# Compass vs xcNav

The clearest difference is price: xcNav at Free against Compass's $0.99. xcNav also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months). Compass's advantage is chart position (#176 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

xcNav is free to download; Compass costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

xcNav holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of Compass's written reviews are positive against 20% of xcNav's.

Compass ships an update every 6 months, xcNav every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass | xcNav |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass/id288420566/reviews) | **[4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xcnav/id1616930706/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 11.6% of reviews | **20.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#176** | — |
| Size | 3 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Piet Jonas](https://appshunter.io/developer/288060167) | [Caleb Johnson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1616930708) |

## What reviewers say

### Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass/id288420566)

**Currently charting:** #176 Top Paid · Navigation (US App Store)

Provides a digital compass using your device's magnetic sensor or a sun-based calculation. Ideal for outdoor adventures like hiking and camping, offering reliable direction finding even without magnetic interference.

**Highlights:** Magnetic compass functionality, Sun compass for direction finding, Works without magnetic interference, Suitable for hiking and camping, Utilizes device sensors

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Works well on older devices
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Offers sun and magnetic compass options
- 👍 Maintains compatibility with older iOS versions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Does not work as a traditional compass
- 👎 Requires sunlight to function
- 👎 Misleading app description
- 👎 Users feel ripped off/scammed
- 👎 Inaccurate direction readings

**Reported bugs**

- Compass needle doesn't move
- Inaccurate direction readings
- App doesn't work on iPhone/iPod Touch
- App is slow
- App uses location services and Google Maps, subject to distortions

**Requested features**

- Add text to main display indicating "Point iPhone at the sun"
- Remove unnecessary website buttons


### xcNav

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xcnav/id1616930706)

This app provides essential navigation tools for paramotor pilots, including waypoints, ETAs, and live location sharing. It also offers group chat, airspace charts, weather information, and proximity warnings with external hardware.

**Highlights:** Navigation tools (waypoints, ETAs), Live location sharing, Group chat, Airspace sectional charts, Weather tools, ADSB-in proximity warnings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass free?

Compass costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is xcNav free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Compass or xcNav?

xcNav is rated higher. Compass averages 3.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while xcNav averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Compass or xcNav have ads?

Neither Compass nor xcNav shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Compass or xcNav?

Compass ships an update every 6 months, and xcNav every 6 weeks. Most recently, Compass was updated on September 21, 2026 and xcNav on August 26, 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.*