Comparison

xScope Mirror vs Trace

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

Head to head
About

xScope Mirror

Preview Mac desktop images and windows directly on your iOS device or Apple Watch. Seamlessly transfer designs and test them with various scaling options, even remotely from Photoshop.

Highlights
  • Remote Mac desktop viewing
  • Apple Watch extension
  • Chromeless UI
  • Retina scaling options
  • Remote Photoshop connection
  • Multi-device connection
  • Window nudging
Features
Read full description

••• Requires xScope 4 available from the Mac App Store ••• xScope Mirror lets designers and developers effortlessly preview any Mac desktop image directly on your iOS device or Apple Watch. Unlike other preview apps, xScope Mirror doesn’t have any desktop chrome to get in your way while you work or require you to save files again and again. Simply launch xScope Mirror on iOS and then xScope on a Mac to begin. Confirm the connection on iOS and then drop an image file onto the Dock icon for xScope. A remote connection to Photoshop is also supported: this lets you preview changes in your PSD while you edit. The Mirror can also display any window on your Mac or images copied to the clipboard. Finally, any image that's displayed on the iOS device can be transferred to the Apple Watch by tapping on its screen. Layouts that are taller than the watch's screen are scrollable. Any file that matches the icon sizes for the Apple Watch will be presented with circular mask against a black background, allowing quick asset previews. Features include: • Remote Viewing – Easily view the contents of any Mac desktop window on your iOS device or Apple Watch • Apple Watch – Includes a watch extension that makes previewing on your wrist a snap! • Pin & Lock – Move the Mac window anywhere (even under other windows) & it always stays in focus on iOS • Chromeless UI – No overlaid chrome to get in the way while you work • Retina Scaling - Preview mirrored content 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 or 1:3, great for testing on Retina devices • Compatibility – Runs on all devices using iOS 5 or later • Security – Toggle user authentication requests on/off via Preferences in the xScope desktop app • Multi-client – Multiple iOS devices can connect and view the same Mac window – Great for demos or meetings • Sharing – Copy the current image to the iOS clipboard or save it in your Photos • Nudge – Nudge the selected window one pixel at a time (useful on Retina displays)

About

Trace

Features
Read full description

Every conversation, centered on your context. Clear communication is what moves work forward — but the context behind every conversation slips away fast. Trace captures it and keeps it, so nothing gets lost in translation. YOUR CONVERSATIONS, ALWAYS REMEMBERED Hit record and talk naturally — Trace captures every word in real time across meetings, calls, brainstorms, interviews, and voice notes. Pause whenever you need to and pick up right where you left off. One tap to start, one tap to end. LASTING CONTEXT, NOT NOTES Every conversation becomes context you keep — discussion points, decisions, and the things people committed to, all held in one place and always there to return to. No half-typed notes, no re-listening, nothing slipping through. JUST ASK Trace builds a personal knowledge graph from everything you've captured. Ask in plain English — "What did we decide about pricing?" or "When did Sarah commit to the rewrite?" — and Trace pulls the answer with links back to the source conversation. A HOME FOR EVERY CONVERSATION Group related conversations into Spaces: client work, 1-on-1s, recurring standups, research interviews. Scope Ask Trace to a single Space when you want focused answers. CAPTURE WITHOUT FRICTION • One-tap recording, no setup • Background-safe — keeps going if you switch apps • Live Activity timer in the Dynamic Island • Start a capture from your Action Button, Siri, or a notification • Edit any AI-generated title or bullet inline — they're starting points, not constraints WHO IT'S FOR Founders, PMs, engineers, consultants, researchers, sales — anyone whose work depends on remembering what got said, decided, or promised across many conversations.

Screenshots

xScope Mirror3 screens
Trace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Trace at Free against xScope Mirror's $1.99. Trace also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 months). xScope Mirror's advantage is device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.0). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Trace is free to download; xScope Mirror costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

xScope Mirror ships an update every 6 months, Trace every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
xScope Mirror versus Trace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterxScope MirrorTrace
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews61.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS8.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe IconfactoryAdhyan Srivastava

In-app purchases

None

xScope Mirror

No in-app purchases

None

Trace

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is xScope Mirror free?
xScope Mirror costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Trace free?
Trace is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do xScope Mirror or Trace have ads?
Neither xScope Mirror nor Trace shows ads.
Which is updated more often, xScope Mirror or Trace?
xScope Mirror ships an update every 6 months, and Trace every 4 days. Most recently, xScope Mirror was updated on September 29, 2026 and Trace on September 28, 2026.

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