# Detectea vs Cold Case Tracer

The clearest difference is monetization model: Cold Case Tracer at freemium against Detectea's subscription. Cold Case Tracer also leads on review sentiment (29% vs 8%) and rating (4.3 vs 4.1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Cold Case Tracer holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 60 and 46 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 8% of Detectea's written reviews are positive against 29% of Cold Case Tracer's.

Detectea ships an update fortnightly, Cold Case Tracer every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Detectea | Cold Case Tracer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/detectea-detective-game/id6774531803/reviews) | **[4.3 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cold-case-tracer-redstring/id6788852743/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **60** | 46 |
| Positive reviews | 8.3% of reviews | **28.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 417 MB | 130 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [App Tricks Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789339184) | [Oguzhan Yildirim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685663174) |

## What reviewers say

### Detectea

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/detectea-detective-game/id6774531803)

Investigate fictional phones to uncover hidden secrets and solve mysteries. Explore messages, photos, and payments to piece together the truth and send proof to clients. Uncover new cases and secrets as you progress through interactive episodes.

**Highlights:** Investigate realistic fictional phone apps, Find clues in chats, photos, notes, payments, maps, emails, Send proof back to the client, Answer deduction questions, Use hints when stuck, Unlock new cases and secrets

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Annual Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Annual | $49.99 | 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 (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Redstring Pass — Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Pass — Special Offer | $19.99 | per year |
| Redstring Pass — Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Reveal the Answer | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5 Reveals | $4.99 | one-time |
| 10 Reveals | $7.99 | one-time |
| All Cases — Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Detectea free?

Detectea 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, Detectea or Cold Case Tracer?

Cold Case Tracer is rated higher. Detectea averages 4.1 out of 5 from 60 ratings, while Cold Case Tracer averages 4.3 from 46 ratings.

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

Neither Detectea nor Cold Case Tracer shows ads.

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

Detectea ships an update fortnightly, and Cold Case Tracer every 8 days. Most recently, Detectea was updated on October 15, 2026 and Cold Case Tracer on October 14, 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.*