# Compass Free vs Compass X°

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Compass Free at none against Compass X°'s 1. Compass Free also leads on device support (4 vs 2). Compass X°'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 22 months). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Compass X° sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Compass Free asks for nothing beyond the download.

Compass Free ships an update every 22 months, Compass X° every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass Free | Compass X° |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.1 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-free/id284735786/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **50** | — |
| Positive reviews | 34.4% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Masayuki Akamatsu](https://appshunter.io/developer/284722836) | [Hubert Willy Lehmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1684815110) |

## 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


### Compass X°

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-x/id6686407630)

Navigate with a highly accurate and user-friendly compass tool. This app provides precise direction for hiking, traveling, or exploring with a sleek, easy-to-read interface. It works offline and supports both magnetic and true north.

**Highlights:** Accurate and responsive compass, Works offline without internet/GPS, Simple and intuitive design, Supports magnetic and true north, Lightweight and fast performance

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass Free free?

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

### Is Compass X° free?

Compass X° is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Compass Free or Compass X° have ads?

Compass Free shows ads; Compass X° does not.

### Which is updated more often, Compass Free or Compass X°?

Compass Free ships an update every 22 months, and Compass X° every 4 days. Most recently, Compass Free was updated on September 12, 2026 and Compass X° on September 18, 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.*