Tracer vs TraceOverlay
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tracer
Transform your phone into a digital tracing tool to practice drawing and recreate images. Import photos, adjust opacity, and trace directly onto paper. Features step-by-step tutorials to help beginners learn drawing.
- Import images from photo library or camera
- Adjust image opacity for tracing
- Trace directly onto paper
- Step-by-step drawing tutorials
- Practice tracing characters, logos, and sketches
Read full descriptionHide full description
Tracer turns your phone into a digital tracing tool that helps you practice drawing and recreate images step by step. Import any image, adjust its opacity, place your phone over paper, and trace the lines to create your own drawings. Whether you're a beginner or just want to improve your sketching skills, Tracer makes drawing easier and more fun. Create Your Own Projects Import any image from your photo library or capture one with your camera. Adjust the image opacity and trace it directly on paper to recreate drawings. Tracer includes built-in project management to organize and manage your work: • Create and manage multiple drawing projects • Keep your imported images and sketches organized per project • Easily switch between ongoing projects without losing progress Tracer also includes two modes to fit different workflows: • Classic Mode – a simple and focused tracing experience • AR Mode – overlay images in real-world space for more accurate tracing Advanced tools to improve your tracing sessions: • Zoom to focus on details and extend image reach • 0.5x zoom for a wider field of view • Flashlight option for low-light drawing sessions • Smart alignment for better positioning accuracy • Grid overlays to help structure and align your drawings Perfect for tracing: • Characters • Illustrations • Logos • Tattoos • Sketches • Any image you want to learn to draw Learn With Step-by-Step Guides Use the Learn tab to follow ready-made tutorials. Each guide breaks down drawings into simple steps so you can understand how they are built from basic shapes to finished sketches. Great for beginners who want to start drawing. Support: support@pullapps.app Privacy Policy: https://pullapps.app/privacy-policy-tracer Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
TraceOverlay
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: TraceOverlay at every 4 days against Tracer's every 9 days. TraceOverlay also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). 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
Both are free to download. Tracer 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.
Tracer ships an update every 9 days, TraceOverlay every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tracer | TraceOverlay |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (84 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 68.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 84 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pull Apps | ThoughtBubble Development, LLC |
In-app purchases
Tracer
- Weekly$3.997 Days
- Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
TraceOverlay
- Unlock$6.99









