# Compass Direction vs Compass

The clearest difference is rating: Compass at 4.7 against Compass Direction's 3.7. Compass also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 7 months vs every 112 months). Compass Direction's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Compass sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Compass Direction asks for nothing beyond the download.

Compass holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass has 2.4K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Compass Direction's written reviews are positive against 67% of Compass's.

Compass Direction ships an update every 112 months, Compass every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass Direction | Compass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-direction-live-finder/id1076827265/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-professional/id1289069674/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **2.4K** |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 112 months | **Every 7 months** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aishvarya Sadasivam](https://appshunter.io/developer/1062048241) | [Peter Bohl](https://appshunter.io/developer/1075788156) |

## What reviewers say

### Compass Direction

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-direction-live-finder/id1076827265)

Get precise heading and live location data for instant direction finding. This simple and reliable tool is essential for outdoor adventures, helping you navigate with confidence.

**Highlights:** Precise heading detection, Live location data, Simple interface, Reliable navigation, Outdoor adventure essential

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-professional/id1289069674)

This app helps you navigate by displaying your direction on a compass, overlayed on a satellite or map view. It provides your street address, GPS coordinates, and altitude, along with What3Words coordinates for precise location identification.

**Highlights:** Compass direction display, Satellite and map view overlay, Street address and GPS coordinates, Altitude display, What3Words coordinates, Zoom functionality, Accuracy indicator

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AdFree and Widgets for 1 month | $0.99 | per month |
| 3 months ad-free + Widgets | $1.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 year Ad Free + Widgets | $4.99 | per year |
| Ad Free without limits | $10.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate compass
- 👍 Useful features like location and elevation
- 🗺️ Detailed map overlay
- 🔍 Precise direction indication

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compass direction inaccurate
- 🌐 Issues with non-English language support
- 💢 Annoying ads
- 🤔 Calibration problems

**Reported bugs**

- Compass direction completely off
- App crashes on launch
- Barometric pressure widget not working
- Location tracking issues

**Requested features**

- Option to remove ads
- Customizable compass display
- Improved calibration controls
- Support for imperial units


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass Direction free?

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

### Is Compass free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Compass Direction or Compass?

Compass is rated higher. Compass Direction averages 3.7 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Compass averages 4.7 from 2.4K ratings.

### Do Compass Direction or Compass have ads?

Compass Direction shows ads; Compass does not.

### Which is updated more often, Compass Direction or Compass?

Compass Direction ships an update every 112 months, and Compass every 7 months. Most recently, Compass Direction was updated on November 2, 2026 and Compass on November 3, 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.*