Comparison

Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. vs fDeck

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Compass 55. Map & GPS kit.

This navigation app offers a comprehensive suite of tools for land, air, and marine use. It includes a detailed map, compass, GPS coordinates, altitude, distance, speed tracking, and route planning. Advanced features like offline maps, GPS track recording, and sensor integration are available through an upgrade.

Highlights
  • GPS coordinates in 6 formats
  • Advanced waypoint editor
  • Speedometer with speed tracking
  • Offline map downloads
  • GPS track recording and sharing
  • Magnetic declination calculation
  • Sunset and sunrise times
Features
Read full description

Compass 55 is an offline-capable GPS map and navigation toolkit for hiking, off-road travel, fieldwork, aviation, and marine use—with a compass, waypoints, routes, coordinate tools, and video recording. + Advanced target/waypoint editor. Can be also used as a coordinates converter. You can use map to check or set waypoint location and add photo or audio note. + Share your location via email, text message, Facebook or Twitter. This includes UTM, MGRS and Latitude/Longitude (MENU>Share my location). + You can use UTM, MGRS or Lat/Long, just pick your preference in settings (Coordinate Format). + Speedometer. Shows you the speed and pace. Speedometer also gives you options to control average and max speed and pace counters (MENU > RESET and PAUSE/RESUME counters). + Compass. Instant reaction compass, no delays. Automatically pickups the direction based on magnetic or GPS course. If you mostly walk or drive, you can change this automatic mode in app settings > Compass or GPS course. NATO mils? Same place in settings to set. + Magnetic declination δ for the current location and any location on the map (via World Magnetic Model, WMM, no need for data/internet). + Sunset and sunrise. So you can plan your travel better. + Arrow pointing to your target waypoint. Distance and bearing to it. + Create/measure routes and areas. + Barometric Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI, IVSI) in both scale and graph forms. + Integration of bluetooth sensors: Cycling cadence, Heart rate, Cycling speed. + Video recording for action and fieldwork. Add real-time G-Cross, map, QR code, and pitch & roll overlays as needed, then replay your recordings. The basic version stores one video and exports a branded 15-second clip. All above belong to a basic version. PRO Pack upgrade will add following capabilities: + Recording and sharing GPS tracks. + Moving waypoints between folders. + Showing ETA to a target as this requires GPS tracking. + Native Google map with fantastic terrain map, amazing 3D and real night mode. + Adding own/custom tile map servers. + Downloading offline maps. Offline maps import in .sqlitedb, rmaps, mbtiles formats. Support for overzoom and underzoom - offline map is shown even for zoom levels that are not downloaded. + GPX import and export for waypoints, tracks and routes. + Google Earth KML support for waypoints and tracks import/export. KMZ support for waypoints and tracks export, waypoints import. + Ground overlays. Import KMZ ground overlay or draw your own on the map in the app and share as kmz files! + CSV import/export for waypoints. + Voice coach to tell you active track distance and duration, current speed and altitude without need to open the app. + Support for Siri shortcuts in IOS 12 for starting and stopping GPS tracks. + From version 4.2 - support for OSGB (including grid shifts) and SK 42 in the coordinates converter. + Unlimited saved videos and full-length exports of stamped or original video. + BACKGROUND MODE. App will work in background automatically when tracking. You can use other apps while Compass 55 does its job in the background! + PRIVACY. Compass 55 never shares your location data with 3rd parties or ad agencies. Location data is used solely for telling you direction to a target and recording GPS tracks and never leave the app unless you decide to share by means of a track export. It always lets you know when background mode is on and never runs in background unless the track is being recorded. ! You can use this app on your iPhone as well as on any cellular iPad. **App will not work properly on iPods and wifi only iPads as they don't have GPS (external GPS module is required). As quite a lot of us are using external GPS modules, app is available for wifi only iPads and iPods. ! Please note that as with all GPS apps, continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

fDeck

This app provides a comprehensive flight deck with realistic instruments for aviation enthusiasts and pilots. It includes navigation tools, real-time weather, and traffic data, functioning as both a training aid and a supplementary instrument set.

Highlights
  • Realistic flight instruments (HSI, VOR, ADF, etc.)
  • Interactive aviation moving map
  • Live weather and ADS-B traffic data
  • Radio navigation training simulation
  • Worldwide aviation database
  • X-Plane flight simulator integration
Features
Read full description

