---
title: "Northern Compass & Navigation - Reviews, Revenue and Downloads in United States | Apple App Store"
description: "Now with Apple Watch Series 5 Magnetometer support.  Featuring:  1. Precision GPS Heading Compass 2. Magnetic compass -  Apple Watch supported using pointer mode unless installed on Apple Watch Series"
---

# Northern Compass & Navigation — United States
> Precision Compass & Navigation

![Northern Compass & Navigation App Icon](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple211/v4/ea/71/79/ea717954-6fd9-a61f-846e-b51b240612a2/AppIcon-0-0-1x_U007emarketing-0-8-0-85-220.png/434x0w.png)

**Developer:** [TreesWithLeaves](https://apptail.io/developer/treeswithleaves-HtPd)
**Category:** Navigation
**Rating:** 4.4/5 (627 ratings)
**Price:** Free
**Bundle ID:** com.twl.NorthStar
**Store:** Apple App Store
**Country:** United States
**Version:** 4.5.1 (released 2026-03-27)
**Original Release:** 2017-11-15
**Languages:** English

**App Store Link:** [Download on Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/app/id1312634791)
**AppTail Page:** [https://apptail.io/app/northern-compass-navigation-hRK/united-states](https://apptail.io/app/northern-compass-navigation-hRK/united-states)

## Northern Compass & Navigation Description
Now with Apple Watch Series 5 Magnetometer support.

Featuring:

1. Precision GPS Heading Compass
2. Magnetic compass -  Apple Watch supported using pointer mode unless installed on Apple Watch Series 5
3. GPS Path Recording
4. Precision Speedometer
5. Destination Pointer
6. Google Maps integration

How are we different from other compass and navigation apps?

Northern is a powerful navigation tool that lets users cross validate and compare multiple directional/navigational readings within a single unified interface.

We believe this is a fantastic solution to a hard problem, namely that no one source of information is ever 100% accurate.  In short, Northern is designed to help our users more confidently and reliably decide which direction they are heading.

Our specialized, dual compass display is shown alongside Google Maps, providing a single, simple, focused interface, designed from the ground up to more effectively orient you within your environment.  More reliably locate North South East and West, or even better, select a destination from our map - Northern will then display an arrow that locks onto these coordinates even while you move from one point to the next.

Compass Types *

Compass #1 - GPS Heading Compass

- Extremely accurate given a strong enough GPS signal and straight enough path
- Works on your Apple Watch while your phone is in your pocket
- Users can select how many samples they want to include with each direction reading - up to 60 for very long paths or as few as 3 for more responsive readings
- Each new GPS location sample is analyzed along with all other samples providing a continuous solution
- Each solution is then run through a specialized algorithm that calculates an approximate accuracy
- GPS hardware doesn't suffer the same type of magnetic interference as the magnetometer driven magnetic compass (Compass #2 below)

Compass #2 - Magnetic Compass

- Now available on Apple Watch Series 5
- More sensitive then the GPS Heading Compass
- Includes hardware accuracy reporting
- Our new pointer mode lets you view your iPhones magnetic compass readings on your Apple Watch

NEW FEATURES
Path generation
Simple start/stop path recording lets you track your location over time.

Speedometer
Precision GPS analysis returns your speed in miles/kilometers per hour.  Utilizes our high accuracy heading compass algorithms.


Northern is Great for ...

... wanderers ...
... those with a poor sense of direction ...
... people who like to explore, know where they are, but not necessarily require a rigid set of directions.

Extra Features...

Integrated Apple Maps into our Apple Watch extension.  Users can reference surrounding streets and other landmarks right from their wrist.

Northern also uses Google Maps on your mobile device.  Users can toggle between terrain, satellite or hybrid modes.  We've also integrated Google Places, letting users quickly search for any destination with only a few taps.

Fun sharing features, including a scavenger mode, let users leave scrambled messages for one another - just find the location to unscramble.

* Apple Watch Series 5 is currently the only Apple Watch model with magnetometer hardware.  Previous Apple Watch models sample magnetometer readings from paired iPhone hardware.  All GPS location and heading readings also come from your paired iPhone hardware.

