Losing direction when traveling, camping, boating, during road trips, or hiking at an unknown destination can be very scary. Going by the title, you may wonder “Why should I give a compass app on iPhone a try and not the handheld compass?” First, we are not against a tangible compass device, but with a virtual compass app installed right into your smartphone, you can effortlessly navigate through new terrains & return to your location accurately & reliably.
Begin With Your iPhone’s Own Compass!
The list given below will be incomplete if we don’t talk about iPhone’s own compass. It’s simple, and shows you the exact direction in which your iPhone is pointing, the elevation, and the current location. However, it’s not highly authentic and you may not be able to see certain elevations or coordinates in certain regions of countries.
How To Use The Built-In iPhone Compass?
- Launch your iPhone Compass. You will find it in the Utilities.
- If it’s your first time using the app, you need to enable True North option. For that, you need to open Settings, and scroll down till you find Compass.
- Toggle on the Use True North switch.
- Position your iPhone flat against your palm with the screen facing upwards. Here, you’ll be utilizing the magnetic sensor to calibrate your compass.
When Would You Need A Third-Party iPhone Compass?
Undoubtedly, the inbuilt iPhone compass is great in itself but lacks various other features you will find in the third-party apps below. This includes functionalities like a metal detector, distance measuring tool, GPS speedometer, and more.
9 Best Compass Apps For iPhone and iPad
We tested each compass app on this list to check the accuracy level and they all worked flawlessly to fulfill your expectations.
1. Compass∞
Rating – 4.6
Compatibility – iOS/iPad 9.0 or later
Size – 16.4 MB
This compass for iPhone is great for treks, road trips, outdoor hacking, camping, and other such ventures. It is one of the most accurate compass apps that come with a speedometer. You even have the facility to use your voice as well.
You can easily swap between the letter and pointer-based compass interface. The speedometer lets you view the speed in a variety of formats including km/hr, mph, and knots.
Pros
- Highly accurate
- Easy to use
- Shows the weather of your location
- Comes with a flashlight so that you can use it at nighttime
Cons
- Sometimes acts up when moving in certain directions
In-App Purchases – $9.99
2. Compass°
Rating – 4.8 Stars
Compatibility – iOS/iPad 10.0 or later
Size – 37.4 MB
This iPhone compass app might not be very flashy but it does a fair job when it comes to showing direction and heading. It uses your iPhone’s internal hardware in order to access the direction. What separates this compass app from others is that it uses words instead of pointers.
As for features, Compass° lets you select magnetic north. Since, the words showing direction cover the whole display, the app can be used conveniently by users who have poor vision.
Pros
- Large letters that tell you which direction you are in.
- True magnetic north
- Precise degree movement
- Simple to use
Cons
- Occasional bugs
In-App Purchases – Free
3. Spyglass
Rating – 4.8 Stars
Compatibility – iOS/ iPadOS 13.0 or later
Size – 55.2 MB
Looking for a hi-tech compass app for your iPhone? Spyglass is an option you consider. It is a feature-packed offline app powered by GPS and AR (Augmented Reality). Yes, you read that right, it operated in 3D and utilizes augmented reality to show object positions in real-time.
It’s not just a compass but it comes with an inclinometer, sextant, speedometer, and altimeter as well. It lets you find and track your location, and even comes with offline maps that are optimized for retina displays.
Pros
- Accurate calibration
- Share location with other Spyglass users and other apps.
- Comes with a gyrocompass, offline maps, waypoint tracker, speedometer, altimeter, star and moon finder, and many other features.
- Tutorials and videos to help you throughout.
- Prompt customer service.
Cons
- Some users have faced issues with saving locations.
In-App Purchases – $2.99
4. Compass ×
Rating – 4.6 Stars
Compatibility – iOS/ iPadOS 12.0
Size – 43.6 MB
Looking for an efficient alternative to your iPhone’s native compass, Compass × application can be a great option. It is fairly accurate when it comes to showing GPS coordinates. Being said that, you can even share these coordinates with others as well.
It even shows sunrise and sunset times. So, the next time you are at a scenic location and wish to know when the sunrise would happen, this app could help you.
Pros
- Great aesthetics.
- You can even see the sunrise and sunset time.
