Comparison

Trace vs pause now

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

Head to head
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

Your thoughts have a way of disappearing. Trace brings them back. Trace is a home for passing thoughts: ideas, notes, reflections, lists, and the things you don't want to lose. Catch one in three seconds, then get on with your day. Why people use Trace: - Open and write. No setup, no accounts, no folders to choose first - Bullet and numbered lists that continue as you type - Search everything you've ever written, including by date - Your draft is saved as you write, so a call or a crash can't take it - Deleted something by mistake? It waits 30 days - Export everything as Markdown or JSON, anytime, free - Light and Dark, free for everyone Built for everyday capture: - The idea you had in the shower - Something someone said that stuck - A list you need in ten minutes - The end of a long day Make Trace yours with Pro: - Cream, Sage, Midnight, and Cocoa themes - Four matching alternate app icons - App Lock with Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode - Automatic iCloud sync on supported Apple devices Trace Pro is a one-time purchase. Light and Dark themes and journal export stay free for everyone. No account required. Trace runs no servers of its own. Your writing lives on your device, and Pro syncs it through your own iCloud.

About

pause now

Regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting applications. Schedule automatic blocking for work or study, or initiate manual sessions. Earn rewards for focused time and watch your productivity improve.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Customizable schedules
  • Manual blocking sessions
  • Earn stars for focus
  • Flexible controls
  • Simple setup
Features
Read full description

pause now helps you take back control of your screen time by blocking distracting apps so you can focus on what matters most. BLOCK DISTRACTING APPS Set up schedules to automatically block apps during work, study, or bedtime. Or start a manual blocking session whenever you need to focus. STAY ON TRACK Earn stars for every minute you stay focused. Watch your productivity grow day by day. FLEXIBLE CONTROLS - Block specific apps or all apps at once - Set custom schedules for any time of day - Take short breaks without losing your session - Pause schedules when you need flexibility SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE No complicated setup. Just block, focus, and earn rewards for staying on task. Start your 7-day free trial today! Upcoming Features - Open-Limit blocking ---------------- Terms of Service: https://eaglenguyen.github.io/pausenow-legal/terms_of_service Privacy Policy: https://eaglenguyen.github.io/pausenow-legal/privacy_policy

Screenshots

Trace4 screens
pause now4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: pause now at every 6 days against Trace's every 2 months. Trace's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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 and pause now sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Trace against 5.0 for pause now. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Trace ships an update every 2 months, pause now every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Trace versus pause now: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTracepause now
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPedro Gomes do NascimentoEagle Nguyen

Customer experience

Trace

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

pause now

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Trace

One-time1
  • Trace Pro$0.99
3 purchases

pause now

Subscriptions2
  • pause now Premium Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • pause now Pro — Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • pause now Premium — Lifetime$90.00

Questions

Is Trace free?
Trace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is pause now free?
pause now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Trace or pause now?
Trace and pause now are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Trace or pause now have ads?
Neither Trace nor pause now shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Trace or pause now?
Trace ships an update every 2 months, and pause now every 6 days. Most recently, Trace was updated on September 29, 2026 and pause now on September 20, 2026.

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