# NESW vs Compass

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Compass at 68% against NESW's 25%. Compass also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 57 months) and ratings volume (26 vs 1). NESW's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Compass sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. NESW asks for nothing beyond the download.

NESW holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass has 26 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of NESW's written reviews are positive against 68% of Compass's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

NESW ships an update every 57 months, Compass every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NESW | Compass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nesw-tactical-compass/id1174329659/reviews)** | [4.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-gps-altimeter/id6446232128/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **26** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **68.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 57 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Solaz Dazen srl](https://appshunter.io/developer/802275887) | [伟 雷](https://appshunter.io/developer/1347765042) |

## 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


### Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-gps-altimeter/id6446232128)

Navigate with precision using this stylish app that shows your direction, altitude, coordinates, and barometric pressure. Explore two distinct visual themes for an immersive experience, ideal for any outdoor or urban journey.

**Highlights:** Accurate direction display, Real-time altitude and elevation, Latitude/longitude coordinates, Barometric pressure readings, Movement speed tracking, Two visual themes

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| life member | $0.99 | one-time |
| VIP | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NESW free?

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

### Is Compass free?

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

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

NESW is rated higher. NESW averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Compass averages 4.6 from 26 ratings.

### Do NESW or Compass have ads?

Both NESW and Compass show ads.

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

NESW ships an update every 57 months, and Compass every 2 weeks. Most recently, NESW was updated on October 24, 2026 and Compass on October 30, 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.*