Comparison

3ag Reader vs Cold Case Trace

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

Head to head
About

3ag Reader

Features
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3ag Reader est une application qui permet a la communauté et a tout les amoureux de la bande dessinée de se retrouver , lire acheter et échanger autour de la bande dessinée.

About

Cold Case Trace

Uncover the truth by examining a simulated phone's messages, photos, and data. Connect clues on an evidence board and accuse the killer in this interactive detective story. Your first case is free to play.

Highlights
  • Simulated phone with chats, photos, and data
  • Interactive live chat with client
  • Evidence board with red string connections
  • Escalating hint system
  • Multiple European case locations
  • Unlockable cases via subscription
Features
Read full description

Someone is lying. The phone knows. Redstring is a found-phone detective story. A client messages you in a live chat, hands you the victim's phone, and asks you to find the truth — from the first message to the final accusation. Every text, photo, voice memo, bank line and map ping is evidence. Read between the lines. Crack the passcodes. Pin the red string. Name the killer. YOUR FIRST CASE IS FREE Play "The Kessler File" from the opening message to the verdict — a full investigation, with no paywall in the middle of the story. A LIVE CHAT WITH THE CLIENT The person who knew the victim talks to you the whole way — asking the questions, reacting to your answers, and finally asking you to name a suspect. Type what you found; the story reacts. SNOOP A FULLY SIMULATED PHONE - Chats and DMs, including the deleted ones - A gallery with Hidden and Recently Deleted albums - Locked notes, voice memos, calendar, bank statements, browser tabs and location history - Every app can hide a clue. Nothing is random. PIN IT ON THE BOARD Your evidence board pins each discovery and links it with red string. Leave for days, come back, and the case is exactly where you left it — progress is saved per case. STUCK? ASK FOR A HINT Up to three escalating hints per question nudge you toward the evidence without spoiling the answer. Smart answer-matching understands what you mean. NAME THE TRUTH The final question is an accusation. Get it right and the case closes; get it wrong and you can reconsider the suspects. 10 CASES AT LAUNCH — MORE ON THE WAY Murder, disappearance, blackmail and betrayal across Europe — Paris, Berlin, Lisbon, Vienna, Amsterdam, Prague, Copenhagen and Barcelona. Fully playable in 8 languages. REDSTRING PASS Case 1 is free forever. The Redstring Pass unlocks every case: - Weekly: $4.99 per week - Annual: $29.99 per year - Lifetime: $39.99 one-time — not a subscription Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; manage or cancel anytime in Settings - Apple Account - Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://redstring-98526.web.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://redstring-98526.web.app/privacy.html Redstring is a work of interactive fiction. All characters, phones, messages and events are fictional; any resemblance to real people or events is coincidental. The app never accesses your real messages, photos or data.

Screenshots

3ag Reader4 screens
Cold Case Trace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 3ag Reader at none against Cold Case Trace's 7. 3ag Reader also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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

Both are free to download. Cold Case Trace sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. 3ag Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

3ag Reader ships an update every 5 days, Cold Case Trace every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
3ag Reader versus Cold Case Trace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter3ag ReaderCold Case Trace
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.4 (67 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—28.6% of reviews
Number of ratings—67 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB64 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperAzankang AtemkengOguzhan Yildirim

In-app purchases

None

3ag Reader

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Cold Case Trace

Subscriptions3
  • Redstring Pass — Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Annual Pass — Special Offer$19.991 Year
  • Redstring Pass — Annual$39.991 Year
One-time4
  • Reveal the Answer$1.99
  • 5 Reveals$4.99
  • 10 Reveals$7.99
Show 1 more
  • All Cases — Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is 3ag Reader free?
3ag Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cold Case Trace free?
Cold Case Trace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do 3ag Reader or Cold Case Trace have ads?
Neither 3ag Reader nor Cold Case Trace shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 3ag Reader or Cold Case Trace?
3ag Reader ships an update every 5 days, and Cold Case Trace every 9 days. Most recently, 3ag Reader was updated on November 5, 2026 and Cold Case Trace on November 8, 2026.

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