Is YearCompass free, and what languages and formats are available?

Updated

YearCompass is free to download, and the site describes it as “a free booklet” with the download button labeled “It's totally free!” It is available in dozens of languages, including Chinese, English, Spanish, French, and Japanese, and comes in two formats (Standard for handwriting and Digital for filling in on a device) and two sizes (A4 and foldable A5). You only need a quiet few hours to work through it.

What you get and what it costs

The booklet is designed to help you close out the current year and plan the next one through a set of questions and exercises. The site frames it as an alternative to New Year's resolutions, which it says don't work, and notes that more than a million people have used it since 2012.

The download itself carries no price on the page. The site does have a “Become a supporter” section, which suggests voluntary support is welcome but not required to get the booklet. Nothing on the page indicates an account, login, or payment is needed to download.

Languages

The language picker lists a long set of options. A partial sample:

Region Examples
Chinese 中文 (汉语), 繁體中文
English English – GB, English – US
European Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano, Nederlands, Polski, Português (Brasil and Portugal), Svenska, Suomi, Dansk, Norsk, Čeština, Magyar, Română, Ελληνικά
Asian 日本語, 한국어, Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, தமிழ், मराठी
Middle Eastern اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ, עִבְרִית, فارسی
Other Türkçe, Українська, Русский, Қазақша, Oʻzbekcha, and more

If your language isn't listed, the site invites you to help create a translation.

Formats and sizes

After choosing a language, you pick a format:

  • Standard — for filling out the booklet by hand.
  • Digital — for filling it in digitally.

Then a size:

  • A4 — full-page printing.
  • A5 — a small, foldable booklet. The site points to a printing guide for this option, so check that guide before printing to avoid layout problems.

How to download and start

  1. Go to yearcompass.com and choose your language.
  2. Select Standard or Digital.
  3. Select A4 or A5. If you choose A5, open the printing guide first.
  4. Click the download button to get the booklet.
  5. Set aside a few quiet hours to complete the questions and exercises.

The expected result is a filled-in booklet that reviews the past year and lays out a plan for the next one. A common snag is printing the A5 version without following the guide, which can throw off the fold; the A4 version avoids that issue if you just want to write by hand.

Is it right for you?

YearCompass suits people who want a structured, self-guided reflection session rather than a quick checklist. The site's user quotes describe it as a way to slow down at the turn of the year and to face questions about direction and needs honestly. If you prefer a short goal-setting list, the booklet's longer exercise set may feel like more than you need. If you want a few hours of guided prompts in your own language, the free download removes most of the barrier to trying it.