Visa Sailing vs Compass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Visa Sailing
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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
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.
- Magnetic sensor reading
- Heading in degrees
- Directional indicators
- Magnetic field strength
- Sensor status
- Interference warnings
- Offline functionality
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Visa Sailing ships an update every 2 months, Compass every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | Visa Sailing | Compass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 2.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | Scottish Tech Army | pilyeong heo |
In-app purchases
Visa Sailing
No in-app purchases
Compass
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Visa Sailing free?
Is Compass free?
Do Visa Sailing or Compass have ads?
Which is updated more often, Visa Sailing or Compass?
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