# Compass vs Compass_S

Compass and Compass_S both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of Compass's written reviews are positive against 25% of Compass_S's. Compass also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (2.3K vs 281). Compass_S's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Compass sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Compass_S asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Compass against 4.6 for Compass_S. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass has 2.3K ratings behind it against 281, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Compass's written reviews are positive against 25% of Compass_S's.

Compass ships an update every 7 months, Compass_S every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass | Compass_S |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-professional/id1289069674/reviews)** | [4.6 (281 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-s/id1385372454/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.3K** | 281 |
| Positive reviews | **66.9% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 194 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peter Bohl](https://appshunter.io/developer/1075788156) | [hiroyuki uchida](https://appshunter.io/developer/669938829) |

## What reviewers say

### Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-professional/id1289069674)

This app helps you navigate by displaying your direction on a compass, overlayed on a satellite or map view. It provides your street address, GPS coordinates, and altitude, along with What3Words coordinates for precise location identification.

**Highlights:** Compass direction display, Satellite and map view overlay, Street address and GPS coordinates, Altitude display, What3Words coordinates, Zoom functionality, Accuracy indicator

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AdFree and Widgets for 1 month | $0.99 | per month |
| 3 months ad-free + Widgets | $1.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 year Ad Free + Widgets | $4.99 | per year |
| Ad Free without limits | $10.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate compass
- 👍 Useful features like location and elevation
- 🗺️ Detailed map overlay
- 🔍 Precise direction indication

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compass direction inaccurate
- 🌐 Issues with non-English language support
- 💢 Annoying ads
- 🤔 Calibration problems

**Reported bugs**

- Compass direction completely off
- App crashes on launch
- Barometric pressure widget not working
- Location tracking issues

**Requested features**

- Option to remove ads
- Customizable compass display
- Improved calibration controls
- Support for imperial units


### Compass_S

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-s/id1385372454)

A straightforward compass app offering five distinct needle designs. It displays cardinal directions in multiple formats, including Japanese, and provides GPS coordinates like latitude, longitude, and altitude. The app includes features to help maintain accuracy and can be used for specific cultural practices.

**Highlights:** Five needle designs, NESW and Japanese cardinal points, Latitude, longitude, and altitude display, Accuracy guidance for level positioning, Ehomaki compass for Setsubun, Ad-free and offline modes

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass free?

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

### Is Compass_S free?

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

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

Compass is rated higher. Compass averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.3K ratings, while Compass_S averages 4.6 from 281 ratings.

### Do Compass or Compass_S have ads?

Compass_S shows ads; Compass does not.

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

Compass ships an update every 7 months, and Compass_S every 6 months. Most recently, Compass was updated on October 17, 2026 and Compass_S on October 11, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*