Comparison

Trace vs Habit Stacker App

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

Habit Stacker App

This app helps you build new routines by linking them to existing daily habits. Track your progress and watch your streaks grow as you consistently achieve your goals.

Highlights
  • Habit stacking technique
  • Streak tracking
  • Habit leveling system
  • Custom habit addition
  • Daily routine integration
Features
Read full description

What is habit stacking? Habit stacking is a proven productivity technique that pairs a new, desired behavior with an existing, automatic daily routine. By using an established habit as a natural trigger, you bypass the need for relying on willpower, making it significantly easier to build consistent routines. After I pour my morning coffee, I will write down my top priority for the day. The coffee is the trigger; the new habit stacks right on top. How the app works? 1. Add a habit and the date you started it. 2. Keep your streak — the app tracks how many days you've kept each habit. 3. Watch habits level up as streaks pass 1, 21, and 365 days.

Screenshots

Trace4 screens
Habit Stacker App2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Habit Stacker App at none against Trace's 1. Habit Stacker App also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). Trace's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Habit Stacker App asks for nothing beyond the download.

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 Habit Stacker App. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Trace ships an update every 2 months, Habit Stacker App every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Trace versus Habit Stacker App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTraceHabit Stacker App
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPedro Gomes do NascimentoJohn Picasso

Customer experience

Trace

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

Habit Stacker App

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Trace

One-time1
  • Trace Pro$0.99
None

Habit Stacker App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Trace free?
Trace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Habit Stacker App free?
Habit Stacker App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Trace or Habit Stacker App?
Trace and Habit Stacker App are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Trace or Habit Stacker App have ads?
Neither Trace nor Habit Stacker App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Trace or Habit Stacker App?
Trace ships an update every 2 months, and Habit Stacker App every 2 days. Most recently, Trace was updated on September 29, 2026 and Habit Stacker App on September 27, 2026.

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