Comparison

Orienteering Compass & Map vs Handy Compass

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

Head to head
About

Orienteering Compass & Map

Navigate your way using your device's compass and GPS. This app overlays your destination onto Apple Maps, allowing you to orient the map and find the correct direction. It also includes a ruler for measuring distances, mimicking traditional orienteering techniques.

Highlights
  • Map orientation with compass
  • Distance and direction to destination
  • Supports SI, imperial, and nautical units
  • Integrated map ruler
  • GPS and Apple Maps integration
Features
Read full description

This app makes it easy to find the direction and distance to where you want to go by using the built-in compass, the GPS, and Apple maps. You line up your position (the GPS position) on the map with your destination by moving and rotating the map using one or more fingers. Turn the phone/tablet until the compass needle fits into the compass orienting arrow. Then the phone/tablet points in the direction towards the destination. Just like classical orienteering with compass and paper map. Alternatively the map can be locked to the compass such that north of the map is always the same as real north irrespective the orientation of the phone/tablet. Also the compass has a ruler such that you can measure the distance to where you want to go. Features: • The compass can orient the map with the landscape automatically or you can orient the map yourself • You get the distance and direction to where you want to go • Supports SI, imperial, and nautical units • Makes orienteering easy

About

Handy Compass

This navigation tool helps you find directions and locate specific places or items. Easily mark and track locations, such as your parked car, by adding custom symbols to the map.

Highlights
  • Find directions
  • Locate items
  • Track parked car
  • Add custom places
  • Move symbols on map
Features
Read full description

Handy Compass is a compass app that helps you find directions or locate items whenever needed. You can also use this app to find your car in the parking lot. FEATURES: - Add and track a place or item by clicking "+". - You can move and relocate the symbol wherever you want by dragging the map.

Screenshots

Orienteering Compass & Map3 screens
Handy Compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Handy Compass at 5.0 against Orienteering Compass & Map's 4.3. Handy Compass also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months). Orienteering Compass & Map's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Handy Compass holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Orienteering Compass & Map has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Orienteering Compass & Map ships an update every 9 months, Handy Compass every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Orienteering Compass & Map versus Handy Compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOrienteering Compass & MapHandy Compass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (6 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNils CalanderAPPS BAY LIMITED

Customer experience

Orienteering Compass & Map

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Handy Compass

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Orienteering Compass & Map

No in-app purchases

None

Handy Compass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Orienteering Compass & Map free?
Orienteering Compass & Map is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Handy Compass free?
Handy Compass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Orienteering Compass & Map or Handy Compass?
Handy Compass is rated higher. Orienteering Compass & Map averages 4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Handy Compass averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Orienteering Compass & Map or Handy Compass have ads?
Handy Compass shows ads; Orienteering Compass & Map does not.
Which is updated more often, Orienteering Compass & Map or Handy Compass?
Orienteering Compass & Map ships an update every 9 months, and Handy Compass every 3 weeks. Most recently, Orienteering Compass & Map was updated on November 3, 2026 and Handy Compass on November 3, 2026.

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