- The screen doesn’t turn off while the compass is in use.
- Functionality to share coordinates.
- Can view temperature information (iOS 16).
Cons
- Some users have reported inaccuracy in certain instances.
In-App Purchases – Start at $4.99 to remove ads.
5. Commander Compass Go
Rating – 4.7 Stars
Compatibility – iOS/iPad 13.0 or later
Size – 53 MB
Looking for an attractive offline GPS app? Commander Compass Go can be a great option. It is visually quite attractive since it presents directions, coordinates, angles, and other elements in 3D. This one compass app packs inside an altimeter, a speedometer, a coordinate converter, and many other things.
One of the highlights of this iPhone compass app is that it lets you save custom places and waypoints that you can navigate later.
Pros
- Operates in 3D to show the real-time position of objects
- Sometimes the display shifts 90 degrees counterclockwise.
- Comes with a waypoint tracker.
- Displays detailed GPS info
- There are several videos and demos for help
Cons
- Waypoints are sometimes hard to access.
In-App Purchases – Compass GO Plus – $3.99
6.Compass ⊘
Rating – 4.5 Stars
Compatibility – iOS/iPad 10.0 or later
Size – 139.6 MB
The compass app comes with a simple yet rustic design. It bears a vintage aesthetic which makes it even more attractive and fun to use. It uses the sensors of your iPhone to show you accurate directions.
The app even comes with detailed maps so it is easy for you to locate your exact destination. It lets you view your orientation and altitude instantly.
Pros
- Attractive design.
- Functional even in areas where there is no cell reception.
- Tells you your altitude, location, and orientation.
- Stays mostly accurately, even amidst vibrations and jitters of the vehicle you are driving.
Cons
- Sometimes may crash on launch
In-App Purchases – Free
7. Compass & Altimeter
Rating – 4.5 Stars
Compatibility – iOS/iPad 11.0 or later
Size – 26.8 MB
This is a great app for viewing and measuring geographical orientation. It’s an all-in-one app that can help you with finding latitude, longitude, weather, temperature, and even water boiling point as well. It even has a location recording function.
With the paid version, you can unlock more geo data, get rid of ads, and even ascertain accurate GPS speed.
Pros
- You can also gain insight into altitude, longitude, and latitude.
- Ability to save location records.
- Can even see magnetic field data.
- Real-time GPS velocity measurement.
- Highly accurate.
Cons
- Limited functionality in the free version
In-App Purchases – Start at $1.99
8. The Best Compass
Rating – 4.5 Stars
Compatibility – iOS/iPad 10.0 or later
Size – 109 MB
This is one of the best compass apps for iPhone which is known for its precision. It also comes with a flashlight and weather info. It utilizes your GPS to find out your actual location. Apart from the cardinal directions, it also shows angle and azimuth.
What’s more? It also lets you find out if the weather and air quality nearby is good. It also gives you outdoor tips which can be of great help in the open terrain.
Pros
- You can determine all geographical directions.
- It shows magnetic declination, true heading, measurement of angles, location, and GPS coordinates.
- Highly customizable; control which information you want to display.
- Comes with a flashlight.
- Check the air quality and weather.
Cons
- Calibration can be an issue.
In-App Purchases – Monthly subscription starts at $3.49
9. Compass Heading – Magnetic Digital Direction Finder
Rating – 4.6 Stars
Compatibility – iOS/iPad 8.0 or later
Size – 24.9 MB
On the face of it, this compass application for iPhone is probably the simplistic apps to use in 2023, it comes packed with everything that you can expect from a compass. This includes cardinal directions, heading, and magnetic north.
Not just on the land but it can even prove functional and efficient when it comes to marine orienteering. Below mentioned are some of the notable features of this app.
Pros
- Simple aesthetics.
- Large and legible font used to show degrees.
- A flashlight that can be used in the dark.
- Rotating compass rose.
Cons
- Users have reported slight inaccuracies between magnetic and true north.
In-App Purchases – Remove Ads for $1.99
Never Ever Lose Direction Of Where You Are
With a digital compass app by your side, you will never have to worry about getting lost while you are on an expedition. Do let us know in the comments section which one of the above apps would you recommend and also your experience of using one. For more such content, keep reading WeTheGeek. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Flipboard
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