Comparison

Compass Retro vs Compass

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

Head to head
About

Compass Retro

Experience a photorealistic retro compass that transforms your device into an intuitive navigation tool. It offers a full-screen analog display with smooth needle alignment to true north. Choose between light and dark themes for a visually appealing experience.

Highlights
  • Full-screen photorealistic display
  • Smooth true north alignment
  • Intuitive analog instrument feel
  • Light and dark theme support
  • Purpose-built for reliable navigation
Features
Read full description

A full-screen, photo-realistic retro compass fills your display, recreating the look and feel of a classic analog instrument. When you hold your device flat, the needle smoothly aligns to true north, turning your phone into a dedicated, intuitive navigation tool. The app supports both light and dark themes, each with its own carefully crafted photograph: in light mode, the compass rests in bright, daytime lighting; in dark mode, it's bathed in the warm glow of an evening sunset. This app is purpose-built for one thing only-being a beautiful, reliable compass-with no extra screens, menus, or distracting features.

About

Compass

Features
Read full description

Open the app and know exactly which way you're facing. Compass gives you a precise, calibrated digital compass with true heading, magnetic heading, and your exact bearing the instant the screen lights up. Most compass apps stop at a spinning needle. This one turns direction into something you can actually navigate with: drop a waypoint at your car or trailhead and follow a live needle back, read your coordinates and elevation off the screen, and check the sun's bearing when you have no signal at all. Everything runs on-device, fully offline. WHAT YOU GET - True north and magnetic north, corrected live with magnetic declination for your exact position - Your bearing in clean degrees and cardinal directions (N, NE, E...) that update the moment you turn - Saved waypoints with a live back-track needle that points you home, even with no signal - Live coordinates in decimal or DMS, plus elevation, so you always know where you stand - Sun bearing, altitude, sunrise, sunset and solar noon for orienting when the compass can't help - A built-in spirit level and inclinometer for checking level surfaces and measuring slope PERFECT FOR - Hikers and backpackers navigating trails and the backcountry - Boaters and paddlers holding a heading on open water - Travelers and explorers orienting in an unfamiliar city or landscape - Anyone who just wants to know which way is north, right now WHY NOT JUST USE THE BUILT-IN COMPASS The stock compass shows a heading and nothing else. It can't save the spot you started from, guide you back to it, show you where the sun will set, or double as a spirit level. Compass keeps all of that in one screen you can trust the moment you need it. PRIVACY Your location never leaves your device. No accounts, no ads, no tracking, ever. FULL ACCESS Compass and the spirit level are free to use. A subscription or one-time purchase unlocks the full toolkit: offline waypoint navigation and back-track guide, live coordinates, elevation and declination readouts, and the full sun and sky panel. Choose the plan that fits you: - Weekly - Yearly (best value) - Lifetime (one-time purchase, never expires) Payment is charged to your Apple ID. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the period ends; manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. The Lifetime option is a single purchase with no renewal. Download Compass and always know your direction. Terms of Use (EULA): https://web-levi.web.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://web-levi.web.app/privacy-policy Questions? Contact support: tphuc.work@gmail.com

Screenshots

Compass Retro4 screens
Compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Compass at none against Compass Retro's shown. Compass Retro's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 6 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and in-app purchases 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. Compass Retro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Compass sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Compass Retro ships an update every 8 days, Compass every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Compass Retro versus Compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCompass RetroCompass
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerakira ohmachiPhuc Pham

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Compass Retro

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99
3 purchases

Compass

Subscriptions2
  • Waypoints & Trails Weekly$7.997 Days
  • Orienteering Kit Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Sun Tracker: Pay Once$79.99

Questions

Is Compass Retro free?
Compass Retro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Compass free?
Compass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Compass Retro or Compass have ads?
Compass Retro shows ads; Compass does not.
Which is updated more often, Compass Retro or Compass?
Compass Retro ships an update every 8 days, and Compass every 6 weeks. Most recently, Compass Retro was updated on October 31, 2026 and Compass on October 31, 2026.

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