Polaris Compass vs GridDown Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Polaris Compass
Read full descriptionHide full description
Polaris is a focused compass and bearing tool for anyone who navigates by feel and by map β hikers, paddlers, sailors, cyclists, and curious commuters. A single brass-and-navy dial, an honest heading, and the bearing tools you actually use. No popups, no upsells, no telemetry. KEY FEATURES β’ Smooth compass dial with degree ticks and cardinal labels (N/NE/E/SE/S/SW/W/NW) β’ True or magnetic heading, one tap to switch β’ Live calibration status so you know when the reading is trustworthy β’ Bearing screen: enter or pick a waypoint and watch the bearing update as you turn β’ Distance to target alongside the bearing pointer β’ Trip Log: save waypoints with a name and recall them in a single tap β’ Deep navy and brass theme, designed for low-light readability on trail and on deck β’ Locked portrait, glance-friendly typography PRIVACY No tracking. No accounts. Your heading, waypoints and trip log live on your device only. Location is used only while the app is open, and only to compute heading and bearings. DESIGNED TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY Whether you are bagging a summit, paddling a coast, or following an unfamiliar shortcut home, Polaris just gives you a dial that points true.
GridDown Maps
Read full descriptionHide full description
GridDown is a topographic map of the United States that keeps working when nothing else does β no cell signal, no Wi-Fi, no internet at all. Download the states you want while you're online. After that, everything runs entirely on your phone: streets, Forest Service roads, trails, and terrain with hillshade and contours β plus the tools to navigate by them. Built for the backcountry and for emergencies, when "just check your phone" isn't an option. WHAT'S INSIDE β’ Offline maps of every US state β streets, trails, forest roads, terrain β’ Your location, a compass corrected to true north, and an MGRS / lat-long readout β’ "How do I get there" β an offline route overview along real roads β’ Drop pins, record tracks, import and export GPX β’ Elevation profiles, line-of-sight, and viewshed from real terrain data β’ Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps β which roads you may legally drive β’ A survival handbook (US Army FM 21-76) that works with no signal β’ Sun and moon times, a night-vision red mode, and a battery saver β’ Print a paper map with a real MGRS grid β a backup for your backup β’ Teammate positions over Meshtastic LoRa radio, with no cell towers PRIVATE BY DEFAULT Your location never leaves your phone. No accounts, no analytics, no ads, no tracking. There are no servers β the whole point is that GridDown works when the grid is down.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: GridDown Maps at 3 against Polaris Compass's 1. GridDown Maps also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Polaris Compass | GridDown Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | β | Daily |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod β better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 14.0 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Linh Phan Nhat Khanh | James Carey |
In-app purchases
Polaris Compass
No in-app purchases
GridDown Maps
No in-app purchases





