Comparison

Theodolite for Watch vs Virtual Dashboard

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

Head to head
About

Theodolite for Watch

This app combines a compass, inclinometer, GPS, and maps into a single tool for your wrist. It displays bearing, pitch, and roll angles, along with location data and celestial positions. Features include a waypoint manager and customizable display settings for outdoor use.

Highlights
  • Compass bearing display
  • Inclinometer (pitch and roll)
  • GPS location and altitude
  • Map screen with waypoints
  • Sun and moon position
  • Customizable units and formats
  • Night vision modes
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Theodolite was one of the earliest augmented reality (AR) apps for iOS when it debuted in 2009 -- in fact Theodolite was pioneering AR technology before "AR" was even a buzzword! In the time since, Theodolite has been used by millions of consumers and professionals in their outdoor adventures and on the job. Now, we've taken the Theodolite concept to Apple Watch by combining a compass, inclinometer, GPS, and maps into one indispensable app that sits on your wrist. We're excited to keep evolving this centuries-old instrument as hardware and software technologies allow the concept to come to new device formats. On iPhone and iPad, Theodolite uses a viewfinder format, uniting the device sensors (GPS, magnetometer, gyro, accelerometer) and camera. On Apple Watch, Theodolite combines data from these sensors into an AHRS (attitude and heading reference system) layout similar to what you'd see in the glass cockpit of a modern aircraft. This layout allows Theodolite to efficiently display compass bearing (yaw angle), pitch angle, and roll angle in a compact format that works extremely well on a small screen. This information is augmented by latitude, longitude, and altitude from GPS, as well as sun and moon position. New in Theodolite 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. Theodolite 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). Users can choose to display an artificial horizon in the center of the app display (tied to pitch and roll) and can set the app's level reference to flat or vertical orientations of the Watch. The app has six color schemes, including two night vision modes - midnight red and luminescent green. Theodolite 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. Theodolite reports accuracy from the magnetometer sensor in your Watch. To improve results, operate Theodolite away from magnets, electronics, or sources of electro-magnetic interference, including car dashboards, aircraft cockpits, metal structures, and other devices. Like all our apps, we plan to continually improve and evolve Theodolite for Watch. Please contact us with feature requests, suggestions, and general feedback. We'd love to hear what you're doing with the app! And if you don't already have Theodolite for your iPhone or iPad, check it out!

About

Virtual Dashboard

Create custom dashboards using your device's sensors to display speed, altitude, and more. Navigate with a map featuring route planning, points of interest, and breadcrumb tracking. Customize units, themes, and map views for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Customizable sensor gauges
  • Speedometer and odometer
  • GPS and barometric altimeter
  • Artificial horizon
  • Navigational map with overlays
  • Route planning and ETA
  • Points of interest search
Features
Read full description

Bring your iPhone and iPad's sensors to life on Virtual Dashboard. Arrange a variety of different gauges to create your own custom dashboards. You can choose from: ○ Speedometer (with peak hold) ○ Odometer (distance travelled, resettable) ○ GPS Altimeter (absolute altitude) ○ Barometric Altimeter (relative altitude) ○ Accelerometer (with peak hold) ○ Artificial Horizon (pitch and roll) ○ Compass (with magnetic heading and true track indicator) ○ Elapsed time (with average speed) Swipe to display a navigational map with resizable gauge overlays. You can select from road, bike, nautical chart, satellite, topographic, and survey (blank) modes.  The map shows your current coordinates, track, and heading, and drops breadcrumb markers as you travel. Tap to set a destination and the map displays your distance, bearing, direction to steer, and ETA to the destination. Search the map for points of interest or street addresses. Customize your units, map features, and gauge behavior. Select from one of the many available themes (theme requires in-app purchase). Connect your external MFI GPS device and see faster updates. We currently support the Bad Elf GPS units.

Screenshots

Virtual Dashboard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Virtual Dashboard at 100% against Theodolite for Watch's 52%. Virtual Dashboard also leads on price (Free vs $1.99) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). Theodolite for Watch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#68 vs unranked). On ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Virtual Dashboard is free to download; Theodolite for Watch costs $1.99 up front. Virtual Dashboard sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Theodolite for Watch asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Virtual Dashboard holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Theodolite for Watch's written reviews are positive against 100% of Virtual Dashboard's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Theodolite for Watch ships an update every 3 months, Virtual Dashboard every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Theodolite for Watch versus Virtual Dashboard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTheodolite for WatchVirtual Dashboard
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (20 ratings)4.5 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews51.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20 — better13
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#68 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCraig HunterKevinnovate, LLC

Customer experience

Theodolite for Watch

All ratings20 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative15.0%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive51.5%
Neutral3.0%
Negative45.5%

Virtual Dashboard

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Theodolite for Watch

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Virtual Dashboard

One-time2
  • Donate for Development$0.99
  • Unlock All Themes$2.99

Questions

Is Theodolite for Watch free?
Theodolite for Watch costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Virtual Dashboard free?
Virtual Dashboard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Theodolite for Watch or Virtual Dashboard?
Virtual Dashboard is rated higher. Theodolite for Watch averages 4.3 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Virtual Dashboard averages 4.5 from 13 ratings.
Do Theodolite for Watch or Virtual Dashboard have ads?
Neither Theodolite for Watch nor Virtual Dashboard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Theodolite for Watch or Virtual Dashboard?
Theodolite for Watch ships an update every 3 months, and Virtual Dashboard every 5 months. Most recently, Theodolite for Watch was updated on November 7, 2026 and Virtual Dashboard on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons