Comparison

Crowsflight vs Compass Direction

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

Head to head
About

Crowsflight

This app offers intuitive, mapless navigation using GPS and a compass. It displays distance and heading, allowing you to drop markers, search for destinations by address or what3words, and view saved locations on a map. It works offline for navigation and supports iCloud sync.

Highlights
  • Mapless GPS navigation
  • Heading pointer
  • Drop location markers
  • Search by address or what3words
  • Offline navigation
  • iCloud location sync
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

Crowsflight is a GPS compass that simply points. No instructions, maps to read or paths to follow. When we ask for directions on the street, a friendly finger pointing towards the destination is often more than enough. By combining location data (GPS) with the compass, Crowsflight provides mapless navigation in an intuitive, glance-at-it kind of way. It uses only GPS to navigate, so once you’ve loaded your destination/s, you don’t need a data connection to navigate. Crowsflight is perfect for wandering around foreign cities. MAIN VIEW -Displays distance in metric or imperial units -Drop a marker at your current position (if you have a data connection, Crowsflight will attempt to autoname your location) -Heading pointer changes width as the compass/GPS accuracy increases or decreases LIST VIEW -Search for a new destination by address or placename -Input latitude and longitude manually (e.g. open search, enter 40.692,-73.944) -search for what3words (offline) -Location list view shows your relative distance to each location, so you can see how places compare (distances are scaled logarithmically, so shorter distances show greater difference) -Rearrange your location list by long-pressing the row -Share your current location via email -Launch Maps to get turn-by-turn directions MAP VIEW -Map view shows and allows you to select all your saved locations. It’s another way to see what is around you. -Drag and drop pins in map view to pinpoint and adjust locations -Longpress in map view to save a new location on your map. (if you have a data connection, Crowsflight will attempt to autoname your location) OTHER FEATURES -Works offline (searching is the only function that requires an internet connection) -Opens custom url schemes (e.g. crowsflight://&ll=42.923580,-78.793953&q=BUFFALO). You can send Crowsflight destinations to yourself and friends via email. To get the browser bookmarklet for easy sharing, go to http://cwandt.com/#crowsflight -Backup your locations to your computer through iTunes file sharing -save and sync locations to iCloud APPLE WATCH - same pointing interface as iPhone app - swipe to select from locations that you've add on your phone. -pro tip: If your running app keeps taking over as frontmost app, you can double press the crown to switch back to the last app. *Crowsflight is not meant for driving. Most cars have too much magnetic interference to show the compass reliably in the car anyways. You probably want turn by turn directions if you’re driving, but just in case you were thinking about it...we don’t recommend it.

About

Compass Direction

This app provides accurate compass headings and directions with a real-time GPS map. Easily switch between map and camera views, and access features like altitude, speed, and a torch. Enjoy a beautiful and intuitive interface with haptic feedback and accessibility support.

Highlights
  • Accurate compass headings and directions
  • Real-time GPS map with zoom
  • Altitude, latitude, and longitude display
  • Speedometer
  • Integrated torch
  • Switch between map and camera view
Read full description

AS FEATURED ON: TechRadar and more. Compass Direction - Digital is an easy to use compass app which allows you to find accurate compass headings and directions along with a realtime GPS map. Switch between the map and the view by holding the device up! WHY YOU’LL LOVE COMPASS DIRECTION - DIGITAL: The app allows you to use a digital compass - and it looks beautiful whilst doing so! NOTABLE FEATURES: • The app includes heading, direction, altitude, latitude, longitude, speedometer, and a torch • Switch between map types by tapping the screen and pinch to zoom in/out • Switch between the map and view by holding the device up • Accurate realtime compass direction and heading • Realtime GPS coordinates • Simple and beautiful user interface • Small haptics when interacting, improving the overall experience • VoiceOver support • 3D Touch GET IN TOUCH: If you have any questions or feedback, I'm all ears. Compass Direction - Digital was created by an individual in his free time, and I’d love to know what you think. I’m available through Twitter @elohohel. Terms of Use (EULA) - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Crowsflight4 screens
Compass Direction4 screens

