Comparison

Visa Sailing vs Compass

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

Head to head
About

Visa Sailing

Features
Read full description

Visa Sailing helps you hold a steady course using sound, not sight. It is built to aid visually impaired sailors, turning your phone into a talking compass that keeps you on heading through every passage. Lock your target heading, then let Visa guide you. As your bow drifts, Visa speaks the deviation and plays clear audio cues so you can correct by ear and keep both hands on the helm. HEAR YOUR WAY Choose how Visa talks to you. Pick spoken announcements, simple tones, or both together. Drift to port sounds on one side and drift to starboard on the other, so the direction to correct is instantly clear. STAY ON COURSE Set a target heading with a single tap, or enter one by hand. Visa tells you when you are on course and warns you the moment you begin to wander, with faster cues as the deviation grows. BUILT FOR SCREEN READERS Every screen, button and value is designed to work with VoiceOver and TalkBack. Headings, live readings and status changes are announced clearly, with large high contrast text for visually impaired sailors. This is real accessibility, built in from the start, not added on at the end. ACCURATE HEADINGS Visa blends compass, motion and location sensors to give a stable heading even in a rolling sea. Boat calibration corrects for magnetic interference on your vessel, and your location is used to adjust for magnetic declination so your heading stays true. REVIEW YOUR JOURNEYS Visa saves a summary of each trip, including your target heading, your average deviation and how long you sailed, so you can look back on how each passage went. KEY FEATURES - Talking compass with a live spoken heading - Target heading lock with fine adjustment by one degree or ten degrees - Spoken deviation alerts in degrees, to port or starboard - Distinct audio tones for port and starboard drift - Three audio modes: speech, tones, or both - Full VoiceOver and TalkBack support on every screen - High contrast display with large, legible text - Sensor fusion for a steady heading in real conditions - Boat calibration for your own vessel - Magnetic declination correction from your location - Journey history with trip summaries - The screen stays awake while you are sailing Visa Sailing is an aid for visually impaired sailors, so you can sail with confidence and independence, guided by what you hear. Hold your course. Hear your way. Privacy Policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZDYCMcVNphTr9sCSfR7rHRsqg-vnmA2a/view?usp=sharing Terms of Use: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gPjHi5sRi8-54-mpYkSbdZgeNQtogFzA/view?usp=sharing

About

Compass

This app uses your device's magnetic sensor to display your current heading relative to magnetic north. It provides detailed information including magnetic field strength and sensor status, and warns of potential interference. The compass functions offline and does not require location permissions.

Highlights
  • Magnetic sensor reading
  • Heading in degrees
  • Directional indicators
  • Magnetic field strength
  • Sensor status
  • Interference warnings
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Compass reads your device's magnetic sensor and shows which way you are facing, measured from magnetic north. The main screen shows your heading in large degrees with the nearest of eight directions, from North through Northwest, above a dial that turns as you turn. Open Details to see the heading, the direction, the strength of the magnetic field in microtesla and the sensor status. When nearby metal, magnets or electronics push the field outside the normal range, the app warns you about interference. A hint reminds you to move the phone in a figure-8 to recalibrate the sensor. The app does not use your location or ask for an account. It never asks for location permission, because the heading comes from the magnetic sensor alone. The compass itself works without an internet connection. Magnetic north differs from true north by a few degrees depending on where you are. Available in English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Spanish, French, German and Portuguese.

Screenshots

Visa Sailing4 screens
Compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Visa Sailing at none against Compass's shown. On price, update cadence, 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

Visa Sailing ships an update every 2 months, Compass every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Visa Sailing versus Compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVisa SailingCompass
PriceFreeFree
Rating—2.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Ad-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB30 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperScottish Tech Armypilyeong heo

In-app purchases

None

Visa Sailing

No in-app purchases

None

Compass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Visa Sailing free?
Visa Sailing is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Compass free?
Compass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Visa Sailing or Compass have ads?
Compass shows ads; Visa Sailing does not.
Which is updated more often, Visa Sailing or Compass?
Visa Sailing ships an update every 2 months, and Compass every 4 months. Most recently, Visa Sailing was updated on October 31, 2026 and Compass on October 31, 2026.

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