# Trace vs pause now

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Trace | pause now |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-thought-log/id6762246222/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pause-now-screen-time-control/id6781065557/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 49 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pedro Gomes do Nascimento](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893532153) | [Eagle Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/6781065559) |

## What reviewers say

### Trace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-thought-log/id6762246222)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Trace Pro | $0.99 | one-time |


### pause now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pause-now-screen-time-control/id6781065557)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pause now Premium Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| pause now Pro — Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| pause now Premium — Lifetime | $90.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*