Comparison

ThoughtTrace vs Lister

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

Head to head
About

ThoughtTrace

Features
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"Think analog, save digital." ThoughtTrace is a seamless tool to digitally save and organize the deep thoughts you've written down with pen and paper. Some ideas are only born when you freely move a pen across a blank sheet of paper, rather than typing on a keyboard. ThoughtTrace maximizes this "handwritten thought process" and securely manages your notes afterward. β—† 3 Core Features of ThoughtTrace β—† 1. "Intelligent Timer" for Deep Thinking Place your iPhone or iPad on the corner of your desk and set the focus timer. Setting a time limit flips the switch in your brain to "just write." 2. "High-Quality Continuous Scan" for Handwritten Notes Once you finish writing, simply point the app's camera. It automatically detects document edges, removes hand shadows and wrinkles, and instantly converts your notes into crisp, highly legible black-and-white data. You can also continuously scan multiple pages without closing the camera. 3. Reflect and Organize (Folders, Tags, PDF Export) Beautifully organize your scanned notes using folders and tags. Look back on the trajectory of your thoughts through a chronological timeline. You can also combine multiple notes and export them as a single PDF (*Pro feature). β—† Privacy First β—† All your ideas and notes are saved strictly on your device. They are never sent to external servers, allowing you to write down your thoughts with complete peace of mind. *The free version has a daily limit on the number of scans. Upgrade to the Pro version with a one-time purchase to unlock "Unlimited Saves," "No Ads," and the "PDF Export" feature. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Lister

Features
Read full description

MAKE THE LIST. SEE THE PLAN. FINISH THE WORK. Lister is a focused home for lists. It keeps everyday capture simple, then adds stronger tools only when they fit the work. INCLUDED FROM THE START Create, edit, reorder, flag, pin, archive, and complete lists. Keep lists current across your Apple devices with iCloud. Invite a friend to discover Lister. TOOLS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE Add rich lists, repeating routines, dates and reminders, quick capture, and batch actions. PLAN BIGGER WORK See projects as a calendar, timeline, or board. Use Focus Mode, folders, smart rules, and progress reports. FIND, PROTECT, AND SHARE Add power search, history and restore, secure lists, themes, export and print tools, or shared lists with member access and activity. SMART ASSIST Turn a photo into a list or generate a practical plan checklist. Recognition happens on your device. Credits are used only when Lister produces a result. CHOOSE WHAT FITS Lister offers focused tool bundles, complete tools, time-limited project access, optional Premium services, and Smart Assist credits through Apple’s App Store. Built for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. Terms: https://www.myworkingmemory.ai/Lister-terms.html Privacy: https://www.myworkingmemory.ai/Lister-privacy.html

Screenshots

ThoughtTrace4 screens
Lister4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Lister at none against ThoughtTrace's shown. Lister also leads on device support (4 vs 2). ThoughtTrace's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ThoughtTrace ships an update fortnightly, Lister every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
ThoughtTrace versus Lister: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThoughtTraceLister
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightly β€” betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo β€” better
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro β€” better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size19 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJUNICHI WATANABEMyworkingmemory LLC

In-app purchases

None

ThoughtTrace

No in-app purchases

None

Lister

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ThoughtTrace free?
ThoughtTrace is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lister free?
Lister is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ThoughtTrace or Lister have ads?
ThoughtTrace shows ads; Lister does not.
Which is updated more often, ThoughtTrace or Lister?
ThoughtTrace ships an update fortnightly, and Lister every 2 months. Most recently, ThoughtTrace was updated on September 30, 2026 and Lister on October 1, 2026.

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