Comparison

Buddhist Compass vs Compass Iris

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

Head to head
About

Buddhist Compass

This app provides a clear compass to guide users to sacred Buddhist sites like Bodh Gaya. It displays the distance and bearing from your current location, with vibration feedback when you are on target. Designed for practitioners and travelers, it offers a distraction-free experience.

Highlights
  • Direction to sacred sites
  • Distance and bearing display
  • Vibration feedback on target
  • Clear compass design
  • Ad-free experience
Features
Read full description

Buddhist Compass is a simple, focused tool for practitioners and travelers. See the direction to Bodh Gaya or your chosen sacred place View distance and bearing from your current location Clear compass design with vibration feedback when on target No ads, no distractions — just a clean compass for practice Whether on pilgrimage or daily life, Buddhist Compass helps you stay oriented toward what matters

About

Compass Iris

Features
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Precision Compass App with Retro Aesthetics and Modern Features Compass Iris perfectly blends classic design with cutting-edge technology. Simple yet powerful, it provides accurate bearing information for hiking, travel, orienteering, and more. Key Features: * Precise Compass Function Real-time 360-degree bearing display for accurate direction finding. Choose between magnetic and true north with smooth, intuitive animations. * GPS Coordinates Display View real-time latitude, longitude, and altitude information of your current location. Copy coordinates easily to share with other apps. * Saved Directions Feature Save up to 10 important directions with custom names. Track the difference between saved directions and your current bearing to find your destination. * Built-in Level Meter Simple level meter to check your device's horizontal alignment. Useful for photography or installation work. * Direction Lock Mode Lock your current direction to help you return to your original position. Displays the angular difference from the locked direction. * Retro Design Newtro-style interface reminiscent of the macOS 9 era adds a touch of nostalgia. Features classic colors and typography. * Haptic Feedback Vibration alerts when reaching cardinal directions. Provides a more intuitive user experience. * Dark Mode Support Optimized readability in both bright and dark environments. Automatically switches based on system settings. * Perfect Offline Operation All features work without internet connection. Use worry-free in mountains or abroad. * Privacy Protected Location data is processed only on your device and never transmitted externally. No server or account required. Perfect for: - Hikers, trekkers, and outdoor enthusiasts - Travelers needing direction confirmation - Orienteering and geocaching activities - Frequent GPS coordinate users - Retro aesthetic app lovers - Anyone needing a simple, accurate compass Technical Information: - iPhone optimized - Requires iOS 16.0 or later - Pure native app - No ads - No in-app purchases - All features free - Multilingual support - 10 languages Find your way anywhere with Compass Iris.

Screenshots

Buddhist Compass3 screens
Compass Iris4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Buddhist Compass at every 5 days against Compass Iris's every 10 days. Buddhist Compass also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Buddhist Compass ships an update every 5 days, Compass Iris every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Buddhist Compass versus Compass Iris: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBuddhist CompassCompass Iris
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPath Nirvana FoundationKihyup Kim

In-app purchases

None

Buddhist Compass

No in-app purchases

None

Compass Iris

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Buddhist Compass free?
Buddhist Compass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Compass Iris free?
Compass Iris is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Buddhist Compass or Compass Iris have ads?
Neither Buddhist Compass nor Compass Iris shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Buddhist Compass or Compass Iris?
Buddhist Compass ships an update every 5 days, and Compass Iris every 10 days. Most recently, Buddhist Compass was updated on November 5, 2026 and Compass Iris on October 30, 2026.

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