Comparison

Calca app vs Papercopy

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

Head to head
About

Calca app

This app allows you to project any image from your device or camera onto a surface for drawing or tracing. It offers customization options for fonts and colors, and can even capture web pages. Tutorials are available to help users get the most out of its features.

Highlights
  • Image projection for drawing
  • Camera lucida functionality
  • Customizable fonts (1550+)
  • Web page capture
  • 3D effect option
  • Multicultural language support
Features
Read full description

CalcaApp: Your Customizable Tool for Transferring Images to Paper Welcome to the latest CalcaApp update! Overview: CalcaApp is an innovative, customizable tool that allows you to transfer any image from your device or captured with your camera to paper, acting as a camera lucida or projector. With a wide selection of features and tools, CalcaApp is designed to inspire you and facilitate your artistic creations. You can draw on a table on a paper yes, but you can also make a small mural on the wall if you hold your phone upright and looking through it at the image you have chosen on the wall. 3D effect: You can use a basic stand to support the device with a 45 degree tilt or those you choose, and you can make a 3D effect on the drawing. examples with videos and images at CalcaApp.com. Free for Everyone: I'm excited to announce that CalcaApp is now completely free for all its users - enjoy all the features at no cost! Earn Points, Remove Ads: Coming soon, you'll have options that will require more than ten points. With an active subscription, you'll have access to everything unlocked at the same special price. Annual Subscription: If you've noticed that CalcaApp is continually developing and implementing new features, you'll now have access to everything unlocked at the same price. Multicultural Languages: We've added new languages, including Italian, plus Russian, French, Indonesian, German, Arabic, English, Spanish and Portuguese, so you can enjoy CalcaApp in your preferred language. Customize with 1550+ Fonts: Choose from a wide selection of over 1550 fonts to give a unique touch to your texts and designs. In addition, CalcaApp is customizable in various colors for easy inspiration when using the app. Improved Web Capture: Now, capturing web pages is easier than ever. Turn your favorite websites into images with just one tap. Learn with Our Tutorials: Explore our tutorials on CalcaApp.Com to get the most out of all the features and tools available. Follow me on the Networks: Ask us for new features from our social networks and get to know them on ApliArte.Com. Recommended supports: Use supports recommended by CalcaApp or, failing that, something suitable, such as a glass, a jar or a box, to hold the device horizontally or vertically depending on where you want to make the drawing, but it is important that the device is fixed. Tips and Recommendations: Consider using a stand recommended by CalcaApp for a better experience. Consider choosing a color of your liking for a better user experience. Consider using relaxing music and make sure you have enough lighting to enjoy the experience. Remember that CalcaApp is not magic and requires practice. You can find demonstration videos on our website for best results. IMPORTANT: -You must give permission to the camera of your device, to be able to see through it, the image chosen or captured in the area where you are about to draw. -This app is not magic (It needs practice, there are demonstration videos to see results). -Your device MUST FOCUS ON THE DRAWING AREA, whether it is paper, wall, floor, etc... FOR ITS CORRECT FUNCTIONING. -You can search with the app from the web for any drawing to color and thus start practicing. -You can remove advertising with a point system and at no cost. -It does not project the image (For this you need a projector). -To avoid autofocus you have to prevent the hand from passing under the camera (It is explained with images in CalcaApp.com). -You do not need to register in the app. -This app is under continuous development, we appreciate and value your comments and suggestions at erbolamm.com or apliarte.com. Is there anything else I can help you with?

About

Papercopy

Transform your device into a precision tracing tool. Import any image to use as a drawing guide, adjusting its visibility and position to sketch and improve your artistic skills with ease.

Highlights
  • Import images for tracing
  • Adjust brightness and contrast
  • Rotate and position references
  • Customize outline colors
  • Intuitive user interface
Features
Read full description

Turn your device into a powerful tracing tool and bring your drawings to life with precision and ease. This app lets you display any image on your screen and use it as a guide for drawing. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, you can easily trace, sketch, and improve your skills. Key Features: • Import any image and use it as a tracing reference • Adjust brightness and contrast for perfect visibility • Rotate and position images as you need • Customize colors to enhance outlines and details • Simple and intuitive interface Perfect for artists, designers, students, and anyone who wants to practice drawing or recreate images with accuracy.

Screenshots

Calca app4 screens
Papercopy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Calca app at 48% against Papercopy's 0%. Calca app also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (88 vs 3). Papercopy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#192 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Calca app sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year. Papercopy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Calca app holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Calca app has 88 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Calca app's written reviews are positive against 0% of Papercopy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Calca app ships an update fortnightly, Papercopy every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Calca app versus Papercopy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalca appPapercopy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (88 ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews48.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings88 — better3
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 11 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
Best chart rank—#192 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB10 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperFrancisco Mateo MarquezMilos Micunovic

Customer experience

Calca app

All ratings88 ratings
Positive73.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative21.6%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive48.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative44.0%

Papercopy

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Calca app

Subscriptions3
  • One-year subscription$2.991 Year
  • Monthly Advanced Founder Plan2 Months trial$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Basic Founder Plan1 Year trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Permanent License$149.99
None

Papercopy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Calca app free?
Calca app is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Papercopy free?
Papercopy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Calca app or Papercopy?
Calca app is rated higher. Calca app averages 4.0 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while Papercopy averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Calca app or Papercopy have ads?
Both Calca app and Papercopy show ads.
Which is updated more often, Calca app or Papercopy?
Calca app ships an update fortnightly, and Papercopy every 11 days. Most recently, Calca app was updated on September 30, 2026 and Papercopy on September 28, 2026.

Other comparisons