Comparison

PaperTrace Light Table vs TraceLock

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

Head to head
About

PaperTrace Light Table

Features
Read full description

PaperTrace turns your iPhone or iPad into a light table. Pick a template or a photo, put a sheet on the screen, and trace. How to trace Pick a template, a photo from your library, or take a picture. Place a sheet on the screen, then tap Lock. The picture stays still, and the screen stays in that orientation. Press + or − two times on the side of the phone to open. You can also hold a corner. That works with paper still on the glass. PaperTrace remembers your last pictures. Save a drawing to keep it in History. For kids In iOS Settings, turn on Guided Access and turn Touch off. That stops the screen from reacting at all. Templates Twenty simple line drawings: animals, vehicles, nature, fantasy, and fun. Ready to trace in pencil. Your own pictures Choose from the photo library or photograph a drawing you want to trace. Brightness, contrast, outline, and invert help the picture show through the paper. Light table A blank white screen at full brightness when you only need the light. History Recent pictures stay ready. Save the ones you want to come back to. PaperTrace is free. No account, no cloud. Pictures stay on the phone.

About

TraceLock

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
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a tracing lightbox: import an image, position it, lock the screen against accidental touches, place paper on top, and trace. TraceLock is intentionally focused. It solves one specific job with no account, no ads, and no cloud photo uploads. • Import an image from Photos • Convert it to sketch, outline, comic, black-and-white, or high contrast • Scale, move, rotate, and mirror it to fit your paper • Lock the canvas so paper and palms do not move the image • Keep the display awake and use full brightness while tracing • Hold for two seconds to unlock safely Photo processing happens on your device. TraceLock does not collect personal data. Try every feature with total peace of mind.

Screenshots

PaperTrace Light Table4 screens
TraceLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PaperTrace Light Table at none against TraceLock's 1. PaperTrace Light Table also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 days). TraceLock's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. TraceLock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PaperTrace Light Table asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PaperTrace Light Table ships an update every 2 days, TraceLock every 6 days. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PaperTrace Light Table versus TraceLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPaperTrace Light TableTraceLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 6 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael Furø帅 王

In-app purchases

None

PaperTrace Light Table

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

TraceLock

One-time1
  • Lifetime Unlock$3.99

Questions

Is PaperTrace Light Table free?
PaperTrace Light Table is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TraceLock free?
TraceLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PaperTrace Light Table or TraceLock have ads?
Neither PaperTrace Light Table nor TraceLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PaperTrace Light Table or TraceLock?
PaperTrace Light Table ships an update every 2 days, and TraceLock every 6 days. Most recently, PaperTrace Light Table was updated on October 29, 2026 and TraceLock on October 29, 2026.

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