# Compass XL vs ActiveCaptain®

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ActiveCaptain® at 59% against Compass XL's 0%. ActiveCaptain® also leads on price (Free vs $0.99) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 15 months). Compass XL's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 18). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

ActiveCaptain® is free to download; Compass XL costs $0.99 up front. ActiveCaptain® sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $74.99 per year. Compass XL asks for nothing beyond the download.

Compass XL holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ActiveCaptain® has 5.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Compass XL's written reviews are positive against 59% of ActiveCaptain®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Compass XL ships an update every 15 months, ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass XL | ActiveCaptain® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-xl/id364361121/reviews)** | [4.0 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **5.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **59.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#30** |
| Size | 2 MB | 196 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.5 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Piet Jonas](https://appshunter.io/developer/288060167) | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) |

## What reviewers say

### Compass XL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-xl/id364361121)

This app provides a digital compass for iPads, utilizing the device's built-in magnetic sensor or a sun-based alternative. It's designed for outdoor enthusiasts engaged in activities like hiking and camping.

**Highlights:** Magnetic compass functionality, Sun compass for direction finding, Suitable for outdoor activities, Works on iPad devices, No magnetic anomaly interference with sun compass

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ActiveCaptain®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313)

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Grossing · Navigation, #183 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

This app connects your mobile device to compatible Garmin chartplotters, enabling wireless chart and map transfers, software updates, and route planning. It also provides access to a community of boaters for reviews and information on marinas and points of interest.

**Highlights:** Wireless chart and map transfer, Route and waypoint planning, ActiveCaptain Community for POI reviews, Chartplotter control via Helm feature, Easy software updates, OnDeck system monitoring, Garmin Quickdraw Community map sharing

**In-app purchases (18)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NSUS007R-U.S. East | $74.99 | per year |
| NSUS006R-U.S. South | $74.99 | per year |
| g4 U.S. Lakes & Rivers Built-i | $99.99 | per year |
| NSUS001L-U.S. & Canada | $99.99 | per year |
| g4 Vision U.S. South | $129.99 | per year |
| g4 Vision U.S. East | $129.99 | per year |
| GN+ US & Coast Canada Built-In | $149.99 | per year |
| U.S. LakeVü Detail Map | $59.99 | one-time |
| US+Great Lakes Detail Map | $99.99 | one-time |
| BlueChart g3+LakeVu g3 Built-I | $99.99 | one-time |
| LUS100F - Download | $149.99 | one-time |
| GN+ U.S. South | $149.99 | one-time |
| GN+ U.S. East | $149.99 | one-time |
| VUS010R - Download | $174.99 | one-time |
| GN+ U.S. & Canada | $199.99 | one-time |
| HXUS604X - Download | $219.99 | one-time |
| GNV+ U.S. East | $249.99 | one-time |
| GNV+ U.S. South | $249.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Seamless integration with Garmin devices
- 💡 Useful for planning trips and managing waypoints
- 🚀 Convenient for updating software and charts
- 👍 Great app for Garmin users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and connection issues
- 🔍 Limited chart and mapping functionality compared to competitors
- 🤔 Difficult to transfer data between devices
- 🤔 Confusing and not very intuitive user interface
- 💰 Expensive for the features provided

**Reported bugs**

- Charts and maps not loading properly
- Waypoints and routes not syncing correctly
- Constant prompts to purchase additional charts
- Compatibility issues with older Garmin devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to duplicate and edit existing routes
- Sync user data across multiple devices
- Improved chart detail and coverage
- Animated tides and currents
- Better integration with other navigation apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass XL free?

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

### Is ActiveCaptain® free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Compass XL or ActiveCaptain®?

Compass XL is rated higher. Compass XL averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while ActiveCaptain® averages 4.0 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do Compass XL or ActiveCaptain® have ads?

Neither Compass XL nor ActiveCaptain® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Compass XL or ActiveCaptain®?

Compass XL ships an update every 15 months, and ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. Most recently, Compass XL was updated on October 13, 2026 and ActiveCaptain® on October 18, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*