Comparison

Distance Lite vs luftline

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

Head to head
About

Distance Lite

Calculate the shortest distance or constant bearing between any two points on Earth. Select locations via GPS, coordinates, or a database, and visualize direction on a compass rose. Share results via email.

Highlights
  • Calculate shortest distance (orthodrome)
  • Calculate distance with constant bearing (rhumb line)
  • Select current location via GPS
  • Enter latitude/longitude coordinates
  • Select locations from GeoNames database
  • Visualize bearing on compass rose
  • Email distance results
Features
Read full description

Find the distance and direction between any two places on earth (after upgrade). Features: - it calculates the shortest distance (on an orthodrome) or the distance with constant bearing (rhumb line or loxodrome) which you would follow by using a compass - you can select your current location, enter the latitude/longitude coordinates or select from a location from the GeoNames database - the bearing is visualized on a compass rose - e-mail the distance - support for the iPad multitasking (split view, ...)

About

luftline

Read full description

Save a place while you're on wifi. Find it again on foot, with no signal. luftline is a quiet compass for travelers. Search for the museum, the bakery, the hotel before you leave home — with one swipe each becomes a saved place that works without a network. Later, when you're on a foreign street corner with a single bar of signal and roaming charges you'd rather avoid, you tap a place and a single ink needle points the way. That's the whole app. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT – Saved places work entirely offline. No tiles to download, no maps that expire, no account to make. – A real compass, not turn-by-turn. The needle shows distance, bearing, how far you've walked. You choose the route. – Calm, minimal interface inspired by Japanese ink and washi paper. Nothing shouts. – Nothing leaves your device. No tracking, no ads, no analytics. HOW IT WORKS 1. While you're online — at home, in a café, in the hotel lobby — search for any place: a restaurant, a viewpoint, a station, a bookshop. 2. Swipe right to keep it. The location, address, and coordinates are saved to your phone. 3. When you're walking, tap the saved place. The compass turns and points. Walk toward it. WHAT IT ISN'T luftline isn't a turn-by-turn router. It won't say "in 200 meters, turn left." It assumes you can read a city — that you'd rather find your own way than be talked at. If you want voice navigation, this isn't it. If you've ever walked the wrong way out of a metro stop in a foreign city and felt the small panic of not knowing which direction is which — luftline is for that. Available in English and German.

Screenshots

Distance Lite4 screens
luftline3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: luftline at none against Distance Lite's 1. Distance Lite's advantage is update cadence (every 12 months vs every 105 months) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads 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. Distance Lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. luftline asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Distance Lite ships an update every 12 months, luftline every 105 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Distance Lite versus luftline: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDistance Liteluftline
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 12 months — betterEvery 105 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS7.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPiet JonasRachid El Khayari

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Distance Lite

One-time1
  • Distance Free Upgrade$0.99
None

luftline

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Distance Lite free?
Distance Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is luftline free?
luftline is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Distance Lite or luftline have ads?
Neither Distance Lite nor luftline shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Distance Lite or luftline?
Distance Lite ships an update every 12 months, and luftline every 105 months. Most recently, Distance Lite was updated on October 9, 2026 and luftline on September 26, 2026.

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