The short answer
Most monitors need paid software to play courses. GSPro is listed at $250 for the first year, Foresight+ Gold at $599 per year, and the Rapsodo MLM2XPRO's Core membership at $199.99 per year. A few setups avoid yearly fees, such as the Mevo Gen2 with its permanent license to eight E6 courses.
This guide comes from dealer listings and published software guides, not from running the software ourselves. Software prices change often and some sources disagree, so confirm the price on the maker’s page before you buy.
Why software is a separate cost
A launch monitor measures the shot. The software turns that data into a course, a scorecard and a ball flight on your screen. Without it you have numbers on a phone. With it you have a simulator.
Software can be a big share of the budget. Golfjoy puts entry-level software at free to $500 and premium software at $500 to $2,000 or more. Shop Indoor Golf warns about ignoring software and PC cost, and our cost guide shows how it fits into a build.
The main software options
| Software | Listed cost | How it is sold |
|---|---|---|
| GSPro | $250 for the first year | Yearly subscription, no lifetime option |
| E6 Connect Home (TruGolf) | $1,000 | Lifetime Home license; Carl’s Place lists $450 for a 1-year plan |
| Foresight+ Silver | $199 per year | Subscription, listed on the GC3 |
| Foresight+ Gold | $599 per year | Subscription, listed on the GC3 |
| Course Pass / Pro | $295 / $595 per year | Foresight course add-ons |
| Rapsodo Core membership | $199.99 per year | Listed on the MLM2XPRO, 21-day trial |
| Simulator Golf Tour | $80 | Listed by Carl’s Place |
GSPro has a large crowd-sourced library. Carl’s Place says it includes more than 2,500 community courses plus official courses, with some designers hosting courses on private servers that may need a separate Patreon membership. GSPro runs on Windows only.
E6 Connect is TruGolf’s software. TruGolf’s Expanded Subscription covers most of the E6 library except licensed content such as Pebble Beach. Prices for E6 have moved over the years and sources conflict, so read the current page.
What each monitor needs
Software requirements are the part buyers miss. Taking the listings in order of price:
| Monitor | Price | Software note |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin Approach R10 | $499.99 | Garmin Golf subscription needed for course play |
| Rapsodo MLM2PRO | from $549.99 | Course play needs extra software, GSPro is $250 for the first year |
| Square Golf Home | $699.99 | No annual fee, pay-per-round tokens |
| Rapsodo MLM2XPRO | $899.99 | Core membership $199.99 per year after a 21-day trial |
| FlightScope Mevo Gen2 | from $1,149 | Permanent license to 8 E6 courses |
| Uneekor EYE MINI CORE | from $1,199 | Includes 1 year of GSPro |
| SkyTrak ST Max | from $1,695 | Course play packs cost extra |
| Bushnell Launch Pro | $2,999 | Club data and simulation need a Silver or Gold plan |
| Foresight GC3 | from $3,999 | Foresight+ Silver or Gold |
| ProTee VX | from $6,500 | No mandatory annual fee |
Several monitors also need an add-on to run GSPro. Carl’s Place says Foresight and Bushnell devices need an extra license from the manufacturer, Uneekor needs a Pro Package, and the Rapsodo MLM2PRO needs its Premium Membership. It also says SkyTrak is outside GSPro’s official support list.
SkyTrak has its own tiers. PlayBetter lists Basic as free for the driving range and some libraries, Essential at $129.99 per year, Core with Foresight at $299.99 per year, Core with TrackMan at $349.99 per year and Elite at $599.99 per year.
Square Golf uses tokens. Golfer’s Authority puts credits at about $0.02 each, with 1,000 credits covering around 55 rounds. Check Square’s own page for current token prices.
What a subscription adds up to
Yearly plans add up faster than buyers expect. Here is simple multiplication of the listed yearly prices over five years:
| Plan | Per year | Over 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| Foresight+ Silver | $199 | $995 |
| Rapsodo Core | $199.99 | $999.95 |
| GSPro | $250 | $1,250 |
| Foresight+ Gold | $599 | $2,995 |
Listed yearly price times five. Simple sums, not quotes. Plans and prices change.
A monitor with no yearly fee can cost less over time even if its sticker price is higher. Five years of Foresight+ Gold adds $2,995 to the monitor’s price. The Mevo Gen2, from $1,149, lists no subscription for its eight included courses, though that is a fixed set rather than a full library. Run the numbers for your own use: these are simple sums from listed prices, not quotes.
Free and low-cost options
- Practice modes. SkyTrak Basic is free. The Swing Caddie SC4 PRO has the MySwingCaddie virtual driving range on a phone or tablet and lists optional E6 Connect compatibility for course play.
- Built-in screens. The Blue Tees Rainmaker shows data on its 4.3 inch screen, with Practice, Target Distance and Swing Speed modes that work without a phone or Wi-Fi.
- Bundled software. The EYE MINI CORE includes one year of GSPro, and the TruGolf APOGEE lists a one-year E6 ENJOY subscription. After that you renew.
Note that the Garmin R10 and R50 Home Tee Hero route needs a Garmin Golf membership, and the R50 runs the software on the unit without a PC. Check the price on Garmin’s page, since the dealer listings do not give it.
The PC question
Windows is recommended for the best compatibility. Shop Indoor Golf says a normal PC may not run simulation software well, since it often needs a dedicated graphics card and more memory. Carl’s Place says 4K GSPro graphics need a capable PC. Budget for it when you compare the cost of a tablet-only option against a PC-based one.
How to choose
- Decide how you want to play. Practice only, or rounds with friends?
- Check the monitor’s software line in the table above.
- Multiply yearly fees by the years you expect to play.
- Confirm compatibility with the software you want before you buy.
Our Garmin R10 vs Rapsodo MLM2PRO comparison puts this into practice for two entry monitors, and our budget guide shows low-cost options.
Run the numbers
Enter the yearly fee for the plan you want into the cost calculator to see the total over three or five years, and see all comparisons for the monitor-by-monitor pages.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a subscription to use a golf simulator?
For course play on most monitors, yes. Practice and range modes are often free. SkyTrak's Basic tier is free for the driving range and some libraries, and the Blue Tees Rainmaker has practice modes that work without a phone or Wi-Fi. Course play usually needs GSPro, E6 Connect, a Foresight plan or the maker's own membership.
What does GSPro cost?
The first-year license is listed at $250. Foresight says it is sold only as a paid annual subscription, with no lifetime option. GSPro also runs on Windows only, and 4K graphics need a capable PC. Some monitors need an extra license or connector, so check yours.
Is there software with no yearly fee?
Yes. TruGolf's E6 Connect Home license is listed at $1,000 as a lifetime license, though Carl's Place lists E6 at $450 for a one-year subscription, so confirm which one you are buying. The FlightScope Mevo Gen2 lists a permanent license to eight E6 Connect courses with no subscription, and the ProTee VX lists no mandatory annual fee.
How much does Foresight software cost?
On the Foresight GC3 listing, Foresight+ Silver is $199 per year and Gold is $599 per year. Course Pass is $295 per year and Course Pass Pro is $595 per year. The GC3 comes with a 30-day Gold with Course Pass Pro trial.
Does the Garmin R10 need a subscription?
The Carl's Place listing says course play needs an active Garmin Golf subscription. The listing does not give a price, so check Garmin's page before you buy. Home Tee Hero runs with the R10 and lists 43,000 courses.
