# MagicTrace vs Pocket Note

The clearest difference is rating: Pocket Note at 4.3 against MagicTrace's 1.5. MagicTrace's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Pocket Note holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of MagicTrace's written reviews are positive against 33% of Pocket Note's.

MagicTrace ships an update fortnightly, Pocket Note every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MagicTrace | Pocket Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magictrace/id884484640/reviews) | **[4.3 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-note-handwritten-note/id1498583819/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **14** |
| Positive reviews | 26.3% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 17 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nobuhiro Watanabe](https://appshunter.io/developer/590303359) | [NAOAKI SEKIGUCHI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1146328819) |

## What reviewers say

### MagicTrace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magictrace/id884484640)

This app allows you to trace images directly from paper onto your smartphone or tablet. It eliminates the need for tracing paper or lightboxes, enabling sketching, drawing, and even character learning on the go. Capture inspiration and draw landscapes instantly.

**Highlights:** Trace images from paper, No tracing paper or lightbox needed, Sketching and drawing tool, Character learning aid, Capture and draw landscapes, Uses device tilt for tracing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove the ad. | $2.99 | one-time |


### Pocket Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-note-handwritten-note/id1498583819)

Transform your device into a powerful business notepad. Quickly capture ideas with handwriting, typing, and rich media. Organize notes into groups and export them as images or PDFs for easy sharing and printing.

**Highlights:** Handwritten and typed input, Customizable pen sizes and colors, Paste photos and maps, Insert figures and lines, Export as image or PDF, Organize notes into groups, iCloud synchronization

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Note License | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MagicTrace free?

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

### Is Pocket Note free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MagicTrace or Pocket Note?

Pocket Note is rated higher. MagicTrace averages 1.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Pocket Note averages 4.3 from 14 ratings.

### Do MagicTrace or Pocket Note have ads?

Pocket Note shows ads; MagicTrace does not.

### Which is updated more often, MagicTrace or Pocket Note?

MagicTrace ships an update fortnightly, and Pocket Note every 2 months. Most recently, MagicTrace was updated on October 8, 2026 and Pocket Note on October 23, 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.*