# Compass° vs Basic Calculator+

The clearest difference is update cadence: Basic Calculator+ at every 4 months against Compass°'s every 18 months. Basic Calculator+ also leads on ratings volume (243K vs 59K) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Compass°'s advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Compass° against 4.9 for Basic Calculator+. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 59K and 243K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of Compass°'s written reviews are positive against 87% of Basic Calculator+'s.

Compass° ships an update every 18 months, Basic Calculator+ every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compass° | Basic Calculator+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (59K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass/id520985073/reviews) | **[4.9 (243K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-plus/id539356791/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 59K | **243K** |
| Positive reviews | 81.7% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 44 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tim O's Studios, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/412839685) | [Best Free Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/539356794) |

## What reviewers say

### Compass°

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compass/id520985073)

This application provides a large, easy-to-read compass display to show your direction and heading. It utilizes your device's internal hardware for accurate estimations.

**Highlights:** Large display, Easy to read, Shows direction, Shows heading, Uses device hardware

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Accurate and reliable
- 💡 Convenient for various use cases
- 🔍 Provides clear direction information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional issues with accuracy or calibration
- 🔋 Dependent on device signal/battery
- 💰 Ads can be intrusive

**Reported bugs**

- Compass stuck on certain directions
- App crashes or fails to load

**Requested features**

- Paid ad-free version
- Additional features like GPS integration
- Improved accuracy and reliability


### Basic Calculator+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-plus/id539356791)

Perform essential arithmetic operations with a straightforward calculator app. Its large buttons and clear display ensure ease of use, supporting both portrait and landscape orientations.

**Highlights:** Basic four functions, Clear display, Large buttons, Portrait and landscape modes, iPad compatible

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Large, clear buttons
- 👍 Straightforward, basic functionality
- 👍 No ads or in-app purchases
- 👍 Works well on iPad

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent click volume
- 🐛 Ads can be intrusive or disruptive
- 🐛 Missing backspace/delete function

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect calculation results
- Ads covering the screen

**Requested features**

- Add fraction button
- Implement order of operations
- Include memory function


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compass° free?

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

### Is Basic Calculator+ free?

Basic Calculator+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Compass° or Basic Calculator+?

Basic Calculator+ is rated higher. Compass° averages 4.8 out of 5 from 59K ratings, while Basic Calculator+ averages 4.9 from 243K ratings.

### Do Compass° or Basic Calculator+ have ads?

Both Compass° and Basic Calculator+ show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Compass° or Basic Calculator+?

Compass° ships an update every 18 months, and Basic Calculator+ every 4 months. Most recently, Compass° was updated on October 3, 2026 and Basic Calculator+ on October 3, 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.*