# iTrace vs Cursive Words

The clearest difference is rating: iTrace at 4.4 against Cursive Words's 3.8. iTrace also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months). Cursive Words's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iTrace sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Cursive Words sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iTrace holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iTrace has 2.5K ratings behind it against 353, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of iTrace's written reviews are positive against 57% of Cursive Words's.

iTrace ships an update every 3 weeks, Cursive Words every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and July 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iTrace | Cursive Words |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itrace-handwriting-practice/id645416621/reviews)** | [3.8 (353 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cursive-words/id733706995/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | 353 |
| Positive reviews | **76.3% of reviews** | 57.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 173 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DevPocket](https://appshunter.io/developer/1316880489) | [Horizon Business, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/431586531) |

## 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


### Cursive Words

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cursive-words/id733706995)

Practice cursive writing with this educational app designed for families. Customize settings to tailor the learning experience and play until mastery is achieved.  It's a fun way to improve handwriting skills.

**Highlights:** Cursive writing practice, Family-friendly, Customizable settings, Mastery-based gameplay, Educational tool

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Uppercase Words | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for learning cursive
- 🤩 Great for practicing cursive writing
- 💕 Enjoyable and fun to use
- ✨ Smooth brush stroke
- 🆓 Completely free with no ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🙏 Needs more words and longer words
- ❌ Doesn't check if writing is correct
- 💻 Harder to use on electronic devices vs paper
- 🥱 Can get repetitive and boring
- 🤔 Lacks different difficulty levels

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or stops working after a few days of use
- Occasional freezing or unresponsiveness

**Requested features**

- Add uppercase letters and more advanced words
- Implement feedback/correction on writing
- Allow use of pen/stylus instead of just finger
- Incorporate mini-games or challenges to make it more engaging
- Introduce different difficulty levels or progression


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iTrace free?

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

### Is Cursive Words free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iTrace or Cursive Words?

iTrace is rated higher. iTrace averages 4.4 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Cursive Words averages 3.8 from 353 ratings.

### Do iTrace or Cursive Words have ads?

Cursive Words shows ads; iTrace does not.

### Which is updated more often, iTrace or Cursive Words?

iTrace ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cursive Words every 12 months. Most recently, iTrace was updated on September 23, 2026 and Cursive Words on July 29, 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.*