Sun Compass vs Archies Explorer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Sun Compass
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Your exact GPS coordinates, a true compass heading, and the sun's position for the spot you are standing on β all on one screen, all read straight from your iPhone's own sensors. Most compass apps stop at a needle. This one is built like an instrument: latitude and longitude in DD, DMS or DDM, barometric altitude, speed, true and magnetic heading with declination, live accuracy in metres, and an astronomical sun calculator that runs entirely on device. The core readings keep working with no signal β GPS, compass and barometer do not need the internet. WHAT YOU GET - Read your precise position in DD, DMS or DDM, copy it to the clipboard, and send it to anyone as a tappable map link in two taps - Know exactly which way you are facing with a smooth compass rose showing true heading, magnetic heading and declination - See where the sun is right now β solar altitude, azimuth, sunrise and sunset calculated for your exact coordinates and date - Check your elevation from the barometer, plus speed and horizontal and vertical accuracy, on a full instrument panel - Record a walk, hike or drive as a route with live distance and time, then replay the finished track on the map - Drop named waypoints with notes and watch the live distance to each one change as you move PERFECT FOR - Hikers, trail runners and campers who need elevation, heading and a marked way back - Photographers and gardeners planning around sunrise, sunset and where the light will fall - Travellers and road trippers who want a log of where they have been and a fast way to share a pin - Anyone who has to give a driver, a friend or a rescue service an exact coordinate instead of a vague address WHY NOT JUST USE THE BUILT-IN COMPASS APP? It shows a heading and a rough coordinate, and that is the end of it. There is no solar altitude or azimuth, no saved waypoints, no recorded route with replay, no barometric instrument panel, no area measurement, and no way to hand someone a clean location card. Everything here sits in one place, formatted the way navigators actually read it. A NOTE ON ACCURACY Readings come from consumer iPhone GPS and sensors. They are excellent for hiking, travel and everyday orientation, but they are not survey-grade or aviation-grade, and the app should not be your only tool in a genuine emergency. PRIVACY Your coordinates, routes, waypoints and history are stored on your device and nowhere else. No account, no sign-up, no ads, no cloud sync, no tracking. The only network request is the optional weather lookup, which sends your coordinates to the weather provider when you open the Weather screen. FULL ACCESS Full Access unlocks unlimited waypoints (three are free), route recording with map replay, live weather for your position, satellite and hybrid map styles, the two-point distance calculator, the flight seat guide, field area measurement on the map, and the shareable location card. It is available as a weekly subscription, a yearly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase β choose one at the paywall and everything unlocks instantly. Open the app, allow location once, and your coordinates, heading and sun times are on screen before you take your first step. Terms of Use (EULA): https://web-levi.web.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://web-levi.web.app/privacy-policy Questions? tphuc.work@gmail.com
Archies Explorer
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Meet Archies Explorer β the walk tracker and star finder built for curious dogs and their humans. Go for a walk and track every step with live GPS mapping, distance, pace, and HealthKit integration. When the sun goes down, point your phone at the sky and explore 8,834 real stars and all 7 visible planets β Earth not included, you're standing on it. WALK TRACKER β’ Live GPS route map with distance, duration, and pace β’ HealthKit step counting and active minutes β’ Walk history with streaks and lifetime stats β’ Background location tracking STAR FINDER β’ 8,834 stars from the HYG astronomical catalog β’ All 7 planets with real-time positions, verified against the actual sky β’ Star colors, magnitudes, and distances β’ Rich mythology and science for every object β’ Tap any star or planet to learn more EXPLORE β’ Discover nearby parks and trails β’ View your past walk routes on the map β’ Search any location and get directions EXPLORER PRO (one-time purchase, no subscription) β’ Constellation overlays drawn on the live sky β’ Tonight's Sky with moon phase at a glance β’ ISS tracker and meteor shower calendar β’ Dog-friendly places on the Explore map β’ New sky features added regularly Part of the Archies Universe β built by a dad and his Miniature Schnauzer, figuring it out together.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Archies Explorer at every 5 days against Sun Compass's monthly. Archies Explorer also leads on iOS requirement (15.2 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Sun Compass sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Archies Explorer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Sun Compass ships an update monthly, Archies Explorer every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sun Compass | Archies Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 5 days β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod β better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.2 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Phuc Pham | Robert E. Farney |
In-app purchases
Sun Compass
- Weekly Premium$3.997 Days
- Premium Weekly$3.997 Days
- Premium Yearly$19.991 Year
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- Annual Premium$49.991 Year
- Lifetime Premium$39.99
Archies Explorer
- Archies Explorer Pro$4.99
Questions
Is Sun Compass free?
Is Archies Explorer free?
Do Sun Compass or Archies Explorer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sun Compass or Archies Explorer?
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