Comparison

Compass vs ReferenceFrame

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

Head to head
About

Compass

Navigate outdoors with a precise compass, level tool, and real-time weather updates. Receive extreme weather alerts and capture photos with location-based watermarks. Optimized for low power consumption and offline use.

Highlights
  • Precision compass with GPS data
  • Smart level tool
  • Real-time weather monitoring
  • Extreme weather alerts
  • Watermark camera
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Compass is a versatile and practical tool app designed for outdoor adventures, travel, and daily commutes. Whether you're a hiking enthusiast, a wilderness camper, or a driver in need of precise navigation, this app provides comprehensive support to ensure a smooth journey. Core Features: Precision Compass Displays real-time directions (N, S, E, W) with longitude, latitude, altitude, and barometric pressure. Easy calibration ensures accurate pointing, helping you navigate effortlessly. Smart Level Tool A highly sensitive leveling tool for adjusting furniture, checking ground slopes, or assisting in balanced camera shots. Real-Time Weather Monitoring Provides live weather data, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation, keeping you informed and prepared for any conditions. Extreme Weather Alerts Issues warnings for high winds, fog, thunderstorms, forest fires, and other hazards, helping you stay safe by anticipating risks. Watermark Camera Capture photos with customizable watermarks (time, location, altitude, weather), perfect for travel logs or professional check-ins. App Highlights: Clean Interface – Intuitive and easy to use Offline Functionality – Compass and level tool work without internet Low Power Consumption – Optimized battery usage for extended outdoor use Terms of Service: https://docs.qq.com/doc/p/61d8f9ce6b8a2a99f260e9fccb166d3218bf0f8a Privacy Policy: https://docs.qq.com/doc/p/a797347c83fb739674545dcad91b847a7364b18f

About

ReferenceFrame

This app calculates all necessary dimensions for custom picture framing, including mat cuts and material depths. It ensures your artwork fits within the frame's rabbet and generates a detailed cut list and technical diagram. Works offline and supports various measurement units.

Highlights
  • Calculates frame, mat, and cut dimensions
  • Checks artwork fit within rabbet
  • Generates technical cross-section diagrams
  • Exports PDF summary
  • Saves configurations and design history
  • Supports inches (with fractions) and millimeters
  • Works entirely offline
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

ReferenceFrame does the math for custom picture framing. Enter your artwork size and frame stock dimensions, and it sorts out mat cuts, rabbet clearances, material stack depths, and a complete cut list. WHAT IT DOES - Calculates frame, mat, and cut dimensions from your artwork size - Checks that everything actually fits in the rabbet (and tells you when it won't) - Generates a technical cross-section diagram with labeled dimensions - Plans corner spline slots: placement and safe depth for your moulding - Lays out hanging hardware: hanger positions, wire length, and where the hook lands - Estimates finished weight and wire tension from real wood, glass, and board densities - Exports a PDF summary you can take to the workshop - Saves configurations and keeps a history of your designs DETAILS - Inches (including fractions) or millimeters - Traditional rabbet or sight-size (full-bleed) frame styles - "Cut to fit" sizes that honor assembly clearance - Standard and custom artwork sizes - Adjustable defaults for frame stock, mat width, material thicknesses, and more - Works entirely offline — nothing leaves your device Built for anyone who's ever needed to know exactly how wide to cut a mat, and would rather not find out the hard way that they were off by an eighth.

Screenshots

Compass3 screens
ReferenceFrame4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Compass at Free against ReferenceFrame's $4.99. Compass also leads on ratings volume (39 vs 1). ReferenceFrame's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Compass is free to download; ReferenceFrame costs $4.99 up front. Compass sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. ReferenceFrame asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ReferenceFrame holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Compass has 39 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Compass versus ReferenceFrame: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCompassReferenceFrame
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.4 (39 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews28.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings39 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#157 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer嘉 罗Graham Larue

Customer experience

Compass

All ratings39 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral5.1%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative71.4%

ReferenceFrame

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Compass

Subscriptions5
  • 指南针服务3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • zhinanzhen7 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • zhinanzhen$9.997 Days
Show 2 more
  • zzsub3 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • zzsub3 Days trial$29.993 Months
None

ReferenceFrame

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Compass free?
Compass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ReferenceFrame free?
ReferenceFrame costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Compass or ReferenceFrame?
ReferenceFrame is rated higher. Compass averages 4.4 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while ReferenceFrame averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Compass or ReferenceFrame have ads?
Neither Compass nor ReferenceFrame shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Compass or ReferenceFrame?
Compass ships an update every 2 weeks, and ReferenceFrame every 2 weeks. Most recently, Compass was updated on October 20, 2026 and ReferenceFrame on October 15, 2026.

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