# Trace vs Plack

Trace and Plack both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Plack's written reviews are positive against 50% of Trace's. Plack also leads on ads (none vs shown). Trace's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 5 days). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Trace sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Plack sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 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 — 4.6 for Trace against 4.7 for Plack. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 15 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Trace's written reviews are positive against 100% of Plack's.

Trace ships an update daily, Plack every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on August 13, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Trace | Plack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-microplastics/id6740707486/reviews) | **[4.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plack-microplastics-scanner/id6740711020/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 84 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Control. Alt. Delete. LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1762687184) | [Abel Thomas Noble](https://appshunter.io/developer/1791189065) |

## What reviewers say

### Trace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-microplastics/id6740707486)

Understand your exposure to microplastics with a personalized assessment and science-backed recommendations. Learn about sources, track your progress, and make informed choices for a healthier life and a cleaner environment.

**Highlights:** Personalized microplastic exposure score, Customized reduction recommendations, Local tap water quality reports, Progress tracking over time, Educational content on microplastics, Actionable insights for daily life

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| premium weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| premium weekly with trial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Subscription to Trace | $9.99 | per year |
| Trace Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| premium yearly | $29.99 | per year |


### Plack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plack-microplastics-scanner/id6740711020)

Empower yourself to identify and understand microplastic content in everyday products. Scan items or search for insights into harmful substances, track your exposure, and make informed choices for better well-being.

**Highlights:** Scan products for microplastics, Detect Phthalates and Bisphenols, Understand exposure and health impact, Track microplastic footprint, Personalized tracking and saved history, Access news dashboard (Pro)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plack Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Plack Pro | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Trace free?

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

### Is Plack free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Trace or Plack?

Plack is rated higher. Trace averages 4.6 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Plack averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.

### Do Trace or Plack have ads?

Trace shows ads; Plack does not.

### Which is updated more often, Trace or Plack?

Trace ships an update daily, and Plack every 5 days. Most recently, Trace was updated on August 13, 2026 and Plack on September 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.*