# LightPad vs TraceLock

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LightPad at none against TraceLock's 1. TraceLock's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

LightPad ships an update fortnightly, TraceLock weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LightPad | TraceLock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tracelock-tracing-lightbox/id6816664937/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 8 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mingwei Cui](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893401120) | [帅 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896738626) |

## What reviewers say

### LightPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightpad-tracing-light-box/id6804355640)

**In-app purchases:** none


### TraceLock

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

Transform your device into a portable tracing lightbox. Easily convert photos to line art, adjust composition, and trace with a pencil on paper. Offers various filters, guides, and templates for artists of all levels.

**Highlights:** Full-screen touch lock, Smart line-art filters, Free composition tools, Eye-comfort backlight options, Built-in sketch templates, Showcase camera for progress, Printable practice sheets

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Unlock | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LightPad free?

LightPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is TraceLock free?

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

### Do LightPad or TraceLock have ads?

Neither LightPad nor TraceLock shows ads.

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

LightPad ships an update fortnightly, and TraceLock weekly. Most recently, LightPad was updated on November 10, 2026 and TraceLock on November 6, 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.*