Comparison

Tracing Buddy vs MindGrids

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

Head to head
About

Tracing Buddy

Easily transfer images to a drawing surface using a grid system. Create drawing illusions with perspective distortion and anamorphic images. Offers various image filters and grid customization options.

Highlights
  • Drawing grid with customizable lines and subdivisions
  • Perspective distortion for anamorphic illusions
  • Image filters: line art, black & white, background removal
  • AR-guided distortion process
  • Manual distortion control
  • Save grid settings in projects
Features
Read full description

Tracing Buddy is a drawing grid and anamorphic images creation tool. Built for simplicity, Tracing Buddy allows you to easily transfer pictures to a drawing surface Using the perspective distortion functionality, now you can enter the world of drawing illusions. First, apply the distortion to your images and then transfer them to a drawing surface with a grid The app is optimized for both iPhone and iPad use, including Dark Mode support Grid Features: - Square divisions or choose the preferred aspect ratio - Change color and transparency of grid lines - Choose from four subdivision styles and change color and transparency as you wish - Change the grid background color and the transparency of your image - Change the scale and position of your image relative to the whole grid - Save grid settings in projects Image Features: - Choose from a regular image, line art style, black & white values, or remove backgrounds with the person detection filter -With the B&W and values filter you change your image to black & white, adjust shadows and highlights to you liking with the included tone curve and reduce the number of values in the picture to a more manageable amount. With the value selection tool you can inspect where values are placed in your image - Use the person detection filter to remove the backgrounds of pictures with people in them, change to a transparent or solid color background instead Anamorphic images: - Add perspective distortion to your images choosing from two method: AR or using a picture - In AR method let Tracing Buddy guide you through the whole process, you only need an iOS device equipped with AR capabilities - If you need more control about the distortion, you can take a picture from your phone or with external camera and apply the distortion manually, for this method to be effective, you need to know the dimensions of the surface you want to transfer your picture to Premium Features Add-on (either by subscription or lifetime purchase) required for: - Ad removal - Premium Image filters - Multiple Project management - PNG type export Privacy Policy: https://lafappbrica.com/tracing-buddy-privacy-policy Terms of use https://lafappbrica.com/tracing-buddy-terms/

About

MindGrids

Create custom grids for your photos to aid in artistic endeavors. Adjust grid size, color, and width to match your canvas and reference images. Perfect for artists and art enthusiasts looking to accurately scale or skew images.

Highlights
  • Create grids from gallery photos or new captures
  • Adjustable grid size and photo dimensions
  • Customizable grid color and width
  • Useful for scaling and skewing reference images
  • Simple interface for artists
Features
Read full description

APP helps in creating grids for the photos in the device gallery or for a directly taken one. It gives users to change the grids according to their requirement and the size fo the added photo. APP will be handy for Artists and art enthusiast to enlarge or skew the reference photos into their canvas using the grid methodology. Options to change grid colour and width according to the requirements are also provided.

Screenshots

Tracing Buddy4 screens
MindGrids3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MindGrids at 100% against Tracing Buddy's 63%. MindGrids also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). Tracing Buddy's advantage is ratings volume (935 vs 2). On price 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. Tracing Buddy sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month. MindGrids asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MindGrids holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tracing Buddy has 935 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Tracing Buddy's written reviews are positive against 100% of MindGrids's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tracing Buddy ships an update every 6 weeks, MindGrids daily. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Tracing Buddy versus MindGrids: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTracing BuddyMindGrids
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (935 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings935 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksDaily — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLa FáppbricaMindlabs Systems

Customer experience

Tracing Buddy

All ratings935 ratings
Positive88.4%
Neutral4.0%
Negative7.6%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive63.5%
Neutral3.2%
Negative33.3%

MindGrids

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Tracing Buddy

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Zoom feature not working
  • Grid feature not working as expected
  • Lock feature not working properly
  • App only works once, can't reuse

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to crop photo inside the app
  • Easier way to start a new drawing
  • Ability to rotate image
  • Grid with numbered overlay and adjustable starting point
  • Grid size based on specific measurements

MindGrids

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Tracing Buddy

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$0.491 Month
  • Yearly subscription7 Days trial$3.991 Year
One-time2
  • Premium Features$9.99
  • Premium Features$12.99
None

MindGrids

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tracing Buddy free?
Tracing Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MindGrids free?
MindGrids is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Tracing Buddy or MindGrids?
MindGrids is rated higher. Tracing Buddy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 935 ratings, while MindGrids averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Tracing Buddy or MindGrids have ads?
Tracing Buddy shows ads; MindGrids does not.
Which is updated more often, Tracing Buddy or MindGrids?
Tracing Buddy ships an update every 6 weeks, and MindGrids daily. Most recently, Tracing Buddy was updated on October 14, 2026 and MindGrids on September 25, 2026.

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