WristRoute Lite vs Pro Compass for Watch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WristRoute Lite
This app provides standalone GPS navigation for outdoor activities on your Apple Watch. It supports offline use with cached topographic and OpenStreetMap maps, allowing you to follow routes and track progress without an internet connection. Battery-saving options are included for extended use.
- Standalone Apple Watch GPS
- Offline GPX file support
- Topographic and OpenStreetMap maps
- Cached maps for offline use
- Battery saving options
- Elevation profile tracking
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WristRoute Lite is a standalone Apple Watch GPS application for hiking, biking, and other offline activities. Neither the iPhone or Internet is needed for field operation. WristRoute Lite can read GPX files containing waypoints, routes, and tracks. Download a GPX file for an upcoming hike, load it on your watch, and now you can follow the route line on a map, or track your uphill progress against an elevation profile. WristRoute uses the latest generation of topographic maps from the USGS: US Topo. Outside the continental United States an OpenStreetMap derived map is used. Maps are cached for offline use. WristRoute is designed for all day use with battery saving options. GPS Battery Saver turns on the GPS only as needed. Map display can also be turned off, displaying just GPX route lines and waypoints. This free LIte version does not include ability to export watch created waypoints and tracks or to bulk cache maps. Please upgrade to full version (not "Lite") to use those features.
Pro Compass for Watch
This app replicates classic pocket compasses with advanced 3D graphics for realistic operation on your wrist. It provides true/magnetic compass modes, sun/moon positions, GPS, altitude, and a waypoint manager with map integration. Customize settings and color schemes for optimal viewing.
- Realistic 3D compass rendering
- True and magnetic compass modes
- Sun and moon position tracking
- GPS location and altitude display
- Waypoint manager with map view
- Inclinometer with bubble levels
- Customizable settings and color schemes
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The legendary iOS compass app is now available for Apple Watch! Pro Compass replicates the look and feel of classic pocket compass hardware in use since the 1800s. The app uses advanced graphics technologies (normally reserved for games) to render 3D floating compass hardware for realistic operation. Pro Compass offers true and magnetic compass modes using a damped rosette-style compass ring. Local sun and moon position are shown on the compass ring and continually updated. Pro Compass also displays location and altitude, and contains a built-in two-axis inclinometer that drives two independent bubble levels and a bullseye level. New in Pro Compass for Watch version 2 is a map screen and waypoint manager. You can add waypoints on the map or at your current location, and view waypoints on the compass ring to visualize their bearing from your current location. Pro Compass has settings for compass mode (true or magnetic, degrees or mils), distance/altitude units (feet or meters), and position format (decimal degrees, degrees-minutes-seconds, MGRS, USNG, UTM, UTM-B, and Maidenhead Locator System). The app has six color schemes, including two night vision modes - midnight red and luminescent green. Pro Compass for Watch is recommended for Apple Watch Series 5 and later (including Ultra). Apple Watch Series 4 and older do not have a compass sensor and will not show compass data. On older devices, the app uses the device's gyro sensor to measure rotation. You can twist the watch's digital crown to adjust and calibrate the gyro to the sun position, moon position, or a known bearing. Using these references, the "gyro compass" is able to give bearing. The calibration can be repeated as often as desired to give accurate results. Accuracy note: Pro Compass reports accuracy from the magnetometer sensor in your watch. To improve results, operate Pro Compass away from magnets, electronics, or sources of electro-magnetic interference, including car dashboards, aircraft cockpits, metal structures, and other devices. Developer note: like all our apps, we plan to continually improve and evolve Pro Compass for Watch. Please contact us with feature requests, suggestions, and general feedback. We'd love to hear what you're doing with the app!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: WristRoute Lite at Free against Pro Compass for Watch's $1.99. Pro Compass for Watch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (4.2 vs 3.7). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads 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
WristRoute Lite is free to download; Pro Compass for Watch costs $1.99 up front. WristRoute Lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pro Compass for Watch asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pro Compass for Watch holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 20 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of WristRoute Lite's written reviews are positive against 39% of Pro Compass for Watch's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
WristRoute Lite ships an update every 4 months, Pro Compass for Watch every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WristRoute Lite | Pro Compass for Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 3.7 (6 ratings) | 4.2 (20 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews — better | 38.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 20 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #34 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Eastridge Technology | Craig Hunter |
Customer experience
WristRoute Lite
Pro Compass for Watch
Bugs and requests
WristRoute Lite
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Pro Compass for Watch
Reported bugs
8 issues- App crashes
- Direction indicator shows NA
- GPS map shows incorrect location
- Compass not available on some devices
- App not found/received after purchase
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- App doesn't reinstall after unpairing watch
- App forgets location permissions
- Bubbles move backwards
Requested features
8 requests- Add BNG as grid reference option
- Add iPhone companion app for waypoint management
- Include Sun Shadow Bearing option
- Increase number of waypoints beyond 5
- Make sun and moon indicators bigger and bolder
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Add option to use 6400 mils instead of 360 degrees
- Add calibration option
- Add a lock button for the crown
In-app purchases
WristRoute Lite
- WristRoute Lite Upgrade$9.99
Pro Compass for Watch
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is WristRoute Lite free?
Is Pro Compass for Watch free?
Which has better reviews, WristRoute Lite or Pro Compass for Watch?
Do WristRoute Lite or Pro Compass for Watch have ads?
Which is updated more often, WristRoute Lite or Pro Compass for Watch?
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