Cold Case Trace vs Snitchy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cold Case Trace
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide full description
Someone is lying. The phone knows. Redstring is a found-phone detective story. A client messages you in a live chat, hands you the victim's phone, and asks you to find the truth — from the first message to the final accusation. Every text, photo, voice memo, bank line and map ping is evidence. Read between the lines. Crack the passcodes. Pin the red string. Name the killer. YOUR FIRST CASE IS FREE Play "The Kessler File" from the opening message to the verdict — a full investigation, with no paywall in the middle of the story. A LIVE CHAT WITH THE CLIENT The person who knew the victim talks to you the whole way — asking the questions, reacting to your answers, and finally asking you to name a suspect. Type what you found; the story reacts. SNOOP A FULLY SIMULATED PHONE - Chats and DMs, including the deleted ones - A gallery with Hidden and Recently Deleted albums - Locked notes, voice memos, calendar, bank statements, browser tabs and location history - Every app can hide a clue. Nothing is random. PIN IT ON THE BOARD Your evidence board pins each discovery and links it with red string. Leave for days, come back, and the case is exactly where you left it — progress is saved per case. STUCK? ASK FOR A HINT Up to three escalating hints per question nudge you toward the evidence without spoiling the answer. Smart answer-matching understands what you mean. NAME THE TRUTH The final question is an accusation. Get it right and the case closes; get it wrong and you can reconsider the suspects. 10 CASES AT LAUNCH — MORE ON THE WAY Murder, disappearance, blackmail and betrayal across Europe — Paris, Berlin, Lisbon, Vienna, Amsterdam, Prague, Copenhagen and Barcelona. Fully playable in 8 languages. REDSTRING PASS Case 1 is free forever. The Redstring Pass unlocks every case: - Weekly: $4.99 per week - Annual: $29.99 per year - Lifetime: $39.99 one-time — not a subscription Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; manage or cancel anytime in Settings - Apple Account - Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://redstring-98526.web.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://redstring-98526.web.app/privacy.html Redstring is a work of interactive fiction. All characters, phones, messages and events are fictional; any resemblance to real people or events is coincidental. The app never accesses your real messages, photos or data.
Snitchy
Engage in a fictional detective game where you investigate simulated smartphones to uncover hidden clues. Piece together deleted messages, photos, and emails to solve mysteries before time runs out. Offers mature, fictional stories for an immersive investigative experience.
- Simulated smartphone interface
- Investigate deleted messages and hidden photos
- Collect clues and build cases
- Timed rounds with mistake limits
- Global leaderboard
- Optional hints
Read full descriptionHide full description
Someone's missing. You've got their phone. Everything they hid is still on it. Read the texts they deleted. Open the photos they hid. Follow the lies and name who's behind it before time runs out. Snitchy is a fictional detective game. Unlock a simulated smartphone, search messages, photos, emails, and social apps, collect clues, and accuse the culprit before the timer hits zero. All characters and evidence are invented for entertainment. HOW IT WORKS Unlock the phone and read the case briefing Dig through messages, photos, emails, and apps Long-press anything suspicious to analyze clues Build your case in the Casebook — then accuse Guess wrong or run out of time, and the round is over WHY YOU'LL BE HOOKED A real-feeling phone: Messages, Photos, Notes, Calls, Calendar, browser, maps, and more Deleted messages, hidden photos, fake names — the truth is buried, you dig it out Fictional mature stories: crime, cheating, relationship drama Casebook, timer, mistake limit, and a global leaderboard Optional hints when you're stuck No sign-in required to start English, French, and Spanish FREE & PREMIUM CONTENT Snitchy Pro unlocks premium cases, hint quotes, and new cases as they release. Premium content requires a subscription. CONTENT NOTICE Snitchy contains fictional mature themes including crime, infidelity, and relationship drama. Intended for users 17+. Simulated apps and brand references in the game are fictional only and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any real companies. ABOUT SNITCHY PRO SUBSCRIPTION Plans available: Weekly, Monthly, and Annual, shown in the App Store at the time of purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period, at the selected plan price. You can manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renew in your account settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial, if offered, is forfeited when you subscribe. Published by YM Labs. No account required; an anonymous ID is created on your device for the leaderboard. The camera is used only for the in-game flashlight and simulated camera. No photos are saved or uploaded. Privacy Policy: https://app.notion.com/p/Last-Seen-Privacy-Policy-398f39ec1cf780af967ff57ba9573324 EULA — Apple Standard License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Support: https://tally.so/r/QKWGBp
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Cold Case Trace at none against Snitchy's shown. Snitchy's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Cold Case Trace sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Snitchy sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.89 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Cold Case Trace against 4.5 for Snitchy. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 62 and 28 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 40% of Cold Case Trace's written reviews are positive against 36% of Snitchy's.
Cold Case Trace ships an update every 9 days, Snitchy weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cold Case Trace | Snitchy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (62 ratings) | 4.5 (28 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews — better | 35.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 62 — better | 28 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 135 MB | 197 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Oguzhan Yildirim | YM Labs (FZC) |
Customer experience
Cold Case Trace
Snitchy
In-app purchases
Cold Case Trace
- Redstring Pass — Weekly$6.997 Days
- Annual Pass — Special Offer$19.991 Year
- Redstring Pass — Annual$39.991 Year
- Reveal the Answer$1.99
- 5 Reveals$4.99
- 10 Reveals$7.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- All Cases — Lifetime$49.99
Snitchy
- Snitchy Pro — Weekly Exit$4.897 Days
- Snitchy Pro — Weekly$5.997 Days
- Snitchy Pro — Weekly$6.997 Days
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Snitchy Pro — Monthly Exit$10.491 Month
- Snitchy Pro — Monthly$12.991 Month
- Snitchy Pro — Monthly$14.991 Month
- Snitchy Pro — Annual Exit$17.491 Year
- Snitchy Pro — Annual3 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Snitchy Pro — Annual$24.991 Year
- Snitchy Pro — Annual Exit$27.991 Year
- Snitchy Pro — Annual2 variants$39.991 Year
Questions
Is Cold Case Trace free?
Is Snitchy free?
Which has better reviews, Cold Case Trace or Snitchy?
Do Cold Case Trace or Snitchy have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cold Case Trace or Snitchy?
Other comparisons















