Compass vs GPS & Map Toolbox
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Compass
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.
- Magnetic compass functionality
- Sun compass for direction finding
- Works without magnetic interference
- Suitable for hiking and camping
- Utilizes device sensors
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This application adds the a compass to your device. It either uses the built in magnetic compass (if available) or provides a sun compass (You just have to see the sun and know the time to determine the north direction). Use it for all your outdoor activities whether it's hiking, biking or for a boy scout camp. The sun compass is not affected by magnetic anomalies.
GPS & Map Toolbox
This app serves as a comprehensive GPS location database tool. It allows users to save, organize, share, and analyze location data with extensive customization. Features are unlocked through in-app purchases, catering to various professional and advanced needs.
- Save and organize location data
- Convert between coordinate formats
- Add custom text and note properties
- Display map overlays
- Import/export data in various file types
- Group locations into Areas, Tracks, and Routes
- Attach photos to locations
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◦ This is the ultimate GPS location database tool designed to save, organize, share, display, import, export, and analyze location records and their properties. ◦ Extensive customization options make this app useful for everyone from salesmen, hikers, farmers, hunters, scientists, land/site surveyors, search & rescue, police, and military. ◦ The features are organized into levels so you only need to buy what you need. The basic features are available in the core app. The other feature levels can be added through an in-app purchase. ▼ BASIC Features (built into the core app) ▼ •Organize location data into Data Sets and basic Groups. •View and convert between coordinate formats (Degrees Decimal, Degree/Minutes, and Degrees/Minutes/Seconds). •Custom text and note properties. •Display a single map overlay for each location. •Raw GPS data. •Share data with other devices running this app. •Send locations to third-party apps for mapping and navigation. •Extensive in-app help screens explain all features and options. ▼ PROFESSIONAL Features (available through an in-app purchase) ▼ •Group locations into Areas, Track/Paths, and Routes. -Display groups on the map with customizable lines and fills. -Perform calculations on groups. •Additional coordinate formats: UTM (Standard and Extended), USNG, and MGRS. •Display Secondary coordinate. •Custom properties such as numbers (with and without units) along with automatic data detection. •Export data sets to third-party apps. •Additional map marker style options. •Export file types: GPX, KML/KMZ, CSV (comma separated values), TXT (tab delimited values). •Business Search. •Full-screen map screenshots. ▼ ADVANCED Features (available through an in-app purchase) ▼ •Attach photos to data sets and locations. •Additional coordinate formats: British National Grid, and Dutch National Grid. •Location templates allow you to specify custom properties that are automatically created with every new location. •import file types: GPX, KML/KMZ, CSV (comma separated values), TXT (tab delimited values). •View location data from multiple data sets simultaneously. •Multiple map overlays per location with additional types. •Text based Routing (bearing and direction between points in route). ▼ Extra Data Sources (available through an in-app purchase) ▼ •Use non-Apple data sources (Google and OpenStreetMaps) for map data. This includes map view, elevation, geocoding, business/place search, and street view.
Screenshots
Verdict
Compass and GPS & Map Toolbox both sit at 3.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 62% of GPS & Map Toolbox's written reviews are positive against 12% of Compass's. GPS & Map Toolbox also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (14 vs 3). Compass's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and price ($0.99 vs $1.99). On rating, ads, chart position 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
Compass costs $0.99 and GPS & Map Toolbox $1.99 up front. GPS & Map Toolbox sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Compass asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.0 for Compass against 3.1 for GPS & Map Toolbox. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 14 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 12% of Compass's written reviews are positive against 62% of GPS & Map Toolbox's.
Compass ships an update every 6 months, GPS & Map Toolbox monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Compass | GPS & Map Toolbox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 3.0 (3 ratings) | 3.1 (14 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 11.6% of reviews | 61.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 14 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #189 — better | #197 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Piet Jonas | Audama Software, Inc. |
Customer experience
Compass
GPS & Map Toolbox
User reviews
Compass
From 3 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Works well on older devices
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Offers sun and magnetic compass options
- 👍 Maintains compatibility with older iOS versions
Room to improve
- 👎 Does not work as a traditional compass
- 👎 Requires sunlight to function
- 👎 Misleading app description
- 👎 Users feel ripped off/scammed
- 👎 Inaccurate direction readings
GPS & Map Toolbox
From 14 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Powerful GPS toolkit
- 👍 Accurate coordinates
- 👍 Solid, functional app
- 👍 Great for site documentation
- 👍 Useful for utility poles
Room to improve
- 🐛 Confusing and not intuitive
- 🐛 Doesn't work in UK
- 🐛 Requires payment for basic use
- 🐛 App degraded by greed
- 🐛 Monthly payments for OpenMaps/GoogleMaps
Bugs and requests
Compass
Reported bugs
6 issues- 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
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- App doesn't work on overcast days or at night
Requested features
2 requests- Add text to main display indicating "Point iPhone at the sun"
- Remove unnecessary website buttons
GPS & Map Toolbox
Reported bugs
26 issues- App locks up
- App won't save
- App crashes on KMZ import
- App crashes when switching map sources
- Always on tracking is a privacy problem
Show 21 moreShow fewer
- Import function problems
- Send by email not working
- Transfer files format unknown
- Satellite image color fades
- Elevation numbers are very inaccurate
- Locked up all day trying to locate elevation changes
- Showed elevation of 87ft when user is 5ft above sea level
- Does not import KML files
- Only exports KML files
- Not compatible for world wide GPS/map navigations
- Only works in US/Canada
- Only understands UTMs in NAD83
- Critical limitation prevents data exchange
- Missing copy of coordinates
- Missing French localization
- Bing maps are locked
- Cannot change viewing direction
- Does nothing for me
- Not user friendly
- No tracking function
- No way to import common formats (kml, gpx, etc)
Requested features
17 requests- Advanced upgrade for more options
- Update to 64bit for iOS 11 compatibility
- Update maps
- BNG and elevation features
- User-friendly KMZ file creation for offline use
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- Downloadable PDF user manual
- More color selections for pins
- Display information in all data logs on map
- Ability to choose and display multiple data logs
- More objects for places besides pins
- Ability to measure distances for pursuits
- Import .gpx and .kml files
- Tracking function
- Ability to choose between magnetic north and true north
- More distance and coordinate systems
- Ability to display multiple distance formats
- Ability to hard set distances
In-app purchases
Compass
No in-app purchases
GPS & Map Toolbox
- Add Extra Data Sources$1.991 Month
- Add Professional Features$14.99
- Add Advanced Features$14.99
- Add Advanced Features$29.99









