Grooves vs Hole19:
which golf app to choose?
Hole19 is a popular golf GPS, simple and free for the essentials. Grooves covers the course too, then links every round to an analysis of lost shots and a training program.
Grooves
GPS caddie · Strokes gained · Drills
Hole19
Free GPS · Premium · Social
In short
- →For a simple, free GPS, Hole19 does the job very well.
- →Grooves goes further before and after the round: game plan, strokes lost by area, drill program.
- →Grooves is free during the beta, advanced features included.
Updated October 5, 2026
The full table
Feature by feature.
Feature
Grooves
Hole19
Prepare
Hole-by-hole game plan
Grooves
✓Line of play from your dispersion + projected totalFree
Hole19
–
Printable yardage book
Grooves
✓A5, one hole per pageFree
Hole19
–
Play
Front / center / back distances
Grooves
✓Free
Hole19
✓Free
“Plays like” distance (slope, wind)
Grooves
✓Slope + windFree
Hole19
✓Dynamic distancesPaid
Club advice from your own carries
Grooves
✓Your bag’s carries, refined shot after shotFree
Hole19
~Club suggestionPaid
Shot tracking
Grooves
✓Free
Hole19
✓Free
Smartwatch
Grooves
✓Apple Watch: swing detected, confirmed on the wristFree
Hole19
✓Apple Watch · Wear OSFree
Analyze
Strokes gained / lost by area
Grooves
✓Tee, approach, short game, putting, penaltiesFree
Hole19
~Game statsPaid
Compared to your level
Grooves
✓Against players of your handicapFree
Hole19
–
Fairways, greens, putts
Grooves
✓Free
Hole19
✓Free
Handicap tracking
Grooves
✓WHS differential per round, estimated indexFree
Hole19
✓Official handicapFree
Train
Training program
Grooves
✓Built from your weaknesses, adjusted weeklyFree
Hole19
–
Guided range drills
Grooves
✓Target, ball count, ball-by-ball scoreFree
Hole19
–
Video lessons and pro coaching
Grooves
–No
Hole19
–
In practice
Course coverage
Grooves
~France, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Canada
Hole19
✓Worldwide coverage advertisedFree
Tee time booking
Grooves
–
Hole19
Not advertised
Scorecard sharing
Grooves
✓Scorecard and recap as an imageFree
Hole19
✓Round sharingFree
Community
Grooves
–
Hole19
✓Friends, activity feedFree
Import past rounds
Grooves
~Garmin, Golfshot; others by handFree
Hole19
Not specified
Price
Grooves
✓Free during the beta, no card
Hole19
~Free + Premium
Platforms
Grooves
iOS · Android · Apple Watch
Hole19
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 →