# Compass_S vs .Route Recon

The clearest difference is ads: .Route Recon at none against Compass_S's shown. .Route Recon also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). Compass_S's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Compass_S ships an update every 6 months, .Route Recon every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass_S | .Route Recon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (281 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-s/id1385372454/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **281** | — |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 194 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [hiroyuki uchida](https://appshunter.io/developer/669938829) | [NextGen Nav LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1862409939) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### .Route Recon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/route-recon/id6756704314)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass_S free?

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

### Is .Route Recon free?

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

### Do Compass_S or .Route Recon have ads?

Compass_S shows ads; .Route Recon does not.

### Which is updated more often, Compass_S or .Route Recon?

Compass_S ships an update every 6 months, and .Route Recon every 2 months. Most recently, Compass_S was updated on October 24, 2026 and .Route Recon on October 25, 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.*