# NESW vs AR Compass 3D

The clearest difference is review sentiment: AR Compass 3D at 75% against NESW's 25%. AR Compass 3D also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 57 months). NESW's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AR Compass 3D sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NESW asks for nothing beyond the download.

NESW ships an update every 57 months, AR Compass 3D every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on July 18, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NESW | AR Compass 3D |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-compass-3d/id1590790089/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **36** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 57 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SOLAZ DAZEN S.R.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/802275887) | [Hangzhou OrangeJuice Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509434108) |

## 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


### AR Compass 3D

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-compass-3d/id1590790089)

This navigation app uses augmented reality to display a compass directly in your real-world environment. You can mark directions, addresses, and altitudes, and even record your experiences with screenshots. It's designed for those who find traditional compasses difficult to use.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality compass display, Mark directions, addresses, and altitudes, Record and screenshot within the app, Utilizes device compass feature, Requires location services and compass calibration

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NESW free?

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

### Is AR Compass 3D free?

AR Compass 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do NESW or AR Compass 3D have ads?

Both NESW and AR Compass 3D show ads.

### Which is updated more often, NESW or AR Compass 3D?

NESW ships an update every 57 months, and AR Compass 3D every 2 months. Most recently, NESW was updated on July 18, 2026 and AR Compass 3D on September 25, 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.*