# TraceOverlay vs TraceLock

The clearest difference is monetization model: TraceLock at free against TraceOverlay's free with in-app purchases. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TraceOverlay sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and TraceLock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for TraceOverlay against 5.0 for TraceLock. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

TraceOverlay ships an update every 2 weeks, TraceLock every 6 days. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | TraceOverlay | TraceLock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/traceoverlay-ar-tracing/id6800190974/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tracelock-tracing-lightbox/id6816664937/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 11 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ThoughtBubble Development, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6800190976) | [帅 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896738626) |

## What reviewers say

### TraceOverlay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/traceoverlay-ar-tracing/id6800190974)

Transform your device into a portable tracing lightbox. Overlay reference images onto your live camera view for drawing, painting, and lettering. Features precision tools and image adjustment for a clearer guide.

**Highlights:** AR tracing with live camera view, Move, scale, and rotate references, Adjust image and camera opacity, Alignment grid for proportions, Edge detection and image enhancement, Optional one-time unlock for personal imports

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock | $6.99 | one-time |


### TraceLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tracelock-tracing-lightbox/id6816664937)

Transform your device into a digital tracing lightbox. Import images, adjust them to fit your paper, and lock the screen to prevent accidental touches while you trace. Enjoy a focused, ad-free experience with on-device processing.

**Highlights:** Import images from Photos, Convert images to sketch styles, Scale, move, rotate, and mirror images, Lock screen to prevent accidental touches, Keep display awake and at full brightness, Safe unlock by holding for two seconds

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TraceOverlay free?

TraceOverlay is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is TraceLock free?

TraceLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TraceOverlay or TraceLock?

TraceOverlay and TraceLock are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do TraceOverlay or TraceLock have ads?

Neither TraceOverlay nor TraceLock shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TraceOverlay or TraceLock?

TraceOverlay ships an update every 2 weeks, and TraceLock every 6 days. Most recently, TraceOverlay was updated on October 29, 2026 and TraceLock on October 29, 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.*