# Compass vs The Compass

The clearest difference is rating: Compass at 5.0 against The Compass's 4.7. The Compass's advantage is ratings volume (123 vs 4) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Compass holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Compass has 123 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Compass ships an update every 2 months, The Compass every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass | The Compass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-j/id1096012000/reviews)** | [4.7 (123 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-compass-simple/id6468984472/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **123** |
| Positive reviews | — | 57.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 132 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [hiroyuki uchida](https://appshunter.io/developer/669938829) | [Vida Apps Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580682451) |

## What reviewers say

### Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-j/id1096012000)

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.

**Highlights:** Japanese directional display, 16-point direction system, Offline functionality, Eho-maki direction guide, Accuracy environment detection

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-compass-simple/id6468984472)

Easily determine your direction with this straightforward navigation tool. Personalize the app's appearance by customizing background and text colors to your liking. Enjoy a simple, visually appealing way to check your bearings.

**Highlights:** Quick direction checking, Customizable background color, Customizable text color, Magnetic compass functionality, User-friendly interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass free?

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

### Is The Compass free?

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

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

Compass is rated higher. Compass averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while The Compass averages 4.7 from 123 ratings.

### Do Compass or The Compass have ads?

Both Compass and The Compass show ads.

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

Compass ships an update every 2 months, and The Compass every 4 weeks. Most recently, Compass was updated on September 21, 2026 and The Compass on September 22, 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.*