## Northern Compass & Navigation Screenshots
- [Screenshot 1](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple113/v4/3b/4c/6e/3b4c6e45-5058-5575-d723-6cab4b1ae0bc/pr_source.png/1242x2688.png)
- [Screenshot 2](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple123/v4/ff/09/fc/ff09fc4c-1e48-81ce-3458-48280bc4b9dc/pr_source.png/1242x2688.png)
- [Screenshot 3](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple123/v4/63/27/43/632743b4-1f01-d13a-f6a2-730ba1fc950f/pr_source.png/1242x2688.png)
- [Screenshot 4](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple113/v4/a8/d9/64/a8d964eb-1367-f878-a202-7aefe91f0408/pr_source.png/1242x2688.png)
- [Screenshot 5](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple123/v4/75/aa/4c/75aa4ccf-69da-dad8-5326-238a392ea190/pr_source.png/1242x2688.png)
- [Screenshot 6](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple113/v4/99/4d/32/994d324b-adb9-97ba-674e-bee77999e486/pr_source.png/1242x2688.png)
- [Screenshot 7](https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple113/v4/d5/f2/a1/d5f2a1e5-5a6c-f07a-9ab7-e15336f97e33/pr_source.png/1242x2688.png)

## Northern Compass & Navigation Rating Breakdown in United States
- 5 stars: 430 (69%)
- 4 stars: 103 (16%)
- 3 stars: 45 (7%)
- 2 stars: 14 (2%)
- 1 stars: 35 (6%)

## Northern Compass & Navigation Reviews in United States

### ***-- "Nice app but…"
Is there a way to make the topo lines darker and more visible? The more you zoom in the lighter the topo line become. Very hard to see.
-- slowslop, 2021-12-27

### ***** "Northern Compass App"
I love the accuracy of this app, very helpful!
-- Sanman 555, 2021-10-17

### ****- "now works with Watch 3"
The team fixed a bug with the watch display and now all is working great.
-- Rikkiw, 2020-08-09

### *---- "Compass on Apple Watch"
It doesn’t show the compass on my Apple Watch,  it only shows the tabs. When I press on a compass tab it does not do anything.. any help or suggestions are welcomed?
-- #1 concerned customer, 2020-04-26

### ***** "Easy peasey"
Good app, intuitive, easy interface
-- lose the nickname joneser, 2019-05-17

### *---- "Bate and switch"
I’m sorry to report the app did not work as I was lead to believe. Be very careful. After removing the app and requesting a refund, it was turned down for no reason.
-- Hill Country RZR, 2019-02-06

### ***** "Perfect"
Such a great compass, just follow the arrow.
-- Rchoud621, 2018-10-20

### *---- "Wish it worked on the watch"
Pretty disappointed in this app. I was hoping to use it as an easily visible compass on my watch, but no matter what I do to it, it only displays instructions on how to turn on background activity and the “force sleep” screen. And yes, following the instructions on the screen DOES NOT make it go away. The app is nice enough on my phone, but it’s totally useless to me there since I already have maps and compass installed.
-- marsmons0518, 2018-05-09

### ***** "Excellent"
Best, most accurate, and easy to read compass offered on Apple. Completely simple, as real compass. Just point and you know exactly the direction in which you’re pointing.
-- mck91707, 2018-04-29

### *---- "Stupid and overly complicated"
IT SHOULDNT BE SO DIFFICULT TO PUT A COMPASS ON APPLE WATCH.
-- Overnotified, 2018-04-27

### *---- "I don’t get it"
I don’t get it yes you have to play with apps to develop capacity to utilize them but this needs more “how to “ directions (pun intended).
-- old is dirt, 2018-01-30

### **--- "No magnetic compass on Apple Watch"
This has a great interface on the phone and purports to allow you to use the compass on the watch. However it only lets you see the directions feature and does not show the simple compass feature on the watch. All i wanted was to be able to look at my watch and see a compass. If improved to show the compass on the watch, would be a great app.
-- fayerbam, 2017-12-31

[View all Northern Compass & Navigation reviews and detailed analytics on AppTail](https://apptail.io/account/signup?utm_campaign=ai-crawl&utm_content=reviews)


## Northern Compass & Navigation Store Rankings
| Chart | Country | Category | Rank |
|-------|---------|----------|------|
| Top Paid | United States | Navigation | #231 |

## Northern Compass & Navigation Discovered Keywords
- gps
- maps
- navigation
- navigation maps
- northern compass

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---

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