Back vs Compass Direction
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Back
This navigation tool uses your device's GPS to help you return to saved locations. Mark spots like parking or hotel locations and easily find your way back. Offers customizable display options and power-saving features.
- Save and return to marked locations
- Mark current location or enter coordinates
- Customizable user interface styles
- HUD for location information
- Power saving mode
- Unlimited preset destinations
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Using the GPS of your device, Back Track helps guide you back to any location you've marked. Any time you're somewhere you think you may need to return to, but you're not sure you'll be able to find your way back, simply save your position with Back Track by marking the location. Whether it's where you parked your car or the hotel you're staying at, you can be sure you'll be able to find the location again. When ready, select the saved location and start tracking. It's as easy as that! Features - Create and edit unlimited preset destinations. - Mark your current location or enter longitude and latitude coordinates manually. - Choose from a selection of user interface styles. - HUD for detailed information of your current and target locations. - The settings panel gives you full control over information displayed and measurement units used. - Includes a power saving mode to conserve battery life. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Back Track's accuracy is dependent on that of your device. For better results, keep your device away from magnets and electronics, and calibrate it if prompted to do so.
Compass Direction
This app provides accurate compass headings and directions with a real-time GPS map. Easily switch between map and camera views, and access features like altitude, speed, and a torch. Enjoy a beautiful and intuitive interface with haptic feedback and accessibility support.
- Accurate compass headings and directions
- Real-time GPS map with zoom
- Altitude, latitude, and longitude display
- Speedometer
- Integrated torch
- Switch between map and camera view
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AS FEATURED ON: TechRadar and more. Compass Direction - Digital is an easy to use compass app which allows you to find accurate compass headings and directions along with a realtime GPS map. Switch between the map and the view by holding the device up! WHY YOU’LL LOVE COMPASS DIRECTION - DIGITAL: The app allows you to use a digital compass - and it looks beautiful whilst doing so! NOTABLE FEATURES: • The app includes heading, direction, altitude, latitude, longitude, speedometer, and a torch • Switch between map types by tapping the screen and pinch to zoom in/out • Switch between the map and view by holding the device up • Accurate realtime compass direction and heading • Realtime GPS coordinates • Simple and beautiful user interface • Small haptics when interacting, improving the overall experience • VoiceOver support • 3D Touch GET IN TOUCH: If you have any questions or feedback, I'm all ears. Compass Direction - Digital was created by an individual in his free time, and I’d love to know what you think. I’m available through Twitter @elohohel. Terms of Use (EULA) - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Compass Direction at 4.6 against Back's 3.6. Compass Direction also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 20 months) and ratings volume (2.7K vs 17). Back's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Back sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Compass Direction sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Compass Direction holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass Direction has 2.7K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 41% of Back's written reviews are positive against 34% of Compass Direction's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Back ships an update every 20 months, Compass Direction every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Back | Compass Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (17 ratings) | 4.6 (2.7K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 41.2% of reviews — better | 34.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17 | 2.7K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #176 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pilot X | Rihab Mehboob |
Customer experience
Back
Compass Direction
Bugs and requests
Back
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Compass Direction
Reported bugs
4 issues- Compass always showing wrong directions
- App freezes or becomes non-functional
- Restore purchase feature not working
- App crashing or not loading properly
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to calibrate the compass
- Option to purchase a one-time fee instead of subscription
- Offline map support
- Ability to set waypoints and get directions
In-app purchases
Back
- Remove Ads$0.99
Compass Direction
- Compass 1 Week$3.997 Days
- Compass 1 Week$4.997 Days
- Compass 1 Month3 Days trial$5.991 Month
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- Compass 1 Month$9.991 Month
- Compass 1 Year3 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Compass 6 Months$29.996 Months
- Compass 1 Year3 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Compass Lifetime$69.99
- Compass Lifetime$99.99
