# iTrace vs Mindlift

The clearest difference is monetization model: iTrace at freemium against Mindlift's subscription. iTrace also leads on ratings volume (2.5K vs 360). Mindlift's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iTrace sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Mindlift sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mindlift holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iTrace has 2.5K ratings behind it against 360, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of iTrace's written reviews are positive against 75% of Mindlift's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

iTrace ships an update every 2 months, Mindlift weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iTrace | Mindlift |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itrace-handwriting-practice/id645416621/reviews) | **[4.7 (360 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindlift-micro-learning/id6746871618/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | 360 |
| Positive reviews | **76.3% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 173 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [DEVPOCKET LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1316880489) | [Luni](https://appshunter.io/developer/1274051421) |

## 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


### Mindlift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindlift-micro-learning/id6746871618)

This app transforms your downtime into growth opportunities with 5-15 minute learning experiences. It distills insights from books and podcasts into actionable "Mind Shifts" to help you build better habits and upgrade your thinking, day by day.

**Highlights:** Fast, digestible insights, Daily 5-minute Mind Shifts, Curated content from credible sources, Personalized learning paths, Thematic challenges for growth

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly plan | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly plan | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly - Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly - Premium | $12.99 | per month |
| Yearly - Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly - Premium | $44.99 | per year |
| Yearly - Premium | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iTrace free?

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

### Is Mindlift free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iTrace or Mindlift?

Mindlift is rated higher. iTrace averages 4.4 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Mindlift averages 4.7 from 360 ratings.

### Do iTrace or Mindlift have ads?

Neither iTrace nor Mindlift shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iTrace or Mindlift?

iTrace ships an update every 2 months, and Mindlift weekly. Most recently, iTrace was updated on November 1, 2026 and Mindlift on October 30, 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.*