Comparison

CourseSpeed vs Compass Direction

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

Head to head
About

CourseSpeed

This navigation app provides real-time course, speed, and position data on a clear display. It offers turn-by-turn navigation with voice prompts, map overlays, and the ability to save tracks and points of interest. Additional features include sunrise/sunset times, horizon distance calculation, and specialized functions for sailing and geocaching.

Highlights
  • Real-time course, speed, and position display
  • Turn-by-turn navigation with voice prompts
  • Map view with track history and waypoints
  • Save and load track history and points of interest
  • GPX file export for computer viewing
  • Sunrise/sunset times and horizon distance calculator
  • Anchor watch and geocaching search functions
Read full description

App Summary: Although the CourseSpeed App was developed for boating, the App can be used anywhere, for example Boating, Hiking, Bike Riding, and Geocaching. The app was developed to conveniently have Course, Speed, and Position available on one screen in sufficiently large fields to be seen several feet away from the iPhone as well as to show the current position on a map. However, it also provides other views that perform the following, additional useful functions: 1. Allows the current position to be followed on any of three map types and, from the map, get Turn-by-turn navigation directions with voice prompts to anywhere. The current track history can be displayed along with user entered waypoints along the track line. Both the track history and waypoints can be saved to a history file. Saved history files can be loaded to the map later for reference. 2. Allows Point-Of-Interest map pins to be added to the map. These are also saved to a file and displayed whenever the App is started and are independent of the track history Waypoints. The Map Point-Of-Interest pins can be edited or deleted. 3. Saving track points in a GPS Exchange Format (GPX) file which can be moved to a computer. The GPX track may then be viewed on any mapping program/web site that reads GPX files. 4. For the current location, displays the times of sunrise and sunset as well as the current Sun azimuth and elevation for the current day, or any other day with user date input. 5. Provides a Horizon Distance Calculator that calculates the distance an observer can see for any height of an observer and any height of an object. 6. Provides the capability to add a Mark point on the Map to which Speed-Made-Good and bearing is displayed. (Useful for sailors, geocachers, hikers) 7. Provides a Speed-Made-Good-To-Windward indication for sailers. 8. Provides an "Anchor Watch" function for boaters to determine if their anchor is "dragging". 9. Provides a Geocaching search function to use a user entered "Mark" as a geocache location. 10. Allows the management of track history files, and GPX files; i.e. renaming or deleting them. 11. Allows the following settings to be saved automatically whenever the user changes them. The settings are selectable from either the "Settings" view or other views. All are saved to a file on the iPhone and restored when the App is restarted: 1 Speed smoothing enabled 2 Course smoothing enabled 3 Course smoothing type 4 Use fractional speeds when speed less than 10 enabled 5 Enabling the recording of a GPX format track file. 6 Latitude/Longitude display format 7 Elevation Display Mode 8 Course display format 9 Speed display format 10 Map type 11 Horizon Distance units 12 Enabling/disabling Speed-Made-Good function 13 Wind Direction 14 Anchor Distance The CourseSpeed iPhone App supports Apple's "Light" and "Dark" modes. The CourseSpeedWatch App is also available for use with a paired iPhone running the CourseSpeed App. The CourseSpeedWatch App functionality is a subset of the iPhone App functionality and contains only data fields and buttons but no mapping capability. The following data fields/buttons are visible on a single, scrolling, screen: 1 Position (Latitude & Longitude) 2 GPS receiver Accuracy (Horizontal & Vertical) 3 Course 4 Speed 5 Altitude 6 Trip 1 Odometer value 7 Trip 1 Odometer Start/Pause/Resume button 8 Trip 1 Odometer Reset button 9 Trip 2 Odometer value 10 Trip 2 Odometer Start/Pause/Resume button 11 Trip 2 Odometer Reset button 12 Distance to a user entered Mark 13 Bearing to a user entered Mark 14 Start/Stop/Clear track button 15 Save track button 16 Current track distance 17 Sunrise time 18 Sunset time The CourseSpeedWatch App supports one watch face "complication" called "Sun Rise/Set". A detailed description of all the functions and options is available from the App's "About" page and also on the web at santuit-sw.weebly.com (Then click on the CourseSpeed App and CourseSpeedWatch App)

About

Compass Direction

This app provides accurate compass headings and directions with a real-time GPS map. Easily switch between map and camera views, and access features like altitude, speed, and a torch. Enjoy a beautiful and intuitive interface with haptic feedback and accessibility support.

