Turn your phone into a precise digital compass with true north, magnetic interference detection, and bearing lock — completely offline, with no ads or tracking.
Available on Android & iOS
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NorthPin Offline Compass is a free digital compass app by lapnito.cz s.r.o. that provides accurate heading readings using your phone's magnetometer — completely offline, with no ads, no analytics, and no background tracking. It shows magnetic north, supports true north via declination correction, and detects magnetic interference so you always know when your reading is reliable.
Available as NorthPin Offline Compass on Google Play and as NorthPin True North Compass on the App Store.
Whether you're hiking a trail, navigating in the backcountry, aligning a satellite dish, or simply trying to figure out which direction your apartment faces, NorthPin gives you a clean, stable compass reading without requiring an internet connection or sharing your location data.
- Stable digital compass — Smooth 0–360° bearing display that doesn't jump or wobble
- Magnetic north heading — Real-time heading based on your device's magnetometer sensor
- True North mode — Corrects for magnetic declination using a one-time location fix or manual coordinates
- Bearing display — Shows heading in degrees and cardinal/intercardinal direction (N, NE, E, SE, etc.)
- Interference detector — Alerts you when nearby magnets, metal surfaces, or car mounts are distorting your compass reading
- μT (microtesla) meter — Displays real-time magnetic field strength so you can assess sensor accuracy
- Quick accuracy check — Instantly see whether your current environment allows for reliable compass readings
- Guided calibration — Step-by-step figure-eight calibration with practical tips to get the best accuracy
- Calibration status indicator — Know when your compass needs recalibration before relying on it
- Diagnostic report — Generate and share a plain-text report with sensor data for troubleshooting
- Pin Direction — Lock a bearing and get left/right guidance arrows until you're pointed at your target
- Heading hold — Keep a fixed heading reference while moving through terrain
- Outdoor mode — Optimized display settings for use in bright sunlight
- Clean, minimal interface — Dark theme designed for outdoor readability
- Works 100% offline — No internet connection required, ever
- No ads, no tracking — Zero data collection, zero background services
- Lightweight — Minimal battery and storage usage; sensors run only while the app is open
| Use Case | How NorthPin Helps |
|---|---|
| Hiking & trail navigation | Get a reliable heading without cell service or GPS signal delays |
| Camping & backcountry | Find true north for map orientation, even in remote areas with no data coverage |
| Satellite dish alignment | Use precise bearing to aim a dish or antenna at the correct azimuth |
| Real estate & apartment hunting | Check which direction windows face for sunlight analysis |
| Feng shui & home orientation | Determine the cardinal direction of rooms and entrances |
| Outdoor photography | Plan sunrise/sunset shooting angles by checking directional heading |
| Car compass replacement | Use as a dashboard compass — the interference detector warns if your car mount is affecting accuracy |
A digital compass app like NorthPin reads data from the magnetometer sensor built into your smartphone. The magnetometer measures the Earth's magnetic field along three axes (X, Y, Z) and calculates the direction of magnetic north relative to the device's orientation. NorthPin processes this raw sensor data with smoothing algorithms to produce a stable heading that doesn't flicker or jump with every small movement.
What is magnetic declination? The Earth's magnetic north pole is not the same as geographic (true) north. The angular difference between them is called magnetic declination, and it varies depending on where you are on the planet. NorthPin can correct for this by fetching your location once to calculate the local declination, or you can enter coordinates manually if you prefer not to share your location at all.
Why does my compass seem inaccurate indoors? Magnetic interference from electronics, metal furniture, speakers, or building structural steel can distort magnetometer readings. NorthPin's μT meter and interference detector help you identify these situations. If the magnetic field strength is abnormally high or low, the app will alert you. Moving away from the interference source or performing a figure-eight calibration can restore accuracy.
What is microtesla (μT)? Microtesla is the unit used to measure magnetic field strength. Earth's natural magnetic field typically ranges from about 25 μT to 65 μT depending on your location. If NorthPin shows a reading significantly outside this range, nearby magnetic sources are likely interfering with your compass.
| Platform | App Name | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Android | NorthPin Offline Compass | Google Play |
| iOS | NorthPin True North Compass | App Store |
Support: lapnito.cz/northpin_compass/support.html
Q: Is NorthPin Offline Compass free? A: Yes, NorthPin is completely free to download and use on both Android and iOS. There are no in-app purchases, no premium tiers, and no subscriptions.
Q: Does NorthPin work without internet? A: Yes, the compass works 100% offline. The magnetometer sensor in your phone does not need an internet connection. The only optional online feature is a one-time location fetch for true north declination correction — and even that can be skipped by entering coordinates manually.
Q: Does NorthPin show true north or magnetic north? A: By default, NorthPin shows magnetic north. You can enable True North mode in settings, which corrects for magnetic declination based on your location. This gives you the geographic north heading used on most maps.
Q: How accurate is NorthPin? A: Accuracy depends on your device's magnetometer quality and your environment. In a clear outdoor setting away from metal and electronics, most modern phones achieve 1–3° accuracy. NorthPin's μT meter and interference detector help you know when readings are reliable.
Q: Why is my compass reading wrong or jumpy? A: This is usually caused by magnetic interference from nearby objects — phone cases with magnets, metal tables, car mounts, or electronic devices. Try moving to an open area and performing the guided figure-eight calibration. Check the μT meter; if the value is far outside 25–65 μT, interference is likely present.
Q: What is the Pin Direction feature? A: Pin Direction lets you lock a specific bearing (e.g., 247°) and then provides left/right guidance arrows to help you turn until you're facing that exact direction. It's useful for following a compass bearing while hiking or aligning equipment.
Q: What's the difference between the Android and iOS versions? A: Both versions offer the same core functionality. The Android version is called "NorthPin Offline Compass" and the iOS version is called "NorthPin True North Compass." Both are free with no ads.
Q: Does NorthPin collect any data? A: No. NorthPin collects zero data. There are no analytics, no ad trackers, no crash reporters, and no background services. Apple's App Store privacy label confirms "Data Not Collected."
Q: Which devices are supported? A: Android 7.0 (Nougat) and above, and iOS 13.0 and above. Your device must have a magnetometer sensor (most modern smartphones do).
Q: How do I calibrate the compass? A: Open the calibration screen in NorthPin and follow the guided figure-eight motion. Hold your phone and slowly trace a figure-eight pattern in the air. The app will show your calibration status and tell you when the sensor is properly calibrated.
- Sensor: Device magnetometer (3-axis magnetic field sensor) for compass heading
- True North: Location-based magnetic declination calculation (one-time GPS fix or manual input)
- Interference Detection: Real-time μT (microtesla) field strength monitoring with threshold alerts
- Framework: Built with Flutter for cross-platform consistency
- Android: Min SDK Android 7.0 (API 24)
- iOS: Min iOS 13.0
- Languages: English, Español, Português (BR), Deutsch, Français, Italiano, Nederlands, Polski, Čeština, Українська, Русский, Türkçe, العربية, हिन्दी, 中文, 日本語, 한국어, Bahasa Indonesia, Tiếng Việt, ภาษาไทย
Built by lapnito.cz s.r.o. (Lapnito Development Studio), an indie development studio based in the Czech Republic.
- Support: lapnito.cz/northpin_compass/support.html
- Email: tom@lapnito.cz
- More apps: Google Play | App Store
Made with ❤️ in Czech Republic by lapnito.cz s.r.o.