# ColdTrace vs Cold Case Tracer

The clearest difference is ads: Cold Case Tracer at none against ColdTrace's shown. ColdTrace's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (5.4K vs 34). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ColdTrace sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Cold Case Tracer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ColdTrace holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ColdTrace has 5.4K ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of ColdTrace's written reviews are positive against 25% of Cold Case Tracer's.

ColdTrace ships an update every 4 days, Cold Case Tracer every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ColdTrace | Cold Case Tracer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coldtrace-cold-case-mystery/id6762513021/reviews)** | [4.4 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cold-case-tracer-redstring/id6788852743/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.4K** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#101** | — |
| Size | 202 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Saclic Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1764090240) | [Oguzhan Yildirim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685663174) |

## What reviewers say

### ColdTrace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coldtrace-cold-case-mystery/id6762513021)

**Currently charting:** #101 Top Free · Entertainment, #125 Top Grossing · Entertainment (US App Store)

Step into a simulated phone to solve a fictional cold case. Explore messages, photos, and notes to piece together a layered narrative and uncover the truth behind a mysterious event. Your choices and pace shape the investigation.

**Highlights:** Simulated phone interface exploration, Uncover layered narrative, Piece together timeline, Investigate messages, photos, notes, Multiple investigation threads, Fictional true crime experience

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cold Trace | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| ColdTrace Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| ColdTrace Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| ColdTrace Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| ColdTrace | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Trial | $34.99 | per year |
| TrueCrime Yearly 2 | $34.99 | per year |
| ColdTrace Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


### Cold Case Tracer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cold-case-tracer-redstring/id6788852743)

Uncover the truth by examining a simulated phone's messages, photos, and data. Connect clues on an evidence board and accuse the killer in this interactive detective story. Your first case is free to play.

**Highlights:** Simulated phone with chats, photos, and data, Interactive live chat with client, Evidence board with red string connections, Escalating hint system, Multiple European case locations, Unlockable cases via subscription

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Redstring Pass — Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Redstring Pass — Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| All Cases — Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ColdTrace free?

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

### Is Cold Case Tracer free?

Cold Case Tracer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ColdTrace or Cold Case Tracer?

ColdTrace is rated higher. ColdTrace averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5.4K ratings, while Cold Case Tracer averages 4.4 from 34 ratings.

### Do ColdTrace or Cold Case Tracer have ads?

ColdTrace shows ads; Cold Case Tracer does not.

### Which is updated more often, ColdTrace or Cold Case Tracer?

ColdTrace ships an update every 4 days, and Cold Case Tracer every 8 days. Most recently, ColdTrace was updated on September 29, 2026 and Cold Case Tracer on September 13, 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.*