GPS OS Grid Reference

Name: GPS OS Grid Reference
Rating: 4.7 (6291 reviews)
Author: Tomstrails.com

Great Britain and Ireland

Free · In-App Purchases

6.3K Ratings
Ages

4+
Years
Category

Navigation
Developer

Tomstrails.com
Language

EN
English
Size

10.8
MB

GPS OS provides a fast and accurate way to locate your position on an Ordnance Survey map, both in Great Britain and Ireland. • No phone signal required - works in the most remote locations. • OSTN15 transform data for high conversion accuracy (better than 1m). • 6, 8 and 10 figure grid references. • A large, clear, high contrast display ensures you can easily read your position in any light conditions. • Optimises the frequency of position updates depending on battery charge and speed of travel to make sure you can always make calls at the end of the day. • Create waypoints from a map, your current location or manually enter Ordnance Survey coordinates. • Explore waypoints and get directions in Apple Maps. • Share waypoints with other apps or users. • No adverts. Includes OSTN15 transform data licensed with permission. Copyright and database rights Ordnance Survey Limited 2016, ©Crown copyright and database rights Land and Property Services 2016 and/or ©Ordnance Survey Ireland, 2016. All rights reserved.

Ratings & Reviews

4.7

out of 5

6.3K Ratings

So simple, so useful
12/07/2025

Geoffrey H....
There are other apps that give your current OS grid reference. But this one stands out for its simplicity. There is nothing to do but to open the app, wait a moment if it wasn’t already open and tracking my location, and then take a screenshot.I do surveys of lichens. When I want to record an observation the first thing I do is to take a screenshot of this app.That gives me my location and altitude, both vital pieces of information for any survey. Then I take photos of the location, of the lichen, and close-up photos of its details. All images later in time to my screenshot belong to that location, until the next screenshot.Non-visual information goes into my notebook, cross-referenced to the images by the grid reference and/or the time.What I like is how this app presents all the information I need clearly and legibly, uncluttered by anything unnecessary. In my camera roll, and later in an image folder, the screenshots stand out clearly, separating out each location where my observations were made.

Developer Response
Thank you for sharing your experience Geoffrey. I am always fascinated how people use the app in ways I had never expected.
So simple, so useful
12/07/2025

Geoffrey H....

There are other apps that give your current OS grid reference. But this one stands out for its simplicity. There is nothing to do but to open the app, wait a moment if it wasn’t already open and tracking my location, and then take a screenshot.I do surveys of lichens. When I want to record an observation the first thing I do is to take a screenshot of this app.That gives me my location and altitude, both vital pieces of information for any survey. Then I take photos of the location, of the lichen, and close-up photos of its details. All images later in time to my screenshot belong to that location, until the next screenshot.Non-visual information goes into my notebook, cross-referenced to the images by the grid reference and/or the time.What I like is how this app presents all the information I need clearly and legibly, uncluttered by anything unnecessary. In my camera roll, and later in an image folder, the screenshots stand out clearly, separating out each location where my observations were made.
Developer Response 14/07/2025
Thank you for sharing your experience Geoffrey. I am always fascinated how people use the app in ways I had never expected.
Useful tool
30/07/2020

One and only me
Useful tool in my Archaeology toolbox, not as accurate as a professional GPS locator but accurate enough for my needs, far better than plotting features on a rain soaked finds card, only downside is there is no ability to store and recall reference information, a screenshot and attaching a note is currently the only way, otherwise a great tool for amateur archaeologists and metal detectorists.

Developer Response
If you would like to contact me i maybe be able to offer some suggestions. tom@tomtrails.com
Useful tool
30/07/2020

One and only me

Useful tool in my Archaeology toolbox, not as accurate as a professional GPS locator but accurate enough for my needs, far better than plotting features on a rain soaked finds card, only downside is there is no ability to store and recall reference information, a screenshot and attaching a note is currently the only way, otherwise a great tool for amateur archaeologists and metal detectorists.
Developer Response 30/07/2020
If you would like to contact me i maybe be able to offer some suggestions. tom@tomtrails.com
Clear & simple display of OS grid ref
25/12/2017

Andy T8
Does what it says on the tin without mobile coverage or adverts! Recent update adds option of greater precision 10 digit references or the more common 6 or 8. Optional purchase to enable sharing of location. All it needs is facility to display lat / long as well to round out this very useful app. Very useful when working with others who are using paper OS maps. I also prefer os grid refs when on land in uk to the lat/long equiv with deg min sec - easier to remember and direct correlation to metres on the ground.
Clear & simple display of OS grid ref
25/12/2017

Andy T8

Does what it says on the tin without mobile coverage or adverts! Recent update adds option of greater precision 10 digit references or the more common 6 or 8. Optional purchase to enable sharing of location. All it needs is facility to display lat / long as well to round out this very useful app. Very useful when working with others who are using paper OS maps. I also prefer os grid refs when on land in uk to the lat/long equiv with deg min sec - easier to remember and direct correlation to metres on the ground.
Really useful
18/04/2019

Ray Hutchings
This is a really useful App for me as I use 8 digit grid references on a daily basis. I have been using the Ordnance Survey App for the last couple of years, but that only provides a 6 digit grid reference. The ability to copy the grid reference to the clipboard (in a simple XX NNNN NNNN format) would make this the perfect App for me.

Developer Response
Thank you for your kind comments. Your suggestion is on the list for a future update.
Really useful
18/04/2019

Ray Hutchings

This is a really useful App for me as I use 8 digit grid references on a daily basis. I have been using the Ordnance Survey App for the last couple of years, but that only provides a 6 digit grid reference. The ability to copy the grid reference to the clipboard (in a simple XX NNNN NNNN format) would make this the perfect App for me.
Developer Response 18/04/2019
Thank you for your kind comments. Your suggestion is on the list for a future update.