UTM Grid Ref Compass vs GPS Locate
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
UTM Grid Ref Compass
This app displays your current location in the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) geographic coordinate system. It provides UTM Grid Ref, compass bearing, WGS84 coordinates, and hemisphere. It also includes a guide to US UTM zones and allows sharing your location via text, email, or tweet.
- UTM Grid Ref display
- Compass Bearing
- WGS84 Latitude and Longitude
- Hemisphere indication
- US UTM Zones guide
- Location sharing (SMS, Email, Tweet)
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Find out your current location on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) geographic coordinate system. This app will provide you with your current UTM Grid Ref, along with a Compass Bearing, WGS84 Latitude and Longitude values, and an indication of the current Hemisphere. An indication of the Device GPS readings will also be shown. Includes a handy graphical guide to the United States UTM Zones. This app will work worldwide, whereve UTM Data is required. Ideal for outdoor activities, walking, climbing etc. Remember to always carry a map and physical compass in addition to your iPhone. For the best accuracy, use in an open space, away from trees or hill edges. Like a traditional compass, use with the phone in a flat position, not upright. When continued usage is required, you can set the iPhone Screen to stay on indefinitely, from the Settings tab. Send or Share your location information in a Text Message (or iMessage), Email or Tweet* This app requires Location Services to be enabled in your iPhone, and you must grant permission to the app to use these. Compatible with iPhone. Not compatible with iPod Touch, or (non-cellular) iPads, due to the lack of GPS and Compass hardware. * - Internet Connection, and correctly configured Text Message (or iMessage), Email and / or Twitter settings, required to fulfil.
GPS Locate
This app provides a quick and precise method for determining your current geographical coordinates and altitude across multiple systems. View your location within the app, on your Apple Watch, or as a watch face complication for easy access.
- Multiple coordinate systems (UTM, DMS, MGRS, etc.)
- Current location and altitude display
- Apple Watch app support
- Watch face complication for at-a-glance viewing
- HealthKit integration for workout tracking
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GPS Locate gives you a fast and accurate way to find your current location (and altitude) in various different coordinate systems! Your location can be viewed: • Within the app • In the Apple Watch App • As an Apple Watch complication to see at a glance Supports the following coordinate systems: • Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) • British (Ordnance Survey) • Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) • Irish (Ordnance Survey Ireland) • Latitude and Longitude • Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) The watchOS app uses HealthKit to integrate with the Health app to offer workout tracking. Not only does this allow you to keep track of your walk but this also keeps the app open so you can locate yourself at a glance.
Screenshots
Verdict
UTM Grid Ref Compass and GPS Locate both sit at 4.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 78% of UTM Grid Ref Compass's written reviews are positive against 0% of GPS Locate's. UTM Grid Ref Compass also leads on ratings volume (17 vs 2) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 14.0). GPS Locate's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 12 months) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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
UTM Grid Ref Compass costs $0.99 and GPS Locate $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for UTM Grid Ref Compass against 4.0 for GPS Locate. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: UTM Grid Ref Compass has 17 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of UTM Grid Ref Compass's written reviews are positive against 0% of GPS Locate's.
UTM Grid Ref Compass ships an update every 12 months, GPS Locate every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | UTM Grid Ref Compass | GPS Locate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.1 (17 ratings) — better | 4.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.1 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mike Irving | David Southgate |
Customer experience
UTM Grid Ref Compass
GPS Locate
In-app purchases
UTM Grid Ref Compass
No in-app purchases
GPS Locate
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is UTM Grid Ref Compass free?
Is GPS Locate free?
Which has better reviews, UTM Grid Ref Compass or GPS Locate?
Do UTM Grid Ref Compass or GPS Locate have ads?
Which is updated more often, UTM Grid Ref Compass or GPS Locate?
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