Compass vs Plainly AI
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Compass
This AI assistant processes all your questions and attached screenshots locally on your device. Enjoy private, real-time answers without data collection or cloud transmission.
- On-device AI processing
- Screenshot and photo analysis
- Notes-style chat interface
- Private by design
- No data collection
- Streaming answers
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Compass is a professional, privacy‑first on‑device assistant. Ask questions, attach screenshots, and get clear answers with everything processed locally on your iPhone, no data collection, no analytics, and no cloud transmission. What you can do with Compass • Ask quick questions in a clean, Notes‑style chat interface • Attach screenshots or photos and let Compass read them with on‑device OCR • Get focused, streaming answers that feel like a real conversation • Reopen or delete recent chats from a simple home screen Private by design • Your questions and answers stay on your device • Images and extracted text are processed using Apple’s on‑device frameworks • No analytics SDKs, no tracking, no external servers Compass is built for people who want the comfort of AI help without giving up control of their data.
Plainly AI
Learn about artificial intelligence in simple terms with no jargon. This app breaks down complex AI concepts into easy-to-understand lessons with everyday examples. It offers free introductory modules and a glossary, with an option to unlock the full library for a one-time purchase.
- Plain English AI explanations
- Everyday examples
- Key takeaways and practical tips
- Glossary of AI terms
- Adjustable text size and dark mode
- Progress tracking on device
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AI is in the news, on your phone, at the bank and at the doctor's office. Plainly explains what it is and how it works, in plain English, a few minutes at a time. No jargon. No assumed knowledge. No account to create. Each lesson takes one idea and makes it clear, with everyday examples. It ends with a key takeaway, something practical to try today, and a quick question to check that it stuck. Sandra, our presenter, welcomes you in. THE FIRST SIX MODULES ARE FREE What AI is, and what it is not ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Meta AI and Claude: where you will meet them How to ask questions that get useful answers When to trust it, when to double-check, and the habits that beat scams Where AI already shows up in your day What stays yours, and where to go next READ ONE PAID LESSON FREE Pick any one of the 13 deeper modules and read its first lesson free. THEN UNLOCK THE FULL LIBRARY, ONCE Your health, your money, around the house, travel, privacy, family, the news, work, creativity, the bigger picture, care and wellbeing, your legacy and how to think about what comes next. One purchase. No subscription. Restore it on any iPhone or iPad signed in to your Apple Account. COMFORTABLE TO READ Adjustable text size from Standard to Extra large in lessons, Daily Moments and the glossary. Dark mode that follows your device's setting, or that you set yourself. Generous spacing and clear headings. ALSO INSIDE A plain-English glossary of 36 AI terms, free to everyone A two-minute Daily Moment, plus the last three days if you missed one A gentle streak with a built-in grace day, and a bonus lesson at seven days A card worth sharing when you finish PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account. No tracking. Your progress stays on your device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Compass at none against Plainly AI's 1. Plainly AI's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Plainly AI sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Compass asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Compass against 5.0 for Plainly AI. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
Compass ships an update fortnightly, Plainly AI monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Compass | Plainly AI |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Shryas Bhurat | Kristopher Anderson |
Customer experience
Compass
Plainly AI
In-app purchases
Compass
No in-app purchases
Plainly AI
- Unlock Full Library$4.99









