Comparison

Trace Camera vs TraceOverlay

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

Head to head
About

Trace Camera

This app uses augmented reality to project images onto surfaces, allowing users to trace and sketch with real-time guidance. It offers a library of illustrations and the ability to import personal photos for practice.

Highlights
  • Augmented Reality Tracing
  • Built-in Illustrations Library
  • Import Custom Images
  • Adjustable Canvas and Opacity
  • Real-time Sketching Guidance
Features
Read full description

Trace Camera: Draw Anything with AR Trace Camera makes drawing simple, fun, and accessible to anyone, no matter your skill level. Using augmented reality, Trace Camera turns your phone into a drawing assistant. Just select an image, point your camera at a surface, and start sketching with real-time guidance. Whether you’re learning to draw or refining your skills, Trace Camera helps you practice with precision. Key Features: • Augmented Reality Tracing – Project any image onto paper through your camera and trace with ease. • Hundreds of Built-in Illustrations – Choose from a growing library of curated designs to practice sketching. • Import Your Own Images – Upload personal photos or art references to turn anything into a traceable outline. • Flexible & Easy to Use – Set your canvas size, adjust opacity, and start drawing in seconds. Trace Camera is perfect for hobbyists, students, and anyone looking to improve their art through hands-on practice. No technical setup, no fancy tools—just your phone and your creativity. Terms & Conditions: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

TraceOverlay

Features
Read full description

Trace images onto paper with the camera you already carry. TraceOverlay places a reference over your live camera view, turning your iPhone or iPad into a practical tracing lightbox for drawing, painting, lettering, murals, and art study. TRY THE INCLUDED DEMO TraceOverlay includes a Mona Lisa tracing demo so you can use the live camera and every precision tool without an account or purchase. TRACE WITH PRECISION • Move, scale, and rotate the reference over your drawing surface • Adjust image and camera opacity independently • Lock the layout to prevent accidental movement • Use the alignment grid to check proportions • Mirror a reference when needed • Hide the controls for a clean tracing view FIND THE LINES THAT MATTER Use edge detection, grayscale, contrast, brightness, saturation, and invert controls to create a clearer guide. UPGRADE FOR YOUR OWN REFERENCES The optional one-time Unlock upgrade adds personal photo import and a private on-device reference shelf. It is not a subscription and does not renew. The App Store shows the localized price before purchase. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Camera frames and selected reference images are processed on your device and are not uploaded to TraceOverlay. No TraceOverlay account is required. MADE FOR CREATIVE WORK TraceOverlay is designed for artists, illustrators, lettering practitioners, muralists, art students, and hobbyists who want a portable tracing aid without extra projection hardware. Open the included demo, frame your paper, and start tracing.

Screenshots

Trace Camera3 screens
TraceOverlay4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: TraceOverlay at every 4 days against Trace Camera's every 2 months. Trace Camera's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Trace Camera sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and TraceOverlay sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Trace Camera ships an update every 2 months, TraceOverlay every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Trace Camera versus TraceOverlay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrace CameraTraceOverlay
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (210 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews94.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings210 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size97 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHbrothers L.L.C.ThoughtBubble Development, LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Trace Camera

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly subscription$3.997 Days
  • Yearly subscription$49.991 Year
1 purchases

TraceOverlay

One-time1
  • Unlock$6.99

Questions

Is Trace Camera free?
Trace Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TraceOverlay free?
TraceOverlay is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Trace Camera or TraceOverlay have ads?
Neither Trace Camera nor TraceOverlay shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Trace Camera or TraceOverlay?
Trace Camera ships an update every 2 months, and TraceOverlay every 4 days. Most recently, Trace Camera was updated on September 30, 2026 and TraceOverlay on September 23, 2026.

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