Comparison

FULL COMPASS vs Compass Guide

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

FULL COMPASS

This app provides high-precision navigation with a compass, level gauge, altimeter, and GPS coordinates. It supports both Japanese and English direction labels and offers customizable display styles. It also includes a special feature for finding lucky directions during traditional Japanese festivals.

Highlights
  • High-precision compass
  • Level gauge and altimeter
  • Latitude/longitude display
  • Japanese and English direction labels
  • Customizable design styles
  • Eho-maki compass for festivals
  • Offline functionality
Read full description

This compass allows you to instantly switch between Japanese directions ("東西南北") and English abbreviations ("NESW") with a single tap. It not only shows directions but also functions as a level gauge, altimeter, latitude/longitude display, and smartphone tilt indicator. The compass supports 16 directional points and displays both cardinal names and precise angles in degrees (0–360°). You can switch the language between Japanese and English via the menu. In addition to vertical and horizontal leveling, the app graphically displays the phone's tilt using four gyro indicators. You can choose between two design styles: a mechanical "Gray Metallic" or a classic "Black". These can be changed from the settings menu. It also serves as an "Eho‑maki Compass" for Setsubun, helping you find the lucky direction to eat your Eho-maki. The directions "North-northwest", "Northeast by east", "South-southeast", and "Southwest by west" are available in Japanese. In 2026, Setsubun falls on February 3rd. The lucky direction for Eho-maki is South-southeast. Use this app to easily find that direction and enjoy your Setsubun traditions! We've resolved an issue where the app could be installed on devices lacking a magnetic sensor. ※Please note: the compass function requires a magnetic sensor and may not work properly on unsupported devices. We also added a new feature that detects environments where compass readings are unstable and provides troubleshooting guidance. Additional features include the ability to hide banner ads and use the app offline, perfect for use in the mountains or by the sea. Give it a try

About

Compass Guide

This application provides directional guidance and heading information using your device's compass. It's designed to help users find their way in various situations.

Highlights
  • Directional finding
  • Heading information
  • Outdoor navigation aid
  • Hiking GPS support
Features
Read full description

Compass Guide is a simple, reliable digital compass for hiking, navigation, and everyday direction-finding — no account required. FIND YOUR WAY • Live compass heading in true north or magnetic north • Calibration guidance and an accuracy indicator you can trust • Your coordinates, altitude, and speed at a glance NAVIGATE TO A DESTINATION • Set a destination by map, clipboard coordinates, or manual entry • See live bearing and distance to where you're headed • Save multiple destinations with Premium SEE THE SKY • Sun and moon position markers on the dial (Premium) • Night mode with a red-tinted display to protect your night vision MAKE IT YOURS • Six compass styles: Classic, Field, Nautical, Military, Surveyor, and Minimal • Choose degrees or mils, metric or imperial units • Keep the screen on, add a haptic tick at true north, and use the built-in flashlight SHARE YOUR HEADING • Export a shareable image card with your heading and location details GO PREMIUM YOUR WAY • Unlock every feature with a one-time purchase — no subscription • Or watch a short ad anytime to unlock Premium free for 24 hours Compass Guide works fully offline for core compass features and never asks you to create an account.

Screenshots

FULL COMPASS4 screens
Compass Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FULL COMPASS at none against Compass Guide's 1. FULL COMPASS also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Compass Guide's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (38% vs 14%). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Compass Guide sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FULL COMPASS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FULL COMPASS holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 34 and 125 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 14% of FULL COMPASS's written reviews are positive against 38% of Compass Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FULL COMPASS ships an update every 4 months, Compass Guide every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 16, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
FULL COMPASS versus Compass Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFULL COMPASSCompass Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (34 ratings) — better4.5 (125 ratings)
Positive reviews14.3% of reviews37.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings34125 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supportedAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size200 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerhiroyuki uchidaAPPS BAY LIMITED

Customer experience

FULL COMPASS

All ratings34 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative71.4%

Compass Guide

All ratings125 ratings
Positive88.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

FULL COMPASS

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Compass Guide

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$2.99

Questions

Is FULL COMPASS free?
FULL COMPASS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Compass Guide free?
Compass Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FULL COMPASS or Compass Guide?
FULL COMPASS is rated higher. FULL COMPASS averages 4.7 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Compass Guide averages 4.5 from 125 ratings.
Do FULL COMPASS or Compass Guide have ads?
Both FULL COMPASS and Compass Guide show ads.
Which is updated more often, FULL COMPASS or Compass Guide?
FULL COMPASS ships an update every 4 months, and Compass Guide every 2 weeks. Most recently, FULL COMPASS was updated on July 16, 2026 and Compass Guide on September 24, 2026.

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