Comparison

Tides US vs NESW

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

Head to head
About

Tides US

Plan your outdoor activities with real-time tide information. Discover the best times for boating, swimming, or beach walks. Access data for over 1870 stations across the US and Canada, even offline.

Highlights
  • Live tide information
  • Moon phase tracking
  • Sunrise and sunset times
  • Sun position estimate
  • Offline tide data
  • Map view of tide stations
Features
Read full description

Want to know the best time to launch your boat? The best time to go swimming, or even for a walk at your local beach? Not a problem! With Tides US you can see all live tide information you need to plan that perfect time. Now Free! View all the ports on a handy map so you can easily see which tide stations/ports are nearby using your current location; or search for a specific location in the port list. No need now to browse a massive list of ~1870 ports or navigate on a map to find one of your favorite locations; all recently viewed ports are added to the side menu for quick and easy access. Want to go out fishing during a full moon? With the new moon phase icon, you can see what phase the moon is any day. -- Features -- ** Tide Graph ** Moon Phases ** Sunrise and Sunset times ** 12 Hour or 24 Hour time ** Live estimate of sun position relative to the horizon ** 1870 Stations all over the US and Canada! ** No internet required, perfect for remote locations at sea! (The map view is the only exception, unless the maps have been cached) And just cause we have to: Disclaimer: All precautions have been taken to ensure the data is as accurate as possible. We give no warranty in relation to the material shown including its accuracy, reliability and suitability and accept no liability to any loss, damage or other costs incurred relating to the use of any material shown.

About

NESW

A simple, easy-to-read compass app showing heading, cardinal direction, and magnetic north. It also features a flashlight toggle for convenience during outdoor activities.

Highlights
  • Heading and cardinal direction indicator
  • Magnetic North pointer
  • Large font degree heading
  • Rotating compass rose
  • Background color change for North
  • Integrated flashlight toggle
Features
Read full description

NESW is a clean, fast compass app built for hikers, campers, travelers, and anyone who needs reliable direction at a glance. Get a live compass with large heading readouts, cardinal direction, and a smooth rotating dial designed for quick outdoor use. Switch between true north and magnetic north, monitor heading accuracy, and stay oriented with a minimal interface that keeps the essentials front and center. NESW goes beyond a simple compass: - Save objectives and lock onto a destination bearing - Share your current location quickly - View altitude, speed, and magnetic declination - Track direction with clear turn guidance Whether you're hiking, camping, backpacking, overlanding, boating, traveling, or navigating unfamiliar places, NESW helps you keep your bearings with less clutter and more confidence. Key features: - Large degree heading and clear cardinal direction - True north and magnetic north support - Smooth rotating compass dial - Objective pinning and bearing lock - Live location sharing - Altitude, speed, and declination readouts - Calibration and heading status guidance - Minimal design built for fast readability Great for: - Hiking and trail navigation - Camping and backpacking - Road trips and travel - Orienteering and outdoor exploration - Marine and land navigation Notes: - For best accuracy, avoid strong magnetic interference, metallic objects, and magnetic phone cases - True north accuracy may improve after location access and GPS lock are available If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for future updates, we'd love to hear from you.

Screenshots

Tides US4 screens
NESW3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NESW at 5.0 against Tides US's 2.8. Tides US's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 8 months vs every 57 months). On price, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NESW holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tides US has 20 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of Tides US's written reviews are positive against 25% of NESW's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tides US ships an update every 8 months, NESW every 57 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Tides US versus NESW: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTides USNESW
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (20 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews37.5% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings20 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 8 months — betterEvery 57 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS7.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLoft Labs Interactive IncSolaz Dazen srl

Customer experience

Tides US

All ratings20 ratings
Positive30.0%
Neutral30.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral15.6%
Negative46.9%

NESW

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

In-app purchases

None

Tides US

No in-app purchases

None

NESW

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tides US free?
Tides US is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NESW free?
NESW is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Tides US or NESW?
NESW is rated higher. Tides US averages 2.8 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while NESW averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Tides US or NESW have ads?
NESW shows ads; Tides US does not.
Which is updated more often, Tides US or NESW?
Tides US ships an update every 8 months, and NESW every 57 months. Most recently, Tides US was updated on October 23, 2026 and NESW on October 24, 2026.

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