# Compass vs Accurate Compass Navigation

The clearest difference is rating: Accurate Compass Navigation at 4.6 against Compass's 3.3. Accurate Compass Navigation also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 22%). Compass's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Accurate Compass Navigation sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Compass asks for nothing beyond the download.

Accurate Compass Navigation holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass has 2.2K ratings behind it against 193, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Compass's written reviews are positive against 64% of Accurate Compass Navigation's.

Compass ships an update every 8 months, Accurate Compass Navigation every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass | Accurate Compass Navigation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass/id1067456176/reviews) | **[4.6 (193 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/accurate-compass-navigation/id1069599397/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.2K** | 193 |
| Positive reviews | 21.9% of reviews | **64.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 months** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 20 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apple Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) | [Ngo Na](https://appshunter.io/developer/1061345952) |

## What reviewers say

### Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass/id1067456176)

This app displays your current latitude, longitude, and elevation. It also allows you to lock your current heading and provides a visual indicator to help you stay on course.

**Highlights:** Displays latitude and longitude, Shows current elevation, Lock current heading, On-course indicator

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Simple and effective
- 🗺️ Provides location and elevation data
- 💯 Saved a life in an emergency
- 🤖 Helpful for kids and the directionally challenged

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🧭 Inaccurate compass readings
- 🔁 Inconsistent and unreliable direction
- 🔒 Locked on north direction
- 🚫 Completely non-functional

**Reported bugs**

- Compass frozen or stuck on one direction
- Compass showing opposite direction
- Elevation and location data not working
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to switch between magnetic and true north
- Integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch
- Option to display coordinates in decimal degrees
- Customizable compass face with cardinal directions


### Accurate Compass Navigation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/accurate-compass-navigation/id1069599397)

Navigate with confidence using a globally accurate compass. Customize its appearance with various designs and colors. Features include true or magnetic north, a bubble level, and location sharing.

**Highlights:** Global accuracy for true and magnetic north, Display location with coordinates and address, Bubble level for tilt measurement, Customizable housing colors, disk, needle, and background, Location sharing via email and SMS

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Use compass app without ads | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Accurate readings (sometimes)
- 👍 Helpful for navigation
- 👍 Useful for specific tasks (telescopes, satellite dishes)
- 👍 Simple and clean design
- 👍 Works on iPad (for some users)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate readings
- 🐛 Frozen compass
- 🐛 Backwards readings
- 🐛 Does not work on iPhone
- 🐛 Does not work on iPad (for some users)

**Reported bugs**

- Compass needle is frozen
- Compass is backwards
- Compass does not work on iPad
- Compass does not work on iPhone
- Compass is not accurate

**Requested features**

- Improve graphics
- Allow color customization
- Reduce calibration needs
- Fix altitude display bug
- Fix decimal coordinate bug


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass free?

Compass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Accurate Compass Navigation free?

Accurate Compass Navigation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Compass or Accurate Compass Navigation?

Accurate Compass Navigation is rated higher. Compass averages 3.3 out of 5 from 2.2K ratings, while Accurate Compass Navigation averages 4.6 from 193 ratings.

### Do Compass or Accurate Compass Navigation have ads?

Accurate Compass Navigation shows ads; Compass does not.

### Which is updated more often, Compass or Accurate Compass Navigation?

Compass ships an update every 8 months, and Accurate Compass Navigation every 13 months. Most recently, Compass was updated on October 14, 2026 and Accurate Compass Navigation on October 11, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*