Comparison

Traceology vs Q

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

Head to head
About

Traceology

Features
Read full description

Traceology delivers a range of digital brand protection and engagement services to consumers and brand investigation officers alike. Learn “How to tell” genuine from fake products, scan the security label to get an instant result, and learn more about the products and brand you are buying.

About

Q

Read full description

Q-ID® Scanner 2.0: the next generation of smartphone authentication from Quantum Base. Check a product is genuine in under 3 seconds, using just your phone. Point it at a Q-ID®, and the app tells you instantly: genuine or not. BUILT FOR SPEED - Up to 3x faster, with end-to-end authentication in under 3 seconds - Up to 7x faster on low-data, 3G and 4G connections INTUITIVE BY DESIGN - Easy for anyone, even first-time users with no training - No specialist equipment: laboratory-level accuracy from an everyday smartphone - Live guidance and image correction help you get a clear scan, first time - Available worldwide in 60 languages UNCOMPROMISED SECURITY - Atomically secure: every Q-ID® has a unique atomic fingerprint, with a uniqueness of 1 in 1 billion - Measurably secure: security comparable to fingerprint and iris checks, depending on your device - Built on 40+ patents - Over 2 billion Q-ID®s already protect products worldwide

Screenshots

Traceology4 screens
Q3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Q at weekly against Traceology's every 6 months. Traceology's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). 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

Traceology ships an update every 6 months, Q weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Traceology versus Q: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTraceologyQ
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB23 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperDe La Rue International LTDQuantum Base Ltd.

In-app purchases

None

Traceology

No in-app purchases

None

Q

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Traceology free?
Traceology is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Q free?
Q is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Traceology or Q have ads?
Neither Traceology nor Q shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Traceology or Q?
Traceology ships an update every 6 months, and Q weekly. Most recently, Traceology was updated on October 3, 2026 and Q on October 17, 2026.

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