.

Conclusion

There is no single best golf app for every group, and that is the good news. Each of these five has a free way in, apart from Arccos, so the real cost of trying them is a few minutes on your phone.

For most friends, ParTeeOf18 offers the lowest paid price and the best tools for side bets. 18Birdies is the pick for social players and anyone curious about AI coaching. Hole19 suits smartwatch fans, Golfshot suits those who want tidy scoring, and Arccos is for the friend who is serious about shaving strokes.

Download one or two this week, take them out on your next round, and keep whichever one your group actually enjoys using. The best app is the one that gets everybody playing faster and arguing less.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the cheapest golf app for friends in 2026?

ParTeeOf18, 18Birdies, Hole19 and Golfshot all have free versions. For paid plans, ParTeeOf18 Pro at $67.90 a year is the lowest in US dollars, with Hole19 Premium at €69.99 close behind.

2. Are free golf apps good enough for a group?

Yes, for many groups. Free versions of these apps cover scoring and distances, and ParTeeOf18 supports fields of up to 24 players. You only need to pay if you want advanced games, plays like distances or deeper stats.

3. Which golf app is best for tracking side bets?

ParTeeOf18 is the strongest fit, thanks to its in-app wallet and over 12 formats. 18Birdies can also track up to ten games, including Skins, Nassau, Vegas and Wolf, and Golfshot Pro adds Skins, Nassau and Match Play.

4. Do I need to buy hardware to use these apps?

Only Arccos requires it. Its Smart Sensors, Smart Laser and Arccos Air products carry the membership. The other four run on your phone, and some also work on a smartwatch.

5. Can I try these golf apps before paying?

ParTeeOf18 offers a 7 day free trial for Pro, and 18Birdies offers 7 days on its monthly and yearly Premium plans. We did not see free trials listed for Hole19 or Golfshot, but both have free versions you can use first.

6. Is Arccos worth the money for friends?

It can be, if you want shot by shot data and plan to practice. The first year of membership is free with hardware, but you pay upfront for sensors or a wearable and £131.88 a year after that.

7. Do all of my friends need the paid plan?

That depends on the app and the features you want. Before anyone upgrades, check what your group actually needs, such as advanced games or green maps, and start with the free versions to find out.