Comparison

FULL COMPASS vs The Compass

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

The Compass

Easily determine your direction with this straightforward navigation tool. Personalize the app's appearance by customizing background and text colors to your liking. Enjoy a simple, visually appealing way to check your bearings.

Highlights
  • Quick direction checking
  • Customizable background color
  • Customizable text color
  • Magnetic compass functionality
  • User-friendly interface
Features
Read full description

This is a simple compass app that allows you to quickly check your direction. Additionally, it offers the option to customize the compass to your preferred colors. What can you do with "The Compass" app? - Quickly check your direction - Color customization (you can change the background color and text color) It's an app that allows you to check your direction like a magnetic compass. You can freely set the background color and text color to any color you like, so you can choose your favorite color scheme and enjoy it.

Screenshots

FULL COMPASS4 screens
The Compass3 screens

Verdict

The call

FULL COMPASS and The Compass both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 57% of The Compass's written reviews are positive against 14% of FULL COMPASS's. The Compass also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (123 vs 34). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for FULL COMPASS against 4.7 for The Compass. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 34 and 123 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 14% of FULL COMPASS's written reviews are positive against 57% of The Compass's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FULL COMPASS ships an update every 4 months, The Compass every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 16, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
FULL COMPASS versus The Compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFULL COMPASSThe Compass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (34 ratings)4.7 (123 ratings)
Positive reviews14.3% of reviews57.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings34123 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size200 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerhiroyuki uchidaVida Apps Incorporated

Customer experience

FULL COMPASS

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

The Compass

All ratings123 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral2.4%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

In-app purchases

None

FULL COMPASS

No in-app purchases

None

The Compass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FULL COMPASS free?
FULL COMPASS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Compass free?
The Compass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FULL COMPASS or The Compass?
FULL COMPASS and The Compass are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 34 and 123 ratings respectively.
Do FULL COMPASS or The Compass have ads?
Both FULL COMPASS and The Compass show ads.
Which is updated more often, FULL COMPASS or The Compass?
FULL COMPASS ships an update every 4 months, and The Compass every 4 weeks. Most recently, FULL COMPASS was updated on July 16, 2026 and The Compass on September 22, 2026.

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