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Dev tools · June 2, 2025

MBCompass – Android Compass App

Hey HN, I built MBCompass, a lightweight, privacy-friendly compass app for Android. It works fully offline, doesn’t ask for unnecessary permissions (no GPS, no internet), and is open source. Most compass apps out there are bloated or ad-heavy. I wanted something clean, fast, and featurish. So I made this! It’s only ~1.7 in size and uses a low-pass filter to smooth sensor readings. I’d love feedback or thoughts – especially from others building simple, privacy-first apps! https://f-droid.org/packages/com.mubarak.mbcompass/…

MBCompass – Android Compass App launched on June 2, 2025 with 61 votes, #516 of 7,999 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 1 year on.

Visit github.com ↗Alternativestop 6% of June 2025

In plain words

MBCompass is a lightweight Android compass app designed for users who prioritize privacy and simplicity. It operates entirely offline without requiring GPS or internet permissions, and is open source. At approximately 1.7MB, it uses a low-pass filter to smooth sensor readings for accuracy. The app targets users frustrated with bloated or ad-heavy compass alternatives and offers a clean, minimal interface focused on core functionality.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

From the sources

Modern FOSS Compass and Navigation app without Ads, IAP or Tracking - CompassMB/MBCompass

MBCompass is a modern, free, and open-source compass and navigation app built from the ground up for Android, without ads , IAP , or tracking . Built with Jetpack Compose, it supports compass and navigation features while being lightweight , simple and battery-efficient. MBCompass sits in between, a focused navigation app for hiking, trekking and everyday use, combining direction, live location, and track recording without unnecessaryfrom github.com

In the maker’s words, at launch

Hey HN, I built MBCompass, a lightweight, privacy-friendly compass app for Android. It works fully offline, doesn’t ask for unnecessary permissions (no GPS, no internet), and is open source. Most compass apps out there are bloated or ad-heavy. I wanted something clean, fast, and featurish. So I made this! It’s only…

Does a similar job

all alternatives →
  • Tiny FOSS Compass and Navigation App (<2MB)Jan 2026 · github.com · ▲137

    Hey HN, This is a follow-up to our original Show HN post, where I launched the first version of MBCompass. https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=44155741 Since then, I've added several features based on user feedback and community input... I just released v1.1.9 of MBCompass - Minimal, FOSS compass and navigation app. New in this version: - Theme toggling (Dark&#x2F;Light) controlled via settings - Fix current location arrow visibility - Compass accuracy alerts - Sensor status indicator - Explicit button for showing the GPS current location - Smooth transitions and many more..…

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