# iTrace vs Twinkl Formation & Handwriting

iTrace and Twinkl Formation & Handwriting both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 76% of iTrace's written reviews are positive against 41% of Twinkl Formation & Handwriting's. iTrace also leads on ratings volume (2.5K vs 63). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iTrace sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Twinkl Formation & Handwriting sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for iTrace against 4.5 for Twinkl Formation & Handwriting. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iTrace has 2.5K ratings behind it against 63, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of iTrace's written reviews are positive against 41% of Twinkl Formation & Handwriting's.

iTrace ships an update every 2 months, Twinkl Formation & Handwriting every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iTrace | Twinkl Formation & Handwriting |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itrace-handwriting-practice/id645416621/reviews) | **[4.5 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/twinkl-formation-and-handwriting/id1581040887/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | 63 |
| Positive reviews | **76.3% of reviews** | 41.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 173 MB | 225 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DEVPOCKET LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1316880489) | [Twinkl Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/508771802) |

## What reviewers say

### iTrace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itrace-handwriting-practice/id645416621)

This app helps children learn to write letters, numbers, words, and shapes through guided tracing and playful repetition. It's designed for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary students to develop handwriting skills and fine-motor control in an engaging way.

**Highlights:** Guided letter and number tracing, Print and cursive writing, Custom word lists with photos/voice, Multiple handwriting styles, Progress tracking, Printable worksheets, Rewards and mini-games

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iTrace Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Unlock Premium Features | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime purchase | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Positive feedback and achievement tracking
- 👍 Excellent visual feedback and positive reinforcement
- 👍 Multi-user support for different learning speeds
- 👍 Perfect blend of learning and play
- 👍 Makes handwriting fun with rewards and stickers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 In-app purchases required to unlock additional content
- 🐛 Sound not working for some users
- 🐛 Family sharing not working properly
- 🐛 Strict letter formation requirements can be frustrating for beginners

**Reported bugs**

- Sound not working after updates
- Inability to restore purchases on multiple devices
- Incorrect letter formation displayed in the app

**Requested features**

- Option to adjust difficulty/letter formation requirements
- Ability to connect cursive letters
- Addition of lowercase letters in the free version
- Ability to set number of letter repetitions


### Twinkl Formation & Handwriting

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/twinkl-formation-and-handwriting/id1581040887)

This app helps young learners develop essential handwriting skills by practicing letter and number formation, and shapes. It offers a fun, engaging, and prep-free experience for children, with customizable word lists and offline functionality.

**Highlights:** Letter and number formation practice, Shape tracing, Fine motor skill development, Customizable word lists, Offline functionality, Multi-language support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Twinkl Monthly Subscription | $0.49 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $2.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iTrace free?

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

### Is Twinkl Formation & Handwriting free?

Twinkl Formation & Handwriting is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iTrace or Twinkl Formation & Handwriting?

Twinkl Formation & Handwriting is rated higher. iTrace averages 4.4 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Twinkl Formation & Handwriting averages 4.5 from 63 ratings.

### Do iTrace or Twinkl Formation & Handwriting have ads?

Neither iTrace nor Twinkl Formation & Handwriting shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iTrace or Twinkl Formation & Handwriting?

iTrace ships an update every 2 months, and Twinkl Formation & Handwriting every 6 weeks. Most recently, iTrace was updated on October 21, 2026 and Twinkl Formation & Handwriting on October 23, 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.*