# NESW vs Nav Tools

The clearest difference is price: NESW at Free against Nav Tools's $0.99. Nav Tools's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On update cadence, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

NESW is free to download; Nav Tools costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

NESW ships an update every 57 months, Nav Tools every 32 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NESW | Nav Tools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 57 months | **Every 32 months** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 8 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Solaz Dazen srl](https://appshunter.io/developer/802275887) | [Jean-Christoph KAISER](https://appshunter.io/developer/309381304) |

## What reviewers say

### NESW

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nesw-tactical-compass/id1174329659)

A simple, easy-to-read compass app showing heading, cardinal direction, and magnetic north. It also features a flashlight toggle for convenience during outdoor activities.

**Highlights:** Heading and cardinal direction indicator, Magnetic North pointer, Large font degree heading, Rotating compass rose, Background color change for North, Integrated flashlight toggle

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Nav Tools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nav-tools/id1224481789)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NESW free?

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

### Is Nav Tools free?

Nav Tools costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do NESW or Nav Tools have ads?

NESW shows ads; Nav Tools does not.

### Which is updated more often, NESW or Nav Tools?

NESW ships an update every 57 months, and Nav Tools every 32 months. Most recently, NESW was updated on October 6, 2026 and Nav Tools on October 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.*