# Trace ~ vs Secret diary

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Trace ~ at none against Secret diary's 5. Trace ~ also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Secret diary sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Trace ~ asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Trace ~ against 4.3 for Secret diary. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 12 respectively.

Trace ~ ships an update every 2 weeks, Secret diary every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Trace ~ | Secret diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace/id1470833299/reviews) | **[4.3 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-diary-locked-journal/id6739699394/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **12** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joeri Bultheel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1332331924) | [Chandan Kumar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1786559128) |

## What reviewers say

### Trace ~

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace/id1470833299)

This app allows users to draw lines that are then translated into character movements. It's a simple yet creative tool for generating unique animations and visual sequences.

**Highlights:** Draw lines for movement, Translate drawings into animations, Simple animation tool, Creative visual sequences

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Secret diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-diary-locked-journal/id6739699394)

This app provides a secure and customizable space for journaling, mood tracking, and memory keeping. Enhance your entries with photos, stickers, and personalized themes. Organize your thoughts with tags and find them easily with smart search.

**Highlights:** Secure passcode, pattern, or password lock, Mood tracking and emotional analytics, Add photos, stickers, and backgrounds to entries, Organize entries with tags, Customizable themes, fonts, and colors, Backup and restore functionality, Daily writing reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diary Premium Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Diary Premium Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Diary Annual Subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Diary Premium - Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |
| Diary premium lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Trace ~ free?

Trace ~ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Secret diary free?

Secret diary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Trace ~ or Secret diary?

Secret diary is rated higher. Trace ~ averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Secret diary averages 4.3 from 12 ratings.

### Do Trace ~ or Secret diary have ads?

Secret diary shows ads; Trace ~ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Trace ~ or Secret diary?

Trace ~ ships an update every 2 weeks, and Secret diary every 3 weeks. Most recently, Trace ~ was updated on October 21, 2026 and Secret diary on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*