Comparison

MiPermit vs Local Compass

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

Head to head
About

MiPermit

This app allows you to pay for parking and EV charging at supported locations without needing cash or a physical ticket. Extend your parking remotely and receive expiry reminders. Membership is free, and you can even pay for parking up to 7 days in advance.

Highlights
  • Cashless Pay & Display parking
  • Apple Pay support
  • EV Charging payments
  • Extend parking remotely
  • SMS expiry reminders
  • Pay up to 7 days in advance
Features
Read full description

For support and feedback, please visit: www.mipermit.com/help With MiPermit (at supported locations) you can pay for your parking using Visa, Mastercard, or Apple Pay and there’s no need to display a physical ticket on your vehicle. You can pay for your EV charging at the same time at selected locations. Core Features & Benefits: - Cashless Pay & Display parking - Apple Pay support - EV Charging at selected locations - Free membership for all customers* - Pay for parking without registering for an account - Get SMS reminders for when your parking will expire - Extend your stay without returning to your vehicle - Pay for parking up to 7 days in advance** - Digital permits for resident parking schemes, boat mooring, recycling centres and more! MiPermit can only be used in the UK. For more information, please see www.mipermit.com for details. * Signing up for an account is free but all parking and associated fees are still applicable which may vary between parking locations and parking operators. ** Paying in advance of arrival at a location does not reserve a parking bay

About

Local Compass

Navigate the Cotswolds with app-guided audio tours. Experience the region's charm, history, and hidden gems through automatic narration as you drive. Explore at your own pace with offline maps and insider tips.

Highlights
  • GPS-powered audio narration
  • Automatic audio playback
  • Offline maps
  • Curated tour itineraries
  • Insider travel tips
  • Local history and stories
  • Explore at your own pace
Read full description

Good day fellow explorers and welcome to Local Compass: Your Cotswolds GPS Audio Tour Guide! With a selection of tours covering this picturesque region of the UK, each of our GPS-powered tours has been curated to give you the quintessential Cotswolds experience. Say hello to your personal tour guide, who will communicate with you in the distinctive regional accent via audio narration delivered automatically at set points along the route. Let Local Compass take you on a journey beyond the ordinary, as your local guide helps you navigate through the charming villages, rolling hills and breath-taking landscapes that the Cotswolds is famous for. HOW A GPS AUDIO TOUR WORKS Simply let Local Compass do the work! Our innovative app uses GPS technology to seamlessly play audio narration as you drive. Our audio tours not only provide directions to must-see stops but also share captivating stories about the places you’re exploring, insider travel tips, and local history. It's like having a knowledgeable friend taking you on an adventure! TOUR ON YOUR TERMS Simplify your travel plans and maximise your road trip experience with a Local Compass GPS audio tour! With our innovative mobile app, you'll enjoy the expertise of a seasoned Cotswolds tour guide while retaining the freedom to explore the region at your own pace. We've planned the itinerary, handpicked the must-see stops, and curated plenty of engaging stories. However, with Local Compass, what you see and do is entirely up to you; simply stop and enjoy the places that interest you and skip the ones that don’t. AUDIO TOUR GUIDE + OFFLINE MAP So, what exactly is a GPS audio tour? Imagine combining an expert local tour guide, a directory of the best local vendors and powerful GPS technology tool into one intelligent, innovative and intuitive mobile app - that's Local Compass! Our app will provide directions to the best locations while sharing intriguing stories, local insights and essential travel tips along the way. Plus, with built-in offline mapping, Local Compass remains fully functional even when you're completely off the grid with no data connection. THE NEWEST AND BEST WAY TO TOUR THE COTSWOLDS Experience the all-new Cotswolds GPS audio Tour. Whether you're spending a day or more exploring the Cotswolds region, Local Compass GPS audio tours will have your itinerary covered. With starting points in various locations across the UK, simply purchase a tour and begin exploring. Our local guide will provide you with detailed history lessons as you journey through the Cotswolds. Don't embark on your Cotswolds adventure without Local Compass's Cotswolds GPS audio Tour! COTSWOLDS AUDIO TOUR GUIDE Local Compass offers the top-rated travel app for the Cotswolds region. Stay one step ahead of your Cotswolds adventure with tours covering iconic spots like Bath, Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, Lower Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold, and many more charming towns and villages. EXPLORE THE COTSWOLDS WITH LOCAL COMPASS Discover the beauty of the Cotswolds with confidence using Local Compass, the only audio tour app available in the region. Explore the timeless charm of the Cotswolds with our GPS audio Tours, covering everything from quaint villages to scenic countryside routes. KEY FEATURES - Commentary autoplays as you drive, based on your location and direction - Works offline with GPS, no data connection required whilst touring - Play your own music in the background - Listen to commentary before and after you travel Please note, This app makes use of GPS to show you places of interest close to your current location. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

