Tracing vs Simple Trace Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tracing
Easily trace photos and images to create your own hand-drawn art. This tool is designed for beginners to practice drawing skills without needing professional art training. Import images, adjust their position and transparency, and use a simple two-layer system for a clean drawing process.
- Import and trace photos
- Move, rotate, and scale reference images
- Adjustable image opacity
- Two-layer system for drawing and coloring
- Beginner-focused drawing practice
Read full descriptionHide full description
Trace is a simple drawing app that lets you import photos, images, and files as references, then trace and paint over them. One of Trace’s key features is its three-layer structure: the Reference Layer, Trace Layer, and Paint Layer. You can trace outlines while viewing your reference image, then add color on the Paint Layer to complete your artwork. By separating each step into its own layer, Trace makes the drawing process simple and easy to manage. The Reference Layer supports zooming, scaling, and rotation, giving you the freedom to adjust the size and angle of your reference image to match your composition. In addition to importing images from your photo library, Trace also supports importing image files, allowing you to use a wide variety of reference materials. Key Features * Reference Layer Display a photo or image as your drawing reference. Zoom, resize, and rotate it freely to match the size and angle you want. * Trace Layer Trace outlines and shapes while viewing the reference image underneath. * Paint Layer Add color while using your traced lines as a guide to complete your artwork. * Import from Photos Use images stored in your photo library as references. * Import from Files Import image files in addition to photos, giving you more flexibility when choosing reference materials. * Flexible Reference Adjustment Freely adjust the size and angle of your reference image to suit your composition and tracing needs. * Simple and Intuitive Controls Designed to keep unnecessary complexity to a minimum so you can focus on tracing, drawing, and painting. Trace can be used for drawing practice, illustration, sketching, design studies, and many other creative purposes. “Place your reference.” “Trace the lines.” “Add color.” By separating these three steps into layers, Trace provides a smooth and intuitive workflow from tracing to painting. Turn your favorite photos and images into your own artwork with Trace.
Simple Trace Pro
Practice drawing and illustration by tracing photos and images. Load pictures from your camera roll and use Apple Pencil to refine your line work. Save your traced creations as JPGs or transparent PNGs.
- Trace photos and pictures
- Practice illustration and painting
- Load images from camera roll
- Apple Pencil support
- Adjustable transmittance
- Zoom functionality
- Save as JPG or transparent PNG
Read full descriptionHide full description
Simple Trace makes it easy to trace photos and pictures by hand. The concept is to be able to practice painting. Once you've loaded the image from your camera roll, it's easy to get started with Apple Pencil. By tracing the original picture, you can practice basic drawing such as how to draw lines in the illustration. Feature - Change of transmittance - Zoom in and out of the drawing area - Images can be saved as jpg, Pro version can be saved as transparent png - No ads in Pro version
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tracing at 100% against Simple Trace Pro's 0%. Tracing also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0). Simple Trace Pro's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (14.5 vs 18.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Tracing costs $0.99 and Simple Trace Pro $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Tracing holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Tracing's written reviews are positive against 0% of Simple Trace Pro's.
Tracing ships an update every 2 months, Simple Trace Pro every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 18, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tracing | Simple Trace Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 14.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yasuo Fukushima | Kazuaki Matsuda |
Customer experience
Tracing
Simple Trace Pro
In-app purchases
Tracing
No in-app purchases
Simple Trace Pro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Tracing free?
Is Simple Trace Pro free?
Which has better reviews, Tracing or Simple Trace Pro?
Do Tracing or Simple Trace Pro have ads?
Which is updated more often, Tracing or Simple Trace Pro?
Other comparisons
