Binnacle.
Always says which north.
Binnacle: Compass & True North
A compass that always tells you which north it is showing, with bearing hold, calibration help and the Qibla direction.
- Free with ads
- Android 7.0+
- No account
Binnacle: Compass & True North
What it does.
True north or magnetic north.
Every heading is labelled True north or Magnetic north. With your approximate location or a city you choose, Binnacle works out true north with the World Magnetic Model 2025. Without one, it shows magnetic north and says so.
Hold a bearing.
Tap Hold to lock a heading, and Binnacle tells you how far to turn (“Turn 12° left”) until you are on bearing. Hold the phone flat like a map compass, or upright to sight along it.
Calibration help.
When the sensor needs it, Binnacle shows you how to calibrate, with a live accuracy chip that reads High, Medium or Low. A trim of up to 15° either way lines it up with a known landmark.
Qibla direction.
The direction to the Kaaba (great-circle) from your approximate location or a city you choose, on the same dial, with the bearing in degrees and how far to turn.
Honestly
What it can and can't do.
Binnacle does
- Works out true north from your approximate location or a city you choose, and labels every heading with the north it uses.
- Warns you when something magnetic is nearby and readings may be wrong.
- Works offline, on phones with a compass sensor (magnetometer).
Binnacle doesn't
- Binnacle is for finding your way around and lining things up; it is not a substitute for a baseplate compass where your safety depends on it.
- Magnets, metal, laptops, cars and magnetic phone cases throw any phone compass off.
- It does not include prayer times.
On the phone.
4 screens
Design mockups. The app on Google Play may differ in small details.
What Binnacle reads
Privacy, in plain words.
Location is optional. Binnacle asks for your approximate location only when you choose true north or the Qibla, uses it on this phone only and never sends it. You can pick a city from a list built into the app instead. Full privacy policy for Binnacle.
