# 指南针 vs Altimeter Buddy

The clearest difference is price: 指南针 at Free against Altimeter Buddy's $0.99. 指南针 also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 10 months) and iOS requirement (16 vs 18.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

指南针 is free to download; Altimeter Buddy costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

指南针 ships an update monthly, Altimeter Buddy every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 指南针 | Altimeter Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 8 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [泽友 颜](https://appshunter.io/developer/1797432994) | [David Rodrigues](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767242657) |

## What reviewers say

### 指南针

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps/id6743743282)

This utility app provides precise directional guidance, altitude measurements, and travel route tracking. It also offers real-time weather forecasts and environmental information, making it ideal for outdoor adventures and daily navigation.

**Highlights:** Precise compass with 360° rotation, Real-time altitude measurement (GPS & barometer), Automatic travel route recording, Live weather forecasts, GPS positioning and latitude/longitude

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Altimeter Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/altimeter-buddy/id6757496804)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 指南针 free?

指南针 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Altimeter Buddy free?

Altimeter Buddy costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do 指南针 or Altimeter Buddy have ads?

Neither 指南针 nor Altimeter Buddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 指南针 or Altimeter Buddy?

指南针 ships an update monthly, and Altimeter Buddy every 10 months. Most recently, 指南针 was updated on October 30, 2026 and Altimeter Buddy on October 28, 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.*