Verdict

The call

Crowsflight and Compass Direction both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 72% of Crowsflight's written reviews are positive against 34% of Compass Direction's. Crowsflight also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 9) and ads (none vs shown). Compass Direction's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (2.7K vs 33). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement 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. Compass Direction sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Crowsflight asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Crowsflight against 4.6 for Compass Direction. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass Direction has 2.7K ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Crowsflight's written reviews are positive against 34% of Compass Direction's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Crowsflight ships an update every 3 months, Compass Direction every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on August 2, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Crowsflight versus Compass Direction: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCrowsflightCompass Direction
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (33 ratings)4.6 (2.7K ratings)
Positive reviews72.2% of reviews — better34.5% of reviews
Number of ratings332.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.014.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCW&TRihab Mehboob

Customer experience

Crowsflight

All ratings33 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews115 reviews
Positive72.2%
Neutral12.2%
Negative15.7%

Compass Direction

All ratings2,704 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews58 reviews
Positive34.5%
Neutral5.2%
Negative60.3%

User reviews

Crowsflight

From 33 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple, intuitive interface design
  • 🧭 Accurate directional compass pointing to destinations
  • 📍 Offline functionality without requiring data/WiFi
  • 🚶 Excellent for walking and urban exploration
  • 💡 Innovative concept - shows direction and distance instead of turn-by-turn

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Compass calibration issues and inaccurate readings
  • 🔍 Search function returns incorrect or distant locations
  • 📱 Small font sizes difficult to read
  • 🎯 Inconsistent location accuracy
  • ⚠️ Persistent warning messages that can't be dismissed

Compass Direction

From 2.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great app
  • 🚀 Accurate and easy to use
  • 💡 Useful for specific use cases
  • 👍 Visually appealing

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inaccurate compass direction
  • 🔒 Requires subscription to use
  • 🔒 No free trial
  • 🐛 Doesn't work as expected
  • 🔒 Forces users to subscribe

Bugs and requests

Crowsflight

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • Compass won't calibrate properly
  • Directional readings off by 90+ degrees
  • App freezes at instruction screen
  • App opens spontaneously after unlocking phone
  • Search function returns locations in wrong countries
Show 8 more
  • What3Words integration no longer works
  • Location name disappears when tapped, preventing copy/paste
  • Pop-up info bubbles won't disappear and block navigation
  • App thinks user is in wrong location (e.g., New York when elsewhere)
  • Distance calculations wildly inaccurate (e.g., 1.26 miles when at saved location)
  • Yellow compass arc doesn't move/respond
  • Search buttons disappear from bottom of screen
  • App stopped tracking after updates

Requested features

18 requests
  • Apple Watch support
  • Gyroscope-based active pointer for hands-free navigation
  • Metric kilometers display option
  • Ability to organize locations into groups/categories
  • GPS-based accuracy instead of compass-only
Show 13 more
  • Larger, configurable font sizes
  • Dark mode or color theme options
  • Help/tutorial menu for new users
  • Elevation information for destinations
  • LED light option for night navigation
  • Search by intersection (e.g., 6th Ave & 3rd St)
  • Sort search results by proximity
  • SMS sharing of locations in addition to email
  • Integration with What3Words addresses
  • Multiple location list organization
  • Ability to enter GPS coordinates in DMS format
  • Alias/naming system for GPS coordinates
  • Train transit option in addition to walk/bike/car/plane

Compass Direction

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Compass always showing wrong directions
  • App freezes or becomes non-functional
  • Restore purchase feature not working
  • App crashing or not loading properly

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to calibrate the compass
  • Option to purchase a one-time fee instead of subscription
  • Offline map support
  • Ability to set waypoints and get directions

In-app purchases

None

Crowsflight

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Compass Direction

Subscriptions7
  • Compass 1 Week$3.997 Days
  • Compass 1 Week$4.997 Days
  • Compass 1 Month3 Days trial$5.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Compass 1 Month$9.991 Month
  • Compass 1 Year3 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Compass 6 Months$29.996 Months
  • Compass 1 Year3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time2
  • Compass Lifetime$69.99
  • Compass Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Crowsflight free?
Crowsflight is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Compass Direction free?
Compass Direction is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Crowsflight or Compass Direction?
Crowsflight and Compass Direction are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 33 and 2.7K ratings respectively.
Do Crowsflight or Compass Direction have ads?
Compass Direction shows ads; Crowsflight does not.
Which is updated more often, Crowsflight or Compass Direction?
Crowsflight ships an update every 3 months, and Compass Direction every 3 days. Most recently, Crowsflight was updated on August 2, 2026 and Compass Direction on September 24, 2026.

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