# Lightbox Trace vs AR Trace

The clearest difference is rating: Lightbox Trace at 4.4 against AR Trace's 3.7. Lightbox Trace also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightbox Trace sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days and AR Trace sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lightbox Trace holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively.

Lightbox Trace ships an update every 11 days, AR Trace weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightbox Trace | AR Trace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightbox-trace-draw-on-paper/id6761619641/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-trace-drawing-projector/id6770570729/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 3 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 112 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Webdwarf](https://appshunter.io/developer/1523173790) | [Vasili Hryb](https://appshunter.io/developer/1516457478) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightbox Trace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightbox-trace-draw-on-paper/id6761619641)

Transform your device into a portable tracing pad. Easily trace images, practice sketching, and improve your drawing skills with a digital lightbox and projector. Offers over 300 templates for inspiration and guided practice.

**Highlights:** Digital lightbox for tracing, Easy image tracing, Drawing projector tools, 300+ practice templates, Grid projector overlay, Convert photos to line art, Lock screen while drawing

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LightBox Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| LightBox Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| LightBox Discount Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


### AR Trace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-trace-drawing-projector/id6770570729)

Transform your phone into an art projector to easily trace images onto paper. Select from templates or upload your own photos, then follow the on-screen outline to draw by hand. Ideal for beginners and artists looking for a simpler way to create.

**Highlights:** Art projector functionality, Trace photos and templates, Upload custom images, Adjust image size and position, Create clean outlines, Beginner-friendly drawing tool

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| premium | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| premium | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightbox Trace free?

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

### Is AR Trace free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Lightbox Trace or AR Trace?

Lightbox Trace is rated higher. Lightbox Trace averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while AR Trace averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Lightbox Trace or AR Trace have ads?

Neither Lightbox Trace nor AR Trace shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightbox Trace or AR Trace?

Lightbox Trace ships an update every 11 days, and AR Trace weekly. Most recently, Lightbox Trace was updated on October 7, 2026 and AR Trace on October 6, 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.*