# Compass Free vs Smart Best Compass

The clearest difference is rating: Smart Best Compass at 4.4 against Compass Free's 2.1. Smart Best Compass also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (50% vs 34%). Compass Free's advantage is ratings volume (49 vs 12). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Smart Best Compass holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 49 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Compass Free's written reviews are positive against 50% of Smart Best Compass's.

Compass Free ships an update every 16 months, Smart Best Compass every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass Free | Smart Best Compass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-free/id284735786/reviews) | **[4.4 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-best-compass/id1082623647/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **49** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | 34.4% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | **Every 14 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 5 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **9.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Masayuki Akamatsu](https://appshunter.io/developer/284722836) | [NETIGEN Kluzowicz sp. j.](https://appshunter.io/developer/892331873) |

## What reviewers say

### Compass Free

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-free/id284735786)

This app functions as a sundial to determine cardinal directions using sunlight. Align the shadow of your finger with the app's shading to find north, south, east, and west.

**Highlights:** Measures cardinal points, Uses sunlight, Aligns finger shadow, Indicates directions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple to use
- 🌞 Works with sun position
- 🆓 Free app
- 💡 Clever concept
- 🧭 Useful for basic navigation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🌤️ Requires sunlight to function
- 🌍 Not suitable for southern hemisphere
- 📍 Lacks GPS integration
- 🕰️ Doesn't adjust for daylight savings
- 🤷‍♂️ Unclear instructions

**Reported bugs**

- Causes device freezes or crashes
- Inaccurate compass readings

**Requested features**

- Add support for southern hemisphere
- Integrate with GPS for more accurate direction
- Provide night mode or moonlight option
- Improve instructions and user guidance


### Smart Best Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-best-compass/id1082623647)

This navigation tool uses your phone's GPS to accurately show cardinal directions, azimuth, and angle. It also includes a helpful LED flashlight for added utility during outdoor adventures.

**Highlights:** Virtual compass with cardinal directions, GPS positioning, Azimuth and angle measurement, Magnetic and true heading, Magnetic declination, GPS coordinates and location, Integrated LED flashlight

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass Free free?

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

### Is Smart Best Compass free?

Smart Best Compass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Compass Free or Smart Best Compass?

Smart Best Compass is rated higher. Compass Free averages 2.1 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while Smart Best Compass averages 4.4 from 12 ratings.

### Do Compass Free or Smart Best Compass have ads?

Compass Free shows ads; Smart Best Compass does not.

### Which is updated more often, Compass Free or Smart Best Compass?

Compass Free ships an update every 16 months, and Smart Best Compass every 14 months. Most recently, Compass Free was updated on October 22, 2026 and Smart Best Compass on October 21, 2026.

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