# Virtual Compass º vs iStreams Solent

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Virtual Compass º at none against iStreams Solent's 9. Virtual Compass º also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 33%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.2). iStreams Solent's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iStreams Solent sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Virtual Compass º asks for nothing beyond the download.

Virtual Compass º ships an update every 6 months, iStreams Solent every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Virtual Compass º | iStreams Solent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (308 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-compass/id1419811000/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **308** | — |
| Positive reviews | **55.6% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 45 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Villegas Ventures LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1082275065) | [Navtech Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/355517263) |

## What reviewers say

### Virtual Compass º

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-compass/id1419811000)

This app overlays a precise compass and GPS coordinates onto your camera's view, offering real-time direction and location tracking. Navigate easily by seeing your heading and position directly on your surroundings.

**Highlights:** Real-time compass direction, Real-time compass heading, GPS coordinates display, Camera viewfinder integration, Instant GPS readings

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### iStreams Solent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/istreams-solent/id1454510704)

This app provides real-time Solent tidal stream data, displaying hourly charts and tools to measure tide set and interpolated rates. It functions offline and allows for future planning by selecting different dates.

**Highlights:** Real-time Solent tidal stream charts, Offline functionality, Tide set and rate measurement tools, Automatic Portsmouth HW time selection, Date selection for future planning, Zoomable charts, Boat position display on chart

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock 'Set' tool | $1.99 | one-time |
| Portsmouth Tides 2019 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 6 Month Subscription | $2.99 | one-time |
| 1 Month Subscription | $2.99 | one-time |
| Unlock CTS tool | $3.99 | one-time |
| 1 Year Subscription | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Virtual Compass º free?

Virtual Compass º is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is iStreams Solent free?

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

### Do Virtual Compass º or iStreams Solent have ads?

Virtual Compass º shows ads; iStreams Solent does not.

### Which is updated more often, Virtual Compass º or iStreams Solent?

Virtual Compass º ships an update every 6 months, and iStreams Solent every 3 months. Most recently, Virtual Compass º was updated on September 9, 2026 and iStreams Solent on September 20, 2026.

---

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