Comparison

Pause by TzYi vs Trace

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

Head to head
About

Pause by TzYi

Features
Read full description

Sometimes all you need is a pause.   Pause by TzYi helps you break the reflex of doom-scrolling. Choose distracting websites and insert a short pause before they load. Instead of instantly refreshing Reddit, Twitter, or news sites, you’ll see a gentle countdown and a mindful message — just enough time to breathe, reset, and decide if you really want to continue. No blocking. No guilt. Just a moment of space between impulse and action. - Pause any website by domain or exact URL - Customisable delay timer - Personalised mindfulness messages - Lightweight Safari extension - Private by design — no tracking, no accounts

About

Trace

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
Read full description

Catch a thought in three seconds, by voice or text, then get on with your day. Private by design: no account, no servers, no tracking. Everything stays on your device. No subscription, ever. Pro is a one-time purchase. Trace is a home for passing thoughts: ideas, notes, reflections, lists, and the things you don't want to lose. Open it and write, or just talk. FAST CAPTURE - Open and write. No setup, no folders to choose first - On-device dictation, with optional on-device "Tidy my words" cleanup - "New Trace" control in Control Center (iOS 18) - Drafts save as you type, so a call or a crash can't take them - Bullet and numbered lists that continue as you type FIND IT LATER - Timeline grouped by day - Search everything you've ever written, including by date - Tags to group related thoughts - Reflections that link back to past entries - Traceback resurfaces a past entry every month, free YOURS, NOT OURS - Data Not Collected. Trace runs no servers of its own - Export everything as Markdown or JSON, anytime, free. Great with Obsidian - Deleted something by mistake? It waits 30 days in Recently Deleted BUILT FOR - Brain dumps and racing thoughts - The idea you had in the shower - Something someone said that stuck - The end of a long day TRACE PRO — ONE-TIME PURCHASE, NO SUBSCRIPTION - Extra inks and themes: Cream, Sage, Midnight, Cocoa - Matching alternate app icons - App Lock with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode - iCloud sync through your own iCloud - Weekly Traceback review Paper and Slate inks, Markdown/JSON export, and monthly Traceback stay free for everyone.

Screenshots

Pause by TzYi3 screens
Trace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pause by TzYi at none against Trace's 1. Pause by TzYi also leads on device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pause by TzYi asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Pause by TzYi versus Trace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPause by TzYiTrace
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequency—Every 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB89 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRichard CliffordPedro Gomes do Nascimento

In-app purchases

None

Pause by TzYi

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Trace

One-time1
  • Trace Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Pause by TzYi free?
Pause by TzYi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Trace free?
Trace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pause by TzYi or Trace have ads?
Neither Pause by TzYi nor Trace shows ads.

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