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TRMNL or QuipCast Compass: an e-paper dashboard, or a quote frame for the wall?
TRMNL is a small e-paper dashboard you fill with plugins. QuipCast Compass is a 10-inch black-and-white e-paper frame that shows one curated line at a time, $299, no app. Which one fits depends on whether you want data or wisdom on the wall.
Both are e-paper. Both run for months on a charge and neither glows. The difference is the job. TRMNL is a dashboard you compose from plugins. Compass is a frame that shows one line worth keeping in view. TRMNL figures below are the vendor's published specs as of October 2026; check their site for current prices.
Side by side
| Feature | TRMNL | QuipCast Compass |
|---|---|---|
| The job | An e-paper dashboard: calendar, metrics, weather, plugins | One curated line on the wall: quotes, habits, learning |
| Display | OG: 7.5-inch, 800 x 480, 4 grays. X: 10.3-inch, 1872 x 1404, 16 grays | 10-inch black-and-white e-paper, 1200 x 825, 8 grays |
| Form | A device on a stand, for a desk or shelf | A natural ash wood frame with a cream mat, for the wall |
| Setup and control | Web dashboard; plugins, playlists, and layouts to arrange | A setup page on your phone, then three buttons: Love, Pass, Next |
| Content | More than a thousand plugins; you choose and arrange them | A curated library across 70+ topics, plus your own lines on Plus and Premium |
| Refresh | Every 15 minutes by default, configurable | On the schedule you set, once a day to every 10 minutes |
| Battery | 3 to 6 months on a charge, per the vendor | Most of a year on a daily schedule, about 5 months at hourly updates |
| Price | OG $139, X $229, one time | $299, one time |
| Software cost | Included with the hardware | Free daily classic rotation. Plus $4.39/mo or $39/yr. Premium $7.99/mo or $69/yr. |
| Shipping | Ships from the USA and the EU | United States only |
Every Compass includes two months of Premium, switched on when you pair the frame. After that, your frame keeps working on Free. Upgrading is up to you. The pricing page has the full comparison, and the Compass page has the full spec table.
When TRMNL is the better tool
Choose TRMNL when you want information on e-paper and you enjoy setting it up.
- You want your calendar, a metric, the weather, or a status board on the glass.
- You like choosing plugins, arranging layouts, and maybe writing your own.
- A desk or shelf object is what you had in mind, not a framed print.
- You want the lower hardware price and do not need a curated library.
When Compass is the better tool
Choose Compass when you want one good line on the wall and nothing to manage.
- You want a quote, a habit cue, or a short lesson, not a dashboard.
- You want it to hang like a picture, in a real-wood frame with a mat.
- You want someone else to have done the curating: 70+ topics, scored and sourced.
- You want three buttons and no app, no plugins, no layouts.
The two are not really rivals. Plenty of people would be happy with a TRMNL on the desk and a Compass on the wall.
How to order
With a Founders Club code, your Compass ships right away. Without a code, the order is a backorder and ship is about 45–60 days, shown before you pay. United States only. Start at the shop.
Questions people ask
- Is QuipCast Compass a TRMNL alternative?
- Only if what you wanted from TRMNL was a quiet e-paper object on the wall. TRMNL is a dashboard: calendars, metrics, weather, and more than a thousand plugins on a 7.5-inch or 10.3-inch panel. Compass is a 10-inch black-and-white frame that shows one curated line at a time, with no plugins to set up and no app.
- Can Compass show my calendar or the weather?
- No. Compass shows short lines: quotes, habit cues, a little learning, and your own lines on Plus and Premium. If you want data on the glass, TRMNL is the better tool.
- Which one needs a subscription?
- TRMNL sells the hardware once and includes its web platform. Compass is $299 once and works on Free (one classic card a day) with no subscription. Plus is $4.39/mo or $39/yr and Premium is $7.99/mo or $69/yr, and every Compass includes two months of Premium. After that, your frame keeps working on Free. Upgrading is up to you.
- Which one looks like a picture on the wall?
- Compass. It is a real-wood frame with a cream double mat, built to hang where a print would hang. TRMNL is a device with a stand, sized for a desk or a shelf.
- How long does a Compass take to ship?
- With a Founders Club code, your Compass ships right away. Without a code, the order is a backorder and ship is about 45–60 days, shown before you pay. United States only.
Related
Shop, pricing, and the frame
QuipCast Compass is $299, 10-inch black-and-white. United States only. With a Founders Club code, your Compass ships right away. Without a code, the order is a backorder (about 45–60 days, shown before you pay). Every Compass includes two months of QuipCast Premium, switched on when you pair the frame. After that, your frame keeps working on Free. Upgrading is up to you.
Order with a Founders Club code to ship right away, or without a code as a backorder.
After the included two months of Premium, your frame keeps working on Free, with one classic card a day. Upgrading is up to you: Plus is $39/year and Premium is $69/year. Full comparison.