Comparison

Lightbox Trace vs PaperTrace Light Table

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

Head to head
About

Lightbox Trace

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
Read full description

Lightbox Tracing tool is an easy to use drawing and image tracing app that transforms your phone or tablet into a portable lightbox and tracing pad. Whether you want to trace on paper, practice sketching, or improve your pencil drawing skills, the app gives you a simple and accurate way to create artwork anywhere. Use your device like a digital drawing projector to follow outlines, copy images, and sketch with confidence. From beginners learning the basics to experienced artists working on detailed designs, Lightbox Draw helps make drawing more enjoyable, creative, and precise. With powerful image tracing tools and a smooth tracing experience, Lightbox Draw makes it easy to practice daily drawing exercises or work on detailed art projects. The built-in drawing projector and grid projector features help you trace more accurately and improve proportions while drawing. The app includes over 300+ ready-to-use drawing templates for daily practice and creative inspiration. Explore categories like anime, portraits, flowers, animals, tattoos, cartoons, calligraphy, and more. Main Features: ▶ Digital Lightbox Turn your screen into a bright and stable lightbox for tracing and sketching directly on paper. ▶ Easy Image Tracing Import any image from your gallery and start image tracing in just a few seconds with smooth controls and accurate positioning. ▶ Drawing Projector Tools Use your phone or tablet as a simple drawing projector to create outlines, sketches, and detailed artwork with confidence. ▶ 300+ Practice Templates Choose from a large collection of templates designed to help improve drawing techniques, tracing skills, and pencil control. ▶ Grid Projector Overlay Enable an adjustable grid projector for better proportions, positioning, and tracing accuracy while sketching. ▶ Convert Photos to Line Art Transform pictures into clean outlines that are easier to trace and draw using advanced image tracing tools. ▶ Lock Screen While Drawing Keep your image steady while tracing without accidental movement or touch interruptions. ▶ Precision Adjustment Controls Move, resize, rotate, and align images exactly the way you want before you begin. ▶ Smooth Tracing Experience Designed to make tracing on paper feel natural and comfortable for both beginners and experienced artists. How It Works: • Select a template or upload your own image. • Adjust the image to fit your paper and drawing style. • Use the grid projector if needed for extra accuracy. • Lock the screen position. • Place paper over your device. • Trace every detail with your pencil using smooth, PRO-level precision. Great For: • Learning how to draw • Pencil sketch practice • Image tracing and outlining • Tattoo and stencil design • Calligraphy exercises • DIY art and craft projects • Using a digital lightbox for tracing • Artists, students, and hobby creators Lightbox Draw combines the convenience of a tracing pad with powerful lightbox and drawing projector features in one simple app. Whether you are practicing image tracing, creating detailed sketches, or using the grid projector for better accuracy, Lightbox Draw helps you draw naturally and improve your artistic skills at your own pace. Download Lightbox Draw today and start bringing your ideas to life. Privacy Policy - https://lightboxtool.com/#/privacy-policy Terms of Conditions - https://lightboxtool.com/#/terms-of-use Contact - Hej@dybtgodnat.dk

About

PaperTrace Light Table

Features
Read full description

PaperTrace turns your iPhone or iPad into a light table. Pick a template or a photo, put a sheet on the screen, and trace. How to trace Pick a template, a photo from your library, or take a picture. Place a sheet on the screen, then tap Lock. The picture stays still, and the screen stays in that orientation. Press + or − two times on the side of the phone to open. You can also hold a corner. That works with paper still on the glass. PaperTrace remembers your last pictures. Save a drawing to keep it in History. For kids In iOS Settings, turn on Guided Access and turn Touch off. That stops the screen from reacting at all. Templates Twenty simple line drawings: animals, vehicles, nature, fantasy, and fun. Ready to trace in pencil. Your own pictures Choose from the photo library or photograph a drawing you want to trace. Brightness, contrast, outline, and invert help the picture show through the paper. Light table A blank white screen at full brightness when you only need the light. History Recent pictures stay ready. Save the ones you want to come back to. PaperTrace is free. No account, no cloud. Pictures stay on the phone.

Screenshots

Lightbox Trace4 screens
PaperTrace Light Table4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PaperTrace Light Table at none against Lightbox Trace's 3. PaperTrace Light Table also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 11 days). Lightbox Trace's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, ads 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. Lightbox Trace sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. PaperTrace Light Table asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightbox Trace ships an update every 11 days, PaperTrace Light Table every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Lightbox Trace versus PaperTrace Light Table: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightbox TracePaperTrace Light Table
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (7 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWebdwarfMichael Furø

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Lightbox Trace

Subscriptions3
  • LightBox Weekly3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • LightBox Yearly$39.991 Year
  • LightBox Discount Yearly1 Year trial$39.991 Year
None

PaperTrace Light Table

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lightbox Trace free?
Lightbox Trace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PaperTrace Light Table free?
PaperTrace Light Table is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lightbox Trace or PaperTrace Light Table have ads?
Neither Lightbox Trace nor PaperTrace Light Table shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lightbox Trace or PaperTrace Light Table?
Lightbox Trace ships an update every 11 days, and PaperTrace Light Table every 2 days. Most recently, Lightbox Trace was updated on October 31, 2026 and PaperTrace Light Table on October 29, 2026.

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