# Intent Note vs Trace

The clearest difference is update cadence: Intent Note at every 2 weeks against Trace's every 2 months. Trace's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Intent Note sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Trace sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Intent Note against 5.0 for Trace. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Intent Note ships an update every 2 weeks, Trace every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Intent Note | Trace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/intent-note/id6751479617/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-thought-log/id6762246222/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dominick Gonzalez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1796291718) | [Pedro Gomes do Nascimento](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893532153) |

## What reviewers say

### Intent Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/intent-note/id6751479617)

Capture thoughts and intentions quickly with a focus on what matters. This app helps you avoid distractions by setting intentions before device use and offers instant note-taking with smart tagging and review features. It provides a calm, private experience designed to help you remember why you're using your device.

**Highlights:** Set intentions before device usage, Instant, keyboard-free note-taking, Smart tagging and search operators, Calendar-aware agenda and natural language creation, Review sessions with a reels-like interface, Lock screen widgets for intentions and notes, Daily streak building for intentions

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Intent Note Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Lifetime Unlock | $49.99 | one-time |


### Trace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-thought-log/id6762246222)

A minimalist and private space for capturing thoughts, notes, lists, and memories. It offers a clean interface for free writing and quick searching, with optional Pro features for customization and enhanced security.

**Highlights:** Minimalist and calm interface, Free writing and reflections, Bullet and numbered lists, Quick entry search, Local-first private storage, Customizable themes (Pro), App Lock with biometric support (Pro)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Trace Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Intent Note free?

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

### Is Trace free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Intent Note or Trace?

Intent Note and Trace are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do Intent Note or Trace have ads?

Neither Intent Note nor Trace shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Intent Note or Trace?

Intent Note ships an update every 2 weeks, and Trace every 2 months. Most recently, Intent Note was updated on September 21, 2026 and Trace on October 13, 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.*