# NESW vs Handy Compass

The clearest difference is update cadence: Handy Compass at every 3 weeks against NESW's every 57 months. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for NESW against 5.0 for Handy Compass. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

NESW ships an update every 57 months, Handy Compass every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NESW | Handy Compass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nesw-tactical-compass/id1174329659/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-compass-digital-compass/id6448968694/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 57 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 8 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Solaz Dazen srl](https://appshunter.io/developer/802275887) | [APPS BAY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599035519) |

## 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


### Handy Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-compass-digital-compass/id6448968694)

This navigation tool helps you find directions and locate specific places or items. Easily mark and track locations, such as your parked car, by adding custom symbols to the map.

**Highlights:** Find directions, Locate items, Track parked car, Add custom places, Move symbols on map

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NESW free?

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

### Is Handy Compass free?

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

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

NESW and Handy Compass are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do NESW or Handy Compass have ads?

Both NESW and Handy Compass show ads.

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

NESW ships an update every 57 months, and Handy Compass every 3 weeks. Most recently, NESW was updated on November 2, 2026 and Handy Compass on November 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.*