Comparison

Trace vs GPS Altimeter

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

Head to head
About

Trace

This app provides a large, clear GPS speedometer and automatically records your trips. It keeps your location data private on your device and offers optional Pro features for advanced trip analysis and customization.

Highlights
  • Large, clear GPS speedometer
  • Automatic trip recording
  • Live Activity on Lock Screen
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • Speed limit warnings
  • Personal heatmap (Pro)
  • GPX/CSV export (Pro)
Features
Read full description

Trace is a big, clear GPS speedometer for iPhone that can also record your trips by itself. Turn on Auto-Record and Trace saves your drives and rides in the background with no tap — any trip faster than 9 mph (15 km/h). There is no monthly limit on Auto-Record trips. No account needed — your speed, routes, and history stay on your device, syncing only to your own iCloud if you turn it on. It's your private location timeline: a map of everywhere you've been that lives on your phone, never on anyone's server. SPEEDOMETER • Big, easy-to-read speed in mph, km/h or knots • Classic Gauge and Big Digital layouts • Live Activity on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island: see your speed without unlocking, and pick the stats it shows • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, including your latest trip on a map • Stat tiles for top speed, average speed, distance and trip odometer • Set your own speed limit and get a warning when you go over it • Four themes, light and dark TRIPS • Auto-Record for drives and rides, or tap Record for any walk, run, bike ride, drive, motorcycle ride, hike, train or boat trip • Keeps recording with the screen off • Trips are saved with their route on a map • Full trip detail for the first 24 hours: speed chart, splits, speed zones and an interactive map. The stats stay for 30 days; the route, distance and total time stay for good. • Share any trip as a picture, with your route on the real map: choose from five cards, then share it, copy it or save it to Photos. • Import your workouts from Apple Health: runs, walks, hikes and rides, routes included. Connect once and the last 30 days import and stay in sync. COMES WITH TRACE PRO Trace Pro is an optional subscription. It comes with: • A personal heatmap of every road, trail and place you've moved through • GPX and CSV export • iCloud sync of your trips and settings across your devices • Full detail on all your trips, however old • Trip lines colored by speed • Six more speedometer layouts: HUD Mirror, Hybrid Pro, Analog Dial, Track Day, Pace and Navigator • Focus Mode: a clean, full-screen view of your speed, distance and time • More stat tiles, including pace, slope, altitude, heading, total ascent and moving average • More Live Activity styles, themes, speed fonts, trip line colors and app icons • Resume a trip that was interrupted • Up to five years of workout history YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS • All trip data stays on your device (or your own iCloud) • Settings sync via iCloud across your devices • We never collect or sell your data — your trips stay on your device • Your trips are always yours, exportable anytime as GPX or CSV Whether you're commuting, training for a marathon, road-tripping, riding the train, or just curious how far you walked this week — Trace is the speedometer, trip log, and memory map that comes with you everywhere. Free to start. No account needed. Your trips are always yours. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.dukefu.com/privacy-policy

About

GPS Altimeter

Features
Read full description

GPS Altimeter — a GPS elevation meter and barometer built for hiking, trail running, cycling, skiing and travel. See live altitude, pressure, coordinates, compass, speed and total ascent the moment you open the app. Clear numbers, simple controls, ready for the trail. 【Key features】 • Live elevation: GPS + barometer fusion, elevation chart, session max and ascent stats • Nearby landmarks: match cities and peaks worldwide so you can compare altitude on the go • Calibration: set a known elevation or QNH sea-level pressure before you climb for steadier readings • Track recording: save elevation profile, distance, duration and map path — with optional background tracking • Watermark camera: stamp altitude, place name, GPS and date on summit photos for easy check-ins • History: keep points and tracks on device; export CSV to review every outing • Units: switch meters / feet to match your preference 【Who it’s for】 Hikers, backpackers, trail runners, ski tourers, cyclists and travelers who want reliable altitude and memorable summit photos. 【Accuracy notes】 GPS elevation varies with satellites, terrain and weather — open sky is usually better. The barometer is excellent for relative ascent; weather changes can shift absolute values, so calibrate when you can. Indoors, tunnels and dense forest may drift. App data is for reference only — use proper maps and gear outdoors, and never stare at your phone on hazardous terrain. 【Privacy】 Core samples and tracks stay on your device by default. Location, camera, photos and tracking permissions are under your control in system Settings. Download GPS Altimeter and make every climb clearer — and easier to remember.

Screenshots

Trace4 screens
GPS Altimeter3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GPS Altimeter at none against Trace's 3. Trace's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. GPS Altimeter asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Trace ships an update every 5 days, GPS Altimeter weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Trace versus GPS Altimeter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTraceGPS Altimeter
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMinghao Fu珊珊 黄

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Trace

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Pro Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$49.99
None

GPS Altimeter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Trace free?
Trace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GPS Altimeter free?
GPS Altimeter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Trace or GPS Altimeter have ads?
GPS Altimeter shows ads; Trace does not.
Which is updated more often, Trace or GPS Altimeter?
Trace ships an update every 5 days, and GPS Altimeter weekly. Most recently, Trace was updated on November 5, 2026 and GPS Altimeter on November 1, 2026.

Other comparisons