# Trace vs CORTEX_

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Trace at none against CORTEX_'s 4. Trace also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CORTEX_ sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Trace asks for nothing beyond the download.

Trace ships an update daily, CORTEX_ every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Trace | CORTEX_ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 6 weeks |
| Size | 17 MB | 337 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TRACE INTELLIGENCE PRIVATE LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1889266216) | [George Bayze](https://appshunter.io/developer/1884716979) |

## What reviewers say

### Trace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-context-os/id6761386117)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### CORTEX_

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex/id6788205210)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CORTEX Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| CORTEX Operator | $59.00 | per month |
| CORTEX Pro (Yearly) | $199.99 | per year |
| CORTEX Operator (Yearly) | $499.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Trace free?

Trace is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CORTEX_ free?

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

### Do Trace or CORTEX_ have ads?

Neither Trace nor CORTEX_ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Trace or CORTEX_?

Trace ships an update daily, and CORTEX_ every 6 weeks. Most recently, Trace was updated on November 13, 2026 and CORTEX_ on November 10, 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.*