Comparison

Pro Compass 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

Pro Compass

This app offers a realistic pocket compass experience with modern features like MGRS, sun/moon tracking, and GPS coordinates. It provides multiple display styles and advanced measurement tools for various applications.

Highlights
  • Realistic 3D floating compass hardware
  • Nine compass display modes
  • Magnetic and true direction display
  • Sun and Moon position tracking
  • MGRS, UTM, and GPS coordinate formats
  • Two-axis inclinometer with bubble levels
  • Support for over 230 geodetic datums
Currently charting
Read full description

Pro Compass replicates the look and feel of classic pocket compass hardware in use since the 1800s, adding modern features and technologies. The app uses advanced OpenGL graphics (normally reserved for games) to render 3D floating compass hardware for realistic operation. Pro Compass offers nine different compass modes with direct read, traditional, and rosette styles capable of displaying degrees, quads, or mils (the direct read mode shows a North-South needle and reversed East-West convention). In all display modes, Pro Compass shows both magnetic and true direction simultaneously, with a rotating outer true ring that is automatically adjusted for local magnetic declination. Sun and Moon position are marked on the compass rings and continually updated. Pro Compass displays location and altitude, with decimal, degree-minute-second, UTM, and MGRS position formats. An optional "Datum Pack" adds over 230 geodetic datums covering regions and countries on all continents around the world. The app also contains a built in two-axis inclinometer that drives two independent bubble levels and a bullseye level. The inclinometer has angle readout dials for each axis, making it useful for many different types of measurements including slopes, pitches, sight lines, and geological angles like dip and strike. After using Pro Compass, you'll see why it's the best and most realistic compass available on the App Store! Also be sure to check out the new Pro Compass for Watch, available for all Apple Watch models running watchOS 6 or later. ***** IMPORTANT ACCURACY NOTE ***** Pro Compass reports accuracy directly from the magnetometer sensor in your device. This accuracy is determined by the hardware, not the application itself. To improve results, operate Pro Compass away from any electronics or other sources of electro-magnetic interference, including car dashboards, aircraft cockpits, metal structures, and other devices. Please contact the developer via the support link if you need additional information about accuracy or operation of Pro Compass.

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

Pro Compass4 screens
Compass Direction4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Compass Direction at Free against Pro Compass's $1.99. Compass Direction also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 months) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). Pro Compass's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 34%) and ads (none vs shown). On in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Compass Direction is free to download; Pro Compass costs $1.99 up front. Pro Compass sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Compass Direction sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Compass Direction holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass Direction has 2.7K ratings behind it against 73, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Pro Compass's written reviews are positive against 34% of Compass Direction's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pro Compass ships an update every 6 months, Compass Direction every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Pro Compass versus Compass Direction: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPro CompassCompass Direction
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (73 ratings)4.6 (2.7K ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.3% of reviews — better34.5% of reviews
Number of ratings732.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#24 — better#180
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.4 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCraig HunterRihab Mehboob

Customer experience

Pro Compass

All ratings73 ratings
Positive83.6%
Neutral4.1%
Negative12.3%
Written reviews101 reviews
Positive72.3%
Neutral8.9%
Negative18.8%

Compass Direction

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

User reviews

Pro Compass

From 73 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎯 Displays both true and magnetic north simultaneously
  • 📍 Accurate GPS location and coordinate display
  • 🔧 Multiple coordinate format options (MGRS, UTM, DMS)
  • 📊 Professional-grade precision instrument
  • 🎨 Clean, intuitive interface design

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent compass accuracy across locations
  • ❌ True north often displays as 'NA' without explanation
  • 📍 GPS location detection frequently incorrect (places users in wrong continent)
  • ⚠️ Large margin of error (15-35 degrees reported)
  • 🔄 Compass needle wavers and appears unstable

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

Pro Compass

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • GPS location places users in wrong geographic areas
  • True north display shows 'NA' without troubleshooting guidance
  • Compass heading inconsistent on same fixed location
  • Map loading takes excessive time
  • Inclinometer calibration stuck in progress loop
Show 3 more
  • Compass appears frozen in some instances
  • Magnetic declination not automatically adjusting for location
  • East/West orientation reversed in some configurations

Requested features

15 requests
  • Watch app integration with data sharing
  • Manual compass calibration/adjustment feature
  • Red backlight option for astronomers
  • Topographic map overlay
  • Bearing input and route planning capabilities
Show 10 more
  • Ability to remove bubble levels from display
  • Native iPad optimization and larger graphics
  • DM.mm coordinate format option
  • Pointer color customization (red/green needle)
  • GMT/time display integration
  • Map orientation by direction of travel
  • Coordinate spacing for easier plotting
  • UK Ordnance Survey coordinate support
  • Device-specific bias compensation
  • Automatic magnetic declination database by location

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

1 purchases

Pro Compass

One-time1
  • Datum Pack$2.99
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 Pro Compass free?
Pro Compass costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Compass Direction free?
Compass Direction is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pro Compass or Compass Direction?
Compass Direction is rated higher. Pro Compass averages 4.3 out of 5 from 73 ratings, while Compass Direction averages 4.6 from 2.7K ratings.
Do Pro Compass or Compass Direction have ads?
Compass Direction shows ads; Pro Compass does not.
Which is updated more often, Pro Compass or Compass Direction?
Pro Compass ships an update every 6 months, and Compass Direction every 3 days. Most recently, Pro Compass was updated on September 30, 2026 and Compass Direction on October 1, 2026.
Which is more popular, Pro Compass or Compass Direction?
Pro Compass currently peaks at #24 in the App Store charts, and Compass Direction at #180. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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