Comparison

UTM Grid Ref Compass vs MagVar

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • UTM Grid Ref display
  • Compass Bearing
  • WGS84 Latitude and Longitude
  • Hemisphere indication
  • US UTM Zones guide
  • Location sharing (SMS, Email, Tweet)
Features
Read full description

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.

About

MagVar

This navigation tool calculates magnetic variation, the difference between true and magnetic north, essential for plotting courses on maps. It's designed for pilots, sailors, cartographers, and anyone using maps and a compass.

Highlights
  • Magnetic variation calculation
  • True vs. magnetic north difference
  • Map overlay display
  • Accurate for 2025-2029
  • Declination and inclination calculation
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

MagVar is targeted towards anyone interested in navigation. This includes, pilots of aircraft, captains of sea going vessels, cartographers, engineers and surveyors. Anyone who uses maps and a compass will find the declination calculation (also referred to magnetic variation) very useful. (Declination is the difference between true and magnetic north and used when plotting a course on a map.) MagVar calculates the magnetic flux density for any location on the Earth and then uses this data to calculate magnetic variation. The model is accurate for dates ranging from January 1, 2025 up through December 31, 2029. Using the model, the app calculates declination and inclination. As the user pans the map, the magnetic variation is calculated and graphically shown as a map overlay.

Screenshots

UTM Grid Ref Compass3 screens
MagVar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MagVar at 5.0 against UTM Grid Ref Compass's 4.1. MagVar also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 78%) and chart position (#157 vs unranked). UTM Grid Ref Compass's advantage is ratings volume (17 vs 1) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

UTM Grid Ref Compass costs $0.99 and MagVar $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MagVar holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: UTM Grid Ref Compass has 17 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of UTM Grid Ref Compass's written reviews are positive against 100% of MagVar's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

UTM Grid Ref Compass ships an update every 12 months, MagVar every 23 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
UTM Grid Ref Compass versus MagVar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUTM Grid Ref CompassMagVar
Price$0.99$0.99
Rating4.1 (17 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings17 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 12 months — betterEvery 23 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#157 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS7.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMike IrvingRobert Walker

Customer experience

UTM Grid Ref Compass

All ratings17 ratings
Positive82.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative17.6%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral5.6%
Negative16.7%

MagVar

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

UTM Grid Ref Compass

No in-app purchases

None

MagVar

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is UTM Grid Ref Compass free?
UTM Grid Ref Compass costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MagVar free?
MagVar costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, UTM Grid Ref Compass or MagVar?
MagVar is rated higher. UTM Grid Ref Compass averages 4.1 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while MagVar averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do UTM Grid Ref Compass or MagVar have ads?
Neither UTM Grid Ref Compass nor MagVar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, UTM Grid Ref Compass or MagVar?
UTM Grid Ref Compass ships an update every 12 months, and MagVar every 23 months. Most recently, UTM Grid Ref Compass was updated on October 3, 2026 and MagVar on September 19, 2026.

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