# GCTools vs Compass & GPS

The clearest difference is rating: Compass & GPS at 4.7 against GCTools's 3.1. Compass & GPS also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ratings volume (13K vs 13). GCTools's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (9.2 vs 13.0). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Compass & GPS holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass & GPS has 13K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of GCTools's written reviews are positive against 47% of Compass & GPS's.

GCTools ships an update monthly, Compass & GPS every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GCTools | Compass & GPS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gctools/id438313105/reviews) | **[4.7 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-and-gps/id900837187/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **47.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 41 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.2** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Achim Heynen](https://appshunter.io/developer/374870201) | [EONSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/899851112) |

## What reviewers say

### GCTools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gctools/id438313105)

This app provides a comprehensive suite of tools for geocaching enthusiasts. It offers coordinate manipulation, a wide range of cipher decoding and encoding options, interactive data tables, and various unit converters to assist with multi and mystery caches.

**Highlights:** Coordinate projection and distance calculation, Extensive cipher decoding and encoding, Interactive data tables, Multiple unit converters, Mapview integration with popular services, Coordinate saving and loading

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coordinate Storage | $0.99 | one-time |
| Circle Tools | $0.99 | one-time |
| Advanced Alphabets | $0.99 | one-time |
| Vigenere/One Time Pad Cipher | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coordinate Types | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1 Year Full Version | $1.99 | one-time |
| Full Version | $2.99 | one-time |


### Compass & GPS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass-and-gps/id900837187)

This utility app provides a digital compass to help you determine cardinal directions. It's useful for outdoor activities, travel, or low-visibility conditions, and also displays GPS altitude and your current location on a map.

**Highlights:** Digital compass, Cardinal direction display, GPS altitude, Bearing (azimuth) display, Location sharing, Map view, Tilt indicator

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 🚀 Fast and accurate
- 💡 Useful for navigation
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Calibration issues
- 🐛 Inaccurate compass readings
- 🐛 Doesn't work on certain devices
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data sharing

**Reported bugs**

- Compass needle stuck or not moving
- App freezes or crashes
- Inconsistent performance across devices

**Requested features**

- Add option to disable recalibration requests
- Improve compass accuracy and reliability
- Integrate with mapping features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GCTools free?

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

### Is Compass & GPS free?

Compass & GPS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, GCTools or Compass & GPS?

Compass & GPS is rated higher. GCTools averages 3.1 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Compass & GPS averages 4.7 from 13K ratings.

### Do GCTools or Compass & GPS have ads?

Compass & GPS shows ads; GCTools does not.

### Which is updated more often, GCTools or Compass & GPS?

GCTools ships an update monthly, and Compass & GPS every 9 days. Most recently, GCTools was updated on October 10, 2026 and Compass & GPS on October 18, 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.*