Highlights
  • Accurate compass headings and directions
  • Real-time GPS map with zoom
  • Altitude, latitude, and longitude display
  • Speedometer
  • Integrated torch
  • Switch between map and camera view
Read full description

AS FEATURED ON: TechRadar and more. Compass Direction - Digital is an easy to use compass app which allows you to find accurate compass headings and directions along with a realtime GPS map. Switch between the map and the view by holding the device up! WHY YOU’LL LOVE COMPASS DIRECTION - DIGITAL: The app allows you to use a digital compass - and it looks beautiful whilst doing so! NOTABLE FEATURES: • The app includes heading, direction, altitude, latitude, longitude, speedometer, and a torch • Switch between map types by tapping the screen and pinch to zoom in/out • Switch between the map and view by holding the device up • Accurate realtime compass direction and heading • Realtime GPS coordinates • Simple and beautiful user interface • Small haptics when interacting, improving the overall experience • VoiceOver support • 3D Touch GET IN TOUCH: If you have any questions or feedback, I'm all ears. Compass Direction - Digital was created by an individual in his free time, and I’d love to know what you think. I’m available through Twitter @elohohel. Terms of Use (EULA) - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

CourseSpeed4 screens
Compass Direction4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CourseSpeed at none against Compass Direction's 9. CourseSpeed also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Compass Direction's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 4 weeks) and ratings volume (2.7K vs 2). On price 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 Direction sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. CourseSpeed asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CourseSpeed holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass Direction has 2.7K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CourseSpeed ships an update every 4 weeks, Compass Direction every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
CourseSpeed versus Compass Direction: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCourseSpeedCompass Direction
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.6 (2.7K ratings)
Positive reviews—34.5% of reviews
Number of ratings22.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#151 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid JenningsRihab Mehboob

Customer experience

CourseSpeed

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Compass Direction

All ratings2,704 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews58 reviews
Positive34.5%
Neutral5.2%
Negative60.3%

Bugs and requests

CourseSpeed

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Compass Direction

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Compass always showing wrong directions
  • App freezes or becomes non-functional
  • Restore purchase feature not working
  • App crashing or not loading properly

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to calibrate the compass
  • Option to purchase a one-time fee instead of subscription
  • Offline map support
  • Ability to set waypoints and get directions

In-app purchases

None

CourseSpeed

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Compass Direction

Subscriptions7
  • Compass 1 Week$3.997 Days
  • Compass 1 Week$4.997 Days
  • Compass 1 Month3 Days trial$5.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Compass 1 Month$9.991 Month
  • Compass 1 Year3 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Compass 6 Months$29.996 Months
  • Compass 1 Year3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • Compass Lifetime$69.99
  • Compass Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is CourseSpeed free?
CourseSpeed is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Compass Direction free?
Compass Direction is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CourseSpeed or Compass Direction?
CourseSpeed is rated higher. CourseSpeed averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Compass Direction averages 4.6 from 2.7K ratings.
Do CourseSpeed or Compass Direction have ads?
Compass Direction shows ads; CourseSpeed does not.
Which is updated more often, CourseSpeed or Compass Direction?
CourseSpeed ships an update every 4 weeks, and Compass Direction every 3 days. Most recently, CourseSpeed was updated on September 15, 2026 and Compass Direction on October 13, 2026.

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