Comparison

Spyglass vs CompassTip

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Spyglass

This app is a comprehensive offline navigation tool for outdoor and off-road adventures. It combines a high-tech compass, GPS receiver, and augmented reality display with numerous tools for tracking, measuring, and celestial observation.

Highlights
  • Offline GPS and maps
  • Augmented reality display
  • Advanced compass and gyrocompass
  • Waypoint tracking and navigation
  • Sun, Moon, and star finder
  • Optical rangefinder
  • Camera with GPS data overlay
Features
Read full description

Spyglass is an essential offline GPS app for outdoors and off-road navigation. Packed with tools it serves as binoculars, heads-up display, hi-tech compass with offline maps, gyrocompass, GPS receiver, waypoint tracker, speedometer, altimeter, Sun, Moon and star finder, gyro horizon, rangefinder, coordinate converter, sextant, inclinometer, angular calculator and camera. It saves your custom places and waypoints, navigates precisely to them later, shows them on maps and using real-time augmented reality displays detailed GPS info, measures distances, sizes, angles, and does a lot more. COMPASS & GYROCOMPASS Accuracy improvement techniques, special compass modes and calibration methods available in Spyglass only make it a real instrument – the most advanced and accurate digital compass. FINDER, TRACKER & AR NAVIGATION Spyglass operates in 3D and uses augmented reality to show real-time object positions, info and directions to them overlaid over camera or maps. Save current position, add points from maps, manually enter location coordinates and bearings, add stars by hand or use a built-in star catalogue. Find saved places and objects later simply by following directional arrows. Spyglass tracks multiple targets simultaneously and shows their info – distance, direction, azimuth, elevation and estimated time of arrival. Copy, paste and share locations, coordinates and map links using many supported formats. GPS, SPEEDOMETER & ALTIMETER Find and track your location and get detailed real-time GPS data – coordinates in dozens of formats, altitude, course, current, maximum and vertical speed, using imperial, metric, nautical and surveying units. OFFLINE MAPS See your and targets’ positions on maps using different map styles and alternative map providers – plan waypoints and measure distances. Offline maps optimized for retina displays are available for download. TRACK STARS, SUN AND MOON & NAVIGATE BY STARS Track positions of stars, Sun and Moon with arc second precision – use them as a reference to calibrate compass for maximum accuracy. OPTICAL RANGEFINDER Measure distances to objects in real time with a rangefinder reticle similar to sniper sights. SEXTANT, ANGULAR CALCULATOR AND INCLINOMETER Find out heights of objects and distances to them – measure visually and calculate dimensions and distances. CAMERA Take pictures overlaid with all available GPS, positional and directional data. DEMO & HELP Videos: http://j.mp/spyglass_vids Manuals: http://j.mp/spyglass_help If you need specific map sources for hiking, cycling, skiing and many more outdoor activities, feel free to enjoy Spyglass PLUS. At confirmation of the Spyglass PLUS purchase, payment will be charged to your iTunes account, and it will be charged for renewal within 24-hours before the end of the current period. Automatic renewal can be turned off at any time in your Account Settings after purchase. After the cancellation of the renewal, Spyglass Plus will expire at the end of the current period. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us at https://spyglassnav.com Privacy Policy: https://www.unblip.com/tmp/privacy_and_terms/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.unblip.com/tmp/privacy_and_terms/terms.html

About

CompassTip

Read full description

CompassTip app features an augmented reality virtual 3D compass presented on the live camera feed of your device. Easily find your point of interest via your camera and also through the focus eyelet in the middle of the compass. From there, you can read the compass directions without having to lift your head or shift your eyes to away from your point of interest. The compass also features a map that automatically updates as you move your device. The app features a unique responsive compass where the indicators tilt and move according to the tilt of your device. The indicators are designed to tilt and move in a way that display intuitive directions in 3D space. For example, normal standard compasses and standard indicators of direction have a fixed arrow that points downwards when you have your device held vertically in front of you even if that direction is directly behind you. Arrows pointing straight up when you are facing straight ahead are more intuitive than arrows that point straight down when it is meant to be pointing behind you. The tilting of the compass also provides intuitive visual feedback on how much you are tilting your device. CompassTip is designed to tilt that arrow so that it points inwards towards the screen to indicate a direction that is behind you, and this happens accurately and smoothly as you move your device around. This is coupled with augmented reality so that you can view what you are pointing at and have a proper indication of directions in relation to your camera. The app also lets you adjust the camera (digital) zoom to aid you in visually finding your point of interest. Key features: • Augmented reality compass with 3D direction needles that also moves according to the tilt of your device; • A map that is synchronized to your current location and heading, which automatically updates as you move your device; • Adjustable map size; • Ability to adjust the camera zoom; • Ability to turn AR on and off; • Ability to share a screenshot of your compass screen; and • Information display that includes current heading, longitude, latitude and elevation. This app uses an in-app credit system called, CompassTip Beans. You earn CompassTip Beans by interacting with advertisements or making consumable in-app purchases that top-up the number of beans. You may then exchange and redeem these beans for other features in the app including activating ad-free periods. The app offers the following consumable items: • Title: Purchase 10000 Beans - Description: Adds 10000 CompassTip Beans to your account - Price: (Please check the app or the App Store for the latest price as it may be subject to change) • Title: Purchase 200 Beans - Description: Adds 200 CompassTip Beans to your account - Price: (Please check the app or the App Store for the latest price as it may be subject to change) For more information, please see our Terms of Use (https://compasstip.com/terms) and Privacy Policy (https://compasstip.com/privacy-policy).

Screenshots

Spyglass4 screens
CompassTip4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: Spyglass at #127 against CompassTip's unranked. Spyglass also leads on iOS requirement (13.4 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Spyglass sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and CompassTip sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spyglass ships an update every 6 weeks, CompassTip every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
Spyglass versus CompassTip: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpyglassCompassTip
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3.9K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings3.9K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#127 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.4 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB248 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPavel AhafonauTanadium Pte. Ltd.

Bugs and requests

Spyglass

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Compass not always accurate or consistent
  • Freezing or unresponsive issues after updates
  • Difficulty syncing waypoints and locations

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved waypoint and location management
  • Larger text and UI elements for better readability
  • Integration with popular mapping and navigation apps
  • Offline elevation data and terrain analysis
  • Apple Watch companion app for on-the-go use

CompassTip

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Spyglass

Subscriptions3
  • Spyglass Plus$3.991 Month
  • Spyglass Plus (Month)3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Spyglass Plus (Year)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Spyglass Pro (Lifetime)$39.99
4 purchases

CompassTip

Subscriptions2
  • Ad-Free Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
  • Ad-Free Annual Subscription$5.991 Year
One-time2
  • Purchase 200 Beans$1.99
  • Purchase 10000 Beans$59.99

Questions

Is Spyglass free?
Spyglass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CompassTip free?
CompassTip is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Spyglass or CompassTip have ads?
Both Spyglass and CompassTip show ads.
Which is updated more often, Spyglass or CompassTip?
Spyglass ships an update every 6 weeks, and CompassTip every 3 months. Most recently, Spyglass was updated on September 22, 2026 and CompassTip on September 8, 2026.

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