Comparison

BookRoom! vs TraceBuddy GU

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BookRoom!

Access decodable readers for students to support reading programs. Books can be added by scanning a barcode or entering a code, and are then available for rereading on a device. Multiple students can share a device by easily loading and removing books.

Highlights
  • Access decodable readers
  • Supports reading programs
  • Add books via barcode scan
  • Add books via code entry
  • Offline rereading access
  • Manage book library
Features
Read full description

Access Collaborative Classroom's decodable readers for students through the BookRoom! app. The readers available support Being a Reader Small-Group Reading Sets 1–6 and SIPPS. Books are loaded into the app by scanning the barcode on the back of the print book, or entering a code provided via our Learning Portal. Once a book is loaded, students have access to it on their device for rereading at a later time. Books can easily be loaded and removed in case multiple students need to share one device.

About

TraceBuddy GU

Features
Read full description

TraceBuddy helps kids practice drawing, tracing, coloring, and early writing with a phone or iPad. Pick a simple line-art picture, type a custom name or phrase, or choose a local image from the device. TraceBuddy can show the guide over real paper using the camera, or open a locked on-screen coloring canvas for finger and stylus practice. Features: • Camera-over-paper tracing with adjustable guide opacity, scale, rotation, and position • On-screen coloring and tracing mode for times when paper setup is not available • Locked canvas by default so little hands can draw without accidentally moving the page • Optional pan and zoom for tracing small details • 54 individually reviewed, kid-friendly tracing pictures • Guided lessons that teach pictures one friendly step at a time • Family drawing activities for taking turns, telling stories, and making keepsakes • Custom word, name, and phrase tracing • Marker colors, brush sizes, and pencil, marker, crayon, and paint styles • Local photo selection for tracing personal references • Previous Work saved privately on the device • Printable and shareable tracing worksheets • No account, no ads, no analytics, and no automatic cloud uploads TraceBuddy is designed for parents and children to use together. A parent can pick or upload a guide, set up the camera or practice screen, and let the child trace at their own pace. Privacy is simple: camera video, selected images, custom words, and drawings stay on the device unless you explicitly share a worksheet through the system share interface. TraceBuddy does not automatically upload photos or camera frames to a server.

Screenshots

BookRoom!4 screens
TraceBuddy GU4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: TraceBuddy GU at every 6 weeks against BookRoom!'s every 4 months. BookRoom!'s advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BookRoom! ships an update every 4 months, TraceBuddy GU every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
BookRoom! versus TraceBuddy GU: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookRoom!TraceBuddy GU
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCenter for the Collaborative ClassroomLeon Ambrosio Shimizu

In-app purchases

None

BookRoom!

No in-app purchases

None

TraceBuddy GU

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BookRoom! free?
BookRoom! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TraceBuddy GU free?
TraceBuddy GU is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BookRoom! or TraceBuddy GU have ads?
Neither BookRoom! nor TraceBuddy GU shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BookRoom! or TraceBuddy GU?
BookRoom! ships an update every 4 months, and TraceBuddy GU every 6 weeks. Most recently, BookRoom! was updated on October 24, 2026 and TraceBuddy GU on October 18, 2026.

Other comparisons