Comparison

Trace Privacy vs Perimeter

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

Head to head
About

Trace Privacy

This app acts as a personal phone security guardian, detecting Bluetooth trackers and analyzing Wi-Fi networks for threats. It provides personalized recommendations to enhance your phone's security settings and offers a live threat feed for daily alerts.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth tracker detection
  • Wi-Fi network analysis
  • Live threat feed
  • Personalized security recommendations
  • Background tracker scanning
  • Security score trend tracking
Features
Read full description

Trace is your personal phone security guardian. Modern phones face constant threats — sketchy Wi-Fi networks, unknown Bluetooth trackers, and the looming question of who or what is nearby. Trace gives you instant visibility and clear actions, so you can move through the world feeling confident about your privacy. WHAT TRACE DOES - Bluetooth Tracker Detection Detect AirTags, Tile, Chipolo, and Samsung SmartTags around you — identified by brand. Trace's persistence engine watches devices over time and flags ones that keep reappearing as you move, even when they rotate identifiers to evade tracking. Alerts include how many times a device has been seen and whether it's following you across locations. - Wi-Fi Network Analysis + Speed Test Identify spoofed networks, evil-twin attacks, and unencrypted public Wi-Fi before you connect. Free built-in speed test measures download, upload, latency, jitter, and packet loss. Get clear "Safe / Caution / Dangerous" verdicts based on real threat intelligence. - Live Threat Feed Stay informed with curated alerts from CISA, Apple Security, Android Security, FTC scam warnings, data breach alerts from Have I Been Pwned, privacy news from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and stalkerware research from the Coalition Against Stalkerware. Updated automatically. - Personalized Recommendations Get clear, step-by-step instructions to harden your phone's security settings. From two-factor authentication to lockdown mode, Trace tells you exactly what to do. - Background Tracker Scanning Trace keeps watching for trackers even when the app is closed. Get a notification if something persistent is following you — with brand and pattern details, not just a generic warning. - Trend Tracking Watch your security score evolve over time. See how your habits, environments, and choices affect your privacy posture. WHY TRACE IS DIFFERENT Most security apps either oversell what they do or focus on enterprise customers. Trace focuses on what's actually possible on iOS and gives you clear visibility into the rest. Built by an indie developer who believes privacy is a basic right. PRIVACY FIRST - No tracking, no ads, no data sales - Most data stays on your device - Optional Sign in with Apple for account backup - Your scan history is yours alone PRO SUBSCRIPTION Unlock the full toolkit with a 7-day free trial: - Technical Details mode — see raw protocol data on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi screens, including decoded Apple Continuity broadcasts - Direction finder — physically locate a suspicious tracker with warmer/colder guidance - Persistence tracking — see which devices keep appearing across scans - Smart device labeling and fingerprinting - Unlimited scan history and trend charts - Strict scanning mode for maximum sensitivity After trial: $6.99/month or $39.99/year ($3.33/month). Cancel anytime through your Apple ID settings. QUESTIONS? Email clark.a.allen@pm.me — I read every message. Privacy Policy: https://sponge-text-fc3.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-for-Trace-Privacy-34940d65d5f780d79d0ef8379f93f668 Terms of Service: https://sponge-text-fc3.notion.site/Terms-of-Service-for-Trace-Privacy-34940d65d5f780d5adaacea65f384111

About

Perimeter

Read full description

AWARENESS FOR THE CONNECTED WORLD Perimeter helps you understand the connected technology around you. Built with patent-pending technology, Perimeter observes supported wireless signals and helps identify patterns that may be consistent with potentially unwanted trackers, smart glasses, and other privacy-relevant devices—then surfaces what deserves your attention. QUIET MONITORING Perimeter can monitor supported Bluetooth activity in the background and notify you when a finding meets its alert criteria. When nothing meaningful appears, it stays out of the way. SCAN YOUR SURROUNDINGS Use Area Scan for a quick look at nearby Bluetooth activity and anything Perimeter believes deserves a closer look. CHECK A PLACE Take a closer look at a hotel, rental, room, or unfamiliar location using Bluetooth observations, local-network clues, and optional guided physical checks. JOURNEY MODE Look for relevant signals that persist as your surroundings change—helping distinguish something that stays with you from activity that simply happens to be nearby. SMART-GLASSES AWARENESS Perimeter can surface supported signal patterns that may be consistent with smart glasses, while clearly communicating the strength and limitations of the available evidence. FOUND A PHYSICAL TRACKER? Photograph what you found, check compatible NFC information, and review practical next steps. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Perimeter processes observations on your iPhone. No account is required, and your scan history and location context remain on your device. HONEST ABOUT LIMITATIONS Wireless detection has real limits. Perimeter cannot detect every tracker, camera, recorder, wearable, or surveillance method, and some nearby devices may produce no signal your iPhone can observe. Perimeter separates observation from identification and communicates uncertainty when the evidence is incomplete rather than guessing. Perimeter is designed to provide awareness, context, and practical next steps—not a guarantee that an environment is safe.

Screenshots

Trace Privacy4 screens
Perimeter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Perimeter at none against Trace Privacy's 2. Perimeter also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 9 days). Trace Privacy's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price 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 Privacy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Perimeter asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Trace Privacy ships an update every 9 days, Perimeter every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Trace Privacy versus Perimeter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrace PrivacyPerimeter
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperClark AllenClassy Methods

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Trace Privacy

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Pro Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
None

Perimeter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Trace Privacy free?
Trace Privacy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Perimeter free?
Perimeter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Trace Privacy or Perimeter have ads?
Neither Trace Privacy nor Perimeter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Trace Privacy or Perimeter?
Trace Privacy ships an update every 9 days, and Perimeter every 2 days. Most recently, Trace Privacy was updated on October 7, 2026 and Perimeter on October 29, 2026.

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