# TraceArt vs Simple Trace

The clearest difference is rating: TraceArt at 2.1 against Simple Trace's 1.5. TraceArt also leads on ratings volume (73 vs 2) and device support (3 vs 1). Simple Trace's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TraceArt sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Simple Trace asks for nothing beyond the download.

TraceArt holds the better App Store score, 2.1 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TraceArt has 73 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 14% of TraceArt's written reviews are positive against 33% of Simple Trace's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TraceArt ships an update every 3 months, Simple Trace every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TraceArt | Simple Trace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.1 (73 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/traceart/id1539017013/reviews)** | [1.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-trace/id1585591190/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **73** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 5 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.2 | **13.2** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KENICHI YAMAMOTO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1335325739) | [Kazuaki Matsuda](https://appshunter.io/developer/1560179759) |

## What reviewers say

### TraceArt

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/traceart/id1539017013)

Transform your smartphone into a drawing tool. Trace photos and illustrations onto paper with adjustable outline thickness and screen brightness. Perfect for aspiring artists of all skill levels.

**Highlights:** Trace photos and illustrations, Adjust outline thickness, Adjust image size, Screen lock with maximized brightness, Save unlimited sketches

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ADs | $2.99 | one-time |


### Simple Trace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-trace/id1585591190)

This app helps beginners practice drawing and painting by allowing them to trace over photos and images. Load pictures from your camera roll and use a stylus to learn basic line drawing techniques. Save your traced creations as JPG files.

**Highlights:** Trace photos and pictures, Practice drawing and painting, Load images from camera roll, Adjust image transmittance, Zoom in and out, Save drawings as JPG

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TraceArt free?

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

### Is Simple Trace free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TraceArt or Simple Trace?

TraceArt is rated higher. TraceArt averages 2.1 out of 5 from 73 ratings, while Simple Trace averages 1.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do TraceArt or Simple Trace have ads?

Both TraceArt and Simple Trace show ads.

### Which is updated more often, TraceArt or Simple Trace?

TraceArt ships an update every 3 months, and Simple Trace every 2 weeks. Most recently, TraceArt was updated on October 9, 2026 and Simple Trace on September 27, 2026.

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