Screenshots

MiPermit4 screens
Local Compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Local Compass at 91% against MiPermit's 17%. Local Compass also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.3). MiPermit's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ratings volume (57 vs 8). On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Local Compass sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. MiPermit asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Local Compass holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MiPermit has 57 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of MiPermit's written reviews are positive against 91% of Local Compass's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
MiPermit versus Local Compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMiPermitLocal Compass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (57 ratings)4.6 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.6% of reviews90.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings57 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB149 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMiPermit LtdLocal Compass Ltd

Customer experience

MiPermit

All ratings57 ratings
Positive80.7%
Neutral1.8%
Negative17.5%
Written reviews181 reviews
Positive16.6%
Neutral7.7%
Negative75.7%

Local Compass

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%

User reviews

MiPermit

From 57 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and straightforward to use
  • ⏱️ Convenient lock screen timer display
  • 🚀 Quick payment process
  • 💾 Remembers user details for faster transactions
  • 📱 Apple Pay integration available

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent login failures and authentication issues
  • 🐛 Payment processing failures and errors
  • ❌ Poor UI/UX design with hidden buttons
  • ❌ Confusing navigation and unclear instructions
  • 💳 Limited payment method options (no PayPal)

Local Compass

From 8 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Comprehensive self-guided tour
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Engaging for children
  • 🗺️ Detailed information on landmarks and towns
  • 🎥 Entertaining and informative narration

Bugs and requests

MiPermit

Reported bugs

25 issues
  • Login fails with 'incorrect format' error message
  • Password reset loop - sends confirmation of request instead of reset link
  • Continue/Pay button hidden below screen on smaller devices
  • Scrolling down to pay accidentally increases parking duration
  • App freezes on Yes/No prompts for optional charges
Show 20 more
  • Payment button blocked by keyboard
  • Screen won't scroll to reveal payment options
  • Double charging when changing vehicles
  • Parking sessions not displayed after payment
  • Long delays between payment and voucher receipt
  • Cannot activate resident permits - blank dropdown fields
  • Vehicle registration not recognized despite repeated use
  • Permit information lost after login failure
  • App logs out unexpectedly during transactions
  • Search function not working for postcodes
  • Car parks not appearing on interactive map
  • Location permission requests excessive
  • Credit card payment pages non-functional on iPhone
  • Cannot remove vehicles from dropdown list
  • Countdown timer disappeared from lock screen
  • App won't recognize car park location
  • Registration requires invoice number from previous booking
  • Visitor permit functionality broken with emission-based fees
  • Unable to complete transactions without account creation
  • Defaults to last vehicle without clear warning

Requested features

20 requests
  • Apple Pay and PayPal payment options
  • Allow pre-registration before car park visit
  • Flexible parking duration options (30 mins, 1 hour)
  • Immediate receipt/confirmation at purchase
  • Apple Watch compatibility and complications
Show 15 more
  • Ability to change vehicle mid-session
  • Default to last used vehicle
  • Ability to add multiple vehicles easily
  • Better car park search and location discovery
  • Support for international phone numbers
  • Automatic account creation without registration requirement
  • Ability to extend permits without re-registering
  • Clear error messages and support documentation
  • In-app help and customer support chat
  • Passkey authentication instead of passwords
  • FaceID/biometric app lock
  • Larger, more prominent expiry time display
  • Map view and list view toggle for car parks
  • Grace period for extending expired sessions
  • Ability to pay for multiple vehicles simultaneously

Local Compass

No bugs or feature requests surfaced in reviews.

In-app purchases

None

MiPermit

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Local Compass

One-time7
  • Bibury Walking Tour$7.99
  • Cotswold Photo Tour$9.99
  • The Cotswolds with Kids$14.99
Show 4 more
  • Date Day in the Cotswolds$14.99
  • Autumn Leaves$14.99
  • The Fairytale Christmas Tour$14.99
  • Quintessential Cotswolds$19.99

Questions

Is MiPermit free?
MiPermit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Local Compass free?
Local Compass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MiPermit or Local Compass?
Local Compass is rated higher. MiPermit averages 4.3 out of 5 from 57 ratings, while Local Compass averages 4.6 from 8 ratings.
Do MiPermit or Local Compass have ads?
Neither MiPermit nor Local Compass shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MiPermit or Local Compass?
MiPermit ships an update every 2 months, and Local Compass every 2 months. Most recently, MiPermit was updated on September 26, 2026 and Local Compass on September 24, 2026.

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