Comparison

Tracing Buddy vs Photo Layout Maker

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

Photo Layout Maker

Easily split your photos into high-quality grid pieces or panorama layouts for seamless social media posts. Create stunning profile grids or eye-catching panoramas with smooth transitions and no loss of resolution.

Highlights
  • Create giant photo grid posts
  • Split photos into various grid sizes
  • Create square grids up to 5x5
  • Panorama crop for seamless posts
  • High quality output with no resolution loss
  • Save directly to device
  • Dark mode support
Features
Read full description

Photo Split lets you turn any photo into a stunning photo grid or panorama layout for your social media. Create eye catching posts using a powerful photo grid maker. Easily split your images into high quality grid pieces and share them as seamless posts. Use Photo Split as a grid maker for collage maker free style layouts or create clean panorama posts with smooth transitions. With Photo Split you can divide your photos into multiple squares without losing quality. Perfect for creating profile grids or using panorama crop for instagram style posts. Features Create giant photo grid posts Split photos into 1x2 1x3 1x4 1x5 grids Create square grids up to 5x5 Panorama crop for seamless posts High quality output with no resolution loss Save directly to your device Preview before saving Fast and simple interface Dark mode support Photo Split is designed for creators who want a clean and powerful photo grid maker experience. Download Photo Split and start creating stunning grid and panorama posts in seconds.

Screenshots

Tracing Buddy4 screens
Photo Layout Maker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Photo Layout Maker at none against Tracing Buddy's 4. Photo Layout Maker also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and rating (4.9 vs 4.5). Tracing Buddy's advantage is ratings volume (956 vs 8). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Photo Layout Maker asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Photo Layout Maker holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tracing Buddy has 956 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tracing Buddy ships an update every 6 weeks, Photo Layout Maker weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Tracing Buddy versus Photo Layout Maker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTracing BuddyPhoto Layout Maker
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (956 ratings)4.9 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings956 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLa FáppbricaButterfly-Apps

Customer experience

Tracing Buddy

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

Photo Layout Maker

All ratings7 ratings
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

Photo Layout Maker

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

Photo Layout Maker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tracing Buddy free?
Tracing Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Photo Layout Maker free?
Photo Layout Maker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Tracing Buddy or Photo Layout Maker?
Photo Layout Maker is rated higher. Tracing Buddy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 956 ratings, while Photo Layout Maker averages 4.9 from 8 ratings.
Do Tracing Buddy or Photo Layout Maker have ads?
Both Tracing Buddy and Photo Layout Maker show ads.
Which is updated more often, Tracing Buddy or Photo Layout Maker?
Tracing Buddy ships an update every 6 weeks, and Photo Layout Maker weekly. Most recently, Tracing Buddy was updated on October 26, 2026 and Photo Layout Maker on October 25, 2026.

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