fDeck turns your iPhone or iPad into a working aircraft instrument panel - a graphically beautiful flight deck for your pocket, with live weather, real ADS-B traffic, a flight planner and a powerful radio-navigation trainer. Trusted by 50,000+ pilots, student pilots and flight-sim enthusiasts worldwide. 100% ad-free. A FULL PANEL OF INSTRUMENTS Every instrument is hand-crafted to look and behave like the real thing - responsive, animated, and controlled with intuitive touch. Mix and match any combination to build your own flight deck: • Synthetic Vision (Vision PFD) • Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) • VOR receiver • Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) • Artificial Horizon • Altimeter (GPS/Baro) • Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) • Aircraft compass with heading bug • Groundspeed indicator • Chronometer with fuel totaliser • Live weather & wind, with TAF/METAR in raw or decoded form Every instrument has its own built-in video tutorial. LEARN TO NAVIGATE Pan your aircraft anywhere on the map and watch every instrument respond in real time. Tune any VOR, NDB or radio aid from a worldwide database - or build your own virtual navaids to practise tracking radials, intercepts and holds. The best radio-navigation trainer you can carry. PLAN YOUR FLIGHT Build a flight plan and slave any instrument to it. Waypoints transition automatically as you fly, so every needle keeps pointing exactly where it should - no re-tuning between legs. FLY WITH CONFIDENCE • Worldwide aviation database: 20,000+ airports and navaids, updated monthly • Aviation moving map with airspace, airports and navaids • Optional 5/10/20NM range rings and enhanced radial lines • Live ADS-B traffic with a built-in traffic avoidance (TCAS) system • Tag your own aircraft registration to silence alerts on yourself • Export your tracks as GPX or KML FOR YOUR HOME COCKPIT Drive the instruments straight from X-Plane or Microsoft Flight Simulator via the flight simulation connection, and turn any device into a secondary instrument panel. PRIVACY YOU CAN TRUST No ads. No tracking across other apps. We never sell your data and collect only what is needed to run the app. NEW IN VERSION 3.0 • Vision: a brand-new synthetic vision PFD (early access - 2D now, 3D coming soon) • Now 100% ad-free • Microsoft Flight Simulator support, alongside X-Plane FDECK PREMIUM fDeck is free to download and use. Become a Premium member to unlock: • Premium and Early Access instruments (including Vision) • Unlimited user navigation stations • Monthly navigation database updates • Map weather overlays & live virtual radar • Live ADS-B traffic with TCAS alerting • Live TAF & METAR reports • Unlimited X-Plane & MSFS flight simulation connection • Crazy fast support from the dev! Premium is available as a monthly or annual subscription, or as a one-time lifetime purchase. • Payment is charged to your Apple account at confirmation of purchase • Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends • Manage or cancel anytime in your account settings IMPORTANT fDeck is a training aid and a supplementary/backup instrument. It is not a certified instrument and must not be used as a primary means of navigation. Questions or ideas? I read every email personally - just use "Contact the developer" in the app, or the contact page on my website: https://fdeck.app/support/#contact Full details of our Terms of Service and Privacy policy can be found at the following URLs: Terms of Use: https://fdeck.app/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://fdeck.app/privacy/

Screenshots

Compass 55. Map & GPS kit.4 screens
fDeck4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. at 1.6K against fDeck's 329. On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and fDeck sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. against 4.8 for fDeck. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 329 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 91% and 90% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. ships an update monthly, fDeck every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. versus fDeck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCompass 55. Map & GPS kit.fDeck
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.6K ratings)4.8 (329 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.8% of reviews — better90.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.6K — better329
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB141 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKalimex-Consulting s.r.o. @Blocoware & Stanislav DvoychenkoDarren Yeates

Customer experience

Compass 55. Map & GPS kit.

All ratings1,545 ratings
Positive93.7%
Neutral3.8%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews400 reviews
Positive90.8%
Neutral5.3%
Negative4.0%

fDeck

All ratings329 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral2.7%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative7.1%

User reviews

Compass 55. Map & GPS kit.

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Best Mapping and Navigation tool
  • 👍 Great, simple inexpensive GPS
  • 👍 Accurate GPS and navigation
  • 👍 Useful for various activities
  • 👍 Offline maps and navigation

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Compass direction issues
  • 💡 Desire for more language support (Turkish, Polish, etc.)
  • 💡 Need for more map options (Yandex, IGN, etc.)
  • 💡 Improvements to interface and customization
  • 💡 Difficulty with some features and learning curve

fDeck

From 329 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Extremely easy to use and navigate
  • 💡 Comprehensive aviation instruments (compass, altimeter, VSI, attitude indicator, ADF, VOR, HSI)
  • 🎯 Useful for training, learning, and practice
  • ✈️ Reliable backup instrument for real flights
  • 🗺️ Integrated map and flight planning features

Room to improve

  • 📺 Intrusive ads in free version (full-screen, hard to close)
  • 🔄 Compass and map pointer display inverted on some devices
  • 🗺️ Map loading issues and missing sectional charts
  • 🔌 X-Plane simulator connection glitchy and unreliable
  • 📱 No iPad split-screen support

Bugs and requests

Compass 55. Map & GPS kit.

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Issues with GPX file import and tracking
  • Occasional crashes or freezes
  • Inaccurate GPS positioning in some cases

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to download and cache more map types
  • Option to show map grid coordinates
  • Elevation profile for planned routes
  • Apple Watch app support
  • Faster map updates
Show 1 more
  • More coordinate system options (e.g., PZ-90)

fDeck

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Compass inverted display
  • Map pointer inverted
  • VOR OBS reverse sensing (TO/FROM indication incorrect)
  • Maps fail to load/display
  • X-Plane simulator connection unreliable
Show 4 more
  • VSI inaccuracy compared to actual aircraft instruments
  • App incompatible with iPhone SE screen format
  • Ads cannot be closed and require app restart
  • Weather pressure readings 1mb inaccurate

Requested features

9 requests
  • Compass horizontal configuration support (180 degrees)
  • CarPlay functionality for in-vehicle navigation
  • EFIS version for advanced glass cockpit simulation
  • Local NOTAM integration
  • CAA airspace overlay for UK users
Show 4 more
  • User-defined waypoints with latitude/longitude input
  • Primary flight display (PFD) for airliner-style instruments
  • Accurate elevation data for locations
  • iPad split-screen compatibility

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Compass 55. Map & GPS kit.

Subscriptions2
  • Pro pack.$1.991 Month
  • Pro pack.$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro pack$14.99
3 purchases

fDeck

Subscriptions2
  • fDeck monthly lounge access$3.991 Month
  • fDeck annual lounge access$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • fDeck lifetime lounge access$49.99

Questions

Is Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. free?
Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is fDeck free?
fDeck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. or fDeck?
fDeck is rated higher. Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while fDeck averages 4.8 from 329 ratings.
Do Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. or fDeck have ads?
Neither Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. nor fDeck shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. or fDeck?
Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. ships an update monthly, and fDeck every 3 weeks. Most recently, Compass 55. Map & GPS kit. was updated on October 26, 2026 and fDeck on October 26, 2026.

Other comparisons