Compass vs Handy Compass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Compass
This navigation tool displays cardinal and 16-point directions in Japanese. It's useful for finding lucky directions during traditional events and can be used offline. The app provides guidance for environments where compass accuracy might be affected.
- Japanese directional display
- 16-point direction system
- Offline functionality
- Eho-maki direction guide
- Accuracy environment detection
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This compass clearly displays directions in Japanese. In addition to the cardinal directions, it shows 16-point directions based on the orientation of your device. This app was featured in episode 4 of the Nippon TV drama "Tokyo Tarareba Girls". It also appears in a theatrical film. For details, please check the link within the app. It can also be used as a compass to determine the direction for eating Eho-maki during Setsubun. Displays directions such as "north-northwest", "east-northeast", "south-southeast", and "west-southwest" in Japanese. Setsubun in 2026 will be on February 3rd, and the lucky direction is south-southeast. It is useful as an Eho-maki compass for Setsubun. We resolved the issue where the app could be installed on devices without a magnetic sensor. *The compass operates using a magnetic sensor and will not function on devices without one. We added a feature that detects environments where the compass may be inaccurate and provides solutions. Features were added to hide banner ads and to use the app offline in places like mountains and oceans. Please give it a try.
Handy Compass
This navigation tool helps you find directions and locate specific items or places. Easily mark and track locations on a map, and even find your parked car.
- Find directions
- Locate items
- Track saved places
- Move map symbols
- Find parked car
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Handy Compass is a compass app that helps you find directions or locate items whenever needed. You can also use this app to find your car in the parking lot. FEATURES: - Add and track a place or item by clicking "+". - You can move and relocate the symbol wherever you want by dragging the map.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Handy Compass at every 2 weeks against Compass's every 2 months. Compass's advantage is ratings volume (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Compass against 5.0 for Handy Compass. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.
Compass ships an update every 2 months, Handy Compass every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Compass | Handy Compass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 132 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | hiroyuki uchida | APPS BAY LIMITED |
Customer experience
Compass
Handy Compass
In-app purchases
Compass
No in-app purchases
Handy Compass
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Compass free?
Is Handy Compass free?
Which has better reviews, Compass or Handy Compass?
Do Compass or Handy Compass have ads?
Which is updated more often, Compass or Handy Compass?
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