# Spyglass vs Compass

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Spyglass at 80% against Compass's 17%. Spyglass also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and rating (4.7 vs 4.2). Compass's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spyglass sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Compass sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Spyglass holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spyglass has 3.9K ratings behind it against 217, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Spyglass's written reviews are positive against 17% of Compass's.

Spyglass ships an update every 6 weeks, Compass every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spyglass | Compass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spyglass/id332639548/reviews)** | [4.2 (217 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-coordinates-locator/id6473898692/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.9K** | 217 |
| Positive reviews | **80.2% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#114** | — |
| Size | 66 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pavel Ahafonau](https://appshunter.io/developer/319585607) | [Rychard Matskevich](https://appshunter.io/developer/1395390712) |

## What reviewers say

### Spyglass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spyglass/id332639548)

**Currently charting:** #114 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spyglass Plus | $3.99 | per month |
| Spyglass Plus (Month) | $3.99 | per month |
| Spyglass Plus (Year) | $29.99 | per year |
| Spyglass Pro (Lifetime) | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Excellent navigation and mapping features
- 🔍 Highly accurate compass and location tracking
- 🔭 Useful augmented reality and sextant functions
- 📸 Ability to capture geotagged photos
- 🛠️ Comprehensive set of tools and utilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤔 Steep learning curve and complex interface
- 🗺️ Outdated or incomplete map data in some regions
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes reported
- 💰 Subscription model for advanced features

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-coordinates-locator/id6473898692)

This navigation app offers multiple compass styles, real-time weather data, and a Qibla finder. It includes a built-in altimeter and customizable themes for an enhanced outdoor and spiritual journey.

**Highlights:** Multiple compass interfaces, Real-time weather data, Live Activity & Dynamic Island support, Qibla finder, Built-in altimeter, Light & Dark themes

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Compass Family Weekly Trial 3 | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Compass Premium Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Compass Premium Quarterly | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Compass Premium Yearly Trial 3 | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spyglass free?

Spyglass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Compass free?

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

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

Spyglass is rated higher. Spyglass averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.9K ratings, while Compass averages 4.2 from 217 ratings.

### Do Spyglass or Compass have ads?

Spyglass shows ads; Compass does not.

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

Spyglass ships an update every 6 weeks, and Compass every 5 days. Most recently, Spyglass was updated on September 25, 2026 and Compass on September 24, 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.*