GNSS vs GPS vs BeiDou: What’s the Difference?

Do you often hear terms like “GPS navigation,” “the BeiDou system,” or “GNSS,” but still find it hard to tell the difference between them? Today, we’ll explain these concepts in the simplest possible way and help you clearly understand how they are related.

1. What Is GNSS?

GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is a general term used to describe satellite-based positioning systems that provide positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.

In other words, GNSS is the umbrella concept. It refers to all global satellite navigation constellations that transmit signals to receivers on Earth.

Today, the major global GNSS constellations include:

• GPS (United States)
• BeiDou (BDS) (China)
• Galileo (European Union)
• GLONASS (Russia)

In addition to these global systems, there are regional systems such as:

• QZSS (Japan)
• NavIC (India)

When a device supports “GNSS positioning,” it typically means it can receive signals from multiple satellite systems rather than relying on just one.

2. What Is GPS?

GPS is a specific system within the broader GNSS framework. Its full name is the Global Positioning System, and it is built and operated by the United States. As the world’s first satellite navigation system to be widely deployed for civilian use, GPS provides global coverage and is known for its mature technology and extensive applications.

For a long time, when people referred to “positioning” in smartphones, in-vehicle navigation systems, or surveying equipment, they were essentially referring to GPS by default. As a result, the term “GPS” gradually became a synonym for satellite positioning. However, it is important to clarify that GPS is only one of many satellite navigation systems and does not represent the entire GNSS.

3. What Is BeiDou?

BeiDou is China’s independently developed satellite navigation system. Its English name is the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), and it is also part of the global GNSS framework. BeiDou evolved from an early regional experimental system to regional coverage over the Asia–Pacific region, and eventually completed a global constellation. It now provides global positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, and also offers distinctive functions such as short-message communication and search-and-rescue services in certain applications.

4. GNSS vs GPS vs BeiDou: Key Differences

The relationship between GNSS, GPS, and BeiDou can be summarized clearly:

Term	Type	Scope	Description
GNSS	Umbrella term	Global	Refers to all satellite navigation systems collectively
GPS	Specific system	Global	U.S.-operated satellite navigation constellation
BeiDou	Specific system	Global	China-operated satellite navigation constellation

In simple terms:

• GNSS is the category
• GPS and BeiDou are individual systems within that category

Rather than thinking of them as competitors, it is more accurate to see them as parallel systems operating within the same global positioning framework.

5. Why Multi-Constellation GNSS Matters

Modern devices rarely rely on a single satellite system. Smartphones, in-vehicle navigation systems, UAVs, and professional surveying receivers typically track multiple constellations simultaneously—such as GPS, BeiDou, Galileo, and GLONASS.

This approach, known as multi-constellation GNSS positioning, offers several advantages:

• More visible satellites
• Improved positioning stability in urban canyons and wooded areas
• Faster time to first fix (TTFF)
• Higher overall positioning accuracy

In practical terms, using multiple GNSS systems together often delivers better performance than relying on GPS or BeiDou alone.

As GNSS technology continues to evolve, Qtalis is also continuously advancing its technologies to remain at the forefront of the industry, providing users with ever-higher positioning accuracy and more convenient navigation and positioning solutions.