# Compass vs Simply North

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Simply North at 74% against Compass's 12%. Simply North also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (50 vs 3). Compass's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Compass costs $0.99 and Simply North $1.99 up front. Simply North sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Compass asks for nothing beyond the download.

Simply North holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simply North has 50 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of Compass's written reviews are positive against 74% of Simply North's.

Compass ships an update every 6 months, Simply North every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass | Simply North |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [3.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass/id288420566/reviews) | **[4.1 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-north/id545173570/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **50** |
| Positive reviews | 11.6% of reviews | **74.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#194** | — |
| Size | 3 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Piet Jonas](https://appshunter.io/developer/288060167) | [BusyBytes GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163595728) |

## What reviewers say

### Compass

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

**Currently charting:** #194 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


### Simply North

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-north/id545173570)

This app offers a beautifully designed compass that also displays your current location, altitude, and speed. It features a clean, intuitive interface with customizable themes and haptic feedback, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** True or magnetic north pointing, Current location display, Altitude and speed readings, Clean and intuitive UI, Haptic feedback, Dark/light mode with skins, Copy location/course to clipboard

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Skin - Flat Dark | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass free?

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

### Is Simply North free?

Simply North costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Compass or Simply North?

Simply North is rated higher. Compass averages 3.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Simply North averages 4.1 from 50 ratings.

### Do Compass or Simply North have ads?

Neither Compass nor Simply North shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Compass or Simply North?

Compass ships an update every 6 months, and Simply North every 5 months. Most recently, Compass was updated on September 28, 2026 and Simply North on September 25, 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.*