Grooves vs 18Birdies:
which golf app to choose?
18Birdies is a very complete golf GPS with a strong social side. Grooves starts from the same base on the course, then goes further in preparing your round and in practice driven by your stats.
Grooves
GPS caddie · Strokes gained · Drills
18Birdies
GPS · AI caddie · Social
In short
- →On the course, both offer distances, “plays like” and club advice.
- →Grooves adds a hole-by-hole game plan before the round and a drill program built on your weaknesses.
- →18Birdies is richer socially: games with friends, tournaments, activity feed.
Updated October 5, 2026
The full table
Feature by feature.
Feature
Grooves
18Birdies
Prepare
Hole-by-hole game plan
Grooves
✓Line of play from your dispersion + projected totalFree
18Birdies
–
Printable yardage book
Grooves
✓A5, one hole per pageFree
18Birdies
–
Play
Front / center / back distances
Grooves
✓Free
18Birdies
✓Free
“Plays like” distance (slope, wind)
Grooves
✓Free
18Birdies
✓Paid
Club advice from your own carries
Grooves
✓Your bag’s carries, refined shot after shotFree
18Birdies
✓AI caddiePaid
Shot tracking
Grooves
✓Free
18Birdies
✓Free
Smartwatch
Grooves
✓Apple Watch: swing detected, confirmed on the wristFree
18Birdies
✓Apple Watch · Wear OSFree
Analyze
Strokes gained / lost by area
Grooves
✓Free
18Birdies
✓Paid
Compared to your level
Grooves
✓Against players of your handicapFree
18Birdies
~Handicap trends
Fairways, greens, putts
Grooves
✓Free
18Birdies
✓Free
Handicap tracking
Grooves
✓WHS differential per round, estimated indexFree
18Birdies
✓Handicap trackingFree
Train
Training program
Grooves
✓Built from your weaknesses, adjusted weeklyFree
18Birdies
~Tips and lessonsFree
Guided range drills
Grooves
✓Target, ball count, ball-by-ball scoreFree
18Birdies
~Drill videosFree
Video lessons and pro coaching
Grooves
–No
18Birdies
✓Pro video lessonsPaid
In practice
Course coverage
Grooves
~France, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Canada
18Birdies
✓45,000 courses advertisedFree
Tee time booking
Grooves
–
18Birdies
Not advertised
Scorecard sharing
Grooves
✓Scorecard and recap as an imageFree
18Birdies
✓Sharing in the feedFree
Community
Grooves
–
18Birdies
✓Social feed, games with friends, tournamentsFree
Import past rounds
Grooves
~Garmin, Golfshot; others by handFree
18Birdies
Not specified
Price
Grooves
✓Free during the beta, no card
18Birdies
~Free + annual Premium
Platforms
Grooves
iOS · Android · Apple Watch
18Birdies
iOS · Android · Apple Watch · Wear OS
✓ included · ~ partial or different approach · – not offered. Based on both apps’ public descriptions. Free / Paid: available without a subscription or paid plan only. Updated October 5, 2026.
Free beta · No card
The best comparison
is your next round.
Download Grooves, prepare your course and play your first guided hole. We’ll let you make up your own mind.
Download the app →