Comparison

Crowsflight vs GPS & Maps

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

GPS & Maps

This app provides precise location tracking, altitude, and speed measurements for various outdoor activities. Save and display waypoints on a map, utilize a compass, and access different map data sources. An integrated flashlight aids in low-light conditions.

Highlights
  • Precise GPS tracking
  • Altitude and speed logging
  • Waypoint saving and display
  • Integrated compass
  • Multiple coordinate formats
  • Map widgets
  • Flashlight functionality
Features
Read full description

GPS & Maps is a simple, yet powerful GPS app for supporting navigation and outdoor activities like geocaching, sailing, skating, trekking, biking or traveling by airplane. It measures your position, height and acceleration with accuracy information and in different units like feet, meter, miles and kilometers. Your highest altitude and speed will also be logged. You can show and save your current position or other waypoints on a map and pick one of the following formats to view your coordinates: - GPS Coordinates (Latitude/Longitude) - Decimal Degrees - Degrees/Minutes/Seconds - UTM: Universal Transverse Mercator - MGRS: Military Grid Reference System GPS & Maps is a must have for geocachers, due to the easy switching between coordinates and map. The integrated flashlight enables users like geocachers to find targets even in dark environments without having to use a separate device. Via in-app purchase you can add some useful features to GPS & Maps: - Premium Edition: Unlock all of the following features. - Waypoints: Save your current location as a marker on the map. Add new locations like geo caches to the map by entering GPS coordinates. Pick different colors for waypoints. Export waypoints via e-mail. Show or hide saved waypoints on the map. - Map Widgets: The draggable Map Widgets show your location, altitude, speed, address and GPS accuracy directly on the map. You can change the widget transparency and textcolor in the settings to optimize readability on different map tiles and map data sources like Google Maps or Open Street Map. - Compass: The compass shows your heading relative to magnetic north or true north (configurable in the settings) and your current location coordinates. It also shows additional information like street, city and country. If you buy Compass and Map Widgets the Compass will also be displays as a widget on the map. - Open Street Map: This feature enhances the map with additional map data from Open Street Map. - Google Maps: This feature enhances the map with additional map data from Google Maps. The map modes 'standard', 'satellite', 'hybrid' and 'terrain' can be selected in the options menu. - iCloud Backup & Restore Please keep in mind that the accuracy of your position and acceleration always depends on the intensity of the available GPS signal. Compass and heading information are only available on devices with magnetometer.

Screenshots

Crowsflight4 screens
GPS & Maps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Crowsflight at none against GPS & Maps's 7. Crowsflight also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (72% vs 63%). GPS & Maps's advantage is ratings volume (2.2K vs 33) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, rating 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. GPS & Maps sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Crowsflight asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Crowsflight holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GPS & Maps has 2.2K ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Crowsflight's written reviews are positive against 63% of GPS & Maps's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Crowsflight ships an update every 3 months, GPS & Maps monthly. The most recent releases landed on August 2, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Crowsflight versus GPS & Maps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCrowsflightGPS & Maps
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (33 ratings) — better4.4 (2.2K ratings)
Positive reviews72.2% of reviews — better62.9% of reviews
Number of ratings332.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCW&TKraus und Karnath GbR 2Kit Consulting

Customer experience

Crowsflight

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

GPS & Maps

All ratings2,249 ratings
Positive86.1%
Neutral5.1%
Negative8.8%
Written reviews240 reviews
Positive62.9%
Neutral6.3%
Negative30.8%

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

GPS & Maps

From 2.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Clear and precise
  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Streamlined GPS app
  • 💡 Excellent tracking service
  • 🚀 Accurate and reliable

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Does not display full screen on iPad
  • 🐛 Compass is not working
  • 💰 Features held behind paywall
  • 🐛 Waypoints are inaccurate
  • 🐛 Compass is over 90 degrees out

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

GPS & Maps

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes on launch
  • Waypoints drop in wrong location
  • Compass not working
  • Coordinates are inaccurate

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to draw lines between waypoints
  • Ability to add notes to waypoints
  • Ability to add photos to waypoints
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to enter coordinates manually
Show 1 more
  • Ability to measure distance between points

In-app purchases

None

Crowsflight

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

GPS & Maps

One-time7
  • Smart Compass$0.99
  • Map Widgets$0.99
  • Open Street Map$0.99
Show 4 more
  • Google Maps$0.99
  • POI / Waypoints$0.99
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Premium Editon$4.99

Questions

Is Crowsflight free?
Crowsflight is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GPS & Maps free?
GPS & Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Crowsflight or GPS & Maps?
Crowsflight is rated higher. Crowsflight averages 4.6 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while GPS & Maps averages 4.4 from 2.2K ratings.
Do Crowsflight or GPS & Maps have ads?
GPS & Maps shows ads; Crowsflight does not.
Which is updated more often, Crowsflight or GPS & Maps?
Crowsflight ships an update every 3 months, and GPS & Maps monthly. Most recently, Crowsflight was updated on August 2, 2026 and GPS & Maps on September 22, 2026.

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