# 指南针 vs RTK Helper

The clearest difference is price: 指南针 at Free against RTK Helper's $0.99. 指南针 also leads on ratings volume (44 vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.6). RTK Helper's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

指南针 is free to download; RTK Helper costs $0.99 up front. 指南针 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RTK Helper asks for nothing beyond the download.

RTK Helper holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 指南针 has 44 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of 指南针's written reviews are positive against 100% of RTK Helper's.

指南针 ships an update every 3 months, RTK Helper every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 指南针 | RTK Helper |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [4.8 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps/id6446302179/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtk-helper/id6755748761/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **44** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 90.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 4 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [智平 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1125861933) | [亦隆 朱](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855893826) |

## What reviewers say

### 指南针

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps/id6446302179)

This app provides real-time environmental data including altitude, pressure, and GPS coordinates. It offers customizable display modes and supports both GPS and phone altimeter data sources. Designed for simplicity and efficiency, it ensures a clean, ad-free user experience.

**Highlights:** Altitude, pressure, and GPS data display, Switchable GPS or phone altimeter sources, Dark and light mode support, UI customization, Ad-free experience, Minimal resource usage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 指南针PLUS 永久买断会员 | $1.99 | one-time |


### RTK Helper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rtk-helper/id6755748761)

This professional tool provides centimeter-level positioning accuracy for users requiring precise location data. It connects to RTK/GNSS receivers, offers NTRIP client functionality for real-time corrections, and displays detailed positioning information. Features include interest point and track recording, GPX export, and measurement tools.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth RTK/GNSS receiver connection, NTRIP client for differential correction data, Real-time positioning and accuracy display, Interest point and track recording, GPX export for compatibility, Distance and area measurement tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 指南针 free?

指南针 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is RTK Helper free?

RTK Helper costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 指南针 or RTK Helper?

RTK Helper is rated higher. 指南针 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while RTK Helper averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do 指南针 or RTK Helper have ads?

Neither 指南针 nor RTK Helper shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 指南针 or RTK Helper?

指南针 ships an update every 3 months, and RTK Helper every 3 days. Most recently, 指南针 was updated on October 16, 2026 and RTK Helper on October 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*