Comparison

Tracing Buddy vs Grid Drawing

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

Grid Drawing

This drawing app helps artists create photorealistic artwork by using a custom grid and layer separation on reference images. Track progress, compare your work to the original, and identify errors to improve your drawing accuracy.

Highlights
  • Upload reference images
  • Apply custom grids
  • Separate reference into layers
  • Track drawing progress
  • Compare drawing to photograph
  • Mark errors
Features
Read full description

Designed entirely by photorealist Dylan Eakin, Photorealism is a comprehensive drawing app that gives you the ability to upload a reference, apply a custom grid, and separate the reference into its essential layers. Keep track of how many squares you've finished, effortlessly compare your drawing against the photograph, mark errors, and more. The all-in-one drawing tool to make your own photographs. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://realismdrawing.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

Tracing Buddy4 screens
Grid Drawing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Grid Drawing at 5.0 against Tracing Buddy's 4.5. Grid Drawing also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (93% vs 63%). Tracing Buddy's advantage is ratings volume (956 vs 108). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 and Grid Drawing sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Grid Drawing holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tracing Buddy has 956 ratings behind it against 108, 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 93% of Grid Drawing's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tracing Buddy ships an update every 6 weeks, Grid Drawing daily. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Tracing Buddy versus Grid Drawing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTracing BuddyGrid Drawing
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (956 ratings)5.0 (108 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.5% of reviews93.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings956 — better108
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksDaily — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLa FáppbricaDylan Eakin

Customer experience

Tracing Buddy

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

Grid Drawing

All ratings108 ratings
Positive99.1%
Neutral0.9%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive93.3%
Neutral3.3%
Negative3.3%

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

Grid Drawing

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
10 purchases

Grid Drawing

One-time10
  • Eye II$0.99
  • Texture Practice II$0.99
  • Refraction$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Self Portrait 2022$0.99
  • Moths to a Flame$0.99
  • You Are Not Lost$0.99
  • A Soul to Take$0.99
  • Father$0.99
  • Impact$0.99
  • Remove Ads$8.99

Questions

Is Tracing Buddy free?
Tracing Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Grid Drawing free?
Grid Drawing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tracing Buddy or Grid Drawing?
Grid Drawing is rated higher. Tracing Buddy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 956 ratings, while Grid Drawing averages 5.0 from 108 ratings.
Do Tracing Buddy or Grid Drawing have ads?
Both Tracing Buddy and Grid Drawing show ads.
Which is updated more often, Tracing Buddy or Grid Drawing?
Tracing Buddy ships an update every 6 weeks, and Grid Drawing daily. Most recently, Tracing Buddy was updated on October 26, 2026 and Grid Drawing on October 29, 2026.

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