Comparison

Compass_S vs 針向

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

Head to head
About

Compass_S

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
Read full description

This is a simple and intuitive compass app. You can choose from five different needle designs. It displays directions in NESW and Japanese cardinal points, as well as latitude, longitude, and altitude. Please hold your smartphone flat when using the compass. Accuracy will decrease if the device is not held level. When tilted, the center icon of the needle will shift to help guide you into a level position. It can also be used as a compass to check the direction to eat "Ehomaki" during Setsubun. Displays directions like "North-northwest", "East-northeast", "South-southeast", and "West-southwest" in Japanese. Setsubun in 2026 falls on February 3rd, and the lucky direction is south-southeast. Useful as an Ehomaki compass for Setsubun. We resolved the issue where the app could be installed on devices without a magnetic sensor. Note: Since the compass relies on a magnetic sensor, it will not work on unsupported devices We have also added a function to detect environmental conditions that may affect compass accuracy and provide solutions. Now includes features to hide banner ads and use offline in mountains or at sea. Give it a try

About

針向

Features
Read full description

針向(しんこう) ただ単純に「方向」だけを示す、最小限のナビゲーション。 旅において、常に最短ルートや到着時間を優先することが、必ずしも最適とは限りません。 
既存のナビゲーションは「正確さ」と「効率」を提供しますが、その一方で、選択の余地を減らします。 針向は、あえて情報を削ぎ落としました。
表示するのは、目的地の方向と距離のみです。
どの道を選ぶかは、利用者自身の判断に委ねられます。 無数に存在するルートの中から、直感と好奇心に基づいて進むことができます。
 主な機能 ・目的地を検索または地図から選択 ・コンパスで進行方向をリアルタイム表示 ・距離・方位をシンプルに表示 ・無駄を省いたミニマルなUI ・広告なし 特徴 ・目的地の方向だけを提示 ・徒歩移動や街歩き、探索に最適 こんな方に ・直感的に方向だけ知りたい方 ・地図を見るのが苦手な方 ・シンプルなツールを求めている方

Screenshots

Compass_S4 screens
針向2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: 針向 at none against Compass_S's shown. Compass_S's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.4). On price, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Compass_S versus 針向: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCompass_S針向
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (281 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings281 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 months—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better26.4
Further details — not scored
Size194 MB0 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerhiroyuki uchidayuugo suzuki

In-app purchases

None

Compass_S

No in-app purchases

None

針向

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Compass_S free?
Compass_S is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is 針向 free?
針向 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Compass_S or 針向 have ads?
Compass_S shows ads; 針向 does not.

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