# NESW vs Virtual Compass º

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Virtual Compass º at 56% against NESW's 25%. Virtual Compass º also leads on update cadence (every 6 months vs every 57 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). 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.

NESW ships an update every 57 months, Virtual Compass º every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on July 18, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NESW | Virtual Compass º |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (308 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-compass/id1419811000/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **308** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **55.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 57 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 8 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SOLAZ DAZEN S.R.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/802275887) | [Villegas Ventures LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1082275065) |

## 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


### Virtual Compass º

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-compass/id1419811000)

This app overlays a precise compass and GPS coordinates onto your camera's view, offering real-time direction and location tracking. Navigate easily by seeing your heading and position directly on your surroundings.

**Highlights:** Real-time compass direction, Real-time compass heading, GPS coordinates display, Camera viewfinder integration, Instant GPS readings

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NESW free?

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

### Is Virtual Compass º free?

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

### Do NESW or Virtual Compass º have ads?

Both NESW and Virtual Compass º show ads.

### Which is updated more often, NESW or Virtual Compass º?

NESW ships an update every 57 months, and Virtual Compass º every 6 months. Most recently, NESW was updated on July 18, 2026 and Virtual Compass º on September 9, 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.*