Comparison

ThoughtTrace vs Piece Day

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

Head to head
About

ThoughtTrace

Features
Read full description

"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. ā—† 3 Core Features of ThoughtTrace ā—† 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). ā—† Privacy First ā—† 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

Piece Day

Features
Read full description

Piece Day — a habit tracker that keeps your day in gentle little pieces We took the paper habit trackers from stationery-shop diaries and put them on your iPhone, unchanged. No sign-up, no elaborate setup. One tap marks today. ā–  Four trackers, one app Ā· Monthly — fill the calendar with green checks and see a whole month at a glance Ā· Weekly — plan this week's goals day by day, Monday through Sunday Ā· Time Table — colour in your day on a 24-hour dial Ā· Bucket List — tick off the things you want to do someday, one circle at a time ā–  Made for you if Ā· You want to get past day three and build something that lasts Ā· You love the feel of paper diaries and planners Ā· You've been looking for a tracker with nothing extra in it ā–  Private by design Ā· No login, no server — everything stays on your iPhone Ā· No ads, no tracking A pink dinosaur and a little black cat are here to keep you company. Take today one piece at a time.

Screenshots

ThoughtTrace4 screens
Piece Day4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Piece Day at none against ThoughtTrace's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· 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, Piece Day every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 6 level
ThoughtTrace versus Piece Day: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThoughtTracePiece Day
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 11 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJUNICHI WATANABEWarm Tech Company

In-app purchases

None

ThoughtTrace

No in-app purchases

None

Piece Day

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ThoughtTrace free?
ThoughtTrace is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Piece Day free?
Piece Day is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ThoughtTrace or Piece Day have ads?
ThoughtTrace shows ads; Piece Day does not.
Which is updated more often, ThoughtTrace or Piece Day?
ThoughtTrace ships an update fortnightly, and Piece Day every 11 days. Most recently, ThoughtTrace was updated on September 12, 2026 and Piece Day on September 21, 2026.

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