19/03/2026
GPS is free for people all over the world to use.
You do not pay any direct fee to use it on your phone, car, or other devices. The system is paid for by the U.S. government, mainly through taxpayer money, with the Department of Defense running most of it.
Keeping GPS running costs around $1.8 to $2 billion a year. That covers the satellites, control systems, upgrades, and maintenance.
The U.S. has chosen to keep civilian GPS free for decades, so people everywhere can use it without paying extra.
It’s one of the few global systems that millions use every day without even thinking about who pays for it.
