Comparison

Master vs Compass Revision

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

Head to head
About

Master

Learn maritime navigation rules with an interactive system designed for effective retention. This app breaks down complex regulations into manageable sections with visual aids and mnemonics. It revisits incorrect answers and provides instant graphical feedback, making the learning process intuitive and efficient.

Highlights
  • Interactive learning system
  • Step-by-step rule guidance
  • Mnemonics and memory aids
  • Interactive visuals
  • Graphical feedback on answers
  • Practice section with progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Master-Nav is a progressive COLREGS learning system developed by a Master Mariner. The COLREGS are notoriously difficult to learn and retain — Master-Nav makes it significantly easier through an interactive system built around how your brain actually works. Instead of guessing through random question banks, Master-Nav guides you step by step through every rule from start to finish. Wrong answers are revisited until the rules stick — properly. Complex regulations are broken down into learnable chunks — bite-sized sections supported by mnemonics, memory aids and interactive visuals designed around how the brain actually retains information. Every incorrect answer is shown graphically alongside the correct one — immediately clear, no confusion. And with a single tap, the relevant COLREGS rule is accessible from any question at any time. Master-Nav covers COLREGS Parts A to D — General, Steering & Sailing, Lights & Shapes and Sound & Light Signals — plus Annex IV Distress Signals. Over 1000 questions in multiple formats, with a dedicated Practice Section that tracks right, wrong and unanswered so you always know where to focus. COLREGS — the easy way.

About

Compass Revision

Read full description

Make more sense of sailing theory, one topic at a time. Compass Revision brings 31 independent course companions into one place. Explore navigation, tides, COLREGs, buoyage, marine radio and seamanship, with focused lessons and questions that help you work out what to study next. FIND YOUR COURSE Browse regional course collections and try free sample topics before signing in. Choose the subject and level that fit your plans, from introductory boating knowledge to more advanced theory revision. TURN READING INTO RECALL Read a lesson, practise topic questions and learn from the explanations. Use a Quick 10 session when time is short, revisit incorrect answers, save useful questions and try timed mock tests. Your progress helps you return to the topics that need more work. KEEP YOUR LEARNING TOGETHER Sign in to see your owned courses on Home and switch between them. Sync your learning with your Compass account when connected, so you can pick up across your devices. TAKE YOUR STUDY OFFLINE Download an owned course while connected, then read its lessons and practise without an internet connection. Free samples are also available offline. Reconnect to sync your progress. Signing in, purchasing, restoring purchases and downloading new content require internet access. PRACTISE MARINE RADIO Marine Radio course owners can open the simulator inside the app to build and check training calls. The simulator requires an internet connection. Microphone practice is optional, with permission and information about audio processing before use. Separate speaking cards let you rehearse offline without recording. CHOOSE THE ACCESS YOU NEED Start with free samples without creating an account. Full courses are optional one-time in-app purchases, not subscriptions, with the price shown before you buy. Existing Compass learners can sign in to access courses they already own. Restore purchases is available in Account. INDEPENDENT LEARNING SUPPORT Compass Revision is an independent educational study aid, not an official RYA training provider. It does not award qualifications or certify practical competence. It is not a navigation or emergency-response tool and does not replace official publications, local rules, qualified instruction or safe real-world judgement. Privacy: https://www.compassrevision.com/privacy Terms: https://www.compassrevision.com/terms Support: https://www.compassrevision.com/contact

Screenshots

Master4 screens
Compass Revision4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Compass Revision at Free against Master's $1.99. Master's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Compass Revision is free to download; Master costs $1.99 up front. Compass Revision sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Master asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Master versus Compass Revision: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMasterCompass Revision
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (100 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews96.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings100 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB59 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPeterjohn ChisholmAngry Chimp Productions

In-app purchases

None

Master

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Compass Revision

One-time10
  • PPR$12.99
  • ROC(M)$14.99
  • NZ Maritime VHF$17.99
Show 7 more
  • NZ Day Skipper$22.99
  • Intermediate Cruising$24.99
  • Australian Marine Radio$24.99
  • NZ Boatmaster$34.99
  • Advanced Cruising$39.99
  • Intermediate Coastal Nav$39.99
  • U.S. Coastal Navigation$59.00

Questions

Is Master free?
Master costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Compass Revision free?
Compass Revision is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Master or Compass Revision have ads?
Neither Master nor Compass Revision shows ads.

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