Anchor: Find Your Way Back, an iPhone app that works as a private offline compass back to a saved spot such as your parked car, is listed as Free on its App Store page at the time of writing. The tip outlet 流動日報 New Mobile Life says the original price is US $0.99 and that the app is free for a limited time. It does not give an end date.

What is Anchor?

Anchor is a Navigation app for iPhone from the developer Freyr Helgason. The idea is simple: drop an anchor where you are, walk away, then follow a live needle, distance and bearing when it is time to return. The listing suggests saving a car, meet-up point, campsite, hotel, trailhead or any custom coordinate.

How does it work without a signal?

Per the listing, Anchor uses the iPhone’s satellite positioning, compass and motion sensors, so it needs no map tiles, mobile data, Wi-Fi or downloaded regions. When GPS is obstructed, a feature called Step Estimate uses your steps and compass instead and shows the growing uncertainty.

The developer is clear about the limit. Anchor gives a direct-line bearing, not a turn-by-turn walking route, and it says you should follow safe paths, signs and local rules and should not rely on it as your only emergency or wilderness navigation tool.

What else is in the app?

The listed features include:

  • Live direction, distance, bearing and elevation.
  • Anchor types for car, meet-up, campsite, trailhead, hotel, boat and custom spots.
  • A private vault of saved anchors, with editable names, categories and notes.
  • Copying or deliberately sharing a saved coordinate, and manual latitude and longitude entry.
  • A full compass rose and heading readout, with or without an anchor.
  • Metric and imperial units.
  • Five OLED-friendly night-vision palettes and optional tactile guidance as you turn toward the target.

How much does it cost, and for how long?

The App Store page shows the app as Free right now. The original price of US $0.99 comes from 流動日報 New Mobile Life, since the listing itself shows only the Free label. No end date is given, so the app could return to paid at any time.

The sources do not state a Canadian App Store price for the regular version. Check the listing in the Canadian store before downloading and look for a Get button rather than a price. The tip outlet’s original price applies to the United States, at US $0.99.

Who is it for?

Drivers in big car parks and unfamiliar cities. Dropping an anchor at the car is the example the app builds around.

Campers and hikers. The tip outlet points to people who drive, camp or hike, or who often spend time where reception is poor. Metric units are included, and the interface comes in English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese or Spanish.

Privacy-minded users. The developer says there is no account, advertising, analytics, tracking or server. Saved anchors and sensor readings stay on the iPhone and are left out of backups unless you deliberately share a coordinate.

What is still unknown?

The listing text we reviewed does not say whether the app has in-app purchases, so check the Information section on the page. It requires iOS 17.0 or later on iPhone and is 6.4 MB.

The privacy label says the developer does not collect any data from the app. Apple notes that this information comes from the developer and has not been verified.

How do you get it?

Open the App Store on your iPhone and search for Anchor: Find Your Way Back, or go directly to the App Store listing. Confirm that the button reads Get and not a price, and that your iPhone meets the iOS requirement, then download it. If a price shows, the offer has ended.