# Simple Trace vs Ricalko

The clearest difference is rating: Ricalko at 4.1 against Simple Trace's 1.5. Ricalko also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (83 vs 2). Simple Trace's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months). On price and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ricalko sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Simple Trace asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ricalko holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 1.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ricalko has 83 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Simple Trace's written reviews are positive against 11% of Ricalko's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Simple Trace ships an update every 2 weeks, Ricalko every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Trace | Ricalko |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-trace/id1585591190/reviews) | **[4.1 (83 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ricalko-camera-lucida-artwork/id1632440242/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **83** |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 11.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Size | 5 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.2** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kazuaki Matsuda](https://appshunter.io/developer/1560179759) | [GENOVA Softworks](https://appshunter.io/developer/954347533) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Ricalko

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ricalko-camera-lucida-artwork/id1632440242)

Transform photos into traceable art projections using your device's camera. Ideal for both aspiring artists and experienced creators, this tool offers features like layer separation and perspective correction to help you achieve stunning results on any surface.

**Highlights:** Project photos for tracing, Layer separation for detailed drawing, Perspective mode for angled projection, Augmented reality tracing with markers, Creative filters for art styles, Zoom for precision drawing

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Unlock | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Ricalko 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Ricalko for 1 Year | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Trace free?

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

### Is Ricalko free?

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

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

Ricalko is rated higher. Simple Trace averages 1.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Ricalko averages 4.1 from 83 ratings.

### Do Simple Trace or Ricalko have ads?

Simple Trace shows ads; Ricalko does not.

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

Simple Trace ships an update every 2 weeks, and Ricalko every 5 months. Most recently, Simple Trace was updated on September 27, 2026 and Ricalko on October 